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:
2005-07-12
What tax numbers are you using? Sales tax (VAT)? Normal goods import? Those numbers don't line up with the import taxes/duties last time I looked... Is that the difference in VAT between regions or something? Sure doesn't look like the duty rates.
Didn't the netherlands just last year put a 14% universal duty on computer and video equipment imports, while Germany remains duty free on that? I remember something about that in relation to DVI semi-recently.
Not to mention did you pull up third country tarrifs and dock fees? Account for different storage and labor rates across regions? Customs handling fees? (those ALONE can run 1-5%) Port docking fees? Cost of fuel at your airports and ports vs. the countries around you? Renting tarmac space if flying it in?
Laying it all in Apples lap is hardly fair - I don't bitch that a pack of smokes costs about 50 cents a pack less one state over, because I realize that employees get paid more there, it costs more to ship it there because of the terrain, costs more to store it there because land is cheaper here... Shall I go on?
But then we're talking about a region who's import tax on computers is 33% if they come from Japan... That makes US duties on VEHICLES seem low.