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European Mac fans call Mac Mini pricing unfair

updated 06:55 am EST, Tue January 18, 2005

Mac Mini pricing in EU

Apple's pricing for its "most affordable" Mac--the Mac Mini--has drawn a , who are petitioning Apple to rethink its EU pricing, according to CNET News.com. Users have started an online petition asking Apple to reduce the European pricing, which may be inflated due to the strong Euro (compared to the US dollar) and because of the included VAT (valued added tax), which is required by European Law (and not mentioned in the report). "We'd like to make an appeal to Apple on the pricing of the new Mac Mini in the European Union. Basing on the last long-term rate of exchange of U.S. dollars to euros (and vice versa)--which is 1.3293 on the spot market, so let's say 1.32--both announced prices of the Mac mini in Europe, 489 euros and 589 euros, respectively, are much too high."

The petition also notes that German users are also being charged an extra 50 euros for the lower spec Mac Mini and 60 euros for the higher spec machine: "The petition's writers also claim the higher EU pricing is counterproductive for Apple's business strategy and would serve to discourage potential PC to Mac switchers."

 
Previous Comments

Link?

01/18, 07:23am reply

Where can I find that petition?

Fiete5401

Junior Member

Joined: Oct 2004

0

Um?

01/18, 07:54am reply

How exactly do Germans have to pay an extra 50 or 60 euros? The website lists it for 489 and 589.

Austrians on the other side to have to shell out another 10 euros...

Jeff Jones

Junior Member

Joined: Apr 2002

0

Apple's excuse

01/18, 07:55am reply

Apple's excuse will be that most products it sells in Europe is assembled in Europe, hence a Euro-based price and not a dollar-based one. Yet, if we experience a reverse trend and see the US dollar exchange rate go up, prices will likely go up too. This is definitely true for many non-EU products. Apple will be no exception. Bottom line, the consumer is always screwed.

HeatherEcsedi

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2001

0

here...

01/18, 07:55am reply

http://www.petitiononline.com/MacmiEU/petition.html

macmad

Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: Dec 2000

0

Why Apple's problem?

01/18, 07:56am reply

Why should Apple take the hit for extra expenses the European govenments and businesses tack on?

We pay higher prices for European goods.

burger

Junior Member

Joined: Sep 2000

0

Re: Um?

01/18, 08:05am reply

O.K., my bad. Guess I didn't quite get the message. The 50 ot 60 euros ARE the price difference they complain about, so they are logically not "extra".

Anyway, I think this is just ridiculous. 489 euros is a very acceptable price. iBooks are under 1000 euros now as well. Of course Apple will sell their products cheaper in their home market, even more so if it's bigger (comparing the installed base).

I for one sure can live it.

Jeff Jones

Junior Member

Joined: Apr 2002

0

Get your facts straight

01/18, 08:09am reply

This story is VERY misleading. Yes, prices are a little higher than in the US, it is not NEARLY as much of a difference as this article implies. Yes, the UK Apple store lists a price of 339 GBP as the article states. However, that INCLUDES VAT (UK sales take to us Americans). The price before VAT is 288.51 GBP, which equates to $539.90. This is only $40 higher than the US prices, not $140 as the article tries to imply.

And for those in the UK who wonder why the US Apple store's prices don't include sales tax, it's because here in the US, every state, county, and city can decided how much sales tax to tack onto purchases. So it would be impossible to show prices with tax. And if you think it's unfair that we have lower sales tax, check out how much income tax we have to pay before we even start spending out money!

ender

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 1999

0

blame apple

01/18, 08:18am reply

yeah, go europe, blame apple once again. you should just be happy their deliver quality products to you bunch of arrogants u.n. lovers

tabarnak

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Joined: Jan 2003

0

You gotta be kidding.

01/18, 08:26am reply

That reminds me -- I've been meaning to write Segway a letter, to ask that they sell me a Segway HT for $1, 'cause I really like their products. Maybe I'll start a petition if they won't go for it?

Warrenpeace

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2001

0

oh, well

01/18, 09:00am reply

I'll just plan a nice weekend in NY and buy the Mini in the big apple. Aftyer all, at the airport they will only check me for bombs, not mini's.....

Droesemix

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

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