Libor Kubín The thirty-first issue of the Respekt weekly was published last week. I was interested in the article Customers, unite! (in the paid section), in which the author Ivana Svobodová reflects on why Czech consumers are paying dearly for lethargy and must rebel.
The article dwells on the willingness of Czechs to pay higher prices for branded goods. A rather long article discusses mobile operators, call prices and the iPhone. I started reading with enthusiasm and couldn't stop wondering how mobile operators explain their "pricing" in the Czech Republic. It would certainly be a shame for such an interesting article to fall into early oblivion. That's why I decided to share this experience with you.
Note: Italics the original text of Respekt is marked.
Small iPhone sales or how to set a price
And it's not just about call prices, they are more expensive in the Czech Republic than in the neighboring half of Slovakia. A look at T-Mobile's website in different countries reveals the following, for example: Czech customers interested in an iPhone smartphone have to fork out fifteen times more than Austrian customers. You can get this recent innovation on the telecommunications market with a two-year contract and with a monthly flat rate corresponding to 1200 crowns, a German T-Mobile customer for one euro, with the Austrian branch for 29 euros, in Poland for 250 euros and in the Czech Republic with the same operator for - 450 euros .
When the iPhone 22G went on sale in the Czech Republic on August 2008, 3, the most expensive plans were buy an iPhone for CZK 1. A reminder of this can still be found on the website today price. Over time, however, operators discovered that a phone with a bitten apple is a golden calf and customers are willing to pay. Since then, every year (with the introduction of a new iPhone model) the tariffs and prices of the device have always been adjusted upwards. The increase in the price of the phone is explained in different ways. At one time, T-Mobile explained the increase in the price of a non-subsidized device by CZK 3000 as follows: "In recent days, we have been experiencing extreme interest from foreign resellers in the iPhone 3G. This group focuses on non-subsidized devices, which it buys in large quantities and presumably exports to markets where the device is not yet available".
Czech T-Mobile employees explain this shocking price difference quite confusingly. "In Austria, T-Mobile was the exclusive seller of iPhones, which we did not succeed in, so it was clear to us that we would not sell many devices and it would not be worthwhile for us to subsidize them," says T-Mobile CZ spokesperson Martina Kemrová. "We didn't have any data on the number of interested parties or people who already owned an iPhone, but it was clear to us from various Internet discussions," explains Mrs. Kemrová, according to which the price of the phone was formed. And they left the device to the dear Czech clients also because they are just toys and don't really spend. "Operators are looking for a source of income in data services, but it was clear to us from our experience with a Czech customer that he buys an iPhone more because it is nice and that he views photos on it, rather than because it would provide us with a significantly larger volume of data," adds the spokesperson .
Before the official start of sales, an estimated 10 to 000 iPhones from gray imports were in use in the Czech Republic. Wasn't it strange to our operators that phones that they don't sell are being reported to their network? It was not a matter of several hundreds, but of several tens of thousands of devices! They must have known about this fact. Each phone has a unique code IMEI and it is stored in their internal systems. According to it, information about the manufacturer and model of the phone can be found. In addition, the iPhone was not approved for use in Czech mobile networks until August 2008. Did the Czech operators really miss these facts?
All foreign telecommunications companies that ever started selling the iPhone reported and report record sales and huge customer interest. Why should the numbers be completely different in the Czech Republic?
In today's age of marketing massages and all kinds of surveys, does the Czech mobile number one determine the price of a phone based on internet discussions? The operators knew about the very decent sales figures within a few weeks and even competed in the press to see who sold more phones.
You can take it as a fable, but there is a tradition that if it weren't for the iPhone, we wouldn't have third-generation networks. In the past, all three Czech operators committed to building them. After some time, only O3 operated the only 2G network in Prague, Brno and Ostrava. T-Mobile even distanced itself from its commitment and declared that it would only build fourth-generation networks. Thanks to the iPhone, data traffic on the network has reportedly increased several times, and operators were thus forced to build a 3G network.
Percentage, shares and statistics
Her company has sold only "several tens of thousands" of iPhones so far - in contrast to its sister in Austria, which has hundreds of thousands of iPhones in its arsenal. Mrs. Kemrová denies that a subsidy making the iPhone available to more interested parties could improve: "No, we know our market. No applemania here."
T-Mobile and O2 are silent on the exact number of units sold (citing a non-disclosure agreement with Apple). Both operators report tens of thousands of units sold. Vodafone admits around 30. The available numbers from last year speak about traffic 200 iPhones of all generations. Another year has passed and the number of users of Apple's smartphone has exceeded 250.
You can read more numbers on the Internet Advertising Conference website. Mr. Slavomír Doležal from T-Mobile in his March presentation The mobile market in numbers states: 2 mobile internet users, 258% of them use smartphones and the third in order with 388% is the Apple brand. In real terms, this represents 37 iPhone owners who use the Internet on their mobile. The numbers are somewhat distorted, because not every smartphone owner uses the Internet.
So how often is the Apple product brand used for mobile browsing? View current statistics <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1932/8043/files/200721_ODSTOUPENI_BEZ_UDANI_DUVODU__EN.pdf?v=1595428404" data-gt-href-en="https://en.notsofunnyany.com/">here</a>. It is currently 47,16% of all accesses. Do operators really know their market?
Excerpts from the article were used with the kind permission of Respekt magazine.
They are disgusting thieves! I want to ask. Can an unlocked iPhone be bought in Germany or England for a flat rate?
Here is the exact list of where to buy an iPhone: support.apple.com.
Unlocked to an operator, but without a flat rate, you can buy it in practically all European Apple Stores in Germany, France, Italy, England, Switzerland... (just check the Apple website for the country in question).
Yes, CR has the most expensive calls, but 02 also has the best quality network.
Try to connect to a 3G network in Austria. The speed here is BELOW EDGE LEVEL. I can forget about my 5mbs abroad!!!
GOLDEN O2 CR!
Hi Horst. You just never disappoint. Off the mark again. You can squeeze out 5MB/s on the mobile network in the Czech Republic only directly under the antenna. Look at these tables. The FTP download speed is 2454 kb/s.
Or perhaps you want to tell me that it is in the Czech Republic as in Austria covered 99% of the population?
O2 is really golden because we pay it twice as much for poorer services than is common in Europe.
It's a fact that I only got over 6MB a few times, but here in Gottwaldov, it's just 5mbs on average.
I tried to watch the HD broadcast on Thursday with NO PROBLEM on 5 windows. Stress test fine.
2,5Mb has such an incompetent TM or poor VF, 02 is further!
NOTE: I am not an employee of 02 and I do not have their shares yet / I will buy them when they fall below 370 CZK/
In the Czech Republic, 50% of the population is covered, in Austria 99%, which is quite a big and fundamental difference. I prefer not to even talk about the prices for the services provided.
It's nice that in some parts of Zlín you can get data at 6 MB/s, but in such Slušovice you already go (whether you want it or not) via GPRS. If you move from Zlín, you go to 150 kB/s. You may be mobile, but you are by no means fast.
PS: I don't care which operator provides mobile connection in the Czech Republic, overall it's miserable.
99% of Austrians may be covered by 3G /I strongly doubt that the farmers in the mountains, of which 90% are here, have a 3G signal when they milk Milka/, but their 3g with edge speed is useless.
GOLDEN 02 CR
Although you probably won't believe it, technologically the Czech Republic is really at the top.
So that Mr. Kubín doesn't think that I'm just bragging, I have close contacts in 02 and I know that in a while WIFI "hot spotter" will appear in stores, which, unlike the poor VF competition, can also "trace" an already captured WIFI signal. So a house covered with wifi is nice, but with this I can extend the wifi to the garden as well.
There is one MEGA IMPORTANT reason to have 3g from 02, but they can't mention it here for discreet reasons.
The price of the wifi hotpot will be 995 with MMP, without the subsidy I don't know exactly.
I have to defend myself here, Horst, it's also over 5 Mb/s in Teplice, so I didn't want to believe it when it says 2 MB everywhere
Nah, I think we've gotten into such a circle from which there is no way out. Although we may be willing to pay (even if that willingness also fades), but even if we weren't, what should we do? If I want a product, I have to prepare myself for a higher price...
Btw: since we're talking about buying apple stuff from abroad - does anyone have experience with buying a MacBook for somewhere outside CR, where it's significantly cheaper? For example, in America, the cheapest option is $1199, and in our country it is almost 30.000... I have absolutely no idea how it is, for example, with drawers, keyboard, Czech version of OS X, license, warranty?
yes from Slovakia, but I solved a similar problem and it turned out that the best one in the area is in Austria. I don't know if in general, but at the time of purchase there they had the best price for the given model (mid 2010 MB for 15 bases). the order was 200 euros, which is enough and I didn't hesitate, especially when I have a 45-minute train ride.
try it, but not only the official apple store, but rather various premium resellers, it happens that they have all sorts of student discounts on specific models in the summer
I just have to add that, compared to CR and SR, the European warranty directive applies in Austria, i.e. only one year of warranty. that's also why Apple is a bit more expensive here, normally you pay a couple of euros extra for the second year
If I don't want to pay an exorbitant price - I don't buy. Or I will buy it where the price suits me. Take it as you can.
Prices of Apple Macbook Pro 13″: Czech Republic 28 CZK, Apple Store Germany 799 CZK, Apple Store USA 27 CZK. Add approx. 690% local tax to the American price (in some states, however, no tax is payable) + buy additional warranty (three years) Apple Care CZK 20. A total of CZK 383. You should still clear the computer properly and pay tax in the Czech Republic. In the overall result, it would therefore cost you more.
Sockets are not a problem, same with OS Lion. Solve the keyboard only with stickers.
Well, now that I see it in black and blue, you're probably right, unfortunately. I oriented myself according to the US price, but I didn't think that there is no 2-year warranty by law and that I have to add tax.
Does not matter. I'll wait a while (maybe even for an updated version - it could be sometime around Christmas, right?) and buy it in the Czech Republic.
I personally like English in OS X and I would never set it to Czech (but on the other hand, I would welcome a Czech dictionary :-) ). And I use a classic American keyboard without any stickers. Those who can type usually don't even look at the keyboard :D
Buying a Macbook from the USA. The price is several thousand cheaper. International warranty 1 year. A keyboard without Czech characters, a power cable with an American end, you can buy a European end without any problems. The Czech version of OS X is not necessary.
I bought a macbook white 2 weeks ago in Slovakia in mzone for 632 euros without VAT. Then there's 8GB of RAM and satisfaction. Otherwise, 745 and VAT is compared to the iStyle and their 24 difference, right? Oh, and I also have a Czech keyboard!!!
I think that there are no big differences in prices. Although the price of the phone is lower in the USA, for example, the total cost of shipping to the Czech Republic must be added. When buying in England, it is again disadvantageous with the exchange rate. If a person chooses a good (although probably still overpriced flat rate according to the offers of other countries), he will probably pay almost the same as from abroad.
it is also shipped to the USA, the iPhone is made in China like everything else
But, dear Markéta, she will easily buy three phones with her salary. Americans treat it a bit like a consumer product.
No news. I'm idiots, we'll buy, so why wouldn't such demagogic mr.kys like TM sell. But it's not just TM. I would summarize it: Czechia
Hello, I would like to ask, a friend is going to America for a year and would like to buy an iPhone there, but it is sold blocked there, right? How is it here with unblocking? Thank you.
You can have a phone in America buy now unblocked
iPhone 4 only, 16GB for $649, 32GB $749. A local tax (if applicable) of approx. 7% must be added to the price.
A month ago, I bought a Macbook pro 15 (2011) in a brick-and-mortar store in the Czech Republic, brand new with a Czech keyboard, full warranty for the price of CZK 28.900 (the seller was not a VAT payer). The same model is currently sold in iStyle for 48 CZK. After a month of operation, video editing and encoding, etc., I am extremely satisfied. I just don't really understand the difference there can be in the price. Why such margins.
That had to be a joke. At the moment, Apple has treated it so that throughout the EU, Apple costs essentially the same price without exception, even in real Apple Stores. The Oversee price is "illegal" in our country. With the new laws, you won't even send anything from Apple that can't be transported as hand luggage by post, because the new customs clearance system is so thorough that when you get the item home after a month at the customs office, it costs the same, or even more, with customs duties. than here. Bleit!
That was the first thing that came to my mind. However, I checked the serial number with Apple before the purchase to see if it was registered, stolen, or already activated, and it was fine. In addition, I was surprised by the number of pieces sold. The Macbook was packaged as standard, including all documents and warranty. The seller let me test the laptop in the store, go through the serial numbers, check the parameters and the hw test. He said that he gets new parts there about once every 14 days. It was in Prague in Spálená, Mobile Emergency. The only thing I can think of is that some employee of Apple Czech Republic is taking it to him there, mistaking it for shopping.
The only thing that comes to mind is that these are REFURBISHED laptops.
marek: may I ask where you bought it for such a price??
Personally, I think that here they are simply blackmailers. unfortunately, Czech stupidity and inconsistency just work here. We are not able to simply make some kind of protest and thereby strike the operator or something like that. Our tariffs are absolutely overpriced. Phone prices overpriced. Unfortunately, I have to say that not only the operators and other sellers are to blame, but also our **** MPs. The fact that I impose a high tax and a high duty on imports.
Unfortunately, no one wants to fight against them either .. njn CR .. with their slogan: what you don't steal, you don't get.
You don't like the overpriced calls and the idle watching of CTU!
Just click and join us.
http://www.stopdrahemuvolani.cz
I already know about the fact that our operators are a bunch of scum, especially with that old man from CTU Dvorak :(
yes, we are on the jablickari server, so I certainly understand the simplified facts, but attributing credit for the several-fold increase in the volume of transferred data to the iPhone is paradoxical for several reasons... above all, the operators themselves claim that jablickari do not use the Internet much, and their file is about style, they only look at photos.... statistics also show that Android phones, which compete with the iPhone and which place far more emphasis on using the Internet in all forms (youtube, web, icq, facebook, skype, voip/sip, google+ and anything else...) sell much better in our country.
what if the operators just want to sell a platform that generates more addiction to the Internet than the iPhone? it is evident in their price lists that they will focus on Android from the beginning, so perhaps the mystery is solved
moreover, it fascinates me that the point of this article is that I pay XY times more for an iPhone here, but buy it anyway, I don't know if that's something a person should brag about. and as you curse here that the operators are thieves, in this I am exactly copying the policy of Apple, so I don't see why you "Apple users" are angry.. apple is only about getting money out of an idiot, you get paid by Apple and not by the operator? :D
and as postak writes, the future does not lie in a closed platform, not even by chance, and I don't think that a droid generates an addiction to the Internet... on the one hand, everyone I know who has an iPhone also has the Internet on their mobile phone, so it is the same as the person with an Android, from that point of view the operator doesn't care