Price of MacBook Air

[Ultimacn]

Just thought I'd let my US colleagues know you really do get a good deal on the Apple Store in the US!

As an example base Air is $999 and UK price should be £639
However the UK price is £849.99 equating to $1328.22 (Based on current exchange rates)

So hope this makes you smile

 

[Doc Shultz]

Man, if you were thinking about visiting the US soon, that price difference alone would equate to a nice discount on your travels.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Those prices in the US exclude taxes, which get applied by the state you purchase it in/from.

 

[AlexH]

Those prices in the US exclude taxes, which get applied by the state you purchase it in/from.

There's always Amazon (which takes care of the tax issues depending on what state you're in).

 

[iLondoner]

The £849.00 price (not 849.99) represents £707.50 to Apple with the other £141.50 going to Her Majesty's Government.

The £707.50 works out to be around $1095.

 

[jedolley]

Those prices in the US exclude taxes, which get applied by the state you purchase it in/from.

That still doesn't make up the difference... Texas has a 8.25% sales tax (pretty high, but not the highest) and after tax its still only $1081.

 

[saturnotaku]

Doesn't the UK also have an automatic 2-year warranty for such purchases? Gotta figure that into the cost as well.

 

[Ultimacn]

The £849.00 price (not 849.99) represents £707.50 to Apple with the other £141.50 going to Her Majesty's Government.

The £707.50 works out to be around $1095.

Yes good point, hadn't taken that into account...

----------

Doesn't the UK also have an automatic 2-year warranty for such purchases? Gotta figure that into the cost as well.

We're supposed to under EU law but what that means in practical terms of what is and isn't covered I'm not sure.

 

[jedolley]

The £849.00 price (not 849.99) represents £707.50 to Apple with the other £141.50 going to Her Majesty's Government.

The £707.50 works out to be around $1095.

As a consumer, I don't look at it like that. The money coming out of my pocket (if I got the base unit) is the total price and in my case would be $1081 (price + state tax). OP's point is still valid IMO.

 

[n1tut]

Nope, warranty is one year unless you buy from John Lewis who are presently giving three years.

tut

 

[dylanlewis2000]

That still doesn't make up the difference... Texas has a 8.25% sales tax (pretty high, but not the highest) and after tax its still only $1081.

Consider yourselves lucky. The UK's tax is 20%!

 

[falconeight]

Consider yourselves lucky. The UK's tax is 20%!

Have you noticed the difference in UK infrastructure and ours? The 20% is well spent.

 

[iLondoner]

Nope, warranty is one year unless you buy from John Lewis who are presently giving three years.

Apple would like you to think you are only covered for one year so you buy their extended warranty, but under EU consumer legislation you are already covered for two years.

Apple has already had its wrist slapped by the Italians over this misrepresentation and fined a comparatively small sum of €900,000 ($1.2m). It was then threatened with a compulsory closure of all Apple stores in Italy for a period of 30 days plus an additional €300,000 fine until it complied.

So yes, you need to factor in the cost of this two year warranty on UK/EU sales.

.

 

[iterva]

That still doesn't make up the difference... Texas has a 8.25% sales tax (pretty high, but not the highest) and after tax its still only $1081.

In Sweden we have 25% sales tax, But on the other hand we have free Healthcare (thanks to tax among others) so i guess i'm not allowed to complain

 

[jedolley]

In Sweden we have 25% sales tax, But on the other hand we have free Healthcare (thanks to tax among others) so i guess i'm not allowed to complain

I was referring to TX sales tax in comparison to other states. I was agreeing with OP that in regards to the price of a MBA the USA has it pretty good.

 

[saturnotaku]

In Sweden we have 25% sales tax, But on the other hand we have free Healthcare (thanks to tax among others) so i guess i'm not allowed to complain

Then it's not really "free" is it?

 

[iterva]

Then it's not really "free" is it?

I consider it free since i dont have to pay anything at the time of using that specific "service"

 

[NewbieCanada]

In Sweden we have 25% sales tax, But on the other hand we have free Healthcare (thanks to tax among others) so i guess i'm not allowed to complain

And in Canada we have sales tax ranging from 5% to 15%, depending on what province you live in - and also have free health care.

So that base Air will cost anywhere from $1049 to $1149 (in Canadian dollars)

 

[kodeman53]

I consider it free since i dont have to pay anything at the time of using that specific "service"

Big government love people like you. To paraphrase Margaret Thatcher, "Socialism works until you run out of other people's money."

 

[r6mile]

Not to get into a whole debate, but I am glad that in Europe we are beyond the whole "big government is evil" debate.

So yes, in the UK Apple products are more expensive than in the US. Like everything else, so this is hardly surprising. Also, it is largely due to the fact that we have 20% VAT, and not a plethora of sales tax, business tax, etc. It also costs the same regardless of where you buy, because VAT rates are national. And everybody pays VAT, I find it astonishing that just because you buy from Amazon you don't pay sales tax.

Apple student discounts are also much more generous in the UK - 14% off, +free 3-year warranty. So though I may only be speaking for myself, I can hardly complain.