Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple, Microsoft and Adobe Required to Explain High Pricing in Australia
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
There is probably a 1,000kms difference to Sydney. Once you have something on a boat, additional kilometres cost very little.
It's the port and distribution costs at the destination that are the biggest variable.
Tried importing containers of anything into Australia lately? You should try it!!
To be honest I find (most of) Apple hardware is quite fairly priced in Australia (when considering our tax is added on). I still applaud the the action thats being taken. Iirc, Adobe software is particularly bad in this respect.
For me, the major Apple-related price-gouging is happening in the iTunes store, namely music, movies, tv shows, books. But I don't think this is really an Apple problem - rather local distributers or what not. Our App store pricing is quite competitive in the lower tiers (say $1-$5) but starts to get a bit 'gougey' as apps become more expensive.
For me, the major Apple-related price-gouging is happening in the iTunes store, namely music, movies, tv shows, books. But I don't think this is really an Apple problem - rather local distributers or what not. Our App store pricing is quite competitive in the lower tiers (say $1-$5) but starts to get a bit 'gougey' as apps become more expensive.
Volume discounts? Different regulations?right since the computers are made in China...I think Australia and China are a bit closer than China and the USA
Different countries? Different currencies? Different economic situations?
Or is that just too obvious?
1- Online media prices are the results of negotiations between the retailer and the content owners.
By the way, $9.99 price is without sales taxes, is there VAT in NZ on downloads? Any other extra overhead that you don't know about? How much does it cost extra to start iTunes store in a new country and how many sales do you need to cover that fixed cost? If there are cheaper legal sources in NZ, why don't you just buy your media from them?
You muppets do realise this issue is more about the markup on digital downloads and not hardware prices, right?
Yes, quite obvious to me, but apparently not to the people whining about shipping distances vs. sales price.
No, I meant to say that you can check your email or watch youtube on a PC or a MAC - you could get the job done - nothing more, nothing less. If its a tool of your trade that you can accomplish only on a mac, you should then be prepared to pay the relevant cost of doing business. If you disagree with the pricing, vote with your wallet; not have the government meddle with free markets.
This is not the problem and anyone with half a brain and 5 minutes with a calculator will see the price difference for Apple's hardware with the US is not that great when taxes are included.
What needs answers is the music prices but that is more to do with the record company deals as they get most of the profit to go to the artists. Apple gets very little per track/CD sold.
ETA - again this is NOT a problem with the price of Apple products its the perceived price difference between us and the USofA.
ALSO FYI for those in the US, this is an election year here so the government wants to be seen doing things as they are in real danger of being annihilation in September when we got to vote.
Apparently most don't :lol:
Also those complaining about prices in other countries, maybe your politicians need to also ask Apple and other some tough questions!
ETA - ADOBE - maybe what is needed is to allow us to import our own software direct from the US and save 33% off Photoshop?
Last edited:
This forum is starting to annoy me now. I understand this is an `apple fan` forum but that doesn't mean everyone here have to tickle Steve's balls.
If this was about Microsoft, HTC, Google... Any other company then most of you would be outraged!
5% price difference is very unfair and you cannot use shipping as an excuse because they are all made in bloody China anyway!
To the people who think this is about tax, go back and read again!
Since they screwed up osx, stopped innovating with the iPhone and ditched the professionals I won't be buying their shiny over priced rubbish.
If this was about Microsoft, HTC, Google... Any other company then most of you would be outraged!
5% price difference is very unfair and you cannot use shipping as an excuse because they are all made in bloody China anyway!
To the people who think this is about tax, go back and read again!
Since they screwed up osx, stopped innovating with the iPhone and ditched the professionals I won't be buying their shiny over priced rubbish.
Yeah, the more I think about it, this looks like a government wanting to score some political points with the electorate. An election on the horizon perhaps? Taking a 'tough' stand against foreign companies, and wanting to be seen as the 'guardians' of low prices for the domestic market. Wonder what the import duties are, that are no doubt figuring in the retail pricing. These summonses are heavy-handed and tantamount to legal blackmail. Cellphones or computers aren't life's essentials, like food and water are, and are in a way, no different from an expensive bottle of imported wine. Is APPLE maybe just an easier target?
A bit of hypocrisy here to be sure, along with some political posturing, to play to the home crowd.
Sorry Aussies, as much as we love you guys, look at your own government for this 'manufactured' pricing debacle.
Last edited:
I'm going to repeat this again. The article has some extremely flawed logic when it comes to hardware. It mentions the base 27" imac as $1999 AUD as opposed to 1799 USD. The Australian price includes GST of approximately $182 AUD and they rounded up to $1999 as they always round to the 99 mark. 10% sales tax in California means $1979 here after tax. It's not a huge difference in retail price. The Australian site merely states the actual price rather than pre-tax as it's applied at a national rather than varied by state level there.
Also I haven't looked at their itunes. That might be totally different. It's just the article incorrectly cites that as higher hardware pricing.
Also I haven't looked at their itunes. That might be totally different. It's just the article incorrectly cites that as higher hardware pricing.
I cannot believe some people are complaining that our Government is investigating an unfair disparity in pricing of these products. It might not be true for every single case, but some prices (especially digital sales) are incredibly inflated in Australia.
I'm glad it's not being ignored.
I'm glad it's not being ignored.
1. It's not 251.2% more. It's 151.2% more.
2. Taking into account 15% VAT, it is 117% more.
3. Prices for movies are not set by Apple.
Markets are not free and haven't been for centuries.
Let me flip this over lets stop companies from meddling in government, thus removing the natural check that government is to corporations.
Yes and it's nothing to do with the actual price, it's the difference. But Apple is not alone and not the worst offender but any means.
In the US songs are 99c each, here in Australia it's $1.29, now take out the 10% GST and we're still talking around 20% higher price. But as others have said this is NOT Apple as the don't get the profits or set the price. It's the record companies that need to answer questions and I guess that's the point. And not just with Apple. They're just an easy target.
Again most of this is posturing as we have an election in September so they want to be seen doing something without actually doing anything. They'll hold the inquiry, find out the truth and say they can't do anything.
S
syd430
Guest
As an Australian, I'm deeply embarrassed by our socialist government. Apple can and should charge whatever they think achieves an optimal P*Q. People can vote with with their feet and head off over two blocks down to the Samsung Store on George st.
You should note that there is not a single Apple store in Norway, which saves Apple a load of money. It more than makes up for the increased consumer costs!
Yeah I was just trying to say in the example chosen by the article, they're roughly the same price. The Australian price minus GST is around $182 so it's $1817 AUD pre-tax or something prior to tax as opposed to $1799 USD. USD and AUD have been pretty close to 1:1 for some time now. It goes back and forth slightly, but it's within a few percentage points. The itunes thing is totally different. The comparison was inaccurate on the imac example as they compared pre-sales tax pricing to post sales tax pricing.
But that's like saying, don't get the BMW you want, go across the road to Nissan and get a Micra!
Don't worry Labor will be voted out in September
EAT - thekev - yes I agree. All I was saying is Apple has higher hardware prices, just like any premium brand, people opt to get a Mac in most cases.
And yes iTunes is a different story so I hope they don't get bogged down with the hardware side of things. Apple is keen on getting people to DL everything so there is really no technical reason software can't be pegged against the USD and then 10% added here.
That said currently OS X Mountain Lion upgrade is cheaper here than the US when you take into account the GST.
Last edited:
Do you consider Photoshop a luxury product with plenty of alternatives?
Photoshop CS6 Extended Pricing:
US: US$999
Europe: US$1,590
NZ: US$1,557
UK: US$1,479
BE: US$1,293
The best bit about Apple at the moment is design and I think you have an Englishman to thank for that.
Bloody Americans
Plus the fact the first programable computers were British.
Last edited: