Why Are Macs So Expensive In Australia?

by duncan on June 4, 2007

I’ve been looking into the potential of switch to a Mac over the last couple of days, what I don’t get is this:

The Apple Store (Australia) - Mac Pro

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vs

The Apple Store (U.S.) - Mac Pro

image

WTF?!?!

Using xe.com (conversion rate of 83c), the same Mac sold in the US is $3,002 AUD. So why does Apple sell it for $3,999, 33% higher? even if we allow for 10% GST it still only brings it to $3,300, not $4k.

At $3k it’s reasonable buying, at $4k it’s not.

It’s the same across the board.

A Refurbished Mac Pro Quad 2.66GHz Intel Xeon:

US: $2199 USD/ $2640 AUD Australia: $3359 AUD/  $2796 USD

Does anyone know how to import them into Australia directly from the States or can recommend a company that does ship them here? Even with customs duty they’d still work out cheaper.

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Viewing 2 Comments

    • ^
    • v
    It might be a tariff that Aus. puts on American products, therfore forcing Apple to raise prices to level the margin of profit in Aus. I don't know, though, it's just a theory.
    • ^
    • v
    I doubt it's a tariff.
    I've just come back from living in the States for just over a year. I was born and bred Aussie though.

    Let me tell you, this is completely across the board. Electronics, food, clothes, petrol!

    Sometimes it's just ridiculous how expensive the markups are.
    In my mind the factors which cause it are,
    1. Exchange rates, 2. Shipping Costs, 3. Less Volume of products, 4. Much less competition.

    As a educated consumer, which you obviously now are - Buy from the States and have it shipped, we will continuously get ripped off here which is a big shame.
 
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