Gee, I'm glad we pay 1000 euro extra
17-inch PB from Apple.com store 3,299.00 US dollars
17-inch PB from Apple.nl store 4,163.81 euro
Now I converted the US price to Euros and got 3,179.15 euro. Now that's some price difference !
Anyone out there know what's up with our Dutch Pricing ?
I doubt Apple.nl will sell many at this price, (though the 12" will sell like hotcakes at 2,259.81)
hmmm....
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">
17-inch PB from Apple.nl store 4,163.81 euro
Now I converted the US price to Euros and got 3,179.15 euro. Now that's some price difference !
Anyone out there know what's up with our Dutch Pricing ?
I doubt Apple.nl will sell many at this price, (though the 12" will sell like hotcakes at 2,259.81)
hmmm....
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">
Comments
<strong>17-inch PB from Apple.com store 3,299.00 US dollars
17-inch PB from Apple.nl store 4,163.81 euro</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's including VAT. The price is EUR 3,499 without taxes (or $3,630 using the latest rates).
[ 01-08-2003: Message edited by: JLL ]</p>
Or else, some taxes. I'm seriously pondering flying to NY this summer to pick up a Powerbook and save some money still.
It is figured into the cost of an item usually... To get amount x14.89% of included price.
Don't the US prices include Sales Taxes?
The 17" PB is about £700 (Sterling) cheaper on the US Apple Store than the UK. Even UK educational price is about £300 more expensive...what can US students/teachers buy them for? (Business opportunity for students I think)
<strong>
Don't the US prices include Sales Taxes?
</strong><hr></blockquote>
No, because the US taxes state-by-state.
GST in Australia is 10% btw, and we get screwed here too.
The PowerBook 15" 1GHz translated into A$ plus 10% is $5333. Yet, we pay $5995.
Barto
<strong>so what's the 600 for ?</strong><hr></blockquote>
I can tell you exactly what it's for: Business Risk.
Once you go global, you incur an entirely new overhead, in addition to the overhead you're already dealing with. Add to that currency risk--any currency traders here care to jump in and give a lecture on...nevermind, I'm putting myself to sleep just *thinking* of you lecturing
If you don't believe me, doesn't hurt my feelings, after all I'll only pay $3299 for the 17" PB
NOTE: In case it isn't clear, I'm just being a wise-@$$ I don't really mean to rub it in, but then hey, you Europeans get more damn holidays/vacation/time-off than us Americans, so damnit, maybe we do deserve the price break
[ 01-09-2003: Message edited by: fuzz_ball ]</p>
<strong>
I can tell you exactly what it's for: Business Risk.
All I can say is that Apple isn't just saying "Hey, lets stick it to the EU for an extra $600 and see if they'll actually buy it!"
</strong><hr></blockquote>
In fact I think that's exactly what they do.
Firstly, since when have currencies been that volatile that they require a more than 10% safety margin? In any event, there are plenty of ways to hedge against currency risks, eg derivatives, that costs a lot less.
In fact they know that Europe generally has a much higher cost of living (our petrol is 76p per litre, which is over US$5 per gallon!) and that, compared to other goods competing for our surplus income, these do not seem as expensive. For many items "one UK pound = one dollar" is a good rule of thumb (cars, clothing, CDs, hotels etc come to mind), even though the actual exchange rate fluctuates around one UK pound = 1.5 dollars.
Higher wages to the sale persons
A two year warranty (I think its one year in US)*
Apple having difficulties maintaining a critical mass of customers. The number of Apple customers here is lower than in US, making the distribution costs etc. higher per unit.
*Or perhaps you don´t really have laws about these thing? I remember the iPod only having a 3 month warranty in the beginning. Even a cheapo toaster has two years of warranty here.
<strong>
Anyone out there know what's up with our Dutch Pricing ? </strong><hr></blockquote>
Ask Michael Caine....
<strong>
Sorry, DGNL, The Dutch seem to be getting the worst deal here but don't put all the blame on Apple (19%!!!)</strong><hr></blockquote>
He can then take a look at the Danish and Swedish prices to cheer him up. Our VAT is 25%
You just converted the price in USdollars from the US apple store to the exchange rate of your particular currency, and it almost matched with the price of the same computer of your particular apple store.
slightly before the euro came in prices for europeans went considerably higher.
seems apple doesnt want to sell a single computer over here because wintel already has 99.999999%
BTW, does anyone know what may happen at the airport/customs if i travel to Las Vegas (no taxes there i belive) to buy a powerbook (or if someone ships me one thru DHL/UPS..etc)?
<strong>hey gang, some 2 years ago i remember american prices for macs were exactly the same in europe (our beloved VAT aside)
You just converted the price in USdollars from the US apple store to the exchange rate of your particular currency, and it almost matched with the price of the same computer of your particular apple store.
slightly before the euro came in prices for europeans went considerably higher.
seems apple doesnt want to sell a single computer over here because wintel already has 99.999999%
BTW, does anyone know what may happen at the airport/customs if i travel to Las Vegas (no taxes there i belive) to buy a powerbook (or if someone ships me one thru DHL/UPS..etc)?</strong><hr></blockquote>
When the package comes into your (european) country you will have to pay the local tax plus custom-fee (which by the way is also added to the net-prices and amounts to appr. 6%). This is only valid if you declared it (DHL and FedEx do this automatically). If you get it by regular mail and do not declare it you are very likely to be caught and the computer will be conficated while you still will have to pay a fine, that can be as high as 5 times the value!
Nevertheless: in most EU-countries you are allowed to import a computer without paying any tax or customs when you can prove that you lived in the US for at least 12 months and own the wares you import for more than 6 months (applies also to cars, motorbikes and so on). These limits differ from country to country.
[ 01-09-2003: Message edited by: Gulliver ]</p>
<strong>
In fact I think that's exactly what they do.
Firstly, since when have currencies been that volatile that they require a more than 10% safety margin? In any event, there are plenty of ways to hedge against currency risks, eg derivatives, that costs a lot less.
In fact they know that Europe generally has a much higher cost of living (our petrol is 76p per litre, which is over US$5 per gallon!) and that, compared to other goods competing for our surplus income, these do not seem as expensive. For many items "one UK pound = one dollar" is a good rule of thumb (cars, clothing, CDs, hotels etc come to mind), even though the actual exchange rate fluctuates around one UK pound = 1.5 dollars.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I see your selective reading is creeping in, I said that currency risk was ONE factor; and minimize it all you like, but before you do, read about it instead of <assuming> about it.
<strong>Las Vegas has a 7.25% sales tax. Got a Las Vegas Apple Store receipt in my hands right now (we'll right in front of my hands). Something funny happens at the convention center where vendors don't charge sell tax during Comdex. Only no Apple products ever make it to the comdex/ces.</strong><hr></blockquote>
It's funny you mention that (no apple at comdex/ces) because this morning on the Today show, they apparantly had a guy there (saw slot-machines in the background) and he was reviewing some of the great gadgets "at the show". His little preview concluded with a look at the new 12" and 17" PBs!!!
So if the new PBs weren't there, then it appears there was some slick "product placement" going on
I think you'd be better off carrying on the box and mailing the laptop with the recent spate of "disappearing" laptops at US airports. I know I'll be mailing mine when I need to travel.
12" PB with memory and HD updates from Apple Store Finland
>>> 2800?
Flights to New York and back 300?
Same PowerBook 2200$
Extra power adapter from Apple Store Finland 100?
>>> about 2600?
I've even wanted to have a vacation in US sometime.
- Gon
[ 01-14-2003: Message edited by: Gon ]</p>
<strong>I think you'd be better off carrying on the box and mailing the laptop with the recent spate of "disappearing" laptops at US airports. I know I'll be mailing mine when I need to travel.</strong><hr></blockquote>Surely people are never separated from their carry-on luggage... are the disappearings thefts, related to security screening or both?
- Gon