Tim Cook Says Apple Products 'Change the World' and Aren't Priced Just 'For the Rich'

[Brien]

This forum definitely skews upper-middle to upper class ( just look at how many people here upgrade all of their Apple products yearly, to the tune of several thousand dollars or more), so probably not the best place to get accurate insight.

I guess Tim is technically right, if you want to buy 2/3 year old products. People with lots of disposable income (or massive credit card debt) are definitely the target market, though.

 

[johngordon]

so looking back at this thread now that the phone prices have been released.

I was right with the 999 pricing of the iPhone X, but i was seriously wrong about the iPhone 8. Where I figured they'd be able to save some costs and tried to differentiate the iPhone 8 by lowering the price by $50, they did the opposite and raised it $50

This is pretty opposite and counter tim cook's claims. Raising prices constantly and saying "not just for the rich" tends to feel disingenuous. LIke he was trying to "Spin" before the prices were released.

the aWatch pricing is very reasonable. So when that was announced I figured that was a good sign for the rest of the day. Then the Apple TV at 179 made me spit out my coffee and wonder what they were thinking. But now $50 price increase across the iPhone 8 as well is a bit rich.

I don't think a price increase or not makes the difference between a product 'being for the rich' or not.

The rather obvious and indisputable fact that so many people now own Apple products is surely enough to dispel any notion that Apple products are only for the rich?

If Apple products really were only for the rich, they wouldn't shift anywhere near as many units as they do.

I'm not rich by any means, but will probably upgrade my 5S to an X. And I'll probably have it for about four years before upgrading again. I'm paying £15 / $20 a month for 8GB data / 1000 minutes and unlimited texts, which I think is pretty good. Total cost of ownership over four years is £1720 / $2270.

My wife has just got a free high end Xperia on contract - but is tied into £40 / $53 a month, giving her a total cost of ownership of £1920 / $2540.

Also, I'm old enough to remember having a phone, a point and shoot camera, a walkman and a portable games console. Considering the modern smartphone is about the best version of all of these things, and more, in a single device, I can appreciate the value, so am happy enough to spend quite a bit on a good one every four years or so.

 

[Michael Scrip]

If Apple products really were only for the rich, they would shift anywhere near as many units as they do.

I think you meant you say wouldn't shift as many units...

 

[johngordon]

This forum definitely skews upper-middle to upper class ( just look at how many people here upgrade all of their Apple products yearly, to the tune of several thousand dollars or more), so probably not the best place to get accurate insight.

I guess Tim is technically right, if you want to buy 2/3 year old products. People with lots of disposable income (or massive credit card debt) are definitely the target market, though.

Sure, but you might as well say that your local supermarket would be technically right to say its not 'just for the rich' because they don't have to buy all the most expensive / best products in the store.
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I think you meant you say wouldn't shift as many units...

D'oh!

 

[jamesrick80]

This forum definitely skews upper-middle to upper class ( just look at how many people here upgrade all of their Apple products yearly, to the tune of several thousand dollars or more), so probably not the best place to get accurate insight.

I guess Tim is technically right, if you want to buy 2/3 year old products. People with lots of disposable income (or massive credit card debt) are definitely the target market, though.

You are right. Most people on this forum are middle class or upper middle class. But then again their are many Americans who use monthly payment plans for their devices so you never know. I prefer paying in full for my devices.

 

[Easttime]

Not priced for the rich?? This fall we have been unable to help our daughter replace the Mac we got her when she started university. She's going on in grad school and needs a replacement. We love the OS, but the hardware price stopped us cold. This is a family who has been all in Apple since 2011.

 

[johngordon]

Not priced for the rich?? This fall we have been unable to help our daughter replace the Mac we got her when she started university. She's going on in grad school and needs a replacement. We love the OS, but the hardware price stopped us cold. This is a family who has been all in Apple since 2011.

So is your view that Apple have only recently become a company that only makes products for the rich?

Or that you used to be rich, but are no longer rich?

 

[OllyW]

So is your view that Apple have only recently become a company that only makes products for the rich?

Or that you used to be rich, but are no longer rich?

Haven't you noticed how much their prices have crept up over the last few years?

You could buy a 15" MBP for £1599 in 2015, the cheapest you can get one now is £2349 so it's moved out of the price range for many customers.

 

[johngordon]

Haven't you noticed how much their prices have crept up over the last few years?

You could buy a 15" MBP for £1599 in 2015, the cheapest you can get one now is £2349 so it's moved out of the price range for many customers.

I'll give you the MBP - since they added the touch bar thing, they did go up a lot. Although the cheapest 15" MBP is £1899, not £2349.

But there is still the Air and the MacBook - although it would be good if they got the MacBook back under £1000.

 

[OllyW]

Although the cheapest 15" MBP is £1899, not £2349.

I forgot they were still selling the old 2015 model for £300 more than when it first went on sale but you'd be crazy to even consider paying that much for such outdated hardware.

 

[kazmac]

And yet they keep bumping up prices on new tech and let cheaper options languish (except for the no frills iPad.)

If they update the Mac Mini, SE while keeping them at the same price point and lower the price on the MacBook etc. THEN I might believe Cook's comments about the rich. Changing the world, yeah Tim.

 

[johngordon]

I forgot they were still selling the old 2015 model for £300 more than when it first went on sale but you'd be crazy to even consider paying that much for such outdated hardware.

Fair enough - I didn't realise it was literally the same model from 2015, with nothing updated, and increased in price by £300 for the exact same machine.

 

[bobmepp]

when was the last time u spent $3,800 on a Dell server ? Those PowerEdge servers are bloody expensive.

You make a very good point that is rarely made, even at macrumors. When the late 2013 MacPro 6 core had it's price reduced earlier this year, I finally sprung for it, and I haven't regretted it for a minute. While it isn't a cutting edge work station, it is still, component for component, one of the best deals you can get for a machine that really can slurp up many if not all of the tough jobs anyone would want to do with a workstation.