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Just noticed a pricing difference in US store with rMB vs MBPr

L

lite426

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 24, 2013
238
57
In the UK where I am the entry level Macbook costs £1050 and the MacBook Pro Retina £999. In the US online store it shows $1299 for both. Is this correct?
 
I'm assuming it is because the pound has dropped in value between the rmbp release and the macbook release. I'd expect to see a price increase on the rmbp to bring it back in line with the next update.
 
That's interesting. Apple should have updated their prices already after the March event.
I'm looking at the Japanese store right now, and I see the same 148,800 yen for both the base model rMB and rMBP.
 
troubleonline said:
That will be a first! We usually get royally screwed on prices :mad:

I have seem mention of prices being amended by Apple for currency fluctuations before (as mrkramer suggests will likely happen at some point).
Click to expand...

It was sarcasm. I don't get the currency thing, because I remember when both the Macbook and MacBook Pro Retina first showed up on Apple's online store, which seemed around the same time, even then they had the price difference. I thought the Macbook was actually meant to be more expensive, so was very surprised when I checked US store.
 
lite426 said:
In the UK where I am the entry level Macbook costs £1050 and the MacBook Pro Retina £999. In the US online store it shows $1299 for both. Is this correct?
Click to expand...

I emailed Apple about it. My query:

"Hello,

I noticed something about the pricing of the MacBooks.
The base model 12 inch macbook in the US store and the 13.3 inch retina MacBook Pro base model are priced the same - $1299.
In the UK the macbook is more expensive than the MacBook Pro , £1050 vs £999.
I wanted to know why they're not both priced the same here.

Thanks,"

Apple's response:

"Thanks for your email.

My name is David from Apple and I will be dealing with your request today.

There a couple of reasons of why the prices in the UK and US store differ.

1) Supply and Demand- It is quite common that the price of goods will vary based on Apples current suppy of goods and the size of the demand coming from Apple customers. So for example, one could assume the price of the model 12 inch macbook in the UK is more expensive due to limited supply or that this model is more in demand in the UK than its US counterpart, therefore increasing the price of the good in the UK store.

2) VAT- As I’m sure you will understand, every region in the world has different tax systems. What state you are in the US, will determine the price of the VAT that is added to the good. For example, the VAT in the uk could be higher than the VAT in the state of California, hence increasing the price of the UK model.

I hope I have been helpful regarding this matter.

If you have any further queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thanks and regards,

David O’Donovan
Apple Store"
 
lite426 said:
I emailed Apple about it. My query:

"Hello,

I noticed something about the pricing of the MacBooks.
The base model 12 inch macbook in the US store and the 13.3 inch retina MacBook Pro base model are priced the same - $1299.
In the UK the macbook is more expensive than the MacBook Pro , £1050 vs £999.
I wanted to know why they're not both priced the same here.

Thanks,"

Apple's response:

"Thanks for your email.

My name is David from Apple and I will be dealing with your request today.

There a couple of reasons of why the prices in the UK and US store differ.

1) Supply and Demand- It is quite common that the price of goods will vary based on Apples current suppy of goods and the size of the demand coming from Apple customers. So for example, one could assume the price of the model 12 inch macbook in the UK is more expensive due to limited supply or that this model is more in demand in the UK than its US counterpart, therefore increasing the price of the good in the UK store.

2) VAT- As I’m sure you will understand, every region in the world has different tax systems. What state you are in the US, will determine the price of the VAT that is added to the good. For example, the VAT in the uk could be higher than the VAT in the state of California, hence increasing the price of the UK model.

I hope I have been helpful regarding this matter.

If you have any further queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thanks and regards,

David O’Donovan
Apple Store"
Click to expand...

Ha, what a bonkers explanation that was! How does VAT or sales tax come into it at all when you are talking about the same market??

Supply and demand? Get a grip, what is Apple selling, wheat futures?

The only viable explanation is an unsynchronised currency conversion rate. It is very odd, because Apple typically updates that variable for its whole assortment in a particluar currency simultaneously. Can you verify it is not remaining stock of the outgoing model rather than the new 2015 model with Force Touch Trackpad et al?
 
lite426 said:
In the UK where I am the entry level Macbook costs £1050 and the MacBook Pro Retina £999. In the US online store it shows $1299 for both. Is this correct?
Click to expand...

In Denmark the entry level Macbook & Macbook Pro Retina is both 11299dkr = 1655,99 $US, we have 25% VAT :/
 
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