3 ms·

The released phones are priced between $1100 to $2000 (eqv in India). What do these really have to offer that trumps putting that money into a mutual fund if yo

by sriku 6y ago

The released phones are priced between $1100 to $2000 (eqv in India). What do these really have to offer that trumps putting that money into a mutual fund if you actually are willing to spend that kind of money? I'm quite sure this price range is high even in the US? To me (and I can afford this) it looks insane to sink that kind of money into a bloody phone.

caseyf7 6y ago
Totally agree. The new emphasis on monthly payments Is also notable. It’s like they want people to view monthly phone payments like Americans view monthly car payments and buy a phone beyond their needs.
- sriku 6y ago
  Those finding the monthly payments attractive should consider bumping that into an SIP (a systematic investment plan). I'm actually pained to watch folks in India to whom that kind of money would be several months salary burn it away like that for whatever fake notion of "prestige" they get from it.
infinityplus1 6y ago
Some people are simply so rich that spending $1-2k is nothing for them. Others are looking to show-off.
- pfundstein 6y ago
  It's just a matter of disposable income, you really don't have to be "so rich" to afford a $2k phone every year.
- sriku 6y ago
  My crib here isn't about those who can afford it. It is about folks (specifically in India) who actually can't afford it and are pushing through for the "prestige". It's their life, but that they would prioritize it over .. well ... living ... Makes me turn laser eyes on Apple marketing.
  - kevincox 6y ago
    I see what you are saying, but if it wasn't Apple many of these people be buying cars, jewelry or other luxury products to show off their wealth.
- ahtaarra 6y ago
  A guy I know bought the base iPhone 11 Pro model for $1400 in my country because he needed it for the 'ecosystem' and because the cheaper iPhone 11 wasn't 'good enough' for him while not even having an iPhone-specific use case
mav3rick 6y ago
What a dumb question. This is a luxury. Why buy an Audi, Mercedes, BMW, if you can put the money in a mutual fund.
- sriku 6y ago
  We don't go "hey i've saved up $100000, let me buy a Merc". But that's what I see quite a few people doing . They "save up for an iPhone". If you have to save up for it, you better think of other uses for the money than a luxury item for wasting your time.
  - kamaal 6y ago
    Its status signaling. That's what it. Personally I only buy 10K rupees Oppo/Xiaomi/Vivo etc every 2 years and it works just fine.
    - mav3rick 6y ago
      There's a different between "fine" and "luxury". You don't want to cross it, that's your prerogative. You can judge others, that's also your prerogative. But that doesn't make you objectively correct. The iPhone will obviously work better than your PoS chinese phone. You pay a premium for that. Don't hate on it if you can't afford it or don't want to afford it.
urda 6y ago
- Why take any vacations or time off? After all you can just put that into a mutual fund. - Why enjoy any specific meals or foods? A simple, repeatable dish means you can save more money to put into your mutual fund. - Why enjoy that movie or album? After all, that's another dollar you could be putting into your mutual fund! All work and no play is not a way to live life either. Some folks like having the latest-and-greatest, others don't mind having the same phone for years on end. If you just boil the entire world down to money in, money out, and mutual funds you are going to have a very unsatisfying and unfulfilling life.
- sriku 6y ago
  Faux analogies and all they indicate is that apple marketing has won in projecting so much "luxury value" on these things. The comparison I'm drawing is what do you get out of this that you don't get out of, say, a $200 phone, that is worth paying 5-10x the price. The enjoyment ratio between a vacay and no vacay is way more and hence isn't a suitable comparison. Heck, spending $2000 on a vacation seems more worth it than the phone (to me). It's a bloody phone. You'll browse stuff with it, do email, maybe tweet and Instagram or Facebook. None of that demands that budget today. Heck it wouldn't even feel different in those apps in the way an Audi or bmw would. I use a phone that's plenty performant for all of that (and I don't insta or FB), with plenty memory (6gb) and storage (128gb) that I paid $150 for.

by sriku 6y ago

caseyf7 6y ago

Totally agree. The new emphasis on monthly payments Is also notable. It’s like they want people to view monthly phone payments like Americans view monthly car payments and buy a phone beyond their needs.

sriku 6y ago
Those finding the monthly payments attractive should consider bumping that into an SIP (a systematic investment plan). I'm actually pained to watch folks in India to whom that kind of money would be several months salary burn it away like that for whatever fake notion of "prestige" they get from it.

infinityplus1 6y ago

Some people are simply so rich that spending $1-2k is nothing for them. Others are looking to show-off.

pfundstein 6y ago
It's just a matter of disposable income, you really don't have to be "so rich" to afford a $2k phone every year.
sriku 6y ago
My crib here isn't about those who can afford it. It is about folks (specifically in India) who actually can't afford it and are pushing through for the "prestige". It's their life, but that they would prioritize it over .. well ... living ... Makes me turn laser eyes on Apple marketing.
- kevincox 6y ago
  I see what you are saying, but if it wasn't Apple many of these people be buying cars, jewelry or other luxury products to show off their wealth.
ahtaarra 6y ago
A guy I know bought the base iPhone 11 Pro model for $1400 in my country because he needed it for the 'ecosystem' and because the cheaper iPhone 11 wasn't 'good enough' for him while not even having an iPhone-specific use case

mav3rick 6y ago

What a dumb question. This is a luxury. Why buy an Audi, Mercedes, BMW, if you can put the money in a mutual fund.

sriku 6y ago
We don't go "hey i've saved up $100000, let me buy a Merc". But that's what I see quite a few people doing . They "save up for an iPhone". If you have to save up for it, you better think of other uses for the money than a luxury item for wasting your time.
- kamaal 6y ago
  Its status signaling. That's what it. Personally I only buy 10K rupees Oppo/Xiaomi/Vivo etc every 2 years and it works just fine.
  - mav3rick 6y ago
    There's a different between "fine" and "luxury". You don't want to cross it, that's your prerogative. You can judge others, that's also your prerogative. But that doesn't make you objectively correct. The iPhone will obviously work better than your PoS chinese phone. You pay a premium for that. Don't hate on it if you can't afford it or don't want to afford it.

urda 6y ago

- Why take any vacations or time off? After all you can just put that into a mutual fund. - Why enjoy any specific meals or foods? A simple, repeatable dish means you can save more money to put into your mutual fund. - Why enjoy that movie or album? After all, that's another dollar you could be putting into your mutual fund! All work and no play is not a way to live life either. Some folks like having the latest-and-greatest, others don't mind having the same phone for years on end. If you just boil the entire world down to money in, money out, and mutual funds you are going to have a very unsatisfying and unfulfilling life.

sriku 6y ago
Faux analogies and all they indicate is that apple marketing has won in projecting so much "luxury value" on these things. The comparison I'm drawing is what do you get out of this that you don't get out of, say, a $200 phone, that is worth paying 5-10x the price. The enjoyment ratio between a vacay and no vacay is way more and hence isn't a suitable comparison. Heck, spending $2000 on a vacation seems more worth it than the phone (to me). It's a bloody phone. You'll browse stuff with it, do email, maybe tweet and Instagram or Facebook. None of that demands that budget today. Heck it wouldn't even feel different in those apps in the way an Audi or bmw would. I use a phone that's plenty performant for all of that (and I don't insta or FB), with plenty memory (6gb) and storage (128gb) that I paid $150 for.