Aussies getting ripped off, still

[Cybix]

Why are we still paying considerably higher prices for Apple gear in Australia compared to the USA?

AppleTV in USA = $252 AUD
AppleTV in AUS = $449 AUD

MacBook Air in USA = $1983 AUD
MacBook Air in AUS = $2499 AUD

I just don't understand? Why? Shipping to Australia from China surely couldn't cost more than shipping to the USA, aren't we closer to China than the USA? Not to mention the insanely huge trading happening between China and Aus when it comes to our minerals and other exports.

Tax? 10% goods and services tax... still doesn't match the prices..

WHY? $500 more for the same Macbook Air, a whopping $200 more for the Apple TV !? I just can't believe it.

Why don't we have iTunes movie/tvshow purchases or rentals? Is it too hard for the Apple execs to make the arrangements for this in Australia? What about the iPhone? wtf is the hold up? is it really that hard? We only have some of the most state of the art cell phone networks in the entire world. It's not like we're a third world country here, we have a thriving industry, excellent infrastructure and the population...

If your Australian, and pissed... post here. If your not Australian, post here anyway

I'm getting sick of paying extreme prices for Apple gear. Surely if they sorted their pricing structure out they would sell more gear in this country!

I want answers!

 

[jason999]

Why are we still paying considerably higher prices for Apple gear in Australia compared to the USA?

AppleTV in USA = $252 AUD
AppleTV in AUS = $449 AUD

MacBook Air in USA = $1983 AUD
MacBook Air in AUS = $2499 AUD

I just don't understand? Why? Shipping to Australia from China surely couldn't cost more than shipping to the USA, aren't we closer to China than the USA? Not to mention the insanely huge trading happening between China and Aus when it comes to our minerals and other exports.

Tax? 10% goods and services tax... still doesn't match the prices..

WHY? $500 more for the same Macbook Air, a whopping $200 more for the Apple TV !? I just can't believe it.

Why don't we have iTunes movie/tvshow purchases or rentals? Is it too hard for the Apple execs to make the arrangements for this in Australia? What about the iPhone? wtf is the hold up? is it really that hard? We only have some of the most state of the art cell phone networks in the entire world. It's not like we're a third world country here, we have a thriving industry, excellent infrastructure and the population...

If your Australian, and pissed... post here. If your not Australian, post here anyway

I'm getting sick of paying extreme prices for Apple gear. Surely if they sorted their pricing structure out they would sell more gear in this country!

I want answers!

Mmmmmmmmm
USA population 300 million.
Aussie population 20 million.

Apple use in oz less than 1%.
Says it all really.

 

[748s]

It's the Buzzle levy.

 

[mad jew]

It's okay. We got them back by exporting our Commodores with shithouse Pontiac nostrils.

 

[nick9191]

There are more mac users in America than there are the entire population of Australia.

 

[neonblue2]

It's okay. We got them back by exporting our Commodores with shithouse Pontiac nostrils.

Exactly. WTF is up with that? They look really bad.

But the whole price problem not only applies to Apple. Every time a new Dell or VIA or HP/Compaq catalogue comes out I compare. Bloody expensive.

 

[Chundles]

It's okay. We got them back by exporting our Commodores with shithouse Pontiac nostrils.

Seconded, that's more than fair in my opinion.

How's this one then?

Mac OSX Leopard (Australia): $A142.2ex GST
Mac OSX Leopard (USA): $A139ex tax

Three bucks ain't bad.

Higher costs when the market is small.

We still pay more though, not as much as the Europeans though - they really get done over.

 

[nick9191]

We still pay more though, not as much as the Europeans though - they really get done over.

We are in Europe (worst luck), but we seem to pay slightly less than continental Europe. Were you referring to Apple products or just generally? In which case yes we do get done over.

 

[sammich]

You people are forgetting the Taxes in the US are a lot lower than the taxes down here in Australia.

Businesses here get taxed for everything, income tax is progressive (up to 40%). Income tax in the US, something like 17% flat for everyone?

 

[kineticpast]

What about the iPhone? wtf is the hold up? is it really that hard? We only have some of the most state of the art cell phone networks in the entire world. It's not like we're a third world country here, we have a thriving industry, excellent infrastructure and the population...

The fact we have such a state-of-the-art phone network is exactly the reason the iPhone isn't here yet. Our phone companies all use 3G networks, whereas only Telstra has still bothered to have a live EDGE network. The iPhone isn't currently 3G compatible and only uses EDGE. And the number of people that both want an iPhone AND like Telstra is 27.

So, once the iPhone has 3G, then and only then expect the iPhone to be shortly released here.

 

[jason999]

Exactly. WTF is up with that? They look really bad.

But the whole price problem not only applies to Apple. Every time a new Dell or VIA or HP/Compaq catalogue comes out I compare. Bloody expensive.

And we subsidise the US. Here in oz they cost much more. In the US they sell for over 20% less. Must be said though that taxes and duties are a lot less than here in oz.

I'd never get another commodore. The last one was breaking down all the time.
A happy owner of a Toyota Hybrid which gives me 1000km to the tank.

 

[Les Kern]

Have a friend buy it in the US then ship it.

 

[jason999]

Have a friend buy it in the US then ship it.

Won't work here. US uses 110v power supplies with vertical bar pins.
Australia uses 240v power supplies with angles power pins.

In any case freight from the US for a laptop along with gst, import dutiezs and so on would make it cost much more. Basically doubling the price. Cheaper to get it here in oz than buy from the usa.

 

[PlaceofDis]

its the same issues as all the other threads asking why it costs so much more in X country than the US.

Apple is an american company, while their goods might not be built here, importing and operating in another country costs extra money, as well as a smaller user base, etc. this drives the costs up.

 

[Zwhaler]

its the same issues as all the other threads asking why it costs so much more in X country than the US.

Apple is an american company, while their goods might not be built here, importing and operating in another country costs extra money, as well as a smaller user base, etc. this drives the costs up.

Fixed that for ya

I agree, if Apple were based in Austrailia I bet it would cost the US more to buy their products than it does in Aus.

 

[jason999]

Fixed that for ya

I agree, if Apple were based in Austrailia I bet it would cost the US more to buy their products than it does in Aus.

No it would not.

We do not have the population to match the USA.
The USA has a much lower tax system and lower import duties than here in Australia. Exporting to the USA is ex of all our taxes. It would be cheaper in the US even if Mac was based here.

Look at all the things made in oz and sold in the USA.
You will notice that even if made here and sold in the USA that it is much cheaper in the USA than sold in Australia.

Sell in bulk of millions will be cheaper than selling in only thousands which is the oz market for Macs.

Look at the Holden cars that are sold here and then exported to the USA.
The same Holden cars sold in the US are much cheaper than they are here in oz. Its the same with most products.

 

[PlaceofDis]

Fixed that for ya

I agree, if Apple were based in Austrailia I bet it would cost the US more to buy their products than it does in Aus.

yeah sorry typo. i'll go fix that. type too fast and make mistakes sometimes.