Meant to drop a quick post on this a few days ago when I read it – but where have the UK’s guts gone? First France stand up to Apple, now Germany forcing Apple to sell unlocked iPhones!!! Can’t help but smile and reflect on my conversations with Tim about Europe’s approach to ‘freedom of choice’ opposed to the US (and their lap dog the UK!)
Anyway they are selling unlocked iPhones here in Dubai for $550 pretty openly, and for $800 in the stores – although the salesman tried to tell me that they worked but weren’t unlocked!!!!!!
Have seen about 4 people with an iPhone here, so have been a bit of a ‘novelty’ when out in the bars!
I want to know why it is the equivalent of $540 here as opposed to $399 in the usa. The difference in vat to their sales tax is only 10%. I make that a $100 mark up in the UK, it is probably even more in Germany & France. Why does Apple rip us off? They’d never get away with it over there. I agree that we in the UK should let Apple know that the customer is king.
Oh and another thing, we have to pay to contact customer service whereas in the usa it is free. Isn’t it ironic that there is no email option!
I should probably feel gutted about this, but you know what Im not.
Even though Im well aware of the fact that I am paying extortionate amounts of money for the privilege of using a phone.
And its the fact that Apple knows this thats driving the price up. I do however think that the iPhone is way way way to expensive for the UK market. I mean, we usually get free phones over here with a contract!
I think that they are oblivious to the differences in other countries. Check out this shambles of an interview from Channel 4 news. I think they are used to people just rolling over for them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44w-RYurbN4
Yeah I saw that, appalling.
They don’t seem to realise how much is different over here.