Apple Price Hike: Does it put you off purchasing?

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virgdotcom

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#183732 28-Oct-2015 09:30

Hi all,

Apple has recently hiked their prices for all their products in NZ and a few other places, due to the NZ$ and exchange. They have done this in the past, but in my opinion it was never as high and noticeable as this time round.

Personally I find it very bothersome because they've always been expensive and now even more so... I probably will just import, because even if you use YouShop NZ Post for example and pay tax at border, you will STILL SAVE $$$ than by purchasing directly in NZ.

Does this put you off purchasing Apple products in NZ? Will you consider importing/purchasing overseas?

Only good thing: if you have the 2014-2015 models such as MBP, MacBook 12 inch, iMac etc you have a higher resale value in NZ now with a decent profit if you are good at marketing especially during the xmas period as a result of the price hike.

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501 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1415308 28-Oct-2015 10:22

The exchange rate is pretty bad at the mo but the price hikes do seem excessive, and I'm sure they won't be reducing the prices quickly if the exchange rate gets better.

A prime example is the new Apple TV. The 64GB model is US$199 but in New Zealand is NZ$399, which is a lot more than the tax and exchange rate works out to be. They state that the NZ price includes GST and statutory fees of approx NZ$74 which means they are charging NZ$325 before GST, which today works out at about US$219, so US$20 or 10% markup. The other charge I don't understand though is the statutory fees that are added to the Apple TV as they don't charge it on other products. NZ$325 plus GST works out at NZ$373.75 so the statutory fees are another NZ$25.25, whatever they are for. Hopefully there is a reason for this and not just another profit centre for Apple as it would mean that the cost would be 19% higher than in the USA.

Personally I feel a 10% markup is quite a lot and more than compensates for fluctuating exchange rate. This other fee concerns me though as I haven't got a clue what it is for and hope it doesn't start being added to other products.

Thankfully for me I travel to the UK every year so have the opportunity to avoid the extra profits companies (not just Apple) charge to NZ consumers.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1415314 28-Oct-2015 10:32

NZ prices include a "free" extended warranty - the Consumer Guarantees Act

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

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#1415315 28-Oct-2015 10:33

Short answer is no. Price rises are a fact of life

Teeps

501 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1415329 28-Oct-2015 10:44

nathan: NZ prices include a "free" extended warranty - the Consumer Guarantees Act

As someone who has an ongoing claim (6 months and counting) with the NZ importer (via the shop I purchased from) for a faulty part on my mountain bike I discovered within 10 days of owning the bike, I think the extra price they're charging to cover the Consumer Guarantees Act is going straight into the pockets of these companies, as this one for certain seems to think this does not apply to them!

CYaBro

4583 posts

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#1415443 28-Oct-2015 12:32

Teeps:
nathan: NZ prices include a "free" extended warranty - the Consumer Guarantees Act

As someone who has an ongoing claim (6 months and counting) with the NZ importer (via the shop I purchased from) for a faulty part on my mountain bike I discovered within 10 days of owning the bike, I think the extra price they're charging to cover the Consumer Guarantees Act is going straight into the pockets of these companies, as this one for certain seems to think this does not apply to them!

Apple are actually really good at covering work under the CGA, no questions asked or pressing them for the coverage is needed.
Even when the device wasn't purchased direct from Apple.

We have had a number of devices in for repair that are well outside their 1 year standard warranty and when we process the repair with Apple they covered them under NZ Consumer Law. Nothing special had to be done by us or the customer, Apple just did it.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#1415446 28-Oct-2015 12:35

Yes it puts me off buying Apple stuff. But I'm prepared to wait it out.
All imported electronics are effected by the exchange rate, but you don't see 'them' increasing their prices on existing product lines.

old3eyes

9119 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1415449 28-Oct-2015 12:44

I was looking at the new Apple TV but at $299 compared to $120 that i paid for the Mk3 model it will have to have some good useful apps before I buy it. If it was price at about $150 I would have bought it..

Regards,

Old3eyes

Equinox IT

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Teeps

501 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1415457 28-Oct-2015 12:47

CYaBro: Apple are actually really good at covering work under the CGA, no questions asked or pressing them for the coverage is needed.
Even when the device wasn't purchased direct from Apple.

We have had a number of devices in for repair that are well outside their 1 year standard warranty and when we process the repair with Apple they covered them under NZ Consumer Law. Nothing special had to be done by us or the customer, Apple just did it.

To be fair I think that's more Apple's policy than it is to do with the CGA. I moved to NZ from the UK nearly 6 years ago and I received excellent service from them there too. This is one of the reasons why I am happy to pay Apple's already higher prices than products from other manufacturers. I feel I get a better quality product in the first place and then if anything has gone wrong I've had excellent service afterwards.

tardtasticx

3075 posts

Uber Geek

#1415479 28-Oct-2015 13:07

When did they do this and to what products? The only ones I remember are the iPhone prices but those are still the same as they were from the last price increase about a year ago.

Kind of liking it though because my iPhone 6 from last year is now worth the same price new now as it was when I got it on launch day haha.

But to answer your question, not really. Unless I could see the dollar would go back to being of better value then I might wait it out but whats the point.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1415481 28-Oct-2015 13:12

Teeps:
nathan: NZ prices include a "free" extended warranty - the Consumer Guarantees Act

As someone who has an ongoing claim (6 months and counting) with the NZ importer (via the shop I purchased from) for a faulty part on my mountain bike I discovered within 10 days of owning the bike, I think the extra price they're charging to cover the Consumer Guarantees Act is going straight into the pockets of these companies, as this one for certain seems to think this does not apply to them!

you should just disputes tribunal them

making you wait 6 months to fix a 10 day old brand new item is BS

mattwnz

20142 posts

Uber Geek

#1415483 28-Oct-2015 13:14

Products shouldn't be more expensive because of the CGA. The CGA is mainly about NZERS not being ripped off with poor quality products that can't be repaired, and just end up in the land fill. Also the NZ dollar strengthened recently. The problem is that retailers sometimes don't drop the prices when the nz dollar gets stronger, but they are quick to increase prices when the NZ dollar drops

MikeB4

18435 posts

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#1415485 28-Oct-2015 13:21

mattwnz: Products shouldn't be more expensive because of the CGA. The CGA is mainly about NZERS not being ripped off with poor quality products that can't be repaired, and just end up in the land fill. Also the NZ dollar strengthened recently. The problem is that retailers sometimes don't drop the prices when the nz dollar gets stronger, but they are quick to increase prices when the NZ dollar drops

Be it a Government warranty (CGA) or a manufacturers/suppliers warranty is a charge against revenue and will in most cases be reflected in the retail price.

Teeps

501 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1415489 28-Oct-2015 13:27

nathan: you should just disputes tribunal them

making you wait 6 months to fix a 10 day old brand new item is BS

I was hoping it wasn't going to need to come to that, but they have used up every bit of patience I have had with them while they have jumped from one theory to another saying I broke the part myself. I'm waiting for their reply to my last email and then will start legal action.

Teeps

501 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1415491 28-Oct-2015 13:33

Just to make it clear, this is not an Apple product I have had a problem with but a broken connector on the battery for my pedelec mountain bike so is a bit off topic for this thread. I was just making a point that higher prices to cover CGA seem to mean nothing for some companies.

Davy

196 posts

Master Geek

#1415495 28-Oct-2015 13:39

I think there's a major credibility problem with the extent of these hikes - for example an Airport Express router going up by more than 36 percent??

It's not good timing after Apple fumbled the ball so badly on Siri for the new Apple TV, without apparently seeming to care about setting it right.

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