If you go down to ZAStore today, you’re in for a big surprise. Today Core released the prices of the new Macbook Pro range and again, the prices are quite confusing. Take a look at this page for the pricing.
The new 13-inch Macbook Pro is now R18999 for the top of the range 2.53 Ghz model. Now this top of the range 13-inch used to be R19999 so you might argue that Core is going in the right direction right? Unfortunately the price of the old Macbook 13-inch was $1599 and now it’s $1499 so that drop in price is actually coming from the top rather than Core. Long story short, $1499 equates to around R12100, a near seven thousand rand more expensive than buying the laptop from the states. The situation is even worse with the entry level 15-inch which goes for R23000 rand when the equivalent price in the states is $1699 ie R13600 so we’re looking at an almost ten thousand rand mark up.
You see, Core raised the prices last year due to the exchange rate jumping from seven rand to the dollar to over ten rand to the dollar. However, with the rand at around eight to the dollar pricing is still closer to where R10/$ rate rather than the R7/$ rate.
Again, it’s a fair assumption that as the distributors Core does not pay the retail price and instead gets a wholesaler discount. Now based on some (highly impossible to verify and thus supposition and not fact) information Core gets a further discount by taking what is known as a “domestic” license meaning they don’t offer the international warranty. Again, I cannot confirm this but if someone has tried to take their Apple product to an international store for a warranty claim and been laughed at, I would greatly appreciate that information.
All in all, the situation continues to be fairly gloomy.
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June 16th, 2009 at 8:13 am
This is infuriating! Has anyone started a petition to Apple yet? This site could be a great place to do it. Does anyone know whether they’re aware of what’s going on in SA?
This is a story as old as the mountains in SA. Monopolies milking us for all it’s worth. Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, MWeb, all banks etc.
A classic example:
A few years ago I joined Uninet – a line-of-sight Internet Service Provider. I wanted cap-free Internet access, and at “Home ADSL” speeds, they wanted R600/month from me (incl. antenna rent), no hidden costs whatsoever. Even the antenna installation cost a mere R100. I get 256 kbps (32 KB/s), often the full bandwidth, both up and down.
What was the best deal Telkom could give me for this? R3500/month, I kid you not. If Uninet was making 100% profit, then Telkom was making 1200% profit.
I have never felt so good signing that deal. Unfortunately the vast majority of South Africans are ignorant and happily keep these monoliths alive.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Well take this one for a laugh ! When the rand dollar was so volitile a few months ago, we were in the process of enquiring about a Mac Pro purchase. Within 24hrs of the dollar going to R10 Core upped their prices by 30 %. So my question is why is the old stock sold at an inflated price – did they not buy the old stock at the value less than the exchange rate ?
Just on that principle of unethical business I will not support their products. I will buy grey ! They business ethics are shoddy to say the least. In the process of purchasing 2 new 17″ Macbook Pro’s – I will support CANCOM in the UK or Grey Importers in SA but not Core – take your support and shove it Core .
June 16th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Core are suck a useless bunch of cocks. They are ripping us off hand over fist… you’d get a shock if you knew the markups they are charging us. How sad… Apple, one of the best computer brands on the planet – has its image tarnished by this useless bunch of graverobbers.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I have never had a pleasant experience with Core. They are arrogant, complaisant and offer NO after sales service for their exorbitant prices. They are giving Apple a bad name in SA. The best thing Apple could do for its brand in SA is to remove Core as a distributor of their product in SA. Seriously, every time I have to take my laptop to Core I start to cringe… its an experience I do not wish on my worst enemy.
June 18th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
http://twitition.com/phm3t
June 19th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
[...] New pricing Jun [...]
July 1st, 2009 at 6:36 pm
[...] remember a few days ago that we broke the news of the new Core pricing and commented that it was somewhat exorbitant. Now the next time we checked the prices have come [...]
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I find it interesting that core is allowed to be a distributor as well as have their own online retail store. I think people should boycott zastore and rather use other retailers that purchase from core.
Charging R22000 for an item that costs R16191 at R9/$ based on $1799, even with shipping is ridiculous! The wii as well is a rip off in this country, where you pay R3500 for an item that costs $199 in the states. You do the math!