“Apple Computer’s ‘most affordable’ Mac–the Mac Mini–has drawn a storm of protest from European shoppers, who are petitioning the Mac maker to bring EU pricing better in line with that of the United States,” Jo Best reports for CNET News.
“The online petition states: ‘We’d like to make an appeal to Apple on the pricing of the new Mac Mini in the European Union. Basing on the last long-term rate of exchange of U.S. dollars to euros (and vice versa)–which is 1.3293 on the spot market, so let’s say 1.32–both announced prices of the Mac mini in Europe, 489 euros and 589 euros, respectively, are much too high.’ The petition also states that German users come off particularly badly in the pricing scrap, with an extra 50 euros for the lower spec Mac Mini and 60 euros for the higher spec machine,” Best reports.
“The petition’s writers also claim the higher EU pricing is counterproductive for Apple’s business strategy and would serve to discourage potential PC to Mac switchers,” Best reports. “So far, the petition has attracted more than 2,000 signatures from across the European Union.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: With only 2,000 or so signatures, the “storm of protest” as Best describes it sounds more like a “tempest in a teapot” to us.
It’s worth paying at least a 20% premium for not having to live in the USA.
Prices in japan are pretty comparable to the US. I think one possible reason for the discrepancy in pricing is that the exchange rates can to the other way too. It is very hard to change your across the board pricing due to exchange rates and so Apple builds in some cushion to protect their margins.
Some examples
– Mac mini in USA 499 USD with no tax when ordered from Apple (is this right? No tax?)
-Mac mini in Japan 55,800 Yen divided by 102.17 yen to the dollar exchange rate comes to 546 USD. Japan has 5% consumption tax so the final total is 58,590 or 573 USD.
However, if the exchange rate is 120 yen to the dollar, the prices are 465 and 488 USD respectively. Even though the dollar has been weak recently it has been over 130 yen to the dollar within the last few years.
See what I mean?
Gary is the same sort of good patriot as McCarthy.
He used the same language and dragged America’s good name through the mud and gave the real communists a lot of ammunition.
But of course, pea-brained Gary probably thinks I’m talking about the Beatles.
apple rips off its european customers.
Not only that but the PowerMac (and iMac I believe) is only sold with 110 volt, not the usual 110-220 volt, so people can’t buy them in the states and bring them over to Europe.
It’s not Steve’s fault the dollar sucks.
Ahhh, I love you corrupt Europeans telling us how to do things.
France especially, gee, I wonder which country was part of the biggest fraud and corruption scam in history in cahoots with the UN?
This is not Apple’s fault as others have mentioned. 25% tax?!? How absurd is that!
Just signed. Now it’s 5120!
Be careful Stringbean there’s a chomper behind you!
Tempest in a can of worms is more like it.
the mini isn’t health care, food, or a public utility. Buy it or don’t. God I am am happy there is an ocean between us!
Uhm, am I missing something, EU gets taxed up the ARSEN..
This happened with the iTMS too.. why do they bitch incessantly.
Of course, I may be missing it here..
UK pricing is pretty fair. It was starting to get silly (equivalent of $95 for a bluetooth mouse), but they recently re-aligned most of the prices to account for the exchange rate.
This took away what were becoming embarrasingly high margins in the UK and Europe, and now things are much better.
People do, however, need to realise that the prices include VAT and delivery (above a certain amount). Dell, on the other hand, charges £50 + VAT for delivery. That’s over $90. But there’s no choice in getting it delivered or picking it up from a store. There are no stores. They put this figure on in order to make the ‘price excluding VAT and delivery’ look very attractive.
Apple should consider quoting prices excluding VAT too, as they used to do, if only to avoid this kind of confusion. They could include other local taxes/inport duties too, so that their pricing is transparent.
They should also, perhaps, consider being more dynamic on the pricing, maybe adjusting on a monthly or quarterly basis rather than when they discover that people are never going to switch when something has a 20% mark up (before taxes) ove the US price.
“25% tax?!? How absurd is that!”
It’s not absurd if you look at what we get for it… Taxes are not for the benefit of others, but for the benefit of the society. When I earn well, I pay high income tax, when I’m unemployed I pay low tax and get a quite decent benefit (mening I can keep my flat and car and buy food)…
It’s the same idea of caring for those in need as we see at the moment when people all over the world donate money to the victims of the tsunami in Asia – I just do it every day to the citizens in my country who has been less lucky in their lives…
Good news: It’s a sign that the Mac Mini will sell hugely in Europe…
Bad news: It isn’t just Apple, its everything. Want US prices? Go and live there.
One very good reason why Europe is more expensive is the idiot bureacracy of the EC. Why are there 15+ VAT rates in Europe for example? It’s no wonder US business needs to price more here.
I won’t sign the petition. I’d sooner petition Brussels.
Right Mac112!
Anybody who has tried to introduce a fairer system in the US has been howled down as a ‘commie’.
It’s the ‘Rifle Association’ mentality.
Yeah, Americans aren’t too bright and have very little social grace. We only consider facts up until they stop affirming our opinion and then we just start slangin insults and accusations. The problem is the behavior is both fun and successful, so I don’t see it ending anytime soon. For the most part we’re harmless, just don’t try to take our money. Money is very important to us. We tend to ignore the fact that money is made from a community and instead insist that whatever comes in our possession we rightfully deserve and anyone grabbing for it is going to pull away with a few less fingers.
i am a daily reader of this site and i am sick and tierd of the “whinging euro” and “euresocialist” comments regarding the price difference.
Why is it that you some of you guys think ” if its not in the States” it is inferior, or whimpish,
What is it with you lot ???????
Bash America for all you want, but we’re the ones who saved Europe from total destruction in World War II.
On the whole, I find Europe fascinating, however, I can’t stand Eurotrash who deem to bash the US just because we decide not to support dictators.
And of course, Apple is an American company.
Why does MDN put down European apple owners upset by high prices
well chomper,, ur comments just about sum up the american moronic approach to world politics, which is we saved your butt and we challenge dictators.
However, that attitude may explain why half the worlds population hate you and want to attack you at every given oppoertunity, oh and you forgot to mention that american forgien policy created most of the dictators, that you keep refering to.
Oh and lastly, yes apple is an american company, who would most likely be horrified to be associated with comments such as yours.
i gladly pay a premium for my mac, so long as i dont need to live in your self believing, big headed, greedy, narrow minded hill billy land
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But chomper, you do support dictators
Pinochet, Noriega, Hitler (for the first 10 years or so), Mussilini (’cause he got those trains on time), Saddam Hussein (since the US-sponsored coup through the Irag-Iran war, right up to 1989), Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Soeharto. Far out the list goes on.
It’s OK you can admit it, dictators make good economic sense after all, but don’t go giving us any morality lessons OK?
These winders should get a life or they can complain the pricing of European cars in the United States of America!!! They are also much cheaper than anywhere else in the world!!! So shut up!!!!
Oh, BTW, how come those same whiners never complain about the price of gas in Europe??? Did it occur to them that is due to different economic system? Idiots
well chuckie, if you wish to complain about the cost of cars in america go ahead. Oh and where do you americans get of telling people what to do, quote “so shut up”. maybe if you load mouth opinionated idiots stopped thinking you are always right, the world would be a safer place to live, yeah !!!!!!!!
chuckie,
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you guys have no idea how the rest of the world thinks, operates, and views the wider world. you are to busy pating yourselves on the back and boasting about this that or the other. it is little wonder the usa is so hated throughout the world,