Reuters columnist pens holiday hit piece: The ‘Apple Tax,’ America’s costly obsession

“With the ‘fiscal cliff’ looming, taxpayers are wringing their hands about all sorts of things. Income taxes might rise, dividends might get walloped, lifetime gift-tax exemptions might get slashed,” Chris Taylor writes for Reuters. “But when it comes to immediate impact on their wallets, maybe they should be thinking about something else entirely: The Apple tax.”

“Americans are shelling out big bucks annually to outfit the entire household with Apple products. And they are spending hundreds – if not thousands of dollars – more each year for the unexpected Apple “taxes” — add-ons that lock them into the Apple system: iTunes downloads for music, movies and games, along with subscriptions and accessories,” Taylor writes. “Then there are the replacement costs for lost or broken equipment. For a family with multiple children, each with their own technological needs, the total annual bill can get downright ugly — like going over a familial ‘fiscal cliff.'”

“In 2011, the average amount U.S. households spent on Apple products was $444, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty. That figure has been rising smartly every year. In 2010 it was $295. Back in 2007, it was only $150,” Taylor writes. “And we might only be seeing the beginning. If Apple rolls out its own HDTV, as expected, Huberty sees annual Apple spending by households doubling, to $888 by 2015… Remember, this is not something that consumers are being forced to pay. They are dipping willingly into their own pockets, because they’re essentially slaves to the devices.”

Full article – Think Before You Click™ – here.

MacDailyNews Take: How much did Apple’s competitors pay for this pile of crap?

Yes, let’s all stop buying from Apple Inc. The 598,500 U.S. jobs that Apple has created/supported can just evaporate – that’ll be just great for this (or any) U.S. economy. Everyone can just spend the money they save not buying Apple products on providing assistance to the former Apple/Apple-supported unemployed. (But, oh, that’ll cost you about fifty times more – have a nice day!)

Newsflash: Some people actually use Apple products to – gasp! – make money. Imagine that. Most of our Apple devices are our very stylish slaves, minimalist minions that generate many times more than they cost upfront or to maintain (right around $0). Other Apple devices that we have mostly for our own enjoyment (Apple TV, iPods, iPad mini, etc.) deliver high quality and value for the money.

Here’s a shocker: If you can’t afford something, don’t buy it. Don’t blame Apple for making world-beating products for which people line up around the block. People blow a lot more money each year on shit that offers nothing in return or even costs them more money, time and/or good health.