Apple: 40 new retail stores in 2008

I thought it would be more important for Apple to look over the pricing strategy for Brazil first of all. Last time I checked, the cheapest MacBook goes for more than 2000 US dollars in São Paulo - in a country where the minimum income is less than 200 dollars per month!? A reasonably good income would be around 900-1000 dollars, although there are people who earn much more than that, of course, as the gap between the rich and the poor is huge, but although Apple may not direct their products to the poor, I didn't know they were exclusively for the super rich, either. In Brazil, that is how it is. It is a pity, I think, as it is a growing economy and the fifth largest country in the world. I know there has been some high import taxes on computers, but not as high that it justifies such prices and I think Cupertino would do well in looking more closely at what their partners in Brazil are up to. If they are satisfied with having such an exclusive profile, then OK. But honestly, I didn't think that was what they meant with the slogan "A computer for the rest of us" "Us" being the super rich?

So what you are saying then is that Apple is the only one with "inflated" prices in Brazil? Everyone else takes a lose to cater to those without the funds?

Im sorry, but if the income is that low the least of the concerns would be buying a computer. I've spent plenty of time in countries that may be considered "third-world" where they make little by US standards. But they manage it well and "internet cafes" are how they get the computer access they need. They "rent" time to use the net and computer versus buying.

It works well. Just like not everyone in the world needs a car, etc.

...especially if there is no electricity. I would say that maybe Apple will sell mainly iPods and iPhones. Maybe you should consider Apple Computer similar to Mercedes. I'm sure Mercedes doesn't sell some super cheap version in Brazil just so the poor can afford them. I do feel sorry for the poor, but there will always be the poor in every nation. I don't know who's fault it is, but it's not Apple's fault. How about asking the Brazilian government officials why they're screwing the people and keeping them poor.

I'm not saying that Apple should sell computers to the poor, but what I'm saying is that they shouldn't be exclusively for the rich, either. I know that people get by using internet cafés. My wife is Brazilian and I've lived there, myself, for a shorter period. But yes, if one compares the prices of Apples proucts to PCs, the price level of Macs for instance is relatively higher. This is something Brazilians themselves are trying to point out and visiting Fnac in São Paulo, the employees there completely agreed with me that the situation is not good. Aside from using internet cafés, which isn't the best solution if you want to do some work, people go to visit relatives in the US and bring with them MacBooks when they go back, so there is always a solution, but I find it strange that Apple would go into a market as forcefully as to establish an Apple Store, but not trying to do something about pricing. When prices are higher than here in Europe, it isn't a very good situation, I'd say. And I guess they are interested in increasing their market share outside US and Europe...

PS: The present Brazilian government is actually doing quite a lot for the poor. That's why Lula won the last election, too. He is coming from the poor, himself...

And we're not talking about poor people sitting in the bush without electricity, but about well educated, middle class people living in the third largest city in the world...

a subject close to my heart. I guess the Brazilian government must be trying to defend its own technology manufacturing industry (if one exists) by having huge import taxes, and even though Im no economist, it does seem to hinder technological literacy. Personally, I take Apple goods to Brazil with me to sell on, theres a massive markup. But Id honestly prefer to see affordable Macs in Brazil. The apple resellers Ive seen in Brazil are a joke. Typically they cant afford to have any machines on display and they actually use PCs to do all of their work on (cash registers, back office etc). Im moving there to live and would very much like to get involved in the Apple-Ization of Brazil. Finally Id like to make what might be a ridiculous comment : the rich elite arent in the business of making prices affordable or fair, they are in the business of making the gap between the poor even larger.

why show a photo of Rio when talking about Sao Paulo ? I know I know lol - Rio's skyline is iconic.

As a Brazilian, it's always interesting to see how people (especially in the U.S.) have no damn clue about the country. You guys always come with the "poverty and violence" duo without understanding that the D.C. area has always been more violent than São Paulo, for example. A few other points to consider:

1) Even though we still have a considerable gap between rich and poor and many poor people especially in the northern/northeastern region, Brazil IS one of emerging powers of the world, having just attained the status of an advanced country (as the other rich countries) with a Human Development Index of 0,800; and macroeconomic conditions are among the best of the world; 2) We are on our way to becoming one of the biggests oil producers of the world, apart from being the biggest producers of pretty much everything else you may know; 3) The luxury market is bigger than in most industrialized countries; just check how many Ferraris people buy down here. Apple has actually taken a long time to come to Brazil; 4) The reason Macs are priced higher is twofold: RIDICULOUS taxes on import goods (at least 100% for Macs) and the exchange rate, which is much more favorable now at 1.7 Real per Dollar; you may Macs at much more affordable rates now; 5) Due to those two reasons, Apple sales and support down in BR have historically been abismal; this is due for a GREAT change from now on. And finally, please stop thinking that Brazil is all about Amazon, easy women, dark people, soccer and Carnival...there is MUCH MORE to it than that.

really? i thought it had more to do with the brazilian wax. just kidding.

are the likely culprit. My wife is from Peru. She tells me that bringing a computer into Lima will cost you a lot of money in taxes. Smuggling in laptops and selling them for cash is a profitable business. Not sure Apple can do that, though. Even so, people who take their laptops to Peru and "forget" to bring them back aren't doing it at a loss either.

...not Convent Garden.