Why is it so expensive to purchase an iPhone in Australia and it is a third of the price to buy one in the US????

Question

Why is it so expensive to purchase an iPhone in Australia and it is a third of the price to buy one in the US????

Why is it that iPhones that can be purchased from Australian telcos or from apple stores are so bloody expensive compared to exactly the same item from a US store???

Eg: new iPhone 5s

Australian pricing:

16gb: $869

32gb: $999

64gb: $1129

US pricing

16gb: $199

32gb: $299

64gb: $399

Why is there such a different price between the 2 markets??

A quick conversion rate at 11/09/2013 10.51pm AEST is $1 AUD = $0.93 US.

I just don't understand why the Australian Apple users get reamed all the time with pricing???

iPhone 4S

Posted on Sep 11, 2013 5:54 AM

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Answer 1

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Sep 11, 2013 5:58 AM in response to georgiospondooli

The US pricing you see is for carrier subsidized phones, & they require a two-year contract. The Australian pricing is for contract free phones. Australian prices also include taxes, US prices do not.

You're comparing Apples & Oranges here.

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Answer 2

Sep 11, 2013 6:09 AM in response to georgiospondooli

Phones don't even get any cheaper when u get them contracted in Australia. It's ********. Australian telcos don't do phone subsidies. Where as phones like Samsung galaxy, etc are very similar pricing anywhere in the world. I will most likely get the new iPhone 5s but it is just crappy how if they are purchased from O/seas, they would be cheaper

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