Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sun 5th Mar 2006 21:32 UTC
This week saw the introduction of various new Apple products. Everybody has their own opinions on these new products, and websites all over the world saw enough discussions about the integrated video card of the Mini, the 'HiFi-ness' of the iPod HiFi, and more. Another issue, however, which got considerable less attention, was that of pricing. And no, I'm not talking about expensive-or-not (God, no). I'm talking about price differences between the US and Europe. And quite frankly, it's pissing me off. Note: This is this week's Sunday Eve Column.
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Member since:
2005-07-06
I think people hit a lot of the biggies.
Some other things are, how big is apple in Europe? If they have a smaller market there, then their prices would be hire to cover operating cost.
If they have employees based there, they have to account for their overhead separate from the US, and if wage and benefits are higher, and combines with less volume of sales, this would raise prices.
I would also assume apple has a rep or two in every country, some sort of office. Yet countries over there are like states or smaller here, thus less people to sell to, again, means more mark up to cover things.
Anyways, something else to add, such price differances are not just with apple products, its with everything. I know people buy camera gear from the US and ship it back to save money because prices in Europe are much higher. Seams to be the case with just about everything.
Also, no company charges the same everywhere. From one side of the US, to the other, the same store will charge vastly different prices. Food at a grocery store in California cost twice that of Food in a store in Pennsylvania, and yet a lot of the food even comes from California. Even in state you can see differences. Just go from say 1 wal mart to the next, the price for the same thing on the same day will often be different.
Another thing is if you took away the internet, and thus didn't know the US prices, thus the only price you knew was what it was where you were at, would you even think twice about it? No you wouldn't since you have no idea what others pay. And thats what it comes down to, there are who knows what reasons, but they exist, and the price is different, and the only reason you complain is because you can see it and not know everything behind it.