NZ gets shafted again

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › NZ gets shafted again

lyall

36 posts

Geek

#23738 8-Jul-2008 12:03

Sigh. Another great technology goes down the gurgler because of inflated NZ pricing. Really, why even bother advertising handsets "from $199" if you're going to make this much of a joke out of it.

NZ's "knowledge economy" gets another shot in the arm (or is that a shot in the head). Good one Vodafone.

alexps

40 posts

Geek

#144538 8-Jul-2008 12:13

I just thought that too. The Dominion has it's free advert for Vodafone iPhones as starting 'from $199' which, it now becomes apparent, is only for the 8Gb iPhone on a 1Gb traffic plan paying $250 month on a 24 month contract. So to get your '$199' handset you sign up to a contract for which, over it's course, you pay $4776!!!

And the Broadband access is only available if you sign up to either an iPhone specific plan, or pay $20 per month to access it.

Brilliant! Not a monopoly flexing its muscles at all then. And to all those people planning on queueing on Lambton Quay - please don't waste your life just to give Vodafone more free publicity.

moscomusic

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#144563 8-Jul-2008 12:58

I'm sure its not going to be long before someone comes onto this thread and says 'its not that bad a deal really?"... Well, please... don't bother......

This deal is shocking!

Lyll - You hit the nail on the head in a diplomatic way! This is blatantly Vodafone just being down right Greedy!!!

I really hope from the bottom off my heart that 'NOBODY' buys the phone... but we all know that just isn't gonna happen!

I have my 1st Gen iPhone and I will be sticking with it... Just not gonna be in the good books for a while with the Mrs as said she could have this one when I upgrade

:-) ooopsy!

euanandrews

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#144568 8-Jul-2008 13:07

moscomusic: I'm sure its not going to be long before someone comes onto this thread and says 'its not that bad a deal really?"... Well, please... don't bother......

I will happily be that person.

But I wont say its a good deal, it is a poor deal for the mass market....but they are not targeting the mass market, they are targeting high-end users.

This is economics at its best...supply and demand...

Porche dont lower the price of thier cars to sell lots, they keep them high and build and sell less or purpose, to maintain its prestiege and justify its high cost, and as a result make large profit.

The iPhone is the same.

You guys just got to get over it...there are far better phones out there for much cheaper...the iPhone is nothing more than a pretty phone made by Apple that is just pure hype.

I will wait for the coming release of the Nokia N96, a far superior phone.

Ziggles

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#144586 8-Jul-2008 13:36

Im sorry but you can't compare Proche to the iPhone... Apple want the iPhone to be affordable for everyone...As said at the WWDC. So Vodafone have really screwed it up and are definatly going for the wrong demographic here. It's nothing like what Porche do with their limited stocks and high prices at all...

lyall

36 posts

Geek

#144595 8-Jul-2008 13:46

TheBartender: You guys just got to get over it...there are far better phones out there for much cheaper...the iPhone is nothing more than a pretty phone made by Apple that is just pure hype.

They're a constant mystery to me, these people who hang out on the iPhone forum just to say how much they don't like the phone. You'd almost think they have some sort of axe to grind. You'd almost think they were...trolls.

However, I shall take the bait on the less troll-like statements.

A mass-market phone is precisely what Apple intends the iPhone to be, as is obvious from the US marketing and pricing (not to mention the phone's usability). The mass-market is, in return, interested in the phone, after all - when was the last time the non-tech media gave anywhere near this much coverage to a mobile phone?

In the US, the phone is priced accordingly. In NZ, Vodafone's artificially-inflated pricing comes between the mass-market and the phone. Thus they're doing us a disservice, and they suck.

They're also doing Apple a disservice, coming between their product and the market, but they can get away with it because our small population means the disservice is minor in the grand scheme of things. Vodafone is taking advantage of this, and NZ gets shafted again.

You see, a Porsche is expensive everywhere. An iPhone is expensive in New Zealand.

moscomusic

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#144598 8-Jul-2008 13:48

TheBartender:
moscomusic: I'm sure its not going to be long before someone comes onto this thread and says 'its not that bad a deal really?"... Well, please... don't bother......

I will happily be that person.

But I wont say its a good deal, it is a poor deal for the mass market....but they are not targeting the mass market, they are targeting high-end users.
This is economics at its best...supply and demand...

Porche dont lower the price of thier cars to sell lots, they keep them high and build and sell less or purpose, to maintain its prestiege and justify its high cost, and as a result make large profit.

The iPhone is the same.

You guys just got to get over it...there are far better phones out there for much cheaper...the iPhone is nothing more than a pretty phone made by Apple that is just pure hype.

I will wait for the coming release of the Nokia N96, a far superior phone.

OOOoohhh... I knew it wouldn't take long!!!

Sorry,... but absolute rubbish!

This is not 'Good' economics.... it is in fact BAD economics...!

* Steve Jobs is not trying to target 'High End Users' and he never has! ...VODAFONE is... , Greed!

* Supply and demand... So you're telling me that because they are only going to get 'xyz' amount in to NZ for the first few months, they can rip people off with these ridiculous prices !! No you are wrong... They are obviously going to, but this will backfire and bite them on the Bum!

The whole idea initially of Apple lowering the cost of the phones, was to allow everyday Joe Bloggs to be able to afford an iPhone, so that Apple could continue with their quest to rule the world!! :-) And they certainly were not intended to be targeted solely to High-end users! Are Kids high end users? Who will be using this as solely a 'phone'?? I Don't? iTunes music downloads, Movies, iPod, Internet, Games... oh yeah, emails... This is definitely capable as a business tool, but it is definitely aimed at a fun, all round toy 'in yer pocket' for Kids, average guys n' gals that like their music etc... NOT High-End users!

* Since when has Porsche supplied anything to the 'Mass Market' that 'everybody' wanted i,e, the iPod. The closest thing that they provided that was the 'cheaper/mid end user' market was the Porsche - Boxter... mmmm, the least said about that the better!

That is the whole idea behind the iPhone I believe, as Apple are 'trying' to dominate the telecommunication side of this as well as the portable music players etc.

Anyway, can't be ar*sed to argue about this. Each to their own....

N96, superior... yeah right. I've owned an iPhone since the day they came out, and for me, it is a fantastic phone. I Have many Apple products in my house and all sync nicely, as you would expect. It all depends what you want, and I can say for myself that an N96 is not as superior as an iPhone when using many an Apple product, syncing, etc... If you have Apple gear, you want an iPhone... If u use iTunes, you'd like an iPhone. If you put the 2 side by side 99% of people would want an iPhone!

Doesn't mean you can charge the world for them when it has been publically stated that there have been so called 'Price Drops' to make it more affordable!

As I said, each to their own;-)

euanandrews

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#144609 8-Jul-2008 13:56

Troll?

Lol!

I love the iPhone, would like one for myself...it is a beautifull phone...but its not that great.
And obviously at these prices, it is un-attainable for the majority, including myself.

I will wait for the Nokia N96, to be released shortly.

I'm just amused by all you people getting so wound up over a phone thats just 'pretty'...and all hype.

Yawn. Ok. I'm done with this, I'll leave you guys to trash me and Vodafone at will now.
Happy hunting.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

moscomusic

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#144621 8-Jul-2008 14:11

TheBartender:
I love the iPhone, would like one for myself...it is a beautifull phone...but its not that great.
And obviously at these prices, it is un-attainable for the majority, including myself.

I will wait for the Nokia N96, to be released shortly.
I'm just amused by all you people getting so wound up over a phone thats just 'pretty'...and all hype.

Ha! No offence, and not trashing you but as you said, 'you don't own one!'

The amount of people that had exactly the same attitude as you 'until' they got their hands on one and used one, lived with one....

Yes, you are correct, it is 'Just' a phone ... But as phones go, it is 'actually'... 'great', as all of the media/critics around the world have publicly stated.

What I think you need to understand, is that we are not getting 'wound up' about a pretty phone, we are wound up about the piss takers at VF and the fact that business decisions like this are actually 'the' decision's that put NZ technology etc so far behind the rest of the world!!

Think of the side effects... Just an example...

- You know Apple/iTunes provide TV programmes/Movies etc to the rest of the world, but not NZ...!? Well, what's the point? NZ is too far behind in 'that' technology to warrant companies investing in this sort of thing, because people 'will not pay' the prices they are trying to charge.... Therefore, NZ (as the topic rightly states) gets 'Shafted' AGAIN!!

Now you might be into your lil' N96 and I hope you enjoy it, but just think a bit deeper about the consequences of all this when you would love to watch a movie on your N96, but cant download it as they don't supply in this country, but do in Eastern Mongolia!

Good luck with your N96...

garvani

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#144642 8-Jul-2008 14:36

the n96 will be nice but ouch! that will be over $1500 on launch easy..

brownbox

149 posts

Master Geek

#144858 8-Jul-2008 18:47

I just want an n96 for the storage space. 16gb onboard+expansion slot. (a 32gb version is rumoured). Otherwise my n95 can do everything else it does.

Even if the n96 is 1500$, its stil 1/3 the price of the iphone!

cranz

675 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#144860 8-Jul-2008 18:50

No its not.. you still have to pay for a pricing plan to use your N96 don't you? Or is it free to run?

I could go get a 16GB iPhone 3G for $1200, how is that 3x $1500

brownbox

149 posts

Master Geek

#144868 8-Jul-2008 18:59

well if your going to be like that, im sure the n96 could be purchased from somewhere else for cheap aswell.... i was comparing vodafone to vodafone, not vodafone to ebay.

I think the 1500$ price is actually pretty wrong. Vodafones selling n95 8gb for $1400 at the moment, on no plan. It will probably be more like 2k when it first comes out. No doubt, they will have it available on a plan aswell.

sbiddle

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#147059 12-Jul-2008 11:21

My 5c worth (or 10c here in NZ now). Two basic words that define basic economics. Companies will charge what customers are prepared to pay for a product. End of story.

PRICE ELASTICITY

Google it is you don't know what it means! :-)

MattD

663 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#147064 12-Jul-2008 11:29

sbiddle: My 5c worth (or 10c here in NZ now). Two basic words that define basic economics. Companies will charge what customers are prepared to pay for a product. End of story.

PRICE ELASTICITY

ABSOLUTELY.... Value is only truly defined by each customer not by the supplier.