Price fixing Iphone

beachbhoy

It would appear (according to Vodafone) that Apple control the prices for the Iphone and line rentals.

Is this legal?

Should this be investigated by the "Competition Commission".

<H2>Role of the CC

The Competition Commission (CC) is one of the independent public bodies which help ensure healthy competition between companies in the UK for the benefit of companies, customers and the economy.

We investigate and address issues of concern in three areas:

• In mergers - when larger companies will gain more than 25% market share and where a merger appears likely to lead to a substantial lessening of competition in one or more markets in the UK.
• In markets - when it appears that competition may be being prevented, distorted or restricted in a particular market.
• In regulated sectors where aspects of the regulatory system may not be operating effectively or to address certain categories of dispute between regulators and regulated companies.
Our investigations are thorough and open. If our investigations conclude that the situation significantly damages or restricts competition in the UK, then we work to determine and implement appropriate remedies. A wide range of remedies is available to the CC both in merger and market investigations. For example, in a merger investigation, the CC can stop a merger from going ahead, require a firm to sell off part of its business, or require them to behave in a way that safeguards competition. If the CC decides that remedies are required, we will consult with relevant parties on the choice and form of these measures and then set out our decision on remedies in our final report. Following publication of the final report we will work with relevant parties to prepare undertakings or orders that give effect to our requirement. We are required to consult the public on undertakings and orders before these are implemented.

I have taken this quote from the Competiotions Commision web site.

Not sure if it is worth complaining or if MSE can investigate this.

Hx2
Beachbhoy

dehaani

beachbhoy wrote: »

Should this be investigated by the "Competition Commission".

Why on earth should government resources be wasted ensuring that the most expensive phone on the market is priced fairly?

I would hope the competition commission would keep themselves busy ensuring everyday commodities aren't price fixed.

jclegs

Apple's price fixing extends to more than the iPhone...

gjchester

jclegs wrote: »

Apple's price fixing extends to more than the iPhone...

It not fixing it's just if you don't toe the line they refuse to supply you. Nothing to do with price fixing and everything to do with a supplier having a product they can enforce the retailer not do discount.

Npo differnet to Nintendo holding the Wii at £179 for a long time, sony the PS3 and originally the 360. Long and short of it is the product is in such demand there is no need to sell it at anything less than the premium product it's marketed at. If the networks had really wanted to they could have told apple no, but then they would not have got the iphone and at the moment it's the must have toy so apples in the driving seat.

dehaani

I understand the complicity you're describing but I'd still rather the competitions commission spent their resources on things such as banks, food suppliers and utilities.

Nobody needs an iPhone. If they want to play Apple's game and can afford to then so be it.

drbesty

Its their product they can charge what they want for it, if you don't like it don't buy one

haveagoade

Dont buy one then as the Apple Business model does not like anything that upsets their revenue stream....thats why they dont do Flash media and are agueing with Adobe over the new Flash 10.1 to be on mobiles this year...its all quite funny to watch really.

beachbhoy

It is not the price of the phone its more the extra that is being charged for line rental which is also controlled by Apple

dehaani

beachbhoy wrote: »

It is not the price of the phone its more the extra that is being charged for line rental which is also controlled by Apple

To be perfectly honest. I'd have a much greater problem with the whole tethering charges thing. You get a service with unlimited Internet allowance but they charge you more to route the data to a laptop. Again, I know why they do it but their whole business plan is based on selling a level of service that they cannot make a profit on then relying on people to under-use it so they actually do turn a profit.

And while we're at it. Unlimited is a big, smelly farce too. The fair use policy is fine by me until it states a "limit", which most of them do.

Why should they be allowed to even use the word "unlimited" if they (dis)qualify it straight away?

Look at all the trouble "I can't believe it's not butter" had because it wasn't butter but they used that word in the name. Why are ISPs, telcos and the likes getting away with this stuff?

dot111

There are quite a few things I'd like to negotiate the price of, I use same petrol station every week, have done for 20 years.......they never give me a discount.
Would BT give me a discount for line rental, no.
It's life mate, but it's my choice if I want either, not needed to live nor is an iphone.

baxgttdi

dot111 wrote: »

There are quite a few things I'd like to negotiate the price of, I use same petrol station every week, have done for 20 years.......they never give me a discount.
Would BT give me a discount for line rental, no.
It's life mate, but it's my choice if I want either, not needed to live nor is an iphone.

hah, good point