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Well, yes. And if Apple just came out and said as much, that would be great. But instead they indulge us all in this tedious facade that they're here to provide some kind of humanitarian service.

Apple are here to make money. That's the beginning and the end of it. In the process, they produce devices that are genuinely fantastic, but they do so to turn a profit. So it's tough to swallow when Cook starts saying things like Apple are here "to serve" people at the same time as wallowing in extraordinary mark-ups, because it feels like he's treating us like fools.

Apple's been doing this for decades. Why is this a surprise to any of you?
 
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Luxury brands like Porsche, BMW, Rolex, etc. don't make their products in China. Branding is the only thing that separates Apple from other Chinese made phones but is that enough? Huawei surpassed Apple to become #2.

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/07/31/huawei-surpasses-apple-smartphone-shipments-q2-2018/

What? How is that remotely related to my point? If you don't find value at the price don't buy. Simple as that. I don't really care what Huawei surpassed nor do I see how it is relevant where Apple phones are made.
 
If iphone keeps getting more expensive. Will people stop upgrading every year?

Most people don't upgrade every year. Why do you assume they do?

There are 800 million iPhones out in the world today... but only 200 million were sold last year.

And before that... there was some number of iPhones out in the world... but a much smaller number than that sold in the previous year.

The point is... Apple didn't make these 2018 iPhones solely for the owners of 2017 iPhones.

But there's always somebody who is ready to buy a new iPhone at any given time.

Take me for instance. I've had this iPhone 6S Plus for three years. Purchased in 2015 shortly after launch.

I'm ready for a new iPhone now. And there will be others. But no... most of them won't be 2017 iPhone owners.
 
In this day and age 64GB should not be an option. This pricing model is nothing but self serving.

I take loads of 4K video and photos and keep everything stored on the cloud. Using a 64GB X right now and have never run into an issue. I don't see the need for higher storage levels for the average consumer.
 
Well technically it's his job to return value back to shareholders... testing the limits of how much users will pay for iOS seems like a valid way to do that. If you feel it's too expensive, vote with your dollars and buy something else.

I believe a lot of people are already doing it so...specially with the crappy Apple computers.
 
I think Tim is missing the point that Apple no longer has a NEW affordable option. If you want affordable, get the 7 which is already 2 years out of date or still pay a high price for last year's model. I am pretty sure this is all calculated, and would allocate their design, engineering and production towards the higher-end where the big margins are. But Apple seems to be missing the point that you need to continue to get new people into the eco-system.
 
This is not the case if you compare the more reasonable models. The iPhone 7 128 GB costs in Germany at launch 2016 869€. The XR costs with 128 GB 909€. That is 40€ difference and about 5% increase for 2 years of inflation and a much better product....(besides: the iPhone 7 32 GB had a starting price of 759€ in 2016 and not 699€...)

That’s a weird way of comparing prices.

iPhone 7 was the top model when it released so should be compared to the XS.

128 gb was mid storage at the time and as you correctly stated was € 869.
The XS with mid storage is now €1329.
 
Clearly you didn’t read my first sentence. I said BEFORE LAST YEAR. So yes I’m playing with the same facts you are and tried to tell me I’m not....using the exact same thing I already stated. All your following statement are void and I’m not arguing with that. I’m talking about PRE-2017.

#READ
#hookedonphonicsworkedforme

You're still wrong...lets go back to the 7s/7s Plus since that's what you're referencing.

The iPhone 7s was $649, not $599 like you say it was
The iPhone 7s Plus was $769, not $699 like you say it was

The iPhone 8 was $699, so up $50 last year from previous year.
The iPhone 8 Plus was $799, so up $30 last year from previous year.

Now the iPhone Xr is $750...which is the split in price of the 8/8Plus...and it's the best of both form factors. The prices aren't & haven't been as low as what you think for years.

I mean **** things go up in price...everything does. Your food, shelter, clothing, goods, etc. If you don't want something don't buy it. This isn't some drastic money grab like you think. It looks pretty standard overall and in fact the Xr is a bargain since it's the size of a Plus and $50 cheaper.


#FACTSAGAIN
 
At a time of the dollar being very high, and with almost all their manufacturing overseas, these price bumps are just insane. So when the dollar goes back down again, they can use that as an excuse to raise prices again.
Bean counter Tim at it again.
 
Unfortunately I have been a avid yearly purchaser. But im priced out. With Apple Care for the X your looking at about $1400. If you are not an impulse buyer, how can you reasonably justify that?

The issue is, they hope your going to lease your phone. A subscription world we live in. Count me out.

I am sure they will make boatloads of money, but IMO, this is everything Apple use to stand against. Confusing lineup, selling old technology, with crazy naming schemes.

Very well put, couldn't agree more.
 
Sorry Tim, I was looking at replacing my 6S but I'm not going to empty my wallet with one of your new toys. You are really taking the piss asking that amount of money for a phone.
It looks like I'll search out a used iPhone 8 so no money this year for Apple from me.
Perhaps, one day you will realise that you are pricing yourself out of business. Then you won't be a $1T company. $1B more like.
 
Yup, where’s the SE’s replacement Timmy Mcscrooge?

Before the iPhone, we had a somewhat popular music player. I remember the iPod having pocket versions.
Now were did I leave my manilla envelope sized leather wallet ...
 
You want to serve everyone??
Really?

By offering a $1400 iphone?
or by offering a 2-year-old iphone 7 at an entry price of $450.00??

It is really a joke of pretty bad taste.

Tim Cook, raise the prices as much as you want, but please do not make fun of your customers...

Cook and Apple greed is beyond ridiculous.
 
I do not care if they charge 2000$ for a MAXX XL Plus. But no affordable yet small iphone se2? Yeah, it is only 5% of the customers but they we're waiting. Now the price for an iphone is as high as a macbook pro 10 years ago. But it is still not a computer, has no keyboard, etc. WHY? And macbook pro now costs double the price as 10 years ago and that is not inflation.
 
You want to serve everyone??
Really?

By offering a $1400 iphone?
or by offering a 2-year-old iphone 7 at an entry price of $450.00??

It is really a joke of pretty bad taste.

Tim Cook, raise the prices as much as you want, but please do not make fun of your customers...

Cook and Apple greed is beyond ridiculous.
So true.

I just love it when multi-billionaires spout stuff like this.
Greed posing as selfless servitude.

Some days I wish they just do a Gordon Gecko. At least they'd be honest.

Tim Cook, raise the prices as much as you want, but please do not make fun of your customers...
Well said.
 
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Is it the visual of the price tag? The illision of getting a $200 phone?

I knew tons of people I knew that thought they were only paying $200 for their iPhone on those 2 Year plans.

When I told them I paid for my iPhone outright they were like why would you do that?!? I had to explain the savings was like $800-$1200 over 2 years...they didn't believe me...ran their plans vs mine with similar rates/data/etc...had to show them the math.

These carriers just had people who didn't care about researching anything & take them big time.
 
You can vote by not opening your wallet to buy an overpriced phone, but unfortunately too many people will rationalize the purchase by financing it through their carrier. "It's only $50 a month"...

People only get this angry and hateful because they want it badly. If they didn't want it they wouldn't care about the price. Yet they sit there and see if only it had lasers it would be worth it. They become agitated when others find it with in budget and will buy it in spite of their protests.

Seriously if you find you can not afford a phone you are not likely to have a use that justifies the cost. If that is the case the phone is a luxury.
 
I've read nearly have of the comments on this post and here are my opinions on some of the recurring comments/concerns.

Why still have the 7 and 8 models?

The West is no longer Apple's "bread and butter" customers. India and China are.

Because Asia is becoming more middle class, Apple is trying to keep the iPhone line "affordable" by offering old tech at a price point that the Asian middle class or above can still tolerate. Have you all forgotten Apple's recent shakeup of their India operations? One of the major issues was the lack of an affordable phone for that market. What about its investment into software development centers in Mumbai?

There are more Asians looking at that 7 and 8 as a luxury item and willing to pay for it than there are Westerners willing to pay for all the inventory of all the models, combined.

In appears, that for Westerners, Apple's philosophy is: "Meh, if they can get it, they can get it.". I just don't see Apple caring about the American, Canadian, European, or Australian markets like they used to in decades past.

Perception of Price Gouging?

Most people aren't upgrading every year and haven't been doing that for quite some time. Apple also knows that smartphone hardware has matured. We're just not going to see the ground breaking changes that we saw between the original iPhone up to the 5. Currently, they can only move the needle in small increments.

Hence, they have to make as much money as they can per unit, right now, because they may not see you again for another 3 to 4 years. When considering Apple's reliability, it may be longer. (I'm still running a 6+ and have no intention of upgrading for another two years.)

Let's look at the extreme case. If you annualize the purchase of an iPhone Xs Max (what a ridiculous name!) @ ~ $2,000 USD, it'll cost you (unadjusted for inflation) around $500/year or $42/month.

That's actually not that bad as long as you don't lose it or break it. Even still, if you choose to opt-in to the updated Apple Care, then you can possibly hedge against that risk with your coverage.

Why no "One more thing?"

What we used to know as "Apple Computer" is now the "iPhone Company" .

Let's face it, Apple's leadership is bored. But not only are they bored, they're filthy rich. They have none of the incentive that most working people have which is to get rich and/or be stimulated by their work. Imagine winning with very little effort year after year, financially beating your "competition" hand over fist.

These, mostly middle aged men, are at a point in their lives where they have very little to prove to anyone any more. They have other people, a virtual army, doing that for them.

Hence, they essentially have no incentive to change things since their "golden goose" won't stop laying these huge golden eggs.

And that's why for the past five or more keynotes Phil, Eddie, and Tim have become what amounts to an insomniac's dream. That's why the crowds are so silent. Ever worse, that's why avid iPhone devotees have lost their religion.
 
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It's OK Tim! you don't need to lie!
You don't need to say you serve the customers when instead you serve the investors, you can't hide to the world that Apple, thanks to you, has become the richest company ever, you really did a good job but... just make me a favour if you can:

Can you be a little bit less hypocrite?

Since you has become CEO you have been incredible good in get us used to:

- Incredible expensive laptops impossible to upgrade and repair.
- Computers without ports.
- Purchase of expensive dongles.
- Smart phones that cost more than laptops.
- Laptops that cost more than cars.
- Disposable 5000$ all in one PCs.

If the trend is correct I predict that next step will be smart watches that cost more than smart phones.

While I completely agree with you, you know the best way to voice your disgust right? Don't buy it, or do what I do, buy used and save around 50% or more..if people keep buying their new overly priced items, they'll keep increasing them
 
Sorry Tim, I was looking at replacing my 6S but I'm not going to empty my wallet with one of your new toys. You are really taking the piss asking that amount of money for a phone.
It looks like I'll search out a used iPhone 8 so no money this year for Apple from me.
Perhaps, one day you will realise that you are pricing yourself out of business. Then you won't be a $1T company. $1B more like.

Dear Stevie,

Thank you for purchasing the 6S and joining us on the way to our first trillion. Feel free to join us when price points go to $1,500 minimum and we celebrate our second trillion mark.

best regards
[doublepost=1536866384][/doublepost]
I've read nearly have of the comments on this post and here are my opinions on some of the recurring comments/concerns.

Why still have the 7 and 8 models?

The West is no longer Apple's "bread and butter" customers. India and China are.

Because Asia is becoming more middle class, Apple is trying to keep the iPhone line "affordable" by offering old tech at a price point that the Asian middle class or above can still tolerate. Have you all forgotten Apple's recent shakeup of their India operations? One of the major issues was the lack of an affordable phone for that market. What about its investment into software development centers in Mumbai?

There are more Asians looking at that 7 and 8 as a luxury item and willing to pay for it than there are Westerners willing to pay for all the inventory of all the models, combined.

In appears, that for Westerners, Apple's philosophy is: "Meh, if they can get it, they can get it.". I just don't see Apple caring about the American, Canadian, European, or Australian markets like they used to in decades past.

Perception of Price Gouging?

Most people aren't upgrading every year and haven't been doing that for quite some time. Apple also knows that smartphone hardware has matured. We're just not going to see the ground breaking changes that we saw between the original iPhone up to the 5. Now, they can only move the needle in small increments. Hence, they have to make as much money as they can per unit, right now, because they may not see you again for another 3 to 4 years. When considering Apple's reliability, it may be longer. (I'm still running a 6+ and have no intention of upgrading for another two years.)

Let's look at the extreme case. If you annualize the purchase of an iPhone Xs Max (what a ridiculous name!) @ ~ $2,000 USD, it'll cost you (unadjusted for inflation) around $500/year or $42/month.

That's actually not that bad as long as you don't lose it or break it. Even still, if you choose to opt-in to the updated Apple Care, then can possible hedge against that risk of it being covered.

Why no "One more thing?"

What we used to know as "Apple Computer" is now the "iPhone Company" .

Let's face it, Apple's leadership is bored. But not only are they bored, they're filthy rich. They have none of the incentive that most working people have which is to get rich and/or be stimulated by their work. Imagine winning with very little effort year after year, financially beating your "competition" hand over fist.

These, mostly middle aged men, are at a point in their lives where they have very little to prove to anyone any more. They have other people, a virtual army, doing that for them.

Hence, they have virtually no incentive to change things since their "golden goose" won't stop laying these huge golden eggs. And that's why for the past five or more keynotes Phil, Eddie, and Tim have become what amount's to an insomniac's dream. That's why the crowds are so silent. Ever worse that's why avid iPhone devotees have lost their religion.

One more thing doesn't work anymore you can't go to that trick again. The only way i could see it working is if one more thing was the announcement they had perfected cryogenic freezers and brought Steve back from the dead. Then Steve walks on stage to talk about pride watchbands
 
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