iPhone 14 Pro Max Why do Europeans complain about non-existent price increases?

[JPack]

I've come across a few posts where it is claimed iPhone 14 prices have increased significantly. But this simply isn't true when you convert euros back to USD. Do people expect Apple to eat the currency exchange difference? We know the benchmark USD prices for iPhone 14 series. They do not include any sales taxes.

• iPhone 14 128GB - $829
• iPhone 14 Pro 128GB - $999
• iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB - $1,099

Let's see what these prices look like on Apple Store Ireland for example:

• iPhone 14 128GB - €1,029.00 (Includes VAT of €192.41) | €836.59 = $804
• iPhone 14 Pro 128GB - €1,339.00 (Includes VAT of €250.38) | €1088.65 = $1,045
• iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB - €1,489.00 (Includes VAT of €278.43) | €1210.57 = $1,163

 

[Mr.Blacky]

I'm not sure why you care. 🤔

 

[iStorm]

I've come across a few posts where it is claimed iPhone 14 prices have increased significantly. But this simply isn't true when you convert euros back to USD. Do people expect Apple to eat the currency exchange difference? We know the benchmark USD prices for iPhone 14 series. They do not include any sales taxes.

• iPhone 14 64GB - $829
• iPhone 14 Pro 128GB - $999
• iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB - $1,099

Let's see what these prices look like on Apple Store Ireland for example:

• iPhone 14 64GB - €1,029.00 (Includes VAT of €192.41) | €836.59 = $804
• iPhone 14 Pro 128GB - €1,339.00 (Includes VAT of €250.38) | €1088.65 = $1,045
• iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB - €1,489.00 (Includes VAT of €278.43) | €1210.57 = $1,163

View attachment 2082843

Wait... There's a 64GB iPhone 14?

 

[StumpyBloke]

Non-existent price rises? What? Of course it’s true! I paid more this year for my iPhone than I did last year.

Conversion rates are absolutely irrelevant with this argument. The fact is the phones cost more than they did last year for the equivalent model in Europe (inc UK).

 

[Maaara]

Prices in Czech Republic (without VAT) just for comparsion ....

- iPhone 14 128GB = CZK 21,891 = $880
- iPhone 14 Pro 128GB = CZK 27,673 = $1,112
- iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB = CZK 30,569 = $1,228

As you can see, there is significant price increase (due to CZK/EUR/USD exchange difference) to compare with US prices. And you are right that Apple is not willing to pay it for us

 

[JamesHP]

I don't think people care how the price is worked out, the simple bottom line fact is that when you reach the checkout, for people on this side of the Atlantic, the iPhone is more expensive than it was last year. It's a bit strange to call the price increase 'non-existent' when it patently does exist.

 

[Moi Ici]

My apple 14 pro 256gb costs Euro 1469.00 from Apple Ireland. The 128gb costs Euro 1339.00

In USA apple store, (same iphone 14 pro as above) 256gb costs $1099 plus 109 tax = $1208. In my simple remembering of maths, it is more expensive in Ireland.

 

[planteater]

My apple 14 pro 256gb costs Euro 1469.00 from Apple Ireland. The 128gb costs Euro 1339.00

In USA apple store, (same iphone 14 pro as above) 256gb costs $1099 plus 109 tax = $1208. In my simple remembering of maths, it is more expensive in Ireland.

What exactly does regional tax have to do with the Apple phone cost?

 

[GMShadow]

Asking why they complain is like asking why people breathe. It's just their nature.

 

[Moi Ici]

Because most states in the usa charge 10 per cent tax on top of the price listed in stores. I lived in California and Washington state and that is the reason I added the regional tax. It is what it would cost for ME if i lived in the states compared with what I have paid in Ireland.

 

[planteater]

Because most states in the usa charge 10 per cent tax on top of the price listed in stores. I lived in California and Washington state and that is the reason I added the regional tax. It is what it would cost for ME if i lived in the states compared with what I have paid in Ireland.

Tax is not a factor in Apples pricing strategy. The point of the thread was price increases in Europe.

Adding in the cost of tax to the comparison is much like trying to compare wages based of off net income. It’s not relevant because taxes and deductions are different for everyone.

 

[Starfia]

I'm not sure why you care. 🤔

✨ Fascinating. ✨

 

[Andeddu]

People are complaining because products in general, including Apple products, have increased in price while their wages have not. I do not blame Apple for this, obviously, as they are not here to absorb currency fluctuations.

It’s a shame however as there is no going back. Inflation cannot be beaten at this point. I also find it humorous that the Bank of England have capitulated one week after stating that were planning quantitive tightening by beginning a fresh round of quantitative easing. Soon the public won’t be complaining about iPhone’s or first-world problems… it’ll be mortgage renewals that’ll kill them.

 

[JPack]

I don't think people care how the price is worked out, the simple bottom line fact is that when you reach the checkout, for people on this side of the Atlantic, the iPhone is more expensive than it was last year. It's a bit strange to call the price increase 'non-existent' when it patently does exist.

Maybe consumers should care more. iPhone is an imported product designed and assembled elsewhere. If I were to import a British car or German schnitzel, I wouldn’t complain to the manufacturer about pricing.

 

[Paradoxally]

Tax is not a factor in Apples pricing strategy. The point of the thread was price increases in Europe.

Adding in the cost of tax to the comparison is much like trying to compare wages based of off net income. It’s not relevant because taxes and deductions are different for everyone.

Then why do people compare prices in Europe with VAT attached vs US prices without sales + local + state taxes? That doesn't make any sense either.

If we want to compare, then remove VAT from the EU price and then compare it the US price without taxes.

 

[John981]

People complain because inflation and unfavorable currency conversion rates mean that the prices of everything are growing much faster than the wages are.

 

[zetti]

WAIT WHAT?

Why do you care what Europeans do? -_-

 

[deeddawg]

Because most states in the usa charge 10 per cent tax on top of the price listed in stores. I lived in California and Washington state and that is the reason I added the regional tax. It is what it would cost for ME if i lived in the states compared with what I have paid in Ireland.

Sorry, but that's incorrect.

No states in the USA have a state sales tax higher than 7.25%.

Local county and city sales taxes do add to the state sales tax, and those vary from 0 to 7.5%

No state has a combined state plus average local sales tax rate reaching 10%.

Only nine states have a place within them where the local plus state sales tax exceeds 10%


See:

Sales Tax By State: State And Local Sales Tax Rates for 2023

Curious about sales tax differences by state? Read on and uncover insights to better understand your overall tax burden and manage your sales tax expenses.

www.rockethq.com

State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2022

While many factors influence business location and investment decisions, sales taxes are something within policymakers’ control that can have immediate impacts.

taxfoundation.org

State Sales Taxes By County, City, and Zip Code

Our free online sales tax calculator calculates exact sales tax by state, county, city, or ZIP code.

www.tax-rates.org

 

[Fred Zed]

Sorry, but that's incorrect.

No states in the USA have a state sales tax higher than 7.25%.

Local county and city sales taxes do add to the state sales tax, and those vary from 0 to 7.5%

No state has a combined state plus average local sales tax rate reaching 10%.

Only nine states have a place within them where the local plus state sales tax exceeds 10%


See:

Sales Tax By State: State And Local Sales Tax Rates for 2023

Curious about sales tax differences by state? Read on and uncover insights to better understand your overall tax burden and manage your sales tax expenses.

www.rockethq.com

State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2022

While many factors influence business location and investment decisions, sales taxes are something within policymakers’ control that can have immediate impacts.

taxfoundation.org

State Sales Taxes By County, City, and Zip Code

Our free online sales tax calculator calculates exact sales tax by state, county, city, or ZIP code.

www.tax-rates.org

And they double dip on taxes also. Back in the UK one doesn’t pay sales tax on a purchase of a used vehicle from a private seller. Over here in FL they do.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

What a truly bizarre thread. ‘Nonexistent price increases’??? Well the prices have gone up. A 13 Pro was £949 last year and this year the 14 Pro is £1099! Is that not a price increase?

The 13 Pro Max was £1049 and the 14 Pro Max this year is £1199. Again, looks like a hefty price increase to me! I wonder why interest has reduced this year?

 

[Juicy Box]

Another thing to complicate things is the places that have longer warranties than the US due to local consumer protection laws.

Apple doesn't eat the cost of those two or three year warranties, just like they don't for the one year warranty in the US, it is built into the price.

 

[Juicy Box]

What a truly bizarre thread. ‘Nonexistent price increases’??? Well the prices have gone up. A 13 Pro was £949 last year and this year the 14 Pro is £1099! Is that not a price increase?

I think the OP has a point about the exchange rate, but agree with you that the price increases are not "nonexistent". The price increases are real for some, but understanding why, other than "Apple being greedy", is important.

If the OP framed it in a way that highlighted the "why" of the price difference, without labeling it as nonexistent, the thread would have made more sense for the people that are affected.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Would the rest of the world rather Europeans didn’t complain and just buy less iPhones and Apple products in general? The gap could be filled next year then when they have no choice but to raise American retail prices to cover the gap.

I think at this rate that will happen and we’ll see if the same people here mocking Europeans are happy with a $500 addition to their iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max next September.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I think the OP has a point about the exchange rate, but agree with you that the price increases are not "nonexistent". The price increases are real for some, but understanding why, other than "Apple being greedy", is important.

If the OP framed it in a way that highlighted the "why" of the price difference, without labeling it as nonexistent, the thread would have made more sense for the people that are affected.

The thread title is provocative though and is a very distasteful for those of us living with the daily issue of everything we buy going up in price. We all understand why the prices have gone up but just a few weeks ago when I suggested iPhones may be less in demand in Europe this year, those posters from Asia and the US laughed at me like I was trying to sell them a bowl of air. Inflation due to the war in Ukraine and Russia cutting off gas supplies has almost crippled our economies, hopefully in the short term. Obviously we’ve crippled Russia’s too but nobody is winning that at the moment. I suppose some thought Apple could absorb some of the increase within their larger than average profit margins but of course their strategy remained the same. That’s fine but as I predicted, the consequence of that is less people buy the product and ultimately this will be passed on on a global scale eventually.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

What a very egoist and closed minded way to make a calculus