Live data from Hacker News

iPhone 14: Cheapest Country to Buy in 37 Countries

nukeni.com

21–30 of 53 posts

Re: iPhone 14: Cheapest Country to Buy in 37 Countries

#21
post #8

Quite a lot of this has to do with VAT which is always advertised as part of the price. In most of these countries I know they have VAT rates over 20%. In the US, sales tax is between 0 and 7.25 percent and is never advertised as part of the price. The US pays for this lack of VAT in other ways, either as taxes or in the services the government doesn’t provide. It’s easy to forget all this while having iPhone sticker…

Other countries aren't messing with the price tags though. they simply show the final, total price to be paid. Like if you have that amount of cash and nothing more, you will get the ware you are buying.

So in any practical case Apple is being dishonest (due to law) with pricing. Also let's not forget that when Euro was like 20% higher than Dollar, Apple pretended that 1 USD = 1 EUR. There are no possible "tax" or "laws" to weasel out of that, it was pure and simple price hike for no reason at all. (the VAT for EU was added on top of the already increased price due to incorrect conversion rate, so that wasn't it)

Re: iPhone 14: Cheapest Country to Buy in 37 Countries

#22
post #19
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re right, but a base iPhone for 1000+ EUR is crazy.

No not really. That's the price here for high end smart phones, and it fit fine with purchasing power.

The base iPhone 14 is an upper mid-range phone, not high-end.

Re: iPhone 14: Cheapest Country to Buy in 37 Countries

#23
post #8

Quite a lot of this has to do with VAT which is always advertised as part of the price. In most of these countries I know they have VAT rates over 20%. In the US, sales tax is between 0 and 7.25 percent and is never advertised as part of the price. The US pays for this lack of VAT in other ways, either as taxes or in the services the government doesn’t provide. It’s easy to forget all this while having iPhone sticker…

Swedish VAT is 25%, but the price is ~35% higher than the US. I think this is because the Swedish krona has lost value against the dollar over the last year, but I don’t think Apple has actually raised prices in Sweden (for the previous iPhone lineup).

It’s not just VAT. There are also import duties, taxes on salaries and land (there’s at least a warehouse, maybe also a physical store as well as a few pair of hands in play along the value chain of selling an iPhone in Sweden)

Maybe salaries in Sweden are higher than us as well.

Re: iPhone 14: Cheapest Country to Buy in 37 Countries

#25

Not sure if the site was updated, but there are multiple comments here about sales tax missing for the US price. The site clearly states it added that tax for Canada and the US, and shows two prices for each country reflecting the lowest and highest tax applicable based on where you buy the phone.

Yes (it could have been more explicit on the list) - but the prices are there. They did a good job with this

Re: iPhone 14: Cheapest Country to Buy in 37 Countries

#26
post #5

The US price is pre-tax while others look post-tax. Also at least in the EU there is a longer warranty.

Apple's warranty in the EU is not any longer. The 2-year "warranty" required by law is not the same and only covers defects existing from the time of purchase, and after 6 months the burden of proof falls to the customer. In practice I've never seen this play out because almost all manufacturers (with Apple being an exception) offer 2-3 years of full warranty here either way.

Apple can try to be the exception, except most European have consumer protection agencies that will do the right thing when consumers fill a complaint.

That is how I canceled my Vodafone contract, while Vodafone was playing word games on me and refusing to accept my rights as consumer.

After filling a complaint, and getting a call from the consumer goverment agency, apparently it was all in order to cancel the contract.

Same will apply to Apple.

Re: iPhone 14: Cheapest Country to Buy in 37 Countries

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Swedish VAT is 25%, but the price is ~35% higher than the US. I think this is because the Swedish krona has lost value against the dollar over the last year, but I don’t think Apple has actually raised prices in Sweden (for the previous iPhone lineup).

It’s not just VAT. There are also import duties, taxes on salaries and land (there’s at least a warehouse, maybe also a physical store as well as a few pair of hands in play along the value chain of selling an iPhone in Sweden) Maybe salaries in Sweden are higher than us as well.

Apple tech sold in USA is also manufactured overseas, and should be subject to shipping, imports, salaries and so on.

Re: iPhone 14: Cheapest Country to Buy in 37 Countries

#29
post #5

The US price is pre-tax while others look post-tax. Also at least in the EU there is a longer warranty.

Apple's warranty in the EU is not any longer. The 2-year "warranty" required by law is not the same and only covers defects existing from the time of purchase, and after 6 months the burden of proof falls to the customer. In practice I've never seen this play out because almost all manufacturers (with Apple being an exception) offer 2-3 years of full warranty here either way.

Not true, there is second year of warranty that needs to be given to customer by store where device was purchased. Only difference is you will ask you for receipt. (I work in Apple authorised repair store)

Re: iPhone 14: Cheapest Country to Buy in 37 Countries

#30
post #19
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re right, but a base iPhone for 1000+ EUR is crazy.

No not really. That's the price here for high end smart phones, and it fit fine with purchasing power.

GP commenter could be in Switzerland and he meant that it's crazy cheap.
Post reply on HN