Ask HN: Will Apple sell any of new MacBook Pro's outside the US?

4 points·retskrad··5 comments

The new 14" and 16" MacBook Pro's that were just released have some... interesting price tags. In the EU, the 14" starts at $2800 and the 16" starts at $3500. Seems like Apple using EU to subsidise the US market. Will Apple actually manage to sell any of these laptops in Europe?

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Most of the additional cost is VAT, and the norm in the US is to show prices without sales tax. It's $1999 for the base model 14" MBP in the US which is roughly €1,850 or £1620

Country, Sales tax, Adjusted Price, Actual Price

France, 20%, €2220, €2399

Germany, 19%, €2201, €2399

Spain, 21% , €2238, €2449

UK, 20%, £1944, £2,149

Ireland, 23%, €2275, €2499

New Zealand, 15%, NZ$3566, NZ$3699

The extra $100 or so is likely a forex rate fluctuation buffer.

A while ago there was a short period of time due to stronger USD and weaker NZD where the price on the Apple Store was actually cheaper than the adjusted price.

Of course they will.

Also, remember that, afaik, the price in the US on Apple's website does not include any taxes, whereas in Europe it includes VAT, which can be up to 25% depending on the country.

I see the new Macbook Pro 14" starts at $1,999. Here in the UK it starts at £2,149 (or $2,200 in USD without the 20% VAT), and in France EUR2,399 (or $2,160 in USD without the 20% VAT). So it's not outrageously different.

Consider also the price of an iPhone and how many they sell.

> Seems like Apple using EU to subsidize the US market.

Not at all.

The price difference is due to the out of control taxes Europeans countries impose on goods.

Yes

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