you are completely out of topic....sorry!
my comment: the quality of life is same everywhere...no matter what your political view is, you may jump easily from the "bright side" (easy-going style, good salary, nice house, happy family) to the "sewer" in a blink of an eye...don't blame America....blame yourself because you support with your vote those who can financially strangle you whenever decided....![]()
Same **** and even worse in Greece
Yesterday was anounced the prices for the new iphones
Iphone 5s 16GB its 738 or 1028$ without contract
We are still waiting for the new macbook pros
but the early 2013 base 15' inch retina is at 2370 or 3271$
the maxed out retina is at 3000 or 4140$ !!!
Considering that the basic monthly salary is at 550
and that if you are lucky to still have a job makes buying a mac just a dream for the majority of people
...as mentioned in the one article, companies are doing this because they can, and people will pay.
The quality of life is same everywhere?
I never said there was not a good quality of life in America. I said more people fall through the cracks than in Beglium. Smaller country, easier to maintain, easier to create a healthcare state.
In your opinion, why APPLE products are more expensive in your country? ...is there any connection with the "healthcare" state? or high average salary? ...
PS: Do you believe people in China buy APPLE products at lower prices?
Yeah. I was just in hong kong this summer. I would say a imac and mbps where 20-40% cheaper than in Europe.
I won't disagree...but do you think your government collects money for a better "healthcare" state by selling you a more expensive i.e. rMBP?....do you really believe that?
...or because APPLE retailers in your country want to make a huge profit since they know that your average salary is much higher in Europe? (roaches and mice...)
In a previous post, there is a statement that in your country, people average income is around 3200-3400 euros, is that correct? (!!!)
Have you ever heard of "global financial depression"? maybe not? ...![]()
i'm from the uk and bought a maxed out 15" rmbp haswell (2.6ghz, 16gb ram, 1td ssd) in nyc on friday, paid $3450 after taxes and my friend's student discount, that included applecare too
that's roughly 2140 GBP. which is LOWER than the cost of the base rmbp with the 750m in the uk, without applecare!!!!
I worked it out quickly on the day and it was a saving of around 800gbp
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Are you directing your question towards the correct person? I do not know if luffytubby is from Belgium - I was responding more to the people who stated that they were from there.
I'm trying to post the source I got it from, but I cannot remember at this point. However, the Economy of Belgium Wiki is saying that it's 3133 euros monthly (2012) .. you can find the source in the footnote.
I am not sure what you're really asking, though. It is no surprise that that the European healthcare model is different from that of the United States. As an American, I can see this in Canada, which is closer to a European mode.
What does the global financial depression have to do with anything, anyways?
My statement:
...
Usually, all these "roaches and mice" (APPLE retailers)...smell where big money goes and run after it! Under these conditions, they think it's easy to sell APPLE products 20%-30% more expensive than in the USA (also, people, there, have never complained).
In addition, APPLE retailers make contracts and import APPLE products using the exchange rate: 1 USD / 1 EURO, making an additional profit over 35%.
However, some people in Europe may believe that their government collects money for a better "healthcare" state by selling imported products more expensive (i.e. rMBP in our topic) due to higher VAT%.
This is not 100% correct!
APPLE customers need to wake up and start complaining to their local retailers about this ridiculous situation and use all the lawful means to reduce prices.
BUT, if they don't care and don't act collectively, retailers will be very happy and will never reduce the prices....In this case, People in Europe shouldn't "blame America" for that...
(NOW, do you understand me?)![]()
Gross is not exactly disposable income.I am also seeing some data that shows that around half of all Americans earn less than 3416 per month before taxes.
So about 75% of gross monthly Belgian income will be spent on 15" rMBP (2400 euros)
About 64% of gross monthly US income will be spent on 15" rMBP (1999 + 194 in taxes locally)
So yes, I agree that this is not favorable, but as mentioned in the one article, companies are doing this because they can, and people will pay.
The cost for buying a new high end rmbp in America, is lower than the cost for buying a low end rmbp in Europe!!!
It's actually disgusting.
It's nothing new, I know. But still 1 euro is 1,3 dollar today.
The cost for buying a new high end rmbp in America, is lower than the cost for buying a low end rmbp in Europe!!!
It's actually disgusting.
Thank god I'm flying to NYC next week so I can buy one
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My airplane ticket is cheaper than the difference with their conversion
let me understand better. Do you own an electronics market/store in Europe? where? do you accept this situation?
You have explained us very well how the "rodents" make legally money by introducing contributions and taxes...BUT whose "pocket", do you think, is getting heavier? the pocket of....government? retailers? APPLE? others?... because, as you may realize, people in Europe pay much more (around 30-40% more than in the USA) to buy the same product.
Everybody knows that this is ridiculous in a free market competition!![]()
In 2011 when the rMBP was released at 2199 euro's which was 2680 dollars back then, now it's 1999 euro's which is 2760 dollars at the current rate! This means Apple is even fetching 100 dollars more today than they did at the release, instead of asking 200 dollars less!
Apple should be honest and respect the rate, instead of referring to it only when it means higher prices. The 15" rMBP should've been 1799 euro's which is 2480 dollars, 200 dollars cheaper like it's 200 dollars cheaper in the US. And then there would still be the 25% gap between the prices in the US and in Europe.