I'm Uruguayan BTW, and I can tell you that my statement is correct. You maybe didn't notice because that offer is hidden in the bottom of the offer pages... I had that plan and you can had it with a prepaid phone too, and the speed wasn't that bad just average (around 1mbps up/down) in populated areas. But yeah I did enjoy the cheapest internet I've ever had, that at least...
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.
iPhone 4S Debuts in Over 20 New Countries, Pricing Starts as High as $1400
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I'm Uruguayan BTW, and I can tell you that my statement is correct. You maybe didn't notice because that offer is hidden in the bottom of the offer pages... I had that plan and you can had it with a prepaid phone too, and the speed wasn't that bad just average (around 1mbps up/down) in populated areas. But yeah I did enjoy the cheapest internet I've ever had, that at least...
The reality of buying an iPhone 4$ in Brazil:
64GB iPhone 4S: R$ 3,399 = US$ 1,888
Alternative:
. Round-trip flight from São Paulo to New York by Air Canada: $850
. Daily rate on Hilton Hotel Fashion District New York: $164
. iPhone4S 64GB at the 5th Avenue Apple Store: $849
Total: US$ 1,863
You get to tourism New York and spend the night at Hilton Hotel and still saves $25!
64GB iPhone 4S: R$ 3,399 = US$ 1,888
Alternative:
. Round-trip flight from São Paulo to New York by Air Canada: $850
. Daily rate on Hilton Hotel Fashion District New York: $164
. iPhone4S 64GB at the 5th Avenue Apple Store: $849
Total: US$ 1,863
You get to tourism New York and spend the night at Hilton Hotel and still saves $25!
Thats crazy pricing... even denmark which is not known for its cheapness the 64gb costs 1105USD.
Maybe I didn't notice, still the whole mobile internet in Uruguay/Argentina sucks compared to other countries.. And the fake advertising such as -Claro, now with 4G Speeds- REALLY pisses me off.. I can't even stream an SD video from my phone using 3G.
Totally agree with you. We are discussing about high prices when we can't even use our "super" phones for what they're meant to! 1500$+ phone with Dial Up internet.
Not just about taxes
It's not only about import taxes. Apple Store online is selling iPhone 4S 64Gb for the about the same price they sell Macbook Pro's.
A few months ago I bought an unlocked contract free iPhone 4 32Gb for about US$910 here in Brazil. Now, Apple is selling iPhone 4 8Gb for about US$970.
They are being unbelievably greedy.
It's not only about import taxes. Apple Store online is selling iPhone 4S 64Gb for the about the same price they sell Macbook Pro's.
A few months ago I bought an unlocked contract free iPhone 4 32Gb for about US$910 here in Brazil. Now, Apple is selling iPhone 4 8Gb for about US$970.
They are being unbelievably greedy.
wow.. I like my apple iPhone 4s but 1400 dollars... you can blow that out your ass.. it isn't that good.
----------
yep... i have defended apple for years but if they keep this up I'm gone.
----------
yep... i have defended apple for years but if they keep this up I'm gone.
It's taxed when we enter the country for purchases abroad in excess of US$500.
The tax authority x-rays us and if they catch you with undeclared electronics, they charge you with the double of the taxes you'd originally have to pay.
E.g.: If I buy a $999 Macbook (and nothing else)
- If I declare it to the tax authority when entering borders, I must pay (999-500)*0.5 = US$249.5 in taxes (tax rate is 50% of the excess)
- If I don't declare it and they catch me I must pay (999-500) = US$ 499 in taxes (doubling what I'd have to pay if I declared it).
For the records, what this site has not mentioned is that the Brazilian iPhone apparently does not have Siri. If you take a look at the Brazilian iPhone 4S page, it doesn't mention Siri, or anything similar to it, anywhere at all.
Somewhat ironic that we don't get the main feature of the "new" iPhone. I'm still holding to my 3GS and waiting for a new iPhone 5.
Heh, I don't think everyone here is that optimistic. Considering how utterly corrupt our government is, I wouldn't be surprised if the Brazilian-made iPhones are just as expensive as the Chinese ones, but with lower quality to make the deal even worse.
Somewhat ironic that we don't get the main feature of the "new" iPhone. I'm still holding to my 3GS and waiting for a new iPhone 5.
Heh, I don't think everyone here is that optimistic. Considering how utterly corrupt our government is, I wouldn't be surprised if the Brazilian-made iPhones are just as expensive as the Chinese ones, but with lower quality to make the deal even worse.
There's no such thing as a 199 iPhone anywhere in the world...
The cheapest iPhone 4s you can buy is the US$ 649.00 16GB one and it's around 700 with taxes included...
minimum monthly price for the 2 year contract is 55. 200 + 55 x 24 = US$ 1520.00 + TAXES <- That's your 199 iPhone right there...
And don't say "Yeah, but you need a contract anyway if you wanna use it, blah blah blah... First of all, you don't NEED it for TWO years... And second, you could have basically the same thing for 30 a month or less if you buy just the service without a phone attached... if you take that out, your iPhone would still cost 25 x 24 + 200 = 800 + TAXES, so, still higher than 650 + taxes...
Just saying...
It's marketing
It's all about marketing in a free market society. The high prices in Brazil are only partly related to the import taxes. It's the same with automobiles, brand name clothing and other appealing consumer goods. If you do the math, there's usually a 30-50% markup on top of the product + tariffs. People will still buy them.
It's also a common practice in Brazil to divide up the payments on equal installments. So, the customer can split the R$ 2599 up to 10 installments or less-interest free, that will be automatically deducted from his/her credit card. So, all of a sudden, spending R$ 259 per month doesn't seem that bad afterall.
It's all about marketing in a free market society. The high prices in Brazil are only partly related to the import taxes. It's the same with automobiles, brand name clothing and other appealing consumer goods. If you do the math, there's usually a 30-50% markup on top of the product + tariffs. People will still buy them.
It's also a common practice in Brazil to divide up the payments on equal installments. So, the customer can split the R$ 2599 up to 10 installments or less-interest free, that will be automatically deducted from his/her credit card. So, all of a sudden, spending R$ 259 per month doesn't seem that bad afterall.
In Thailand, iPhone 4S starts at USD623. Or USD667 tax included contract-free
http://store.apple.com/th/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone/iphone4s
http://store.apple.com/th/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone/iphone4s
its stupid to compare prices based on country. taxes/cost of living/economies of scale ALWAYS comes into play.
#$199 + $50 x 24 + Tax = $1500 over 2 years.
#DoesntSeemAsGoodAsItLooksToBeAnAmerican
#JustSayin
That's exactly what many people actually do.
And that's why brazilians are known as the tourists that spend more money in the U.S. in the world!
The funny part is, products are so expensive here that it looks like we're rich even tho we're actually just trying to save... "-I came all the way here from Brazil just to buy a couple iPhones... -Man, you must be rich!"
I second this, when I visited last summer folks were A-ok using their Nokias, LGs and Samsung's to text and call their friends. There wasn't a smartphone in sight among the young locals there. I'm sure no one cared to FaceTime or find their friends on Find My Friends - they simply called or text them. Puts things in perspective mightily, I believe. But I still wouldn't trade my iPhone for any of those, though!
I bought the 16GB in Malaysia for RM2199 and I dont think it is that bad as it is equal to $694 for 4s 16GB. Can't wait to receive it
That's exactly what many people actually do.
And that's why brazilians are known as the tourists that spend more money in the U.S. in the world!
The funny part is, products are so expensive here that it looks like we're rich even tho we're actually just trying to save... "-I came all the way here from Brazil just to buy a couple iPhones... -Man, you must be rich!"
What are the chances of the average person in Minas, Para, etc of getting a tourist visa? Not an easy thing to get for many.
i paid for my phone outright in australia. sure it may be dear (but nowhere as bad as they're selling it for over there! JHC!) but i have a one year contract.. i could have gotten a prepaid but the data isn't as good.
i don't get some americans cheering about their cheap iPhone. it all adds up through contract costs.
i know someone who breaks her contract EVERY year so she can get the latest model. f knows how much it costs her..
i don't get some americans cheering about their cheap iPhone. it all adds up through contract costs.
i know someone who breaks her contract EVERY year so she can get the latest model. f knows how much it costs her..
Not ONLY import taxes
Some times ago, I saw a documentary explaining why cars are so expensive in Brazil. For example, the VW Gol (successor of Volkswagen Fox popular in US in the 80's), without air bags, no ABS, no metallic paint, no alloy wheels, anything special but a 1600cc engine, costs around US$ 20000-22000.
Volkswagen is installed in Brazil for a long time (about 60 years) and most VW cars sold here are made here. So, are taxes the source of cars overpricing? Not at all, the higher profit margins applied here in the car market are probably the main problem, when compared with other emergent countries as Argentina and Mexico. Price is not defined as an act of altruism, but it's as higher as people accept to pay for something.
An Apple iPhone 4S 16GB probably comes to Brazil with a manufacturer's price of $350... let's say $400. Taxes in the worst case are around 90% for retailers. Apply a profit margin of 50% and the final price could be around $1140. $1400 is probably the price of the iphone 4s with a profit margin of 100% for retailers.
Brazilian iPhone will cost not much less than the imported one, maybe around USD100-150 less, not a big deal in relation to USD1400. Foxconn will try to cover their investment in the plant into months.
Brazil is still considered a risky country for business, even if its worst moment was a military dictatorship supported by US. Apart from it, we had only democratic governments after World War II.
Some times ago, I saw a documentary explaining why cars are so expensive in Brazil. For example, the VW Gol (successor of Volkswagen Fox popular in US in the 80's), without air bags, no ABS, no metallic paint, no alloy wheels, anything special but a 1600cc engine, costs around US$ 20000-22000.
Volkswagen is installed in Brazil for a long time (about 60 years) and most VW cars sold here are made here. So, are taxes the source of cars overpricing? Not at all, the higher profit margins applied here in the car market are probably the main problem, when compared with other emergent countries as Argentina and Mexico. Price is not defined as an act of altruism, but it's as higher as people accept to pay for something.
An Apple iPhone 4S 16GB probably comes to Brazil with a manufacturer's price of $350... let's say $400. Taxes in the worst case are around 90% for retailers. Apply a profit margin of 50% and the final price could be around $1140. $1400 is probably the price of the iphone 4s with a profit margin of 100% for retailers.
Brazilian iPhone will cost not much less than the imported one, maybe around USD100-150 less, not a big deal in relation to USD1400. Foxconn will try to cover their investment in the plant into months.
Brazil is still considered a risky country for business, even if its worst moment was a military dictatorship supported by US. Apart from it, we had only democratic governments after World War II.
Actually, it does, but in English. Brazilians are hoping/expecting that eventually it'll offer a portuguese option.
Also, our services aren't as well "google mapped" or whatever, so if you ask for a good italian restaurant nearby, it'll probably give you a useless answer. It works for "inside the phone" stuff, like setting appointments, etc. That's what people say anyway.
A friend (who spends about 300 reais/month in cel phone bills) told me he was offered an iPhone 4S for US$600. Tho I don't know which model. So maybe there are options.
Also, most Americans are middle class. You can drive most places and still be in a decent neighborhood with a multiplex, an olive garden, good burger places, and be relatively safe. In Brazil, most people are poor. If I drive anywhere outside of the few neighborhoods where I "go", I'm up the shitcreek without a paddle.
Finally, a brazilian usually makes the "same" as an american makes in the same position: I mean, if an american makes US$2500/month in his job, a brazilian in a similar job in brazil can make R$2500/month (which is worth US$1390)...
But the problem is that 2500 dollars in the US will take you much further that 2500 reais in brazil.
I lived in Orange, CA, making about that much, and paying rent in a nice 1 bedroom ap, paying all bills, going out with friends for drinks, burger, korean bbq... and it was plenty.
If you want 2500 reais to stretch that far in Brazil, you have to live in a favela maybe. In the ********* neighborhoods. Where you'll be robbed in a second. Maybe killed.
To have the same quality of life as I did for $2500 in the US, I gotta make at least US$3500 here in Brazil, or 6000 reais. Which means, I gotta be like 2 or 3 steps further up the ladder.
It sucks.
a nice car in the US will cost you 15000 dollars. That's what I paid for a Corolla S in 2007.
A Corolla in Brazil is a rich person's car. you can get a 1.0 motor small ****** car for US$15000 (but remember, 15000 dollars for a brazilian means like 8 or 9000 for an american, based on what he makes, etc.