Reasonable price for the Mac mini in the EU

To:  Apple, 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA

We'd like to make an appeal to Apple on the pricing of the new Mac mini in the European Union. Basing on the last long-term rate of exchange of US Dollars to EUR (et vice versa) -- which is 1.3293 on the spot market, so let's say 1.32 -- both announced prices of the Mac mini in Europe, 489.- EUR and 589.- EUR, respectively, are much too high.

Let's do the math:

Mac mini 1.25GHz is 499 US Dollars excluding VAT

Mac mini 1.25GHz is therefore 378.03 EUR (499 divided by 1.32)

In case of Germany as the buyers' location, you have to add 16 per cent VAT:

378.03 EUR x 1.16 = 439.52 EUR

If you do the math for the 1.42GHz Mac mini, you'll end up at 526.39 EUR

So, staying in Germany, you pay 50 EUR (or approx. 66 US Dollars) more for the 1.25GHz Mac mini, and over 60 EUR (or approx. 80 US Dollars!) more than buying it in USA.

Furthermore, there are several reasons that prove our maths:

i) Mostly, complaining customers outside the US are told to forget the VAT -- our maths *contain* VAT (here: Germany, 16 per cent).

ii) The profit margin is the same, independent from the sales location, so Apple will have it's calculated profit margin.

iii) Transport costs are equally the same for delivery to customers in the US and the EU, provided that the Mac mini's production is a) in Ireland or b) somewhere in Asia.

The final and IMHO most important reason for Apple to adjust or match the price is the main reason the Mac mini was developed:

To increase Apple's market share.

In the EU, especially in Germany, Apple's share is very low (somewhat beneath three [3] per cent). The main intention on the project 'Mac mini' is to attract more 'switchers'.

But keeping the price that much too high is more than contra-productive.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Reasonable price for the Mac mini in the EU Petition to Apple, 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA was created by and written by Timo Schöler (timo.schoeler@macfinity.net).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.