Comments on: Mac mini pricing angers EU users http://www.p2pnet.net/story/3574 p2pnet.net - reader powered Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:11:09 -0300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Reader's Write http://www.p2pnet.net/story/3574/comment-page-1#comment-8773 Reader's Write Fri, 21 Jan 2005 20:59:35 +0000 #comment-8773 Apple has to hop on the down-pricing train of computers for the mass market, as noted from the comments on the computer news front. Their elite products have always been over-priced (IMHO with respect to PCs using Intel or AMD processors) losing many potential customers to the MS world -even avoiding extinction once (thanks to Jobs). Again, Apple is surely trying to compete and stay afloat. The Mac mini seems a viable answer, with good or bad results - the future will tell. People using PCs (cheap or not) have many problems not appearing with other systems, including Apple's. Will others who are practically in daily system repair, like me (Oof, windows booted up again without a problem!), be tempted to switch if the difference in cost includes trouble free operation? Will Apple provide the same services (product backup) on the Mac mini as on their high priced products? The iTune products seem to have boosted Apple to change their outlook on the mass market, but can they furnish the same services as before with lower margins? I don't have an inkling to the answers. Now back to the beginning of my reply... Looking for a change in computers last week, I found Mac mini advertized. My wallet remained closed when I saw the price difference USA/EU, and now I am waiting for an answer for the "why". Remark to Apple: Why does the price skyrocket when processor or memory or graphic options are chosen? That's not the trend today, Apple. Maybe next time... Apple has to hop on the down-pricing train of computers for the mass market, as noted from the comments on the computer news front.
Their elite products have always been over-priced (IMHO with respect to PCs using Intel or AMD processors) losing many potential customers to the MS world -even avoiding extinction once (thanks to Jobs).
Again, Apple is surely trying to compete and stay afloat.
The Mac mini seems a viable answer, with good or bad results – the future will tell.
People using PCs (cheap or not) have many problems not appearing with other systems, including Apple’s. Will others who are practically in daily system repair, like me (Oof, windows booted up again without a problem!), be tempted to switch if the difference in cost includes trouble free operation?
Will Apple provide the same services (product backup) on the Mac mini as on their high priced products?
The iTune products seem to have boosted Apple to change their outlook on the mass market, but can they furnish the same services as before with lower margins?
I don’t have an inkling to the answers.
Now back to the beginning of my reply…
Looking for a change in computers last week, I found Mac mini advertized. My wallet remained closed when I saw the price difference USA/EU, and now I am waiting for an answer for the “why”.
Remark to Apple: Why does the price skyrocket when processor or memory or graphic options are chosen? That’s not the trend today, Apple.
Maybe next time…

]]> By: Reader's Write http://www.p2pnet.net/story/3574/comment-page-1#comment-8709 Reader's Write Tue, 18 Jan 2005 21:02:32 +0000 #comment-8709 Has it escaped your notice that everything costs more in Europe, and that salaries and benefits are correspondingly higher? And that this is maintained by erecting trade barriers to the rest of the world? Maybe you should quit whining about a very modest price premium on the new Mac, and be thankful for your high standard of living. Has it escaped your notice that everything costs more in Europe, and that salaries and benefits are correspondingly higher? And that this is maintained by erecting trade barriers to the rest of the world? Maybe you should quit whining about a very modest price premium on the new Mac, and be thankful for your high standard of living.

]]> By: Reader's Write http://www.p2pnet.net/story/3574/comment-page-1#comment-8696 Reader's Write Tue, 18 Jan 2005 11:29:28 +0000 #comment-8696 Com'on ... it cost more to ship oversea :-P You neeeeeeeeed a lot of sleep! Quit whining! Com’on … it cost more to ship oversea :-P You neeeeeeeeed a lot of sleep! Quit whining!

]]> By: Reader's Write http://www.p2pnet.net/story/3574/comment-page-1#comment-8656 Reader's Write Tue, 18 Jan 2005 04:57:01 +0000 #comment-8656 Thats the way things go. Even in canada where there is no tax on these devices they charge more than the 'current' exchange rate. Here books come with two prices, $CAD and $USD and they are never near the current exchange rate. Right now i can buy a mini for $629 CAD, that is an exchange rate of 1.26$ The current rate is 1.22 or costing me 21$ more to buy it in their 'canadian' dollar rate. Its not a question of 'profit' margin, its that they as a store can not afford to sell the product at various rates during the week based on the current XXX:usd exchange rate. As to your math, you use an exchange rate of 1.3293 but that is the 'current' rate, the historic rate is closer to 1.25 and if you reverse their math they are using closer to 1.18 rate. I am not saying that the price difference is fair, but it is standard practices to set the MSRP at a favourable exchange rate. If you wont spend the 60 extra euro wait for someone to sell it (other than apple.com) for 'less'. Thats the way things go. Even in canada where there is no tax on these devices they charge more than the ‘current’ exchange rate.
Here books come with two prices, $CAD and $USD and they are never near the current exchange rate.

Right now i can buy a mini for $629 CAD, that is an exchange rate of 1.26$
The current rate is 1.22 or costing me 21$ more to buy it in their ‘canadian’ dollar rate.

Its not a question of ‘profit’ margin, its that they as a store can not afford to sell the product at various rates during the week based on the current XXX:usd exchange rate.

As to your math, you use an exchange rate of 1.3293 but that is the ‘current’ rate, the historic rate is closer to 1.25 and if you reverse their math they are using closer to 1.18 rate.

I am not saying that the price difference is fair, but it is standard practices to set the MSRP at a favourable exchange rate. If you wont spend the 60 extra euro wait for someone to sell it (other than apple.com) for ‘less’.

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