iMac Pro How much do folks in the US pay for a base iMac Pro? (We getting ripped off in the UK again!?)

[Saskat]

I was under the impression the US-UK trade had very little tariff so who is applying the VAT?

 

[Krayzkat]

I was under the impression the US-UK trade had very little tariff so who is applying the VAT?

VAT is applied by the UK government on all 'luxury' goods sold in UK. Standard rate is 20% (it was 17.5% a few years ago).
I think most countries have their own version of VAT (value added tax) although it will be called something different.

 

[Illyamac]

VAT is applied by the UK government on all 'luxury' goods sold in UK. Standard rate is 20% (it was 17.5% a few years ago).
I think most countries have their own version of VAT (value added tax) although it will be called something different.

First in Europe: Buy it (tax free) in Andorra.

Second in USA: I suppose they have the advantage of reducing their federal income tax with their paid states taxes: You are only taxed ONCE!!!

 

[CWallace]

Yes I understand that there are different levels of tax depending on state etc, but surely even putting “plus tax” after the price would be a helpful indicator. Even putting “plus 12% tip” OR the monetary cost next to an item on a food menu, would be far helpful.

Well Americans know that there will be tax added so we don't need to be explicitly reminded of it. And mandatory tipping (usually 15-20%) for large parties (6+ people) is noted on restaurant menus.

 

[magbarn]

First in Europe: Buy it (tax free) in Andorra.

Second in USA: I suppose they have the advantage of reducing their federal income tax with their paid states taxes: You are only taxed ONCE!!!

We used to. Now we’re taxed twice if we pay over $10,000 in state and local taxes (I paid over $30,000) last year as that deduction is going bye bye this year

 

[Average Pro]

I checked both a Mac Pro (2010) and Apple 30" Cinema Display as luggage onto an airline. All I did was spray paint the boxes to prevent identification of the items and used duct tape around every corner. They made it round trip. On the return the styrofoam mold cracked on the display, but no damage to either system. I did remove the hard drives and hand carry them because I didn't want to lose the data.

I’ve checked a factory packaged iMac as luggage before. The box is super sturdy and the iMac is well protected.

 

[evoga]

Happy to trade my low price iMac and 1 year warranty and 0% vat equivalent and $1500* a month healthcare (plus deductible) in exchange for your 20% vat and 6 year warranty and NHS.

Any takers?


* two people

Trust me you don't want the third world NHS. I would gladly pay $1500 a month for a real health service.

 

[scgf]

Trust me you don't want the third world NHS. I would gladly pay $1500 a month for a real health service.

And you can. Take out a private insurance policy. The equivalent of $1500 a month would get you an incredible service. I pay around $67 a month for some extras (like private hospital, immediate referrals, choice of consultant etc.). I am embarrassed at the way some of my fellow Brits are slating the NHS. Healthcare at no cost at the point of service to anyone in the UK is not to be sneered at. Yes there are issues, but these are pretty minor given what is available to us.

 

[weckart]

Under consumer laws in the UK, consumers are entitled to a free of charge repair or replacement, discount or refund by the seller, of defective goods or goods which do not conform with the contract of sale. For goods purchased in England or Wales, these rights expire six years from delivery of the goods and for goods purchased in Scotland, these rights expire five years from delivery of the goods.

You really didn't think this was free did you?

I agree with the previous poster. If Apple or any other manufacturer applies realistic quality control over their products then this or other consumer laws are moot and certainly do not add anything like 10% to the final ticket price.

Trust me you don't want the third world NHS. I would gladly pay $1500 a month for a real health service.

Nothing stopping you wasting as much as you like on BUPA and the like. You will most likely still be treated in the same hospitals by the same medical staff as the hoi polloi.

 

[sputnikBA]

@weckart you’ve quoted me but with someone else’s words. I never said what you have in your post above.

 

[weckart]

@weckart you’ve quoted me but with someone else’s words. I never said what you have in your post above.

Yes. Something odd happened with the quote system there.

What I wanted to reply to you was that the pound took a tumble straight after the Brexit referendum but Apple held its prices until after the keynote with the 2016 MacBook Pro a few months later. Price hikes weren't immediate and I wouldn't expect price drops to follow any more promptly. There is a lead time in manufacturing just as with petrol prices not following crude oil swings.

 

[haruhiko]

Yes. Something odd happened with the quote system there.

What I wanted to reply to you was that the pound took a tumble straight after the Brexit referendum but Apple held its prices until after the keynote with the 2016 MacBook Pro a few months later. Price hikes weren't immediate and I wouldn't expect price drops to follow any more promptly. There is a lead time in manufacturing just as with petrol prices not following crude oil swings.

Of course Apple is not going to adjust the exchange rate every day. They need time and rate buffer to tackle with the Exchange rate risk. What if the GBP rises a lot the next day? It's just risk management.

 

[weckart]

Of course Apple is not going to adjust the exchange rate every day. They need time and rate buffer to tackle with the Exchange rate risk. What if the GBP rises a lot the next day? It's just risk management.

Quite. Now try explaining that to people here who freak out with the slightest blip in the exchange rates crying 'ripoff'. Even after all these years there are tons posting European price comparisons vs the US and ignoring sales taxes included in the headline prices, which average 20%+ in Europe.

 

[amaze1499]

Base model in the UK is £4,899.00 - which converts to $6,787

Base model in the US is $4,999.00 - which converts to £3,607

That's a massive £1300 ($1800) difference!!!

Anyway my question is how much do you folks in the US pay for a base model iMac Pro once you add tax?

Did you factor in taxes? Usually prices we see in Europe include taxes and shipping already. Just saying....

 

[infinitejest]

Did you factor in taxes? Usually prices we see in Europe include taxes and shipping already. Just saying....

Yea, it's actually around $5385 (incl. California sales tax). But still an insane price difference.

 

[Falhófnir]

American prices don’t have their version of VAT added on, so it’s a bit deceptive.

It’s a bit like eating out in the US. Tipping is mandatory over there so menu prices are deceptive too.

Why can’t they just add the VAT and mandatory tip to the advertised price? Because that’s the American way. Under exaggerate when it suits, and over exaggerate when it suits too.

Sure, but with VAT at 20% the prices should be roughly equal if £1 = $1.20. The £ is currently trading at $1.42 not the low $1.20s!

 

[weckart]

Sure, but with VAT at 20% the prices should be roughly equal if £1 = $1.20. The £ is currently trading at $1.42 not the low $1.20s!

The key word is currently. You can't expect a large corporation to switch prices on a daily basis as if it were trading commodities.

 

[Falhófnir]

The key word is currently. You can't expect a large corporation to switch prices on a daily basis as if it were trading commodities.

forward guidance suggests $1.47 by years end. The iMac pro has just been introduced, they set the price within the last couple of months. The £ was already ranging in the high $1.30s by then.