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iPhone SE Priced at Premium in Australia and Elsewhere
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This article isn't that accurate because it omits taxes. For example, let's look at the UK. The 16GB is $399, which as of now equates to £280.12. UK VAT is 20% so adding that we get £336.14. Apple is asking for £349, so the difference is a total of £12.86, or $18.32. That is not a big price difference.
maverick808 beat me to the punch. I had only checked the UK situation but the price margin after sales taxes appears to be much less of a "gulf" as this article appears to make out.
And considering that depending where in the US you are the State level sales tax can be anywhere between 0-10% suggests that there is an equal disparity of price within the US as between the US and UK.
And considering that depending where in the US you are the State level sales tax can be anywhere between 0-10% suggests that there is an equal disparity of price within the US as between the US and UK.
Surely prices should ONLY be compared BEFORE country/regional sales taxes are added??
So in the UK, the iPhone SE starts at £299 (and then £60 VAT is added)
$399 is £280 today at bank interchange rates, so would be over £300 if you converted currency as a consumer.
So, ACTUALLY, the SE is very slightly cheaper in the UK, as far as consumers are concerned.
But we have to pay a relatively high sales tax of 20%, compared with most state sales taxes in the US which I think are lower than 20%.
So in the UK, the iPhone SE starts at £299 (and then £60 VAT is added)
$399 is £280 today at bank interchange rates, so would be over £300 if you converted currency as a consumer.
So, ACTUALLY, the SE is very slightly cheaper in the UK, as far as consumers are concerned.
But we have to pay a relatively high sales tax of 20%, compared with most state sales taxes in the US which I think are lower than 20%.
German prices are including VAT.
The 64GB 499$ would be about 453€, which is 539€ incl. 19% Tax.
Additional a "copyright fee" is mandatory which is 4,95€ per unit.
So the "premium" is not really this high....
The 64GB 499$ would be about 453€, which is 539€ incl. 19% Tax.
Additional a "copyright fee" is mandatory which is 4,95€ per unit.
So the "premium" is not really this high....
Even if you just add the 20% tax and nothing else it still comes out at more than your highest guesstimate.
£60 of that premium is the VAT which is outside Apple's control.
The UK price is £299 without VAT and a direct conversion of the US price is £279 at today's exchange rate, so they are actually charging a £20 premium in the UK.
all been said before 
taxes are included in the uK prices and so not as bad as it seems
taxes are included in the uK prices and so not as bad as it seems
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$399 iPhone bought in NY State is $433.91 after taxes. This is 572 AUD.
The Australian tariff is 4.6%, so it's now 599.11 AUD.
Then the sales tax for Australia is around 10%, so add another 1.25% -> 606.60 AUD
679 - 606 = 74 AUD more. About 11% increase.
The Australian tariff is 4.6%, so it's now 599.11 AUD.
Then the sales tax for Australia is around 10%, so add another 1.25% -> 606.60 AUD
679 - 606 = 74 AUD more. About 11% increase.
The strength of the dollar and Apple refusing to minimise profits is seeing Apple products outside of the US becoming very expansive. The iPhone and iPads are approaching laptop pricing , people can no longer afford to update each cycle.
In France we also have an extra tax to pay to the music lobby (they consider copying legally purchased music from one device to another a lost sale which need compensation).
So that's about 40€ (increasing with capacity in GB) extra to pay.
and don't forget an eco-tax to recycle the product, but that's only a few euro cents.
The iPhone 5S in Sweden can be had for around $450 (taxes and all) from almost all online retailers except the Apple online Store, there it cost ~630USD up until yesterday. Apple is known to gouge the prices of its products in non-US countries.
If Apple want to price themselves out.. go ahead. I'm sure people will still buy.
The top range 15" Macbook Pro in Canada is $3K.. extremely expensive - there are better value laptops for $3K.
The top range 15" Macbook Pro in Canada is $3K.. extremely expensive - there are better value laptops for $3K.
Yeah, boo hoo.... In Australia I remember paying about $13 for a quarter pounder with cheese meal at McDonalds.
Another click bait far from comprehensive MR story.
Another click bait far from comprehensive MR story.
In the UK they have actually priced the new iPad lower than the exchange rate plus VAT to hit the £499 price point.
what an incredibly amateur article from macrumors...how many years have we discussed this for now?
Even the mods don't get it??
The inflation is because in EU and UK the prices include all taxes, and pre tax inflation is due to currency differences.
End of the non-story.
Even the mods don't get it??
The inflation is because in EU and UK the prices include all taxes, and pre tax inflation is due to currency differences.
End of the non-story.
Your tax argument would be plausible if only it were accurate. Apple has looked at their chart that plots iPhones and popularity in various countries. Those where the devices are more popular have received inflated prices because the market is secure. Insecure markets have received price drops.
The previous iPhone pricing actually made it slightly cheaper in Canada. Now it's $50 more expensive.
Umm, no. Look at Canada. Does it really cost Apple an extra $50 PER PHONE to ship and sell them here? And then we have a 12% tax added on top of each sale, plus a recycling fee charged by the retailer. An iPhone SE 64GB model will cost me over $794.