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Expos of 1969

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Original poster
Aug 25, 2013
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I no longer subscribe to Apple Music and one reason is that they refuse to offer users outside North America (please correct me if I am incorrect but I know that all or most of Europe is excluded) the Annual Individual subscription. Why should millions of international users be excluded from benefitting from the discounted rate? One would think that in Europe Apple would make every effort to take market share from Spotify. I posed the question to Apple Support and after taking 10 minutes to search their guidance materials, I was told that Apple does not offer this to my country. Geniuses!! I stated in my question to Support that I knew it was not offered and i wanted to know the reason(s). I was told to send in feedback.

Have any of you asked this question and have you received a more intelligent response from Apple?
 

BigMcGuire

Cancelled
Jan 10, 2012
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I subscribe to the family plan, I had no clue they offered an annual individual plan!

I too would think Europe would be pretty on par with North America, that surprises me. Thanks to your enlightenment in the past, you've definitely opened my eyes to that. :(
 

Expos of 1969

Contributor
Original poster
Aug 25, 2013
4,825
9,514
I subscribe to the family plan, I had no clue they offered an annual individual plan!

I too would think Europe would be pretty on par with North America, that surprises me. Thanks to your enlightenment in the past, you've definitely opened my eyes to that. :(
My understanding is that only individuals can get an annual plan for 99USD. Do you have a family annual plan?

This music subscription is only the tip of the iceberg of how foreign customers are discriminated against. No 10% bonus when putting money on Apple ID, in countries where there are no Apple stores no 14 day return policy. No return at all unless the item is broken at time of purchase. No Apple Care+. Higher prices (and not solely due to taxes and exchange rates).

That's why it is sometimes frustrating when all these US based users are commenting on great deals, buy an iPad just as a spare or upgrade every year or two etc. etc. Anyway, it is what it is but Apple plays favourites (to their future detriment in my opinion). Did you notice in the iOS upcoming features they are adding quite few things for Indians? Hmm, I wonder why...maybe because they are trying to diversify away from China?

Anyway, my beer is cold, it is 6PM here and the burgers will soon be on the BBQ and I will be listening to Spotify on my Samsung Galaxy S10e :cool::cool:
 
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BigMcGuire

Cancelled
Jan 10, 2012
9,832
14,032
My understanding is that only individuals can get an annual plan for 99USD. Do you have a family annual plan?

This music subscription is only the tip of the iceberg of how foreign customers are discriminated against. No 10% bonus when putting money on Apple ID, in countries where there are no Apple stores no 14 day return policy. No return at all unless the item is broken at time of purchase. No Apple Care+. Higher prices (and not solely due to taxes and exchange rates).

That's why it is sometimes frustrating when all these US based users are commenting on great deals, buy an iPad just as a spare or upgrade every year or two etc. etc. Anyway, it is what it is but Apple plays favourites (to their future detriment in my opinion). Did you notice in the iOS upcoming features they are adding quite few things for Indians? Hmm, I wonder why...maybe because they are trying to diversify away from China?

Anyway, my beer is cold, it is 6PM here and the burgers will soon be on the BBQ and I will be listening to Spotify on my Samsung Galaxy S10e :cool::cool:

Doesn't look like I can do an annual family plan (I would if I could - heh!). It's been so long since I've checked this:

Screen Shot 2020-07-03 at 7.57.27 AM.png


I didn't notice - but I know Apple is working in India now so they're trying to be nice to them - Re: the problem they're having getting Chinese iPhones through India ports.

Have a great evening - sounds good :).
 

Expos of 1969

Contributor
Original poster
Aug 25, 2013
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Offered in China.

View attachment 930519

100RMB is about $14.13, by the way.
Thanks for the input.
Very interesting. Apple does a lot of China-centric moves. I don't really care what Apple offers to the Chinese market but offering the same subscription plans to all customers globally would be the equitable approach.
 

JonnyBlaze

macrumors 6502
May 5, 2008
291
279
UK
I’m already on the £99 annual plan in the U.K. I’ve still got the option for annual in my subscription settings. I’ve just checked my wife’s account (she’s on a 3 month free trial), and she has an option to sign up for the £99 annual plan too.
 

Expos of 1969

Contributor
Original poster
Aug 25, 2013
4,825
9,514
I’m already on the £99 annual plan in the U.K. I’ve still got the option for annual in my subscription settings. I’ve just checked my wife’s account (she’s on a 3 month free trial), and she has an option to sign up for the £99 annual plan too.
Thanks for the info.
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,118
10,910
I no longer subscribe to Apple Music and one reason is that they refuse to offer users outside North America (please correct me if I am incorrect but I know that all or most of Europe is excluded) the Annual Individual subscription. Why should millions of international users be excluded from benefitting from the discounted rate? One would think that in Europe Apple would make every effort to take market share from Spotify. I posed the question to Apple Support and after taking 10 minutes to search their guidance materials, I was told that Apple does not offer this to my country. Geniuses!! I stated in my question to Support that I knew it was not offered and i wanted to know the reason(s). I was told to send in feedback.

Have any of you asked this question and have you received a more intelligent response from Apple?

It’s not really the job of support folks to elaborate scaling issues with products payment options. They are there to provide technical assistance in case someone has issues. That’s at least my take.

I believe Apple have a feedback page on their website.

I don’t see a yearly option for Apple Music and my account is in Canada. I do however get iTunes cards at a discount in my area hence I’m not paying the full price for music and iCloud.
 
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Expos of 1969

Contributor
Original poster
Aug 25, 2013
4,825
9,514
It’s not really the job of support folks to elaborate scaling issues with products payment options. They are there to provide technical assistance in case someone has issues. That’s at least my take.

I believe Apple have a feedback page on their website.

I don’t see a yearly option for Apple Music and my account is in Canada. I do however get iTunes cards at a discount in my area hence I’m not paying the full price for music and iCloud.
But the feedback page is for suggestions from users or potential users. It does not provide responses. I simply would like to know why Apple does not offer the annual subscription in my country. It may be a country regulation but in any case Apple knows the reason. It is not classified info so let people know. If not, speculation and rumours which may be unfair to Apple and/or the government are out there.
 
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ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,118
10,910
I am interested in that too, but I think you’ll have to check to see if they want to share this information in the first place. Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. Just saying that tech support is really what the name says on the box. Don’t take statements from people who are not in charge as anything other than a personal opinion- these folks (in most companies) don’t know more than you.
 
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