To cut right to it, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus recently plopped on the
shelves of local online stores and normally this would be something to gloat
about, seeing Naija staying on top of all things tech/pushing the tech
enthusiast culture but the reverse is the case.
As much as I wanted to be
excited about this feat, I couldn’t help but be let down for one thing and one
thing only…local retail price.
How the hell is an iPhone 8/8 Plus that according to Apple retail for
$700 and $800 which per current black market currency conversion translates to
NGN256k and 292k respectively, make it across the Atlantic and there is a near
50% price increment? As I post this, in select local stores, both devices are
listed at NGN395k and 440k for the 64GB base storage variants and NGN440 and
NGN495k.
Wait! Before you guys get all “abeg, only broke people complain about
price”, let me put some perspective and apply a bit of simple math logic in the
process.
I call the Galaxy Note 8 to the witness stand. Per Samsung, the Note 8
retails for $950 (higher than both the 8 and 8 plus) which going by black market
currency conversion translates to about NGN346k. This device hurriedly made it
to the country a mere 2 weeks after announcement [yay!] and local stores have
it listed at as low as NGN340k to as high as NGN370k. This pricing although
equally a stretch I can excuse. Especially when you consider shipping costs said
seller incurred in his race to land the device and lease/rent he pays for his
store, but all that aside, notice how locally, it is priced not only reasonably
after conversion and profit inclusion but also lower than both the iPhone 8 and
8 Plus that it is ultimately/globally more expensive than? I am at this point starting
to question the basic math proficiency of some of these dealers.
Local Dealer: Objection Oga
your honor!!!!
Oga Your Honor: Over ruled…your
math is shite mhan. Continue Sir Ashby.
This kind of one happy customer sucker is better than 10 happy customers
suckers is what many local stores are plagued by. It is one thing to slap on
whatever price comes to your mind for a product you made in your basement,
but slapping your price on a product
that comes with a global fixed price that any average Julius with price
scrutiny at their fingertips in the form of a working smartphone can ascertain is
not just ambitious, it is thievery.
Even the Galaxy S8 Plus (NGN245k) that is globally priced higher than the
iPhone 7 Plus (300k) retails lower than it in the country today. What frigging
gives? Forgive my french Oga Your Honor.
At this point, Tech enthusiasts that lack the means to travel abroad are
better off ordering these items either directly or via proxy of a family member
or friend that resides state side for a fraction of your (local dealer) cost.
This ultimately begs the question, what sort of pricing should the
average Apple enthusiast with zero ties abroad expect of the iPhone X when it makes
its way into the country? NB: the X is listed at $1000 which directly converts
to NGN365k but if this manner of local pricing is anything to go by, expect
nothing less than 600k for the 64GB and probably NGN700-750k for its 256GB
variant.
This agenda to make Apple products and the likes seem strictly for the elite when in
fact it is as commercial as Tecno phones even will just further emphasize on
that class divide that the Nigerian society is plagued by.
Fun fact, Jay Z wields an iPhone 7 Plus so also does Kumar a Baltimore taxi
driver.
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