Apple's iPhone 5s was launched in India in November 2013 at a starting price of Rs. 53,500 for the 16GB model. Back in September 2015, Apple launched the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. Generally when a new model gets launched, the previous versions tend to get a price slash.
(image source: www.pcadvisor.co.uk)
Accordingly,
coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 6s, the iPhone 5s received its first
price cut and was officially made available at Rs. 35,000 for the 16GB variant,
and Rs.40,000 for the 32GB variant.
Certain
online portals were offering the iPhone 5s 16GB at lesser rates during the
September-October 2015 festive season.
With the
latest price cut, iPhone 5s prices officially start at Rs 24,999 (for the 16 GB
variant), with a few online retailers even offering it at around Rs.19,500!
Thus the
price has been brought down to less than half in just three months!
Apple
had introduced the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus at Rs 62,000 – Rs 92,000 (depending on
the variant). This week Apple cut the price of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
by up to 16% within just two months after their India launch. The price of the
iPhone 6s 16 GB model, which was introduced at Rs 62,000 on October 16, 2015,
has fallen by 11-16% and now starts from Rs 52,000.
The
price cuts are applicable across all variants – 16 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB.
Thus the iPhone 5s costs among the lowest in the world in India, though the rupee is depreciating and our import duties continue to be substantial. The iPhone 5s is the best-selling iPhone in India, apparently accounting for almost half of the iPhone sales in the country. However, Apple accounts for only 1% of market share.
That’s mainly
(if you ask me, only) due to price —
despite its price cuts, the iPhone 5s is still several times more expensive
than entry-level phones.
The
point of discussion remains as to what would a person who bought an iPhone 5s
for around Rs.45,000 a couple of months back feel today at its retail price of
around Rs.20,000? Disappointed? Cheated? A bit of both? I remember that in
August 2011, Japanese carmaker Honda cut the price of its hatchback Jazz by
Rs.1.6 lac on a single day - it was available at a starting price of Rs.5.5 lac
- down from Rs.7.1 lac a day before!
Pricing
is an important factor in making a gadget attractive. Apple has (in)famously
been very strong armed about pricing and this largesse makes you wonder at the
margins they were making earlier! In a capitalist world, there is no one way to
go about pricing and expecting a dole is not right. Yes, no businessman is a
philanthropist. But I just have this to say - never buy a gadget, however fancy
it may be, on the day or the month of its launch in today's world. Unless you
are a leave-your-brains-behind-at-home
fanboy!
2 comments:
There are two kinds of buyers for Apple products. First are those who want to have the latest gadget in their hands. They like the kick of owning the best and latest product, something that all of world's celebrities use. The second are the kinds who would prefer waiting till the price becomes relatively more palatable and pick it up later. The first category doesn't mind paying the extra and the second waits for a price cut and then makes a buy. Talking about the product, Apple iPhones are way better the anroid phones in terms of reliability, security, sturdiness and is less messy any day.
Agreed. There is indeed an element of exclusivity about Apple products and that is justified, indeed. But I have seen that the prices of apple products do not drop beyond a point, unlike other brands. Perhaps this also has to do with the initial pricing.
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