iPhone 6s pricing: SA versus the world

If you look at pricing this year vs last year there is a R1,800 increase on the 16GB iPhone model.I can accept that to an extent due to the depreciation of the Rand.What I am struggling to understand is how the Smart S contract on the Vodacom network has increased by R150 pm.Over the duration of the contract I am paying an extra R3,600!
Not acceptable, which is why I have downgraded to a sim-only contract.Hopefully if more users start paying cash for their phones the Networks will revisit pricing on subsidisation of the higher end smartphones.
 
Cellphones shouldn't cost this much - problem is that we have a lot of people with bloated pockets willing to pay that price.
 
my daughter is in the us and bought the 16gb came to R9338 with state tax, bank and exchange rate fees
 
You cannot really compare prices like that by just converting USD to ZAR.

It's more complicated. You have to calculate the median income per capita for persons earning USD and then compare it to the same thing in SA.

In other words, R11,800 might be a bigger chunk of one's income in SA than $649 is for someone in the USA.
 
Kingofmybbknowitalls said:
You cannot really compare prices like that by just converting USD to ZAR.

It's more complicated. You have to calculate the median income per capita for persons earning USD and then compare it to the same thing in SA.

In other words, R11,800 might be a bigger chunk of one's income in SA than $649 is for someone in the USA.
Click to expand...

Also there's no shipping and import and custom costs for the iPhone sold in the US.

zululami said:
Cellphones shouldn't cost this much - problem is that we have a lot of people with bloated pockets willing to pay that price.
Click to expand...

They dictating the markets, this phone could easily be 20% more than what it is, fact is people will still want it.
Samsung realised this late, so now thye following suit, they not worried about price, they know we will buy it.
 
Kingofmybbknowitalls said:
You cannot really compare prices like that by just converting USD to ZAR.

It's more complicated. You have to calculate the median income per capita for persons earning USD and then compare it to the same thing in SA.

In other words, R11,800 might be a bigger chunk of one's income in SA than $649 is for someone in the USA.
Click to expand...

And, this is exactly what MyBB does not take into consideration and most of readers do not understand.

As an example, a NY Sergeant in the police earns $84k per year ($7k per month). A South African Sergeant earns R100k a year (R8 333 per Month). While the SA Sergeant cannot afford any model with his monthly salary, the US police officer can buy 6 top of the range models with his salary.
 
ThinkCentre said:
It seems that those prices, even though it is more expensive than the rest of the world, is still cheaper than the Iphone 6 which is available now!
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Where do you get that from? The iPhone 6s is a massive mark-up on the current 6 series. For example the iPhone 6 64gb retails at the moment for R12 500. The new iPhone 6s 64gb retails for R13 600.
 
Core group: I am in the market for an iPhone 6s 64gb but a mark-up of R2600 over the US version is ridiculous. Yes, you may pay import duties but that's not close to R2 600. Besides, I am sure you get the phones at a reduced price from Apple. I don't mind paying someone their profit but this is exorbitant.
 
lived666 said:
my daughter is in the us and bought the 16gb came to R9338 with state tax, bank and exchange rate fees
Click to expand...

Does she live there or is she just visiting?

If it is the latter, she will have to pay VAT at the SA airport she re-enters the country as well. SARS only allows new goods up to the value of R5,000 to be brought in as part of the duty-free allowance.

"In addition to personal effects and the above consumable allowances, travellers are allowed new or used goods in accompanied baggage to the value of R5 000."

http://www.sars.gov.za/ClientSegments/Customs-Excise/Travellers/Pages/Arrival-in-SA.aspx
 
Kingofmybbknowitalls said:
Does she live there or is she just visiting?

If it is the latter, she will have to pay VAT at the SA airport she re-enters the country as well. SARS only allows new goods up to the value of R5,000 to be brought in as part of the duty-free allowance.

"In addition to personal effects and the above consumable allowances, travellers are allowed new or used goods in accompanied baggage to the value of R5 000."

http://www.sars.gov.za/ClientSegments/Customs-Excise/Travellers/Pages/Arrival-in-SA.aspx
Click to expand...

Yeah, good one.
 
Kingofmybbknowitalls said:
Does she live there or is she just visiting?

If it is the latter, she will have to pay VAT at the SA airport she re-enters the country as well. SARS only allows new goods up to the value of R5,000 to be brought in as part of the duty-free allowance.

"In addition to personal effects and the above consumable allowances, travellers are allowed new or used goods in accompanied baggage to the value of R5 000."

http://www.sars.gov.za/ClientSegments/Customs-Excise/Travellers/Pages/Arrival-in-SA.aspx
Click to expand...

It all depends if you are willing to declare it or not. If not, you just go past the green gate. People are already taxed to the death here, so they normally don't declare it. The difference is that if you courier it from the US, customs has possession of it and won't release it until you pay their crazy duties.
 
zululami said:
Cellphones shouldn't cost this much - problem is that we have a lot of people with bloated pockets willing to pay that price.
Click to expand...

I am willing to pay these prices although I think Core Group pricing is excessive. I will probably just pitch on Friday at iStore and buy the 64gb iPhone @R13 600. Anyone else planning to buy an iPhone 6s cash?
 
cozinsky said:
The iPhone 6 was significantly cheaper when it launched a year ago. This is a good comparison article.

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/smartphones/112841-cheapest-iphone-6-deals-in-south-africa.html
Click to expand...

The problem is teh ZAR is not constant, while the phone is sold at the same price level in USD. While some question affordability, it only is a problem where earning power is not aligned with USD. Yes you could argue then that they, Apple should price it accordingly but then the phone contents don't exactly get any cheaper does it? So basically it sucks to live in a country where earning potential is lesser than those who earn USD
 
cozinsky said:
I am willing to pay these prices although I think Core Group pricing is excessive. I will probably just pitch on Friday at iStore and buy the 64gb iPhone @R13 600. Anyone else planning to buy an iPhone 6s cash?
Click to expand...

I can't decide between the plus or not.
 
RyanMB said:
I can't decide between the plus or not.
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I've had a plus since it launched in the US last year. After a year I'm tired of the size. Sure the battery is good, but it just becomes a bit too unwieldy.
 
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