iPhone 4S ordering... feeling ripped off

[dtox2008]

Right guys
I live in England and sold my iPhone 4 on ebay just before the iPhone launch
I want the iPhone 4S but I feel like im getting a bit ripped off
I dont want it on contract so I want to buy it from apple store unlocked
Now I looked a the US site and the UK site ( in nov you can have it unlocked form apple in US but UK you can have it now )

And the Prices why is there such a difference...

16 GB iPhone 4S - US site - $649(£417) - UK site - £499 - ($775)
32 GB iPhone 4S - US site - $749(£482) - UK site - £599 - ($930)
64 GB iPhone 4S - US site - $849(£546) - UK site - £699 - ($1,086)

Why is there Such a huge difference... I can buy a top spec laptop for £699 pounds

[Jahooba]

Here in America it costs about $2500 for 2 years for the iPhone (with a decent data plan). Considering how much better your data plans are over there (or so I hear), you're still probably paying less after 24 months.

I've decided long ago that the iPhone was a ripoff in general

[dtox2008]

yes same as over here - well I pay 50 pounds per month ($77) on 18 months which is 900 pounds (1,400) for that plus you have to buy the iphone aswell for 200 ($311) so all in all you are right it is a rip off but I wanted to come out of my contract and go on a lower tarrif so I thought id buy my phone out right from apple and use that but when they said the prices... you can buy so much for that... other phones in the same area are about 450 - 500 pounds which is a good price but not 200 higher

[scroogelives]

Even at these prices apple make no or little profit! As nearly all apples profit is generated via iTunes! End of the day u either want the iPhone or not! So stop moaning!

[Greatbiguns]

Let me tell you something about getting RIPPED OFF from AT&T..... I placed two orders literally back to back early last Friday morning. Everything showed Ordered with a delivery date of TODAY. All of a sudden yesterday one shows "Shipped" the other shows "Backordered" so of course I immediately call att for clarification. I was told both were scheduled for overnight delivery and both would arrive today, "no worries". Today, after waiting on the hold for just over 2-hours att now tells me that 1-phone (of course my wife's) is "Backordered" WTF? Who is f*#$in' running the show over there? We've got 3-lines and been with att since the first iPhone and pre-ordered since the 3GS every year. But this just ruined it for me..... No notice, no attempt to find a solution, nothing. Where is the customer service? I would have been fine with picking up a phone at my local store had someone simply told me that I would not be receiving my full order. Of course by now, the lines are so long the stores don't have enough phones to go around Very Not Cool att.... I know I am only one customer, but I won't soon forget this!!

[thetoothfairy]

^ Sorry that your having so much trouble with them, however good things come to people that are patient!