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

nytimes.com

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

#561

Post by twothamendment »

bthrn wrote: post #36
pravda wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An iPhone is a Veblen good [1]. The purpose of buying an iPhone is to advertise your economic resources. Like a Gucci handbag or a Rolex watch. With a smaller markup. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good

That the purpose of it is to advertise economic resources is not true. My wife has an iPhone because it's the most competent tool she can use to get the job done. Having used several Android phones prior to this, I don't blame her. Relatively speaking there are fewer security issues, compatibility quirks, and reliability issues with iPhones which makes them worth the price to her. After the 2 year mark our Android ph…

It always amazes me how difficult the android experience can be. I have always had Nexus devices and the "pure" google android is pretty easy and clean. My parents hand me their verizon phones and I wonder where the features and simplicity went. I'm amazed they tolerate the clutter and crap on their phones. Android can be nice and it can be crap.

As for a 2 year shelf life - I'm still on a 2013 Nexus 5. It runs smooth and runs everything I need. Isn't a 6s only 2 years old?

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

#563

Post by giobox »

whafro wrote: post #408
beager wrote: post #402

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm genuinely curious if credit card companies get involved with warranty-related actions, or really anything beyond the fitness and accurate representation at the time of purchase. As far as I can tell, thigs like AppleCare and EU VAT protections cover an almost entirely exclusive set of concerns, namely, the fitness of the product after initial purchase.

I'm not knowledgeable enough to compare directly to VAT, but many credit cards extend a product's existing warranty (90 days to two years, depending on the card), and some offer things like 90-day purchase protection (if the price changes or if merchant/manufacturer won't accept a return, the credit card will). Purchase protection took care of a theft I had in my house last month. They just needed a receipt and a pol…

I think there's some confusion here as to what VAT means.

VAT in the EU (or anywhere else really that has the concept of VAT) normally affords no additional consumer protections on its own. It's a tax, not dissimilar at a high level to sales tax in the US, applied to goods or services at time of sale.

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

#564

Post by kobeya »

mbroncano wrote: post #414
Jdam wrote: post #342

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a European, I noticed that discussions held here about X in the US _always_ converge against their healthcare. "Salary in the US is higher" - but heir healthcare sucks "Weather in California is nicer than in Oslo" - But you don't have healtcare "New York is such a great city to live in" - But you're left for dead

You got it right, it's difficult to imagine for a European what it's like to deal with having no medical care if unemployed. In addition, the fact that's part of every discussion gives a hint of how much of an issue this is.

You walk into an emergency room and get treated without paying a cent.

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

#565

Post by izacus »

pas wrote: post #319
themihai wrote: post #306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Android is full of Google suff. I can't hack my android either(i.e. get root-like access, remove stuff I want, run my *nix stuff etc) so as far as the restrictions are concerned the difference btw Android and iOS is not that significant. It pisses me off because it's said Android is OSS but in practice you can't really run AOSP on your Android device nor you can control/own your own device. You basically end-up with…

People have been saying these things for the last decade, and they still bought the next iPhone. And I'm not saying they are wrong. But they bought it for one thing, and that's the "feels" it gives them. It's not Android, they are not buying a phone, they're getting an iPhone(tm). Now, when you can buy a Huawei P-whatever that has the same lines-on-white flat design UI, the same speed, it's not the specs. And yes, th…

And customers here in Europe overwhelmingly buy a Huawei (they've just passed Apple in sales). Might be that Android had caught up to iOS enough that iOS doesn't justify the price premium (especially since iPhones here are 800$+).

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

#566

Post by tertius »

twothamendment wrote: post #549
tertius wrote: post #386

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Healthcare sucks AND it's ridiculously expensive.

My healthcare plan costs me $1,200/month for my family of 4. It went up nearly 30% this year and is expected to do the same next year. Give it a few years and it will be $2,000! I have a good job, but if that keeps going I won't have any choice but pay the fine/tax. So back to the $1,000 phone. If all phones cost $1000 - I'd be more likely to go without one.

If you're Christian check out medishare (and other alternatives). Disclaimer: I'm not a still for them.

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

#567

Post by khalilravanna »

grecy wrote: post #469
ksec wrote: 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…

> US has the cheapest iPhone It is interesting to note among Developed countries, the US has the cheapest everything . Cars, computers, building materials, clothes, TVs. You name it, it is cheapest in the USA. It is interesting to note this is because people in the US have much less disposable income than people in other developed countries. Companies can charge higher prices in other developed countries because peop…

"It is interesting to note this is because people in the US have much less disposable income than people in other developed countries."

Is this a commonly known thing? First I've heard it. I would have figured it would be the opposite given our overall tax rate compared to somewhere like Sweden is infinitesimally smaller. Can you point to some analysis/citations for this?

It does seem to make sense in my mind as, anecdotally, when I was in Germany I noticed a large number of high end Audis and BMWs. Cars that are $80k in the US would be well over $100k in Germany. (This is perhaps an oversimplification of the situation given that there are a great deal more factors involved in the pricing of German-made cars within Germany vs. selling the same cars in a much more competitive foreign market like the US'.)

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

#568

Post by izacus »

kk_cz wrote: post #298
TekMol wrote: post #290

I don't get what it is about the iPhone that people are willing to pay a premium for. Is it all just in the marketing? I would not mind paying $1000 for a phone if it offered any additional value over my $200 Android phone. But I cannot see anything better in the form factor of the iPhone line. And for the software - I have an iPad and I hate the software. It is so restricted. You cannot even do basic tasks like down…

So, why did you pay a premium for iPad when Android tablet at roughly half the price would give you the same functionality? (btw I don't get it either. But I don't see anything special about iPad, hence my question)

The hardware is really really good, well supported and it's pretty light with excellent battery life. It's actually not al l that more expensive than Androids either (the new "cheap" iPad is actually on-par or cheaper than Android competitors).

Having said that, Apple does make a few funny pricing decisions that pushed me to buy an ASUS Zenpad instead.

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

#569

Post by swah »

scurvy wrote: post #486

Why couldn't they build iPhones in Brazil? What happened there?

I didn't even recalled they wanted to make iPhones here, but this article [1] basically says that "its more expensive than building them in China" and that some tax incentive laws were being disputed by the World Trade Orgnization.

[1] https://www.tecmundo.com.br/iphone/118381-decisao-foxconn-ip...

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

#570

Post by t0y »

jsemrau wrote: post #526
mikeash wrote: post #511

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Typical US sales tax of 0-6% versus typical European VAT of 20-25% certainly makes a big difference too.

The funny thing with taxes is that in the end, if you pay the government or a company it makes no difference. However, if you pay the government they invest it in public schools, streets, health-care. Companies benefit the shareholder.

Spotted the government worker.
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