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Comment by DavidAdams | Hacker News Reader

That would partially explain why an Apple laptop in Europe routinely costs $500+ more than in the US.

Except that they don't. The base 13 inch MBP costs $1299 in the US and £999 in the UK, which converts to $1531.52 at the time I wrote this comment, for a difference of ~$230. The mid-level costs $1499 in the US and £1199 in the UK, which converts to $1838, a difference of $339.

And the cost of AppleCare is $200-$349. So in other words, you're basically required to have AppleCare.

The biggest part of the EU cost difference is sales tax which is 20% in the UK and only 8.5% in California I think.

Actually the US prices don't include tax. That gets added during the checkout. Also the EU products include AppleCare (due to EU warrenty laws), which costs $249 extra in the US. So it's actually cheaper in Britain if you're going to be buying AppleCare.

> The base 13 inch MBP costs $1299 in the US and £999 in the UK

Are they both `after taxes`?

The US price is pre-tax (depends on state: 8.5% in California). The UK price, like most other countries in the world, already includes all taxes (VAT is 20%). In California the $1299 MBP will actually cost you $1414 including sales tax, a difference of just $117. In the UK the price includes AppleCare (under EU law), which would cost an extra $249 in the US. So if you were going to buy AppleCare anyway, then it's actually ~£85 cheaper overall in the UK.

> In the UK the price includes AppleCare (under EU law), which would cost an extra $249 in the US.

No, it does not include AppleCare. Apple must provide a limited 2 year warranty under EU law. But they still sell their 1-year and 3-year AppleCare plans.

Sales Tax/VAT is probably the bigger reason, though.

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