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01/18/2005, 6:55am, EST

Tuesday, January 18th

European Mac fans call Mac Mini pricing unfair

Apple's pricing for its "most affordable" Mac--the Mac Mini--has drawn a storm of protest from European shoppers, 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."


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Link?
0
01/18, 7:23am, EST
Where can I find that petition?
Junior Member
Joined Oct 2004
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Um?
0
01/18, 7:54am, EST
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...
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Joined Apr 2002
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Apple's excuse
0
01/18, 7:55am, EST
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.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
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here...
0
01/18, 7:55am, EST
http://www.petitiononline.com/MacmiEU/petition.html
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined Dec 2000
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Why Apple's problem?
0
01/18, 7:56am, EST
Why should Apple take the hit for extra expenses the European govenments and businesses tack on?

We pay higher prices for European goods.
Junior Member
Joined Sep 2000
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Re: Um?
0
01/18, 8:05am, EST
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.
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Get your facts straight
0
01/18, 8:09am, EST
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!
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blame apple
0
01/18, 8:18am, EST
yeah, go europe, blame apple once again. you should just be happy their deliver quality products to you bunch of arrogants u.n. lovers
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Joined Jan 2003
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You gotta be kidding.
0
01/18, 8:26am, EST
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?
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oh, well
0
01/18, 9:00am, EST
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.....
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