Oh, no, AFAIK Americans don't have VAT. They have the occasional sales tax which is much lower and instead get to spend their money the way they want (I'm reffering to health insurance, education and other stuff here). But I don't really feel competent to comment on this, hope someone from USA can clear it up.
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Leopard a rip off outside US?
- Thread starter Roseyboy
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So right now that means extra $18 USD towards Apple. Then there may be additional costs, Import/Export Taxes, Shipping Costs, Additional Insurances costs. And probably extra profit due to the fact it will cost more then $20 USD to travel elsewhere to get a copy cheaper.
Its for several reasons.
1) As mentioned above, U.S prices don't include sales taxes. In NYC, I would have to pay 8.6% in tax if I purchase from the Apple Store. Thank God for Amazon.
2) The U.S. dollar is so weak relative to other currencies on a historical basis that Apple is most likely pricing it based on some strengthening in the dollar. Just look at what Leopard would have cost a year ago given that currency exchange rate. The last thing Apple or any company wants to do is constantly change their foreign pricing due to currency rates.
3) The U.S. market is more competitve than most other markets which requires more agressive pricing.
4) Apple is a U.S. company and likes to price cheaper for Americans.
If you feel ripped off, then take a trip to America and buy here. I see Europeans in New York all the time buying our cheap electronics and computer gear. I bet half the people at Apple 5th Ave are from Europe at any given moment. Too bad you can't get a sales tax refund.
Why do people think it's just Apple ripping us off? Pretty much everything is more expensive here. Blame Gordon Brown. (actually, I don't know who you should blame, I just don't like that guy )
)
I'm actually quite happy. Leopard is down to NOK 990, from Tiger, which was NOK 1190 (and I think Panther was 1290).
Now that is NOK 792 + 25% VAT, and NOK 792 ≈ $146.
I'm OK with paying ~$17 more, and I don't even mind paying the 25% VAT. I'm just happy the price is coming down.
Rip off? Nah. Higher cost of doing business and better consumer laws (both of which is more expensive for companies, of course) have to be paid for somehow...
Now that is NOK 792 + 25% VAT, and NOK 792 ≈ $146.
I'm OK with paying ~$17 more, and I don't even mind paying the 25% VAT. I'm just happy the price is coming down.
Rip off? Nah. Higher cost of doing business and better consumer laws (both of which is more expensive for companies, of course) have to be paid for somehow...
Most states have sales tax, and it's typically about 8 percent. It is added *after* the purchase, though, so to compare apples to apples, you have to subtract out the VAT from European prices.
Basically Europeans pay between 8 and 18 percent more sales tax than Americans. But when you get sick, you don't go broke paying medical bills.
Pricing difference
The pricing is different because:
1. Apple is in the business to make money.
2. There are different/higher costs/taxes for anything outside of the US.
3. Apple knows you'll pay it.
Feel free to get back at us Americans by offering something useful to us that we can't wait to buy.
The pricing is different because:
1. Apple is in the business to make money.
2. There are different/higher costs/taxes for anything outside of the US.
3. Apple knows you'll pay it.
Feel free to get back at us Americans by offering something useful to us that we can't wait to buy.
A bit 'water under the bridge' after all replies but I pay US$ 172. It depends on where the actual media is made (in- our outside Europe) if that is fair or not. After making a similar comment on hardware pricing in my country, some of the replies more of less came down to either 'stuff it' or 'take it or leave it'. That's another way to end a discussion.
No, we go broke paying the insurance fees that also increase at least 10% each year
Anyway, everything in the UK is more expensive because core costs are expensive: fuel, energy, transport, land, housing, wages... Apple does business in London, that's where their main office is, they pay UK salaries, pay rent on Regent St and use UK storage and haulage.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0933749.html
London at number 2... NYC down the list at 15.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0933749.html
London at number 2... NYC down the list at 15.
This is the best question yet. I think we'd find that the price of Tiger then is the same as Leopard now, in Euros or GBPs. The griping is coming from people who now expect an automatic discount for the weak dollar. They think their prices have "gone up," when in reality, they haven't come down.
Don't look at what U.S pays but instead what you paid for Tiger upgrade when it was released.
Tiger (2005) - £89
Leopard (2207) - £85
Price reduced by 4.5%
For U.S consumers the price is still $129. No price reduction.
I feel ripped off.
Real cars perhaps?
The last time I looked, no real cars came from The Netherlands.
However, you do have nice bicycles.
Oh, but they have:
(So that's the NOK example, and not £ or €, but we're still in Europe (sort of) and still get a very nice price this time around because of the weak $).
The last time I looked, no real cars came from The Netherlands.
Spyker? (not the F1 car). BTW, Europe was mentioned. I rest my case
But dont you think that those running costs are diluted by the sales of Apples hard- and software in any of the EU countries? In the total turnover those costs must be a drop in a bucket and hardly justify price differences of 40% plus on things like a DVD (50 cents a pop) and a cardboard box! And why is Leopard 82 Euros in Tokyo (#4 on the list) and 129 Euros in Amsterdam (#25 on the list)?
Oh, but they have:
(So that's the NOK example, and not £ or , but we're still in Europe (sort of) and still get a very nice price this time around because of the weak $).
As I've said before in the many, many threads we seem to need on this subject, prices for goods are set in the markets where they are sold, not where they are manufactured. Apple will pass along the cheaper dollar when (and if) it is required it to remain competitive in any given market. Apparently in Norway they've already decided that it is required.
It's a mistake to comparison-shop goods bought outside of the US in US dollars. If you don't actually pay for your products in US dollars, then you are just deceiving yourself.
Don't look at what U.S pays but instead what you paid for Tiger upgrade when it was released.
Tiger (2005) - £89
Leopard (2207) - £85
Price reduced by 4.5%
For U.S consumers the price is still $129. No price reduction.
I feel ripped off.
Well I didn't buy Tiger (came with computer), but as it stands now, I have to pay $199 for Leopard, whereas I could have got Tiger for $129 (edu).
So far I have not located an edu provider, giving a greater education than the Apple online store. The week is young however.
For your information this is in New Zealand.
I'm actually quite happy. Leopard is down to NOK 990, from Tiger, which was NOK 1190 (and I think Panther was 1290).
Now that is NOK 792 + 25% VAT, and NOK 792 ≈ $146.
I'm OK with paying ~$17 more, and I don't even mind paying the 25% VAT. I'm just happy the price is coming down.
Agreed, doesn't seem expensive to me at all. Especially when I compare the price of this completely new operating system with other upgrades I've paid for this year:
InDesign CS3 upgrade cost me kr 2197 (US$ 406)
Sibelius 5 upgrade cost me kr 2495 (US$ 461).
Compared with those, Leopard looks like a bargain!
