Apple Macbook costs more in the UK: Apple's official reason
Today I received an email from Apple's PR company with an official response to the increase in price:
Hi Steven,
Apple suggests product prices internationally on the basis of several factors, including currency exchange rates, local import laws, business practices, taxes, and the cost of doing business. These factors vary from region to region and over time, such that international prices are not always comparable to US suggested retail prices.
I hope this helps answer your query.
Fair enough I guess but they've not really answered where the money actually goes; just given a generic "it costs more to do business" that I expected to receive. I was hoping for them to explain that VAT (at 17.5%) is charged on UK products so that makes it more expensive, with a further 5% on import taxes and 7% extra to cover the cost of doing business in Europe (all examples, not real figures). Instead Apple sent me a generic response telling me something I already knew.
One day companies will give consumers real answers to the questions they give. The amount of times I've asked a sincere and thoughtful question to a company only to receive a standard email in reply is an awful lot. At least we have an answer.
So when asking Apple "Why is the Macbook 30.8% more expensive in the UK than in the US" they replied "It just is". Awesome.
Enjoy this article? Why not subscribe to the full RSS feed?
