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UK screwed on iPad coming AND going
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Doc HM
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May 7, 2010, 02:33 PM
 
Yah! for Apples UK iPad pricing plans.

Apple's price for the 16GB version of the Wi-Fi only iPad is £429 (including VAT) while the 32GB version is £499 and 64GB is £599. For the Wi-Fi and 3G version of the iPad, the 16GB device will be £529 (including VAT), the 32GB device £599 and the largest 64GB Wi-Fi and 3G iPad will be £699.

Extra Yah! for Orange super generous data plans. PAYG at £2 per day or £25 per month for 3GB of 3G data and a whole 750MB of wireless data. When was the last time anyone measured ANYTHING in MB?
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May 7, 2010, 02:46 PM
 
at today's exchange rates, 429 GBP is 634 USD. compare to 499 USD.
499 GBP = 738.60 USD
599 GBP = 886.62
529 GBP = 783.01
699 GBP = 1034.64

OUCH.

25 GBP is 37
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Spheric Harlot
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May 7, 2010, 04:43 PM
 
Uk pricing includes taxes.

Sounds about right. You're getting about as ****ed as we are.
     
richwig83
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May 7, 2010, 05:00 PM
 
We always get a bad deal!
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Simon
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May 7, 2010, 05:09 PM
 
The only people screwing you are your own politicians. The GBP has gone down the drain and you're paying for it. Why you'd expect a Californian company to subsidize your failed monetary policy is beyond me.

$499 = £339, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £398 -> Apple's markup 8%
$599 = £406, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £477 -> Apple's markup 5%
$699 = £474, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £557 -> Apple's markup 8%

$629 = £427, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £502 -> Apple's markup 5%
$729 = £495, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £582 -> Apple's markup 3%
$829 = £563, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £662 -> Apple's markup 6%

With those markups Apple isn't screwing anybody. In fact, if your currency keeps on tanking it won't be long before Apple actually starts losing money. If you want to pay less for your imports, you better start thinking about electing somebody else. But oh no, look, you just elected the same old clowns again.
     
richwig83
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May 7, 2010, 05:59 PM
 
Originally Posted by Simon View Post
The only people screwing you are your own politicians. The GBP has gone down the drain and you're paying for it. Why you'd expect a Californian company to subsidize your failed monetary policy is beyond me.

$499 = £339, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £398 -> Apple's markup 8%
$599 = £406, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £477 -> Apple's markup 5%
$699 = £474, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £557 -> Apple's markup 8%

$629 = £427, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £502 -> Apple's markup 5%
$729 = £495, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £582 -> Apple's markup 3%
$829 = £563, add ludicrous UK VAT -> £662 -> Apple's markup 6%

With those markups Apple isn't screwing anybody. In fact, if your currency keeps on tanking it won't be long before Apple actually starts losing money. If you want to pay less for your imports, you better start thinking about electing somebody else. But oh no, look, you just elected the same old clowns again.
Sorry i cant quite find where i wrote that......
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turtle777
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May 7, 2010, 06:45 PM
 
I'm so ****ing sick and tired of all those news outlets still comparing US prices w/o tax to European prices WITH tax. WTF ? This "issue" is decades old, and they still don't get it.

-t
     
Spheric Harlot
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May 8, 2010, 03:19 AM
 
The data plans suck - that's the actual issue IMO.
     
turtle777
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May 8, 2010, 06:54 AM
 
Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot View Post
The data plans suck - that's the actual issue IMO.
Yeah, LOL, that's because Europeans have the superior G3 networks and prices, and only Americans get screwed by AT&T. Or what was the myth again ?

-t
     
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May 8, 2010, 07:06 AM
 
If you get an O2 simplicity sim card thats only 20quid PM for unlimited data! (I presume that would work)
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kenna
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May 8, 2010, 07:43 AM
 
Personally, as someone from the U.K waiting on the 64GB iPad, I always felt I would be paying around the £600 mark. I was just hoping it wouldn't be any more than that...

I think it's a good deal given the prices in the U.S. We always pay more and upon reflection of the 64GB wifi only version in the U.S being $699, I really don't think there's anything too bad here.

That said, I think the thread starter was reflecting upon the 3G pricing - I kinda gathered that A. The pricing would suck over here, they know we'll pay it and B. That 3G coverage isn't that great out of the cities in the U.K, IMO. I know only a few places in my home get full bars and I'm in a town of a population over 100,000 (otherwise, I'm largely back to 2G at times).

It's great to see the iPad finally coming to U.K. shores. And to Simon, looks like we're changing P.M, we've elected someone WORSE, IMO.

The economy is screwed in many places however and these pricing plans are largely nice. Roll on Monday and more so the 28th!
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Simon
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May 9, 2010, 02:08 AM
 
El Steve weighs in.

"Please educate yourself. UK prices must by law include VAT, which is around 18%. US prices do not include tax."

And to some German who wondered why Apple has started charging Germans €15 more for the iPad than other Europeans:

"Blame your government. Germany just added a new copyright levy for computers."

Way to lay it down, Steve.
( Last edited by Simon; May 9, 2010 at 02:24 AM. Reason: typo)
     
Koralatov
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May 9, 2010, 11:12 AM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
I'm so ****ing sick and tired of all those news outlets still comparing US prices w/o tax to European prices WITH tax. WTF ? This "issue" is decades old, and they still don't get it.
I thought that myself when I say the news. I’m not sure what the average rate of sales tax is in the States, though, so it’s hard for me to make a like-for-like comparison.
     
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May 9, 2010, 11:18 AM
 
Originally Posted by Simon View Post
El Steve weighs in.

"Please educate yourself. UK prices must by law include VAT, which is around 18%. US prices do not include tax."
You'd think the UK people would know that.

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Drakino
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May 9, 2010, 11:54 AM
 
I’m not sure what the average rate of sales tax is in the States
Sales taxes in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So from that, the range is 0% - 11.5%, depending on location. States, Counties, and Cities may all have their own sales tax rate.

Taxes in the US are quite complicated. Some places have governments pulling in most of their tax revenue from income taxes. Other places from property taxes. And some from sales tax. It all varies wildly, along with those services that the taxes pay for. So while that 11.5 max number might seem nice compared to the VAT around 18%, it doesn't show the whole picture. It's quite possible that person in the US paying 11.5% sales tax is also paying a higher percentage of his income towards income or property taxes. And even if he is paying less then the UK, other parts of his income are being diverted to services like healthcare, education, and other privatized services that are public in the UK.

Ultimately, the base price of the iPad appears to be pretty similar in the UK compared to the US when tax is taken out of the picture.
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kenna
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May 9, 2010, 12:44 PM
 
Originally Posted by Eriamjh View Post
You'd think the UK people would know that.
We do know that, some just don't realise that tax isn't included on U.S pricing and once one person doesn't realise and makes a comment, they all jump on the bandwagon without thinking.

I'm sure some Americans do this too.
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msuper69
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May 9, 2010, 01:56 PM
 
Originally Posted by Koralatov View Post
I thought that myself when I say the news. I’m not sure what the average rate of sales tax is in the States, though, so it’s hard for me to make a like-for-like comparison.
We have enough information to make a like comparison. Just subtract the VAT from the UK price.
     
turtle777
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May 9, 2010, 02:04 PM
 
Originally Posted by msuper69 View Post
We have enough information to make a like comparison. Just subtract the VAT from the UK price.
I guess the problem is that some Europeans think that the US prices include VAT.

Well, I can't help it if an ignorant person makes comparisons. Garbage in, garbage out.

-t
     
Spheric Harlot
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May 9, 2010, 02:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
Yeah, LOL, that's because Europeans have the superior G3 networks and prices, and only Americans get screwed by AT&T. Or what was the myth again ?

-t
Well we actually have coverage, which makes a difference in price, I'm sure.

specifically in germany, cellular service is expensive because the telecoms morons got caught in a bidding war over UMTS frequencies a couple years ago that cost them billions that need to be *somehow* recouped.
     
NeverTriedApple
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May 9, 2010, 03:32 PM
 
Many buy on/for business and claim VAT back.

Apple is one of few companies that will keep pricing more or less same in America and UK (pre-VAT), using market exchange rate. Lenovo and Dell, for example, won't - somehow $600 becomes £600 here. Hail Apple!
     
Spheric Harlot
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May 9, 2010, 03:46 PM
 
iPad isn't really a product for the clientele that can deduct sales tax.
     
kenna
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May 9, 2010, 05:00 PM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
I guess the problem is that some Europeans think that the US prices include VAT.

Well, I can't help it if an ignorant person makes comparisons. Garbage in, garbage out.

-t
This is correct. Europeans who haven't been to America do not understand the pricing of dollars versus Euro/pound sterling, hopefully this incident will be remembered and they'll not be as bewildered next time.
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NeverTriedApple
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May 9, 2010, 05:16 PM
 
Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot View Post
iPad isn't really a product for the clientele that can deduct sales tax.
Not true. If it helps me run the business then for who is it to decide if not for me?
     
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May 9, 2010, 07:39 PM
 
Those UK prices for data are nice. Daily, weekly, and monthly rates? Kinda nice and with reasonable data limits, too.

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kenna
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May 9, 2010, 08:07 PM
 
Just ordered the 64GB with dock and apple case (even though it's not supposed to be very good). Apple store was down for near an hour and then I got to place my order after a few too many refreshes lol
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May 9, 2010, 08:21 PM
 
Originally Posted by kenna View Post
Just ordered the 64GB with dock and apple case (even though it's not supposed to be very good). Apple store was down for near an hour and then I got to place my order after a few too many refreshes lol
You can't use the Dock while the iPad is in the Apple case.

In order to use the dock, the iPad needs to be "naked".

F*cking stupid, if you ask me. I returned my dock because of that.

-t
     
kenna
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May 9, 2010, 08:44 PM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
You can't use the Dock while the iPad is in the Apple case.

In order to use the dock, the iPad needs to be "naked".

F*cking stupid, if you ask me. I returned my dock because of that.

-t
lol I may end up returning mine, but I want to use it to show pictures as I've always wanted a digital frame. I don't plan on using the case permanently 24/7, do you use it that often?

Which case have you opted for?
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turtle777
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May 9, 2010, 09:50 PM
 
Originally Posted by kenna View Post
lol I may end up returning mine, but I want to use it to show pictures as I've always wanted a digital frame. I don't plan on using the case permanently 24/7, do you use it that often?

Which case have you opted for?
Getting the iPad in and out of the case is a pain in the ass.

I leave it in the case 24/7, so the dock was useless for me.

-t
     
amazing
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May 9, 2010, 11:11 PM
 
haven't seen this done, but I heard people were cutting out a space for the dock to fit...may be very ugly, though.
     
turtle777
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May 9, 2010, 11:16 PM
 
Originally Posted by amazing View Post
haven't seen this done, but I heard people were cutting out a space for the dock to fit...may be very ugly, though.
Yeah, that should work.

Still retarded. Steve should fire someone.

-t
     
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May 10, 2010, 02:36 AM
 
Originally Posted by NeverTriedApple View Post
Not true. If it helps me run the business then for who is it to decide if not for me?
I'm not deciding anything.

I'm just saying that it's unlikely that business users will find it useful for their purposes at this point.

If some do, go right ahead. Duh.
     
kenna
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May 10, 2010, 06:09 PM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
Getting the iPad in and out of the case is a pain in the ass.

I leave it in the case 24/7, so the dock was useless for me.

-t
How come it's such a pain in the ass?

Does it take quite a few minutes or is it just really fiddly?
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turtle777
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May 10, 2010, 06:11 PM
 
Originally Posted by kenna View Post
Does it take quite a few minutes or is it just really fiddly?
Just fiddly. Would take about 20-30 sec.

Plus, I suspect that the life span of the case would be lower if you put it on and off on a daily basis.

-t
     
kenna
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May 11, 2010, 02:36 PM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
Just fiddly. Would take about 20-30 sec.

Plus, I suspect that the life span of the case would be lower if you put it on and off on a daily basis.

-t
Thanks.

I'm thinking of buying an invisible shield for the iPad. Would that be advisable considering the large screen size? Sorry to jack the thread.
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