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With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

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331–340 of 730 posts

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

so you spend also excessive amount of money on water because you drink it several times a day? there is objectively no reason to spend more than 200 Euro on a smartphone - except for attempting to inflate one's ego.

> so you spend also excessive amount of money on water because you drink it several times a day? I sure do, because I prefer the quality control and availability of municipally-supplied mains rather than sinking a well in my back yard. Your point about conspicuous consumption is pretty unfocused. Should everyone use the same laptop, do the same job, be paid the same rate, lest be accused of propertarian tendencies?

Bad example. People usually drill wells because there isn't a municipal source available. Municipal water is not a luxury good that you pay a premium for. Indeed, wells are likely to end up higher cost because of drilling, failures, etc.

Better example is drinking bottled water rather than tap water. Which many people do but is IMO a total waste of money. To say nothing of environmentally wasteful.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#332
post #286

A lot of people just get the best iphone every 24 months (e.g. rich people, or people who have a generous smartphone policy at work). Having a model that gets another couple of hundred bucks from those people is pretty clever I think. This is basically the S-class phone (To make a car analogy, because that's what we do). The S-class Mercedes costs twice as much as the "Normal" E-class, and each time they launch a new…

Many people spend more time on their phone than their PC. So, 1,000$ is not an unreasonable price if it's noticeably better. It's like spending 200+$ on a pair of shoes, they don't need to be that much better fit to be worth it. I mean 1,000$ seems bad, but that can translate to under 30 cents an hour if you're spending 4 hours a day on your phone.

Except it's really easy to accidentally destroy or lose a phone. That's the reason I don't buy expensive phones anymore, because I'll probably just drop it.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#333
post #326

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Common pricing strategy is to have 3 price points: 1. a cheap stripper model used to bring people into the showroom 2. an expensive deluxe model with every bell and whistle. It's primary purpose is to frame the next one as being affordable: 3. the mid-price mid-range one you're expected to buy. Of course, the price-is-no-object people will buy (2) anyway, and that's just extra gravy. You'll see this technique used ac…

Also called price anchoring [0] in marketing. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchoring

indeed; for those who may not be familiar, see 'behavioral economics' [0] for the ways that known quirks in human reasoning can be used to game consumers. don't buy a house without learning about it.

there are two great books I recommend for those interested: predictably irrational [1] and the upside of irrationality [2]. personally, I think the first is better than the second as a layman's introduction to it.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_economics

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Predictably-Irrational-Revised-Expand...

[2] https://www.amazon.com/Upside-Irrationality-Unexpected-Benef...

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#334
post #310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I have a lot of gripes with Android too. But it's not as restricted as iOS. And no, I don't get any option to download an MP3 from Safari on my iPad.

Maybe you don't have apps that play mp3's? Technically it should be possible. See also this: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5985729?tstart=0

Hmm.. I would have thought there are apps on that iPad that can play MP3s. There is the Apple "Music" app and Spotify on it. But maybe they can't.

Looking around the App Store, the apps that play MP3s look rather shady. Anything trustworthy out there to play MP3s?

Anyhow, I downloaded one of the apps that can play MP3s. Still, Safari does not offer any way to save them or push them to that app.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#335
post #218

A lot of people just get the best iphone every 24 months (e.g. rich people, or people who have a generous smartphone policy at work). Having a model that gets another couple of hundred bucks from those people is pretty clever I think. This is basically the S-class phone (To make a car analogy, because that's what we do). The S-class Mercedes costs twice as much as the "Normal" E-class, and each time they launch a new…

I also know a guy who made his living for many years repairing and reselling iPhones, who simply buys the top of the line as soon as it comes out and resells the old one to pay for it, at as close to full price as he can get away with. Since he always gets the most specc'd out phone available, treats it very carefully, always inside an otterbox, and is a pretty decent salesman, he usually gets his price. He also clai…

I always take a 2-year contract. About one week before the new iPhone launch (and, conveniently, the end of my contract term), I sell my iPhone. My 6S with 64GB went this weekend for €450, which was the asking price. Next week I won't be able to get that price since there's a new model.

I'm using a cheap, Chinese Android phone for 2 weeks every other year to bridge the gap between selling my iPhone and getting the new one. I have to say: cheapy Android phones are getting better. Sure, they're nowhere near the quality and experience of iPhones, but my Doogee Shoot 2 ($54,-) performs pretty decently and actually shoots some nice photos in daylight. I won't be converting anytime soon (show me an Android phone that performs like new after 2 years of everyday usage, without lagging) but it does make me wonder sometimes that the price difference can't really be justified...

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#336
post #332
post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many people spend more time on their phone than their PC. So, 1,000$ is not an unreasonable price if it's noticeably better. It's like spending 200+$ on a pair of shoes, they don't need to be that much better fit to be worth it. I mean 1,000$ seems bad, but that can translate to under 30 cents an hour if you're spending 4 hours a day on your phone.

Except it's really easy to accidentally destroy or lose a phone. That's the reason I don't buy expensive phones anymore, because I'll probably just drop it.

Can't you buy an insurance for that?

Or search for "military grade phone cover".

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#337
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That misses a key point I was making: OS updates. Yes, I too have a Nexus 4 (bought in 2012) and it still works fine. But no more updates. I don't consider that on par with say my previous work laptop, which was also 3 years before I upgraded. I also own a Moto E (2nd Gen, $60-ish) and bought a Moto G+ for my brother this year, but I can't count on them to receive OS updates for as long.

Except you are comparing a 749$ phone with a 220$ and 60$ ones. You could buy a new Moto G every 2 years and you would still have an up-to-date phone that is more economical than an iPhone, if OS-updates are your main worry (on average, I believe Apple supports devices up to 5 years, which objectively is a lot). That without considering how well old phones work with newer OSs, my iPhone 4 did technically work with th…

Are you saying there are no flagship android phones or the flagship phones get longer official support? In the past I don't think the Samsung Galaxies got more than 2 years support. And they weren't exactly cheap.

So why buy the expensive Android phone when the low cost ones are really good for that price point and you can just buy another one with the money you save?

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#338

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not true. Yes, there are snobs, and there is a lot of subjectivity involved, an several studies exposed that. On the other hand, some wines have a certain richness of flavor not present in other wines. Certain aspects of it can be better appreciate by people who developed a certain taste of wines and can differentiate better. They're the target group of the more expensive wines. You pay for a unique experience,…

With wine and spirits, you're often paying for rarity, rather than outright quality. I'm not a huge wine snob (most wines I buy are in the $10-$20 range), but I have tasted some rather expensive wines. In a lot of cases, you're not really paying for "richness of flavor" (a lot of cheaper wines have plenty of richness and balance), you're paying for name and for rarity, especially when it comes to older wines. I'm act…

I'm not a huge wine drinker and what I buy is usually on the relatively inexpensive side--though not lowest end. Now and then I have splurged for a premium wine tasting (maybe $50-100 bottles at retail). I do appreciate the difference--slightly. I'd also rather spend that money on a nice bottle of whiskey and stick with ~$10-15/bottle wine:-)

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#339
post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many people spend more time on their phone than their PC. So, 1,000$ is not an unreasonable price if it's noticeably better. It's like spending 200+$ on a pair of shoes, they don't need to be that much better fit to be worth it. I mean 1,000$ seems bad, but that can translate to under 30 cents an hour if you're spending 4 hours a day on your phone.

so you spend also excessive amount of money on water because you drink it several times a day? there is objectively no reason to spend more than 200 Euro on a smartphone - except for attempting to inflate one's ego.

> so you spend also excessive amount of money on water because you drink it several times a day?

That's literally the mineral water industry. So yes, lots of people do!

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#340
post #248

If we take a look from a Global Perspective, US has the cheapest iPhone ( All prices excluding sales Tax ), and everywhere else had it more expensive. i.e The $1K Prices may be making a big waves in US, but elsewhere in the world they have been paying that much for an iPhone already. And in terms of iPhones / Population / Apple Store, the US has it most. While in Japan 60% of the Smartphone are iPhone ( i.e Higher th…

Yep the base price for a Iphone 7 Plus in Sweden is 1100$. Not sure it makes sense comparing prices like this though. In Sweden the cost of an iphone does not compete with your ability to get access to health care or education for example.

Why are you bringing up healthcare on an iPhone discussion? Trying to figure out how it is relevant to the pricing of an iPhone in Sweden.
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