Apple is planning to open an Apple Store in Buenos Aires in 2018, according to Gizmodo en Español. The store will be Apple's first official retail location in Argentina, but it is not yet clear where it will be located in the city.

As Apple plans to open its first store in Argentina, several third-party retailers will also start selling Apple products. Starting in 2017, electronics chain Frávega will open 15 store-within-a-store locations that offer a range of Apple products. It is not known, however, if the Frávega locations will be offering the iPhone.

applestoresaopaulo

Apple Morumbi in São Paulo Brazil

At the current point in time, Apple products are exorbitantly expensive in Argentina due to taxes, tariffs, and inflation. Products sell for up to three times as much in Argentina as they do in the United States. The entry-level iPad Pro, for example, sells for $1,418 (22,149 pesos) compared to $599 in the U.S.

Argentina just announced plans to remove a 35 percent import tariff on computers, laptops, and tablets, which, along with a local Apple Store, could lower prices for Argentinian Apple customers.

Apple retail stores have been slow to roll out in Latin America. Apple has two stores in Brazil and just recently opened its first Apple Store in Mexico City. Apple is rumored to be planning to open additional stores in Mexico in Guadalajara and Monterrey, along with locations in Chile and Peru.

Top Rated Comments

Blackstick Avatar
101 months ago
Nice for Buenos Aires.

I worked for Apple Aventura for many years... the store's staff unilaterally found Argentineans in most cases to be very difficult, elitist customers that were challenging to serve. Most especially the Argentineans who worked for the store. They wouldn't even give my buddy the time of day because she was Cuban.

In part this is because being able to afford travel to the US and buy Apple products naturally means that individual is in the 1% elite of their country, but these folks were never shy to let people know it. Humility is not what comes to mind from that group, Argentineans themselves know it.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dave2010 Avatar
101 months ago
I love shopping in BA and partly this is because they've got local designers that you can't get outside Argentina; I understand this is because import tariffs are so high.
Still, BA is a huge city with plenty of wealthy enough people to buy Apple products; this will just save them all those trips to the USA and provide local service.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jetison Avatar
101 months ago
I love shopping in BA and partly this is because they've got local designers that you can't get outside Argentina; I understand this is because import tariffs are so high.
Still, BA is a huge city with plenty of wealthy enough people to buy Apple products; this will just save them all those trips to the USA and provide local service.
We're used to have to buy Apple products abroad and that probably won't change since prices will still be high compared to the US. Official service is something I've dreamt for years. There are a few Premium Resellers, but if you bring a device purchased somewhere else they won't accept it for repair. And if they do, expect a 3-4 month delay to get the parts into the country.

Also, the import tariff removal doesn't include phones, so the iPhone is something we might not see afterall. Mobile phones have to be assembled in the country, and Apple is not really interested in doing that. We're not India.
There's been times I've had to fly to the US and back during a weekend just for an iPhone swap.
We don't even have carrier bundle support, it's pretty sad. It's a nightmare when iMessage stops activating, no visual voicemail, no native wifi calls, nada.

Regarding Fravega, it's a messy retail chain with lousy sellers. Unless they train them to sell Apple products, I'm not seeing it as a success.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dan110 Avatar
93 months ago
LOL. That $1,000 iPhone X is going to cost $2,000 when socialist Argentina puts all their duties and taxes on it.
[doublepost=1507736848][/doublepost]
Nice for Buenos Aires.

I worked for Apple Aventura for many years... the store's staff unilaterally found Argentineans in most cases to be very difficult, elitist customers that were challenging to serve. Most especially the Argentineans who worked for the store. They wouldn't even give my buddy the time of day because she was Cuban.

In part this is because being able to afford travel to the US and buy Apple products naturally means that individual is in the 1% elite of their country, but these folks were never shy to let people know it. Humility is not what comes to mind from that group, Argentineans themselves know it.
I've had the same experience with the few I've met. They remind of the Russians as well. I just have to laugh.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Amazing Iceman Avatar
101 months ago
Apple could ship directly from China to Argentina.
The only problem is going through Customs without being robbed both illegally and then legally (import tax).

Hopefully people in Argentina will be able to purchase an Apple device without having to travel to the U.S.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RJ_Online93 Avatar
101 months ago
How about Auckland, New Zealand Apple?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 With Apple's Own 5G Modem 'Confirmed' to Launch in March

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:12 pm PST by
Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley and his colleagues recently traveled to Asia to meet with various electronics manufacturers and suppliers. In a research note this week, outlining key takeaways from the trip, the analysts said they have "confirmed" that a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem is slated to launch towards the end of the first quarter next year. In line with previo...
at t turbo indicator iphone 16 pro max v0 8hrh7w5f3w1e1

AT&T Turbo Indicator Showing Up in iPhone Status Bar for Subscribers

Wednesday November 20, 2024 3:42 am PST by
AT&T has begun displaying "Turbo" in the iPhone carrier label for customers subscribed to its premium network prioritization service, according to reports on Reddit. The new indicator seems to have started appearing after users updated to iOS 18.1.1, but that could be just coincidence. Image credit: Reddit user No_Highlight7476 The Turbo feature provides enhanced network performance through ...
General Black Friday Deals 24 Green Tinsel

Apple Black Friday Deals Available Now: AirPods, iPads, and More

Friday November 22, 2024 5:28 am PST by
We're officially just one week away from Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 29 in 2024. As always, this week is the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small...
anker new xmas 1

Anker Kicks Off Massive Black Friday Sale With Up to 50% Off Sitewide, Free Gifts With Purchase, Mystery Boxes, and More

Thursday November 21, 2024 7:53 am PST by
Anker today kicked off its big Black Friday sale, which is set to run through December 9. This sale includes notable discounts on portable chargers, USB-C hubs, cables, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. There are a few bonus offers during this event as ...
Apple 2024 Black Friday Shopping Event feature

Apple Announces 2024 Black Friday Event, Offering Up to $200 Gift Card

Thursday November 21, 2024 5:10 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 29 through Monday, December 2 in many countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.K., and others. During the event, customers can get an Apple gift card with the purchase of an eligible product. In the U.S., for instance, Apple is including gift ...
apple card feature2

Apple Card 3% Daily Cash Back Now Available From Two More Apple Partners

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:36 am PST by
Apple has partnered with select merchants to offer Apple Card users three percent Daily Cash back on their purchases, and two new companies were added to the partner list today. When purchasing goods and services from Booking.com and ChargePoint, Apple Card users will now get more cash back. Booking.com is a site for reserving flights, cars, cruises, and hotels, while ChargePoint sells...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

Apple Releases iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 With Security Fixes

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 come three weeks after the launch of iOS 18.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 17.7.2 for...
15 inch m3 macbook air

Amazon Takes Up to $300 Off M3 MacBook Air With New All-Time Low Prices

Wednesday November 20, 2024 7:05 am PST by
Amazon today has knocked the price off of multiple M3 MacBook Air models, with as much as $300 off select computers. Prices start at $849.00 for the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air (16GB RAM/256GB), and also include multiple 15-inch models as well. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site ...