Brazil Fines Apple $19 Million for Continuing to Sell iPhones Without Charger

[nStyle]

Well we know they aren’t going to include a charger. If they pay a fine it sets a bad precedent because other countries will start levying fines for the heck of it. I doubt this goes anywhere in particular.

Personally I think it’s extremely dumb to tell a company they have to sell anything a certain way as long as it’s not causing any actual harm, including the EU mandating USB-C. People aren’t stupid, they’ll either buy it or won’t.

 

[ian87w]

Probably chump change for Apple. That's why they didn't do anything about it. The cost savings probably outweighs the fines.

 

[ian87w]

Well we know they aren’t going to include a charger. If they pay a fine it sets a bad precedent because other countries will start levying fines for the heck of it. I doubt this goes anywhere in particular.

It depends if that country has a specific regulation about it or not. Most countries don't, so Apple and the other OEMs can get away with it.

Heck, Sony doesn't even include a USB-C cable on their phones. You literally just get the phone in the box.

 

[Feyl]

If there are so many people happy about not including the charger, then let’s not include the pointless cable too, right? I mean you guys all have what it’s need for charging the phone anyway, right? You all even have that metal thingy for ejecting the SIM card and you already have those Apple stickers and paperwork, hm? Why is Apple so stupid to even put the phone in some useless box? I thing packaging is so yesterday. I’d buy the box extra from Apple if I’d want to sell the phone.

 

[dannyyankou]

I mean, using that logic, you can argue that any accessory should be included. Where do you stop? Should a case be included? Headphones? How about Macs that are sold without Final Cut Pro X? I mean, without FCPX you can't do pro-video on the mac!

Apple should be able to sell each item a la carte. Just want the phone? Why pay for a charger too -- need just a charger, why pay for anything other than a charger? Bundling unneeded hardware is just wasteful.

This is just silly...

I completely disagree. A power adapter isn't an optional accessory. It's something necessary to make the device functional.

And yes, a lot of people already have chargers. But my parents were coming from an iPhone X to iPhone 14 Pro Max, so they had the old 5W adapter. In order to use the new USB C wire, they had to buy new adapters. Using the old 5W charger wasn't an option because it would've taken forever to charge, their new phones have about a 40% larger battery than the iPhone X.

This was just a cost saving measure from Apple, let's be real. If it was really about just saving the planet, then give the option at checkout to add an adapter at no extra charge or a nominal fee.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

Ahh yeah. I probably didn't pay attention. When I got my phone, sans charger, it seemed odd at first then I remembered they don't include them now. Funny how the phone wasn't any cheaper.

You would be incorrect. The Pro line of iPhones has been the same price since 2017 with The intro of the iPhone X.

 

[russell_314]

Apple could at least make it clear when ordering that if you need/want to add a charger, that's an option for extra $'s. Maybe they do? I don't recall seeing it when I ordered my 14Pro.

No because when companies do this they get criticized for trying to upsell. It’s actually illegal in some places for them to sell AppleCare with the phone. It doesn’t matter what Apple does someone will criticize it.

 

[FattiesGoneWild]

This is like $20 bucks for Apple. No big deal.

 

[steve09090]

I completely disagree. A power adapter isn't an optional accessory. It's something necessary to make the device functional.

I only used mine for travel and to charge my DJI Drone. But now I don’t even take it travelling. I bought one with my iPhone 12 and now prefer to buy multi chargers like the Anker ones they often have on this site.

I can’t see me ever buying another charger with a phone. So why should I have to buy them from Apple?

People here are always whinging about Apples chargers aren’t as good as 3rd parties, but when this happens, you’d think the sky has fallen.

 

[jimbobb24]

This law is no sillier than the EU telling companies what kind of connectors they should use.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I mean, using that logic, you can argue that any accessory should be included. Where do you stop? Should a case be included? Headphones? How about Macs that are sold without Final Cut Pro X? I mean, without FCPX you can't do pro-video on the mac!

None of those things are necessary to use the device

The comparison you're looking for is "selling a laptop without a charger" or "desktop Mac without a power cable"
(neither of which Apple does)

 

[hugodrax]

I mean, using that logic, you can argue that any accessory should be included. Where do you stop? Should a case be included? Headphones? How about Macs that are sold without Final Cut Pro X? I mean, without FCPX you can't do pro-video on the mac!

Apple should be able to sell each item a la carte. Just want the phone? Why pay for a charger too -- need just a charger, why pay for anything other than a charger? Bundling unneeded hardware is just wasteful.

This is just silly...

why not sell cars with no tires. Just use the old ones you have around the house?

 

[Vasilioskn]

Brazil just wanted some extra cash to line the corrupt politicians pockets. That’s all it was.

 

[efktd]

Not to go off topic but Mcdonald's does charge extra for lettuce 🥬 , tomatoes 🍅 , onions 🧅 , and all. I hate the fact they charge extra 0.50 cents for extra lettuce. It’s mad annoying and irritating.

Maybe someone at Apple got an idea from McDonald’s Chicken Sandwich?

For real. As soon as they started charging for letting and Mac sauce, it was the end for mini Macs.

 

[I7guy]

We'll see where this ends up!

 

[efktd]

What happened to your wife's old charger? Or her charger before that? Or her charger before that? ...

I've had ONE out of the 10+ 5w chargers I've ever had, burn out on me.

 

[avnyc11]

I mean, using that logic, you can argue that any accessory should be included. Where do you stop? Should a case be included? Headphones? How about Macs that are sold without Final Cut Pro X? I mean, without FCPX you can't do pro-video on the mac!

Apple should be able to sell each item a la carte. Just want the phone? Why pay for a charger too -- need just a charger, why pay for anything other than a charger? Bundling unneeded hardware is just wasteful.

This is just silly...

Yes but the problem with this logic is that apple still charges the same price for the phone now as when a charger was included. This logic only works if they would have charged people $20 less for each phone.

 

[webkit]

A power adapter isn't an optional accessory. It's something necessary to make the device functional.

Lots of products have been sold over the years without batteries ("batteries not included") needed to make the device functional.

This was just a cost saving measure from Apple, let's be real.

There is definitely a cost savings but there's no way to know if Apple did or didn't pass savings to consumers e.g., perhaps the iPhone 14 would've started at $849 instead of $829 had an adapter been included.

If it was really about just saving the planet, then give the option at checkout to add an adapter at no extra charge or a nominal fee.

Apple gives buyers the option to easily add an adapter during checkout for as little as $19. If they offered it for free, many customers would probably add it to their cart/bag even if they didn't need one which would defeat the purpose of excluding adapters for "saving the planet" reasons.

 

[webkit]

Yes but the problem with this logic is that apple still charges the same price for the phone now as when a charger was included. This logic only works if they would have charged people $20 less for each phone.

Not necessarily. Perhaps Apple would've raised prices if charges were still included. A phone that starts at $829 without a charger may have instead started at $849 with a charger. There's just no way to know for sure.

 

[I7guy]

Apple is not complying and thumbing its nose at the laws of that country… perhaps there should be a little bit harsher ruling where they take some of the local executives to jail and also padlock the retail outlets that are found to continue selling them, along with confiscating the inventory in the distribution centers within the country… that would get the Apple leaders/executives attention that are based in Cupertino and Wall Street NYC… thats the problem with these huge corporate behemouths - they are allowed to be viewed as too big to enforce laws against; - and thats just not true, they (the countries law enforcers) just need to enforce them vigorously and forcefully… the courts have spoken… its time to enforce! Maybe that will influence them in how they conduct themselves in this country (USA) too… doubtful.

An appeal is not thumbing its nose at the laws. And really people should go to jail due to a lack of charger? Your scale of what constitutes justice is skewed.

 

[1rottenapple]

News headline should say: Tim cook searches couch to pay Brazil 19 million fine

 

[I7guy]

Yes. They should include everything. Why not? Do you own Apple stocks and worried that it might impact the rate of return on your investment?

Irrelevant if I did own apple stocks. A skewed opinion is a skewed opinion…not just shareholders.

 

[consoleboi]

Well we know they aren’t going to include a charger. If they pay a fine it sets a bad precedent because other countries will start levying fines for the heck of it. I doubt this goes anywhere in particular.

Personally I think it’s extremely dumb to tell a company they have to sell anything a certain way as long as it’s not causing any actual harm, including the EU mandating USB-C. People aren’t stupid, they’ll either buy it or won’t.

What is stupid are companies who don’t play nice with industry standards and just want to be stubborn.

 

[I7guy]

What is stupid are companies who don’t play nice with industry standards and just want to be stubborn.

With billions of iPhones lightning is a standard albeit a proprietary one.

 

[syklee26]

$19M is a chump change? It is NOT a chump change to ANYONE, including Apple. Plus, this will not be an one-time fine, either. If Apple continues to disavow, Brazil will continue to levy fines against Apple, and the fine will continue to increase. Compounding amount of fines will become a no small matter, sooner than later.

Plus, what kinda arrogance is it when a country imposes certain law, Apple continues to breach it, and you guys continue to become their apologists? No matter who it is, law is a law regardless of feasibility, and this is for a good will (from Brazilian perspective) to protect consumers. Apple needs to oblige.