Apple to Open First Argentinian Apple Store in Buenos Aires in 2018

Thursday February 23, 2017 11:53 AM PST by Juli Clover
Apple is planning to open an Apple Store in Buenos Aires in 2018, according to Gizmodo en Español. The store will be Apple's first official retail location in Argentina, but it is not yet clear where it will be located in the city.

As Apple plans to open its first store in Argentina, several third-party retailers will also start selling Apple products. Starting in 2017, electronics chain Frávega will open 15 store-within-a-store locations that offer a range of Apple products. It is not known, however, if the Frávega locations will be offering the iPhone.

Apple Morumbi in São Paulo Brazil
At the current point in time, Apple products are exorbitantly expensive in Argentina due to taxes, tariffs, and inflation. Products sell for up to three times as much in Argentina as they do in the United States. The entry-level iPad Pro, for example, sells for $1,418 (22,149 pesos) compared to $599 in the U.S.

Argentina just announced plans to remove a 35 percent import tariff on computers, laptops, and tablets, which, along with a local Apple Store, could lower prices for Argentinian Apple customers.

Apple retail stores have been slow to roll out in Latin America. Apple has two stores in Brazil and just recently opened its first Apple Store in Mexico City. Apple is rumored to be planning to open additional stores in Mexico in Guadalajara and Monterrey, along with locations in Chile and Peru.

Related Roundup: Apple Stores
Tag: Argentina
28 comments


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Blackstick
21 months ago
Nice for Buenos Aires.

I worked for Apple Aventura for many years... the store's staff unilaterally found Argentineans in most cases to be very difficult, elitist customers that were challenging to serve. Most especially the Argentineans who worked for the store. They wouldn't even give my buddy the time of day because she was Cuban.

In part this is because being able to afford travel to the US and buy Apple products naturally means that individual is in the 1% elite of their country, but these folks were never shy to let people know it. Humility is not what comes to mind from that group, Argentineans themselves know it.
Rating: 2 Votes
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jetison
21 months ago

I love shopping in BA and partly this is because they've got local designers that you can't get outside Argentina; I understand this is because import tariffs are so high.
Still, BA is a huge city with plenty of wealthy enough people to buy Apple products; this will just save them all those trips to the USA and provide local service.


We're used to have to buy Apple products abroad and that probably won't change since prices will still be high compared to the US. Official service is something I've dreamt for years. There are a few Premium Resellers, but if you bring a device purchased somewhere else they won't accept it for repair. And if they do, expect a 3-4 month delay to get the parts into the country.

Also, the import tariff removal doesn't include phones, so the iPhone is something we might not see afterall. Mobile phones have to be assembled in the country, and Apple is not really interested in doing that. We're not India.
There's been times I've had to fly to the US and back during a weekend just for an iPhone swap.
We don't even have carrier bundle support, it's pretty sad. It's a nightmare when iMessage stops activating, no visual voicemail, no native wifi calls, nada.

Regarding Fravega, it's a messy retail chain with lousy sellers. Unless they train them to sell Apple products, I'm not seeing it as a success.
Rating: 2 Votes
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dave2010
21 months ago
I love shopping in BA and partly this is because they've got local designers that you can't get outside Argentina; I understand this is because import tariffs are so high.
Still, BA is a huge city with plenty of wealthy enough people to buy Apple products; this will just save them all those trips to the USA and provide local service.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
cube
21 months ago

Do these kind of tariffs ever benefit a country? Seems like they just end up punishing the people in the country by making gadgets crazy expensive. I guess it worked out for India, Apple started manufacturing there, but only because wages are low.

I think if Brazil has so much industry it is because of such a policy.
Rating: 1 Votes
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saudade
21 months ago

Nice for Buenos Aires.

I worked for Apple Aventura for many years... the store's staff unilaterally found Argentineans in most cases to be very difficult, elitist customers that were challenging to serve. Most especially the Argentineans who worked for the store. They wouldn't even give my buddy the time of day because she was Cuban.

In part this is because being able to afford travel to the US and buy Apple products naturally means that individual is in the 1% elite of their country, but these folks were never shy to let people know it. Humility is not what comes to mind from that group, Argentineans themselves know it.


Really? Who can someone from a funny country like thiz be arrogant in the US?
These duds travel to the states 2 buy a phone?? Lol
Rating: 1 Votes
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grago
21 months ago
I hope this is true! It has been hard to be an Apple user the last 10 years here in Argentina :(
Rating: 1 Votes
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Amazing Iceman
21 months ago
Apple could ship directly from China to Argentina.
The only problem is going through Customs without being robbed both illegally and then legally (import tax).

Hopefully people in Argentina will be able to purchase an Apple device without having to travel to the U.S.
Rating: 1 Votes
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dan110
12 months ago
LOL. That $1,000 iPhone X is going to cost $2,000 when socialist Argentina puts all their duties and taxes on it.
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Nice for Buenos Aires.

I worked for Apple Aventura for many years... the store's staff unilaterally found Argentineans in most cases to be very difficult, elitist customers that were challenging to serve. Most especially the Argentineans who worked for the store. They wouldn't even give my buddy the time of day because she was Cuban.

In part this is because being able to afford travel to the US and buy Apple products naturally means that individual is in the 1% elite of their country, but these folks were never shy to let people know it. Humility is not what comes to mind from that group, Argentineans themselves know it.



I've had the same experience with the few I've met. They remind of the Russians as well. I just have to laugh.
Rating: 1 Votes
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R.Johnson
21 months ago
How about Auckland, New Zealand Apple?
Rating: 1 Votes
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Jakexb
21 months ago
Do these kind of tariffs ever benefit a country? Seems like they just end up punishing the people in the country by making gadgets crazy expensive. I guess it worked out for India, Apple started manufacturing there, but only because wages are low.
Rating: 1 Votes
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