Apple Raises iPad and iPod Prices in Japan

[MacRumors]

Apple has raised the prices for the iPad, the iPad mini, and the iPod touch in its Japanese online store, Bloomberg reports.

Over the past several months, the Japanese yen has weakened in value, hitting ¥100.69 against the dollar earlier today, which is said to be the reason why Apple has increased its prices.

Previously, the entry level fourth generation iPad and iPad mini were priced at ¥42,800 and ¥28,800, respectively. As of today, the prices for the base products are ¥49,800 and ¥32,800. The increase is equivalent to approximately $40 for the iPad mini and $70 for the iPad, raising the price of the iPad mini to $324 and the price of the iPad to $492.87.

Old pricing​

New pricing​

The iPod touch has also had its price increased, with the entry level 32GB 5th generation version now priced at ¥29,800, up from ¥24,800.

This is not the first time that Apple has raised the price of its products. In 2011, the company began charging more for all of its products in the UK in order to compensate for an increased VAT tax.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the comment thread has been moved to our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All MacRumors forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple Raises iPad and iPod Prices in Japan

 

[mrxak]

Value Added Tax. Value added to whom?

 

[LachlanH]

That's pretty saké

....I'll leave now.

 

[gnasher729]

More than 20% change in exchange rate in the last 9 months, so a price adjustment seems justified.

 

[MOKHAN]

It's raining Yen.

 

[akm3]

It's raining Yen.

 

[Ichabod.]

Wow, I guess that's what $1.4 Trillion in stimulus does to your currency.

 

[Z400Racer37]

Let's see how well this inflationary monetary policy stimulates consumer demand now... #nowwhatKeynesians #ThanksPaulKrugman

 

[kingbadger]

Hang about, in the UK the consumer pays the VAT, not the retailer, the retailer just passes that amount onto the Government. Apple putting the prices up just meant that there was a higher initial amount for the increased VAT % to be calculated from...

 

[SteveJobs2.0]

Apple will be just fine since the Japanese consumers are easily swayed with some simple and non-sensical marketing phrases, "new prices make iPod more fun and family privilege!"

 

[lk400]

Value Added Tax. Value added to whom?

Means sales tax is only paid on the value add at each step in the supply chain, rather than the full price each time. Avoids the tax-on-tax issue of a cumulative sales tax. Its a more efficient and intelligent form of consumption tax.

 

[charlituna]

Hang about, in the UK the consumer pays the VAT, not the retailer, the retailer just passes that amount onto the Government. Apple putting the prices up just meant that there was a higher initial amount for the increased VAT % to be calculated from...

In VAT countries that amount is included in the price listed. So Apple didn't really increases prices but listed the same price with the new VAT included, just it was before

 

[kingbadger]

They way it was written suggested that Apple increased the prices as if to offset the 'extra charge' they were being levied with. Apple did not put the prices up, VAT did...

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

In VAT countries that amount is included in the price listed. So Apple didn't really increases prices but listed the same price with the new VAT included, just it was before

For those of us in the US, it's like listing the price AFTER tax instead of price BEFORE tax. Currently, prices are listed BEFORE tax. There are ways to get around paying sales tax (Amazon doesn't charge tax in certain states, CA no longer being one of them and such but yea).

 

[lk400]

Let's see how well this inflationary monetary policy stimulates consumer demand now... #nowwhatKeynesians #ThanksPaulKrugman

That is the entire point - that prices will rise.

The theory is that while prices are static or falling, as they have been for almost 20 years in Japan, people have more motivation to stick their money in the bank, and less motivation to buy today. This stalls the economy and retards consumer spending.

If prices are rising, people have incentive to rush out and buy now what they might need, before prices go up, and this stimulates the economy.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

They way it was written suggested that Apple increased the prices as if to offset the 'extra charge' they were being levied with. Apple did not put the prices up, VAT did...

Plus exchange rate fluctuation. Everything is "tied" to the USD.

 

[Bubba Satori]

Wow, I guess that's what $1.4 Trillion in stimulus does to your currency.

Yep.
Race to debase.
Creating the illusion of prosperity by printing money and destroying currencies.

http://www.dailyfx.com/forex/fundam.../08/Central_Banks_Run_the_Race_to_Debase.html

 

[lk400]

Hang about, in the UK the consumer pays the VAT, not the retailer, the retailer just passes that amount onto the Government. Apple putting the prices up just meant that there was a higher initial amount for the increased VAT % to be calculated from...

Exactly.

 

[ricoism]

my nephew just recetly buy iPad mini 32 gb WiFi only in japan (last april) with just as much as iPad mini 16gb in Singapore..

 

[kingbadger]

Plus exchange rate fluctuation. Everything is "tied" to the USD.

That should have been noted in the original article also but I suppose I'm just talking semantics now with regards to the original intent of the author. So ,yeah.

 

[lk400]

my nephew just recetly buy iPad mini 32 gb WiFi only in japan (last april) with just as much as iPad mini 16gb in Singapore..

You can still get the top standard spec 27" imac for equivalent of US$1,670 vs US$1,999 in the US.

If the yen holds weak, I think these changes will keep flowing through their products.

 

[Raftysworld]

It's raining Yen.

 

[slrandall]

That is the entire point - that prices will rise.

The theory is that while prices are static or falling, as they have been for almost 20 years in Japan, people have more motivation to stick their money in the bank, and less motivation to buy today. This stalls the economy and retards consumer spending.

If prices are rising, people have incentive to rush out and buy now what they might need, before prices go up, and this stimulates the economy.

It doesn't stimulate the economy, it hurts people who don't have that much money in the first place.

 

[hiptobesquare]

Welcome to inflation, Japan.

Fiat money printing, and the cash gains velocity through the economy... prices go up, and wages try to keep up the chase.

The US isn't far behind... the money has, and continues to be printed by the FED, it just does't have velocity, as it is stockpiled in banks and financial markets, while working wages continue to stagnate, keeping an economic lid clamped on it (demand cannot increase if people don't have discretionary buying power), as prices try to increase, creating economic pressure.

Japan is just leading the way.

 

[IbisDoc]

Pretty slimy of Apple to raise the prices based on the exchange rate, when they plan to keep the money overseas and don't have any plans to exchange it into US dollars.