Australians buying from US Website.

There's long been a major diparity between USA and Australian hardware prices even before our dollar was worth more than theirs. The argument you get from Apple in Sydney is all about 'small user base' and 'higher costs' but as the things are made and shipped from China then that really doesn't hold water. They have made some changes to iTunes but that's also still over-priced in comparison.

You cannot purchase from the USA Apple Store it will re-direct you to the Au one so your only real solution is to purchase items from USA stores while there on holiday and just bring it back as a used item (not in the box). I've now had to do this several times and have saved hundred and hundreds of dollars. It shouldn't be this way but it is.

What you didnt factor in is, market share in the country, the difference in taxes between the two countries and the customer based.

The US prices does not factor in taxes yet because believe it or not, each state has it own tax where as in Australia the GST is 10% for everything.

Also Apple is not going to, adjust the prices every day to match the current exchange rate.

The disadvantage is that you cannot buy products from the US store because you do not have a US address nor any idenfication that you go to a university in the US

According to the terms of each Apple Store, you need to live in the country to purchase it online. Apple can't have customers in each country trying to arbitrage the price from one country to another. You can walk into any store in any country to buy the MacBook Pro, and bring it back with you (I've done that, not because I was trying to save money, but I spilled a glass of wine on my MBP in London, and was forced to buy an overpriced one there).

You could find someone in the US to buy it for you and ship it to Australia, but Her Majesty's Customs will probably get you anyways!

Andy :] wrote:

What you didnt factor in is, market share in the country, the difference in taxes between the two countries and the customer based.

The US prices does not factor in taxes yet because believe it or not, each state has it own tax where as in Australia the GST is 10% for everything.

Also Apple is not going to, adjust the prices every day to match the current exchange rate.

The disadvantage is that you cannot buy products from the US store because you do not have a US address nor any idenfication that you go to a university in the US

Some states have no sales tax, so you could buy it there.

And he can go into a US bricks and mortar store and buy it. No ID required, except to use your credit card.

a) You don't pay any Tax if buying in the USA for Export

b) 10% Australian GST does not explain the price difference, it's much more than that

c) The exchange rate has been at parity or better for quite some time that's not a reasonable reason for not adjusting prices.

d) Market share has nothing to do with the pricing of a product that's made and shipped from China, if you think the Australian customer should pay 20-30% more for an identical items just to keep Apple staff employed then that's unrealistic.

e) I will concede that retail store rentals are potentially higher here than in the USA (as is minimum wage) but as Apple always choses prime locations and then spends a shipload of dollars on decor and setup that's a branding choice of theirs not something the customer should be penalised for.

d) I've had this arguement with Apple Australia for many years now and I've heard all the justifications and honestly don't buy them - hence when possible buying overseas. (And I've still bought 4 items from my local store in the last 12 months so it's not like they don't get my business if I've no choice)