Apple Ordered to Stop Selling iPhones Without Charger in Brazil [Updated]

[doboy]

The funny thing is that Brazil's decision is actually probably better for the environment. Packaging the charger with the phone prevents people from having to go and then buy a separate charger, which comes with its own packaging that will generate far more waste than just packaging it with the phone would have.

I guess it all depends on the person. I have so many chargers it's not even funny.

 

[CWallace]

The whole environment angle was always a moot point considering they are including a cable that does not even work with the charger supposedly everyone already has at home and therefore they r producing even more waste by including said cable

Now that the EU has mandated a USB-C port on every device, they can now mandate a USB-C port on every charger, which would address this issue.

 

[roar08]

The fact Apple did not even drop the price of the iPhone by $29 US dollars tells you it was for a money grab. At least lower the price of the iPhone since they eliminated the charger but they didn't do that. The prices stayed the same or in other cases, it increased whoppingly.

First, I agree with including a charger. However, there's no evidence the retail charger price was included in the phone price. It could be the charger was included at no additional cost to the consumer. I'm really not taking a side in this argument, but I think it's easy to vilify a $2T+ company w/out any substantive evidence simply because of their market cap or profits, at least in this case.

 

[contacos]

Well the EU has addressed that issue starting next year, so...

Hopefully! One of the main reasons I am skipping the iPhone 14

 

[compwiz1202]

Its not the lack of charger but the lack of price reduction that its the issue for me. Brazil should consider itself luck they can even buy an iPhone.

That's the main issue for me too. No cost reduction passed to the consumer. I have more charging bricks than I will ever need. And I can have one the next day through Amazon if I ever need a new one.

 

[jezbd1997]

Good. It's definitely money grab. Every time at the Apple store I hear the employees asking "do you have a usb-c charger at home otherwise you need this one". And even 3rd party retailers similar but less annoying questions.

 

[ArkSingularity]

I guess it all depends on the person. I have so many chargers it's not even funny.

I do too, but I don't have very many USB-C charging bricks, almost all of mine are USB-A. Apple switched the charging cable to use a USB-C end, which ended up meaning that a lot of people were going to end up needing to buy a new brick if they didn't have one already.

 

[macmediausa]

Don't fool yourself - it's not only a money grab for Apple - but for Brazil too. They could of just demanded Apple add a charger or otherwise risk a fine - not have a "hefty" fine first. For me I don't give a hoot whether Apple includes a charger or not. I have tons of iPhone boxes that have chargers and headphones still inside unused. If you all want a charger included, be ready for a $50 increase in price added on to the phone. Nothing is free and their bottom line is to satisfy the investors.

 

[roar08]

I guess it all depends on the person. I have so many chargers it's not even funny.

Same. SO many chargers, cables, etc., etc.

 

[macdisciple]

It’s APPLE saving money and making more for users to pay a new charger! Not us!

My wife and I probably have 10-12. I do not want another and I appreciate the small savings. But if you switch from the Android platform in particular, you're screwed.

 

[Armada2]

This should have been done in the U.S. too. So many people out there buy iPhones and they have no idea they have to buy and pay for the charger separately. Or Apple could have provided a free charger if needed.

Think of going to Mcdonalds and ordering a 🍔 Big mac. But you don't get any buns and cheese. You have to ask for the buns and cheese to be included for some extra $.

Or more like order the burger but dont get the meat due to climate change 🙃

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

First, I agree with including a charger. However, there's no evidence the retail charger price was included in the phone price. It could be the charger was included at no additional cost. I'm really not taking a side in this argument, but I think it's easy to vilify a $2T+ company w/out any substantive evidence simply because of their market cap or profits, at least in this case.

There is no way Apple has been selling iPhones with a charger for 12+ years and they are including the 5W charger for free. The price is all included, We are paying premium prices. Apple is not just going to sell the iPhones and pay for $29 themselves. It was us, the consumers ended up paying for the price.

 

[CarpalMac]

To expand the analogy - you order a cheeseburger, it's not advertised that the bun and cheese are separate and costs extra, and when you get to your table with the closed cheeseburger container, you open and see it's a bare burger and have to go back up to the counter and pay again for the bun and cheese separately.

But everyone has the bread roll and the right type of cheese at home, right?

Oh...

 

[compwiz1202]

I guess it all depends on the person. I have so many chargers it's not even funny.

Yea makes me thing of Little Mermaid.

I've got cables and chargers galore. USB C to C, I've got 20...

 

[tonie walker]

Hopefully! One of the main reasons I am skipping the iPhone 14

…well, maybe 14 is usb-c 😜

 

[Alpha God Vonn]

Okay, now go after Samsung too. They both do it.

Well Apple started it

 

[entropys]

Good. I’m all for cutting down on waste but we all know it’s straight up a money grab. If it weren’t, Apple would allow people to get a free charger per new iPhone if truly needed.

More to the point, the price of the iPhone did not drop the equivalent amount for the charger (and EarPods).

 

[justanotherdave]

This should have been done in the U.S. too. So many people out there buy iPhones and they have no idea they have to buy and pay for the charger separately. Or Apple could have provided a free charger if needed.

Think of going to Mcdonalds and ordering a 🍔 Big mac. But you don't get any buns and cheese. You have to ask for the buns and cheese to be included for some extra $.

That’s a ridiculous analogy.

It’s more like you get your Big Mac, but want extra mayo so they charge you $0.25 for each packet. Your Big Mac comes exactly as advertised on the menu and most people like it that way. If you want extra you pay.

The iPhone isn’t missing anything to function. It comes with the iPhone and a USB-C to Lightning cable to connect to the existing charger the majority of people own.

Or, maybe all those people whining about Apple adopting USB-C so their iPhone would work with their existing chargers without needing a separate cable were…I don’t know…lying?

 

[TechRunner]

In ten years, an electric van will slowly drive down the street while a tech company employee flicks your shiny new device at you as you wait for them to pass by, cutting down on all packaging and extras.

 

[GMShadow]

I'm not even convinced it actually cut down waste. They switched the included cable to USB-C -> Lightning rather than USB-A, and many people don't have extra USB-C charging bricks lying around. That resulted in a lot of people now having to buy separate chargers with their iPhones, and those of course came in their own packaging and generated more waste (and emissions from transportation) than just packaging it with the phone would have.

I'm not even quite sure why they did it. The charger can't have been expensive to manufacture and there isn't exactly a huge opportunity cost to it either (not everyone is going to buy the official Apple branded charger). It just doesn't make much sense to me.

Quite simple actually, and not for 'conspiracy' reasons like so many claim.

The box went to half the height.

In 2020 air freight was both extremely expensive AND in short supply. Shrinking the boxes allowed Apple to fit close to twice as many iPhones in half the space.

As much as people might scream that they'd have waited longer...we know that's not true.

 

[ArkSingularity]

Don't fool yourself - it's not only a money grab for Apple - but for Brazil too. They could of just demanded Apple add a charger or otherwise risk a fine - not have a "hefty" fine first. For me I don't give a hoot whether Apple includes a charger or not. I have tons of iPhone boxes that have chargers and headphones still inside unused. If you all want a charger included, be ready for a $50 increase in price added on to the phone. Nothing is free and their bottom line is to satisfy the investors.

Realistically, the charger is probably a few dollars to produce at most. The transportation costs of the packaging aren't zero either, but those can't be terribly substantial in light of the price of the device.

Apple's profit margins are so high on the iPhone lineup that it just kinda feels like nickel-and-diming in a way.

 

[GizmoDVD]

The thing is that while Apple claims that they removed it for environmental reasons they kept the product price the same...

It would have been better if they either discounted the price of the charger of the iPhone's price or offered it for free in the moment of purchase.

Why do you think the price would lower? Keeping no the iPhone the same price IS probably the discount.

Go ahead. Include it and raise the price.

 

[ChrisMoBro]

Hey, Apple, I know another way you can reach your environmental targets - stop releasing products like AirPods when you know they become useless pieces of plastic once the battery dies.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Don't fool yourself - it's not only a money grab for Apple - but for Brazil too. They could of just demanded Apple add a charger or otherwise risk a fine - not have a "hefty" fine first. For me I don't give a hoot whether Apple includes a charger or not. I have tons of iPhone boxes that have chargers and headphones still inside unused. If you all want a charger included, be ready for a $50 increase in price added on to the phone. Nothing is free and their bottom line is to satisfy the investors.

The phone costs the same now sans the charging brick as it did with one included but you think Apple is justified to put the price up by $50 to add one back into the box.

EDIT: Also the 20w usb c brick that shipped with the 11 pro costs nowhere near $50

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Just imagine going to a Chinese food restaurant and ordering yourself a Chicken Bowl.

You are not about to pay for chicken and rice separately. The Chicken Bowl comes with fried rice and chicken with no other cost. The same analogy applies to the Apple Charger and the iPhone.