Apple's pricing in Australia is generally very competitive. I know for laptops you pay significantly more in Australia for brands like Lenovo (in comparison with their USA pricing).
On the contrary, I saved a couple of hundred dollars by getting a Macbook Pro from Japan. There's an Inquiry going on right now into IT-related pricing by Apple, Adobe and Microsoft:
The price gouging of Australian consumers is especially noticeable when it comes to intangible goods like software and games purchased digitally. As an example, when Diablo 3 came out a few months ago I purchased it via the Blizzard store for $79 (no packaging costs, no distribution costs except for a little bandwidth) and yet I paid $79 for a computer game. While that doesn't sound too bad at first, friends of mine who purchased physical copies of the game from Dick Smith paid $59 for a physical copy that required packaging, printing and a CD, not to mention shipping costs as well as store markup. We are definitely being ripped off here in Australia, just because we can afford to pay more doesn't give companies the right to charge more (especially for digital downloads).
I doubt anything will come of the inquiry to be honest, but it is nice to think that perhaps things might change.
On iPhone pricing in Australia, can someone let me know if this is a contract thing, like hidden costs on the US version, because the US store lists the cheapest iPhone 5 as $199, where the AU store lists it as $799. $199USD =~ $189AUD.
On the face of it it seems pretty unfair, is there something I'm missing?
$799 is the outright price: that is, not on a contract. If you buy one one a contract you might pay $5 per month over 24 months (depending on the plan and model you get).
Thanks, I had a suspicion this might be it, I don't suppose you've got any idea why Apple sell/advertise them in a contract by default there but not here?
Sorry, I'm not sure if you're point out the existence of the plans here, or that they seem to be more expensive than what grandparent comment said they run for in the US.
If its the former, I was aware you could get them on a plan with a provider here, I was wondering why Apple hasn't partnered with Telstra or whoever to push the plans as the primary price point like they do on the US site and presumably in stores.
If its the latter, I wouldn't be surprised if that's just down more expensive data/phone usage plans?
Sorry - the point I was attempting to make (While tired/slightly-drunk) was that all the major carriers have free plans. SO the upfront cost of the phone would be $0 (Which is exactly the same up-front cost as he SGS-3, HTC-1XL, etc). I'm not sure that apple want to position themselves like that. For apples perspective -- having it be a $700ish phone is better than a "free" phone.
As to Apple not pushing the plans -- it could just be the fact that they don't have a "primary" partner. Since every Telco had the phone on launch -- Apple would become an intermediary offering choices (Is Optus or Telstra better in my area?).
Thanks, I had a suspicion this might be it, I don't suppose you've got any idea why Apple sell/advertise them in a contract by default there but not here?
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w...
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2012/04/15/parliamentary...