2009-01-06
Bargain Basement Britain
MacBook, 13”, 2.0GHz, US price: $1,299
MacBook, 13”, 2.0GHz, UK price: £929
At the current exchange rates, and taking into account the fact that the UK headline price includes 15% VAT, the equivalent US price comes out as £1,019. So if you buy your MacBook in bargain basement Britain, you’re saving nearly 10%! (Or, to put it another way, even if you smuggle in a MacBook from California, paying no VAT, you’ll barely have saved anything.)
I wonder how long it’ll be before Apple manages to realign its prices - surely this can’t last? Perhaps today’s Macworld announcements will have more typical comparative pricing.
Later Normal service is resumed. iLife ‘09 is $79; +15% and at today’s exchange rate, that’s £62, but it’s actually £69 from the UK store. Ho hum.
