Apple Raises iPhone and iPad Prices in Germany to Reflect Copyright Fees

Those prices are looking really weird compared to Austria now. They had been the same before, despite the higher tax here in Austria.

Oh Apple.

Next thing you know some of their Apple Stores are raising in-store prices, because the janitor of the mall got a raise.

Just eat it up Apple. I know the bad PR likely won't spread too wide, but really?
Those in the know who do all the friends and family ads for you for free don't get a massive kick out of this.

Then again, keep pouring oil into the fire, maybe one day your penny pinching will finally come to a collapse because some lucky day Average Joes sees right through it again, just like in the 1990's, or did that never happen?

Then you should contact your government representative and ask them why they feel the need to raise your taxes again, while providing you no increase in value for your tax dollar.

I'm salty enough about my government already and I have been for the longest time.
Also the tax is not completely new, they just widened the products this applies to.

But to see Apple penny pinching and really having the audacity to up the price right away is ridiculous.
This shows how shareholder-controlled Apple is now, this is a long shot from Steve's ethos.
Hell, just eat it up and save yourself this weird PR effect.
But as I said, Apple isn't targeting educated buyers too much anymore. So why care.

Glassed Silver:mac

Apple's prices are ridiculous here in Europe. Worse is Apple doesn't pay taxes anywhere in the EU... Except for a mere amount in Ireland.

that's the currency used to rob us europeans. the best thing about it: people don't care.

^lefty who hates the Union :)

True. But either way, consumers in Germany are paying more for the products then they previously were, with precisely zero benefit. It's as if the value proposition doesn't apply to Apple.

I currently own an iPhone 6, after owning a Moto G and HTC One. Quite frankly I've been unimpressed with the iPhone. Largely it works well, a few really annoying software issues, but there really is no reason why it should be the default choice in smartphones.

First of all, consumers in Germany SHOULD be paying more "then" they previously were. If a government entity increases a tax on the consumption of a product the people who are consuming the product should pay for it. If your local municipality increased sales taxes by half a percent would you expect all of the vendors who sell that product in your city to lower their prices by half a percent, and just pay the tax themselves?

If Apple were to buy USB flash drives or blank CDs in Germany to use for their business do you think they should insist that he seller of the USB flash drives or CDs should eat the cost of the new German levy?

As an aside, I would not be surprised that, if you were to check you would find that other smartphone sellers in Germany, including Motorola and HTC likely raised their prices to allow for this new tax, also. Greedy bastards! /s

Second, you are absolutely correct about the iPhone in that it should not be "the default choice in smartphones." There should be no "default choice in smartphones." It's a consumer product, and each consumer should make the decision about which product serves their needs. Period.

But the fact is that the marketplace has spoken, and continues to speak. The iPhone is, without any confusion, ambiguity or controversy the number one selling single smartphone in the world. Period. If you don't see the value in it over other phones that's completely your business. Don't buy one. Of course, hundreds of millions of people, including myself disagree with you. I've owned multiple Android devices, and used even more for work. I will say unequivocally that none of them comes close to the quality and usability of the iPhone, for me.

Instead of decreasing their margins the products get even more expensive....As a consumer I am not happy.

^This.
Holy penny pinching batman. To the educated buyer this just feels asinine. Granted, the times are gone when Apple cared about them.
Oh look, I can buy the new MacBook in rose-gold. Hang on guys, I'll be right back....


:rolleyes:

Glassed Silver:mac

Then you should contact your government representative and ask them why they feel the need to raise your taxes again, while providing you no increase in value for your tax dollar.

What the hell is a euro?

that's the currency used to rob us europeans. the best thing about it: people don't care.

Replace 'Reflect copyright fees' with 'Maintain profit margin' and you're on the money

Well, I could be wrong, but I believe a euro is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

Wow. Good luck finding FIVE euros, Germans.

Replace 'Reflect copyright fees' with 'Maintain profit margin' and you're on the money

And you say that as if it's a bad thing.

Apple is in business to make a profit.

Those prices are looking really weird compared to Austria now. They had been the same before, despite the higher tax here in Austria.

How does an iDevice infringe german copyright material exactly?

you "could" "potentially" "maybe" "likely" put copyright protected material on it. they r basically assuming everyones a thief. same fee has to be applied on usb thumb drives, blank cds, even printers (to print out lyrics) etc