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Steve Jobs Tells Germans to Blame Their Government for iPad Price Difference

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Re: Steve Jobs Tells Germans to Blame Their Government for iPad Price Difference

#41
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this absolutely freaks us out in US - that we never see actual prices we're supposed to pay, only share of what seller is supposed to get (before paying her taxes).

If you bought an iPad (or pretty much any other item online) it is unlikely you would spend any taxes on it. If you did, many states require the purchaser to report and pay the taxes themselves, not the retailer. Additionally, sales taxes vary widely state-to-state, so for an that has the same MSRP everywhere in the US, it seems to make sense not to advertise actual tax amount.

If you buy it from apple.com, Apple will apply state sales tax for your state of residence (if Apple has a physical store in your state). Local sales taxes are your responsibility.

Re: Steve Jobs Tells Germans to Blame Their Government for iPad Price Difference

#42
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this absolutely freaks us out in US - that we never see actual prices we're supposed to pay, only share of what seller is supposed to get (before paying her taxes).

If you bought an iPad (or pretty much any other item online) it is unlikely you would spend any taxes on it. If you did, many states require the purchaser to report and pay the taxes themselves, not the retailer. Additionally, sales taxes vary widely state-to-state, so for an that has the same MSRP everywhere in the US, it seems to make sense not to advertise actual tax amount.

In the US, Apple calculates sales tax based on your location and displays it before you buy.

Re: Steve Jobs Tells Germans to Blame Their Government for iPad Price Difference

#43
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Food and childrens clothing are also exempt from UK VAT.

To be pedantic, food (except for, roughly, `luxury' and catered foods), children's clothing, and books, amongst other things, are zero-rated , rather than exempt (a separate category which includes medical treatment and education).

Some plain foods have zzero vat. More luxurous food is taxed. This is important when you think of jaffa cakes, are they a biscuit or a cake? If they are a buscuit, then they don't have vat, if cake, then the price goes up

Re: Steve Jobs Tells Germans to Blame Their Government for iPad Price Difference

#45
post #12
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Jobs is quoted as saying: Please educate yourself. That seems rude to me. He might be responding to an equally rude complaint that was sent to him, but it still seems like bad PR to me.

I am loving his curt responses. Too many people on the internet are quick to complain without prior thought or research; nice to see them being put in their place.

I see your point, and understand that it can be irritating to have constant criticism from a bunch of bloggers who probably need to do more research, yet it still isn't good for public relations to have such curt, almost rude responses. It doesn't make Apple look any better.

Re: Steve Jobs Tells Germans to Blame Their Government for iPad Price Difference

#46
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

well, taxes in germany are now going to be shipped overnight to greece, where they will be used to pay back german banks. I'm starting to feel kind of robbed, honestly

Actually, the money will end up getting rerouted to Deutsche Bank and other German banks. Germany has promoted consumption within the EU. It is the number 1 (or number 2) exporter in the world and most of its exports go to other EU countries. If Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, England, etc. go down guess who suffers too. There is an imbalance in the system and it needs correcting or else Germany will suffer along w…

I guess some action is needed. However, it was not so long ago that huge sums of money were spent throughout Europe to avoid a collapse, or so they told us, and here we are again opening our pockets, and greece may be only the first one in line. That kind of bothers me.

(and I'm not implying that german politicians are the only sane ones or something. They are probably so reticent because of fear of losing an election)

Re: Steve Jobs Tells Germans to Blame Their Government for iPad Price Difference

#47
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am loving his curt responses. Too many people on the internet are quick to complain without prior thought or research; nice to see them being put in their place.

It is the programmer still remains in him reminding people to "RTFM."

It's something I can get behind completely. People shouldn't be coddled like they're children, but if they act like one then being treated like one in return is the least one can do. =)

Re: Steve Jobs Tells Germans to Blame Their Government for iPad Price Difference

#48
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pish, I don't mind the taxation in this country it's only typically Tory voters that complain and from the last elections that's only 37% of the country.

Please educate yourself. Nick Clegg has been calling for tax cuts for years. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/sep/15/libdemconfere... It's typically only Labour voters (who are either public sector workers or who pay minimal tax anyway) who are happy for other people to pay more tax.

There are tax cuts and then there are tax cuts. The ones that the Lib Dems are offering only really apply to the poorest within our society. The Lib Dems are only looking to cut tax on earnings UP TO 10k. Sure this helps everyone but it is much more likely that the tax burden would land on the higher earners if the Lib Dems were in power.

If you have followed UK election history you would be well aware that in last election the Lib Dems were pushing for a 50% band on higher earners (which Labour have since implemented?!?) and a local income tax to replace council tax.

The Tories on the other hand (in this election) are offering tax cuts for the middle and upper classes. They propose that inheritance tax band on estates should only start at 1 million. However the more important tax cut is around corporation tax where they propose (and my did this make me chuckle) to give a teeny saving to small businesses and a larger saving to big business. It's even more interesting that the way they phrase this (when talking to the public) is spun in such a way that doesn't reveal this interesting fact (about the saving for big businesses being bigger).

Nothing much has changed. Tories are still about tax cuts for the wealthy where Lib Dem and Labour look more at distributing wealth. Tbh ever since New Labour the Lib Dems have looked more left leaning than Labour.

Furthermore here are some choice quotes from the article you referenced:

"The Lib Dems' existing tax pledge to cut 4p off income tax would be funded by hitting the rich by taxing capital gains at the same rate as income tax and closing tax loopholes. There would also be green taxes."

"As Make it Happen says, if you are very rich you will pay more. If you are not rich you will pay less. This is a progressive liberal and distinctive message."

Re: Steve Jobs Tells Germans to Blame Their Government for iPad Price Difference

#49
post #29
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Blame your government" - that's not meddling in foreign politics? Some Apple apologists need to get out of Reality Distortion Field.

How would you say it? If Apple equalized the price in Germany then they would actually be selling in Germany for less than the rest of the EU... They don't see a pfennig of that tax.

You mean they don't see a cent of that tax :)

Re: Steve Jobs Tells Germans to Blame Their Government for iPad Price Difference

#50
post #16
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hell, yeah! And I’m happy about it. High taxes but a lot of bang for the buck.

until the debt get too high...

America is well known for its propensity toward low taxes and a small debt.
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