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Apple Ordered to Stop Selling iPhones Without Charger in Brazil [Updated]
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I also have a little secret for you. Apple has changed the design of the iPhone since they removed the charger. That means the cost of that charger is now rolled into the phone... Also there's this thing called inflation that seems to make everything more expensive. People expect the price of iPhone to stay the same for five years but that means they have to cut costs. It's going to show up with this iPhone for sure. They either had to cut production costs or raise the price.
They could’ve at least included an USB-A to USB-C adapter in the package, so that the included cable is usable with the huge pile of USB-A chargers we all have. And no, the adapter is not expensive if it’s made to only transmit power and no data.
And I don't know if it's worse to have removed it without a price drop, or it costing $20 if the one previous poster was correct that it only costs $1 to make. I understand profit but not 20x!
I take my hat off to Apple they really know how to spin a good story “environment”. Haha yeah, ok.
They also didn't raise the price when their margins went down. So there is that.
Yes there's always going to be people getting their first. Not everyone has a bag full of cords and bricks.
But it doesn't have to work for everyone!
Apple doesn't care if a few people has to buy a cable or a new charger. Or a few stays off iPhones because of this policy.
If Apple can reduce the number of chargers they produce significantly, it's a success for them. Nothing reduces carbon footprint like not producing something.
iPhone + Charger in Huge Box + Logistics = 999€
iPhone - Charger - Huge Box - Previous Extra Logistics due to Huge Box = still 999€
Charger + Ability to ship more iPhones due to Small Box = Very good for Apple’s Environment.
iPhone - Charger - Huge Box - Previous Extra Logistics due to Huge Box = still 999€
Charger + Ability to ship more iPhones due to Small Box = Very good for Apple’s Environment.
Very few devices that I have bought that charge with a usb type connection come with a power brick. Charging bricks imo are almost ubiquitous.
Maybe the list of parts is $1 which I'm not sure where you're getting that info but you have to count other costs. I hate to tell you but almost everything you buy at a popular retailer in the USA was sold to them for about half the marked price and the materials for that item were like 1/10th of that half... Their "profit" isn't 50% either 🤦♂️
Not all purchases are from Apple's website, where you can probably read some BS about their decision. If someone buys an iPhone from the internet, quickly fetchs a box from the store and is not aware the charger isn't there, it will be fooled because it's not updated on their "eco-policies".
The absence of it is not the same as not including an adapter to use a wired headphone. It's something that without it, you can't use it. Assuming 100% of people that buys a new iPhone already owns an used one or has some charger lying around, it's absurd.
I am sure buying elsewhere (not on Apple's official website in Brazil) was the case and after so many complaints, they were forbidden to continue with this practice. Which is ridiculous, considering you are doing more harm if don't buy all you need in bulk. Isn't the shipping industry responsible for CO2 emissions, too?
The absence of it is not the same as not including an adapter to use a wired headphone. It's something that without it, you can't use it. Assuming 100% of people that buys a new iPhone already owns an used one or has some charger lying around, it's absurd.
I am sure buying elsewhere (not on Apple's official website in Brazil) was the case and after so many complaints, they were forbidden to continue with this practice. Which is ridiculous, considering you are doing more harm if don't buy all you need in bulk. Isn't the shipping industry responsible for CO2 emissions, too?
Also those people buying their first USB-charger can probably keep that charger for 10-15 years in which it could serve numerous phones and other electronics.
I do think it's better to not include but they should make new buyers more aware that it isn't included and let them buy one if they need/want
Ok so I've been seeing quite a few folks that say "If Apple was about the environment, they'd package iPhones without a charger, but give you one for free if you asked for it."
Here's my counter argument: We all know chargers on their own cost money if you were to buy them separately outside of your electronic device purchase. Now you're buying that brand new iPhone and are given the option of a FREE charger and all you have to do is check the box. Would you take it (even if you didn't really need one knowing what it's worth by simply checking the box)? Would you be more likely to check that box just so you could "have a spare lying around"? Perhaps maybe sell it on eBay and get some money back?
If your answer is yes to any of those questions, would that not defeat the purpose of reducing electronic waste? I realized really quicky that the only way to truly change human behavior is through economics.
You can hold hands and sing songs about how great it is to reduce waste and recycle, but at the end of the day, people do what's most convenient and what makes most economic sense.
If those plastic bags at grocery stores are given out like free lunches, there is no incentive for people to transition into reusable shopping bags. This is why some countries like Canada have mandated plastic bags at grocery stores to be charged at 10 cents per bag; And even so, people are still PAYING to buy those bags.
By the same token, if people could opt for a FREE charger, it's a no brainer, but if that charger will cost you $18 or more, you'd think twice if you really NEED it.
Here's my counter argument: We all know chargers on their own cost money if you were to buy them separately outside of your electronic device purchase. Now you're buying that brand new iPhone and are given the option of a FREE charger and all you have to do is check the box. Would you take it (even if you didn't really need one knowing what it's worth by simply checking the box)? Would you be more likely to check that box just so you could "have a spare lying around"? Perhaps maybe sell it on eBay and get some money back?
If your answer is yes to any of those questions, would that not defeat the purpose of reducing electronic waste? I realized really quicky that the only way to truly change human behavior is through economics.
You can hold hands and sing songs about how great it is to reduce waste and recycle, but at the end of the day, people do what's most convenient and what makes most economic sense.
If those plastic bags at grocery stores are given out like free lunches, there is no incentive for people to transition into reusable shopping bags. This is why some countries like Canada have mandated plastic bags at grocery stores to be charged at 10 cents per bag; And even so, people are still PAYING to buy those bags.
By the same token, if people could opt for a FREE charger, it's a no brainer, but if that charger will cost you $18 or more, you'd think twice if you really NEED it.
This is true. For some reason they always come with cables though... I bought a $99 Bluetooth speaker and it comes with this silly short cable.
But then again, Apple products haven't gone up like 40% like some of the food items. Of course I wouldn't say no to a discount for not including the charger
I have several chargers at home and most of them have USB-C in them. This includes the mac book air charger. iPad Pro charger. iPad Air charger. Home pod mini brick, chargers from costco, chargers from Best Buy, etc. there are just so many and I needed them for so many things. Oculus quest comes with usb-c cable but no brick. Did anyone sue Meta?
Good for Brazil: the iPhones there will cost more, and pollute more. What a win for Brazil! 😂
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Every device has come with the proper cable even if the length is a little useless sometimes.