A deep dive into digital marketing

I’m shocked (by my iphone power adaptor)

Posted by Chris under Apple, Technology, iPhone, online retail

Apple has just issues a safety recall for the new ultracompact Apple USB power adapter. According to the site they have “determined that under certain conditions the new ultracompact Apple USB power adapter’s metal prongs can break off and remain in a power outlet, creating a risk of electric shock.  We have received reports of detached blades involving a very small percentage of the adapters sold, but no injuries have been reported.”

The ultracompact USB power adapters were supplied with every iPhone 3G sold in the following countries, and may also have been purchased separately as an accessory:

Meanwhile they say only use the USB charger on your computer.

However help is on the way.

The Exchange Process

Replacement adapters will be available starting Friday, October 10, 2008.

There are two ways to exchange your current ultracompact Apple USB power adapter for a new, redesigned adapter.

• Order a replacement adapter via the web. These replacement adapters will ship within three weeks of your order, starting on Friday, October 10.
• Exchange your adapter at an Apple Retail Store starting on October 10.

Tomorrow Chicago has the highest sales tax!

Posted by Chris under online retail

Yep tomorrow is the day that we of Cook County “celebrate” paying the highest sales tax of any other American City 10.25%! Passed by the Cook County board and driven by Board President Todd Stroger, this is to pay for the shortfall in the counties $3 billion budget.

How do we compare to other cities well, according to Wikipedia not only are we the highest but:

The city of Chicago has the highest total sales tax of all major U.S. cities. It is also one of the most complex. 9.25% is levied on all non-perishable goods purchased, while 2% is levied on grocery items, drugs, and medical appliances. There is an additional 1% tax, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) “Food and Beverage Tax”, on food and beverage purchases in the downtown area (These “downtown” boundaries are: Surf Street on the north, Ashland Avenue on the west, Stevenson Expressway (I-55) on the south, & Lake Michigan on the east. Furthermore, O’Hare and Midway airports also fall under the 1% MPEA tax district).[32] Car rentals in the city are taxed at 20%. Hotel rooms are taxed at 15.4%. Soft drinks (packs, cases, or individual bottles) are taxed at 13.25%.

New Yorkers pay less than 8.4 percent, and Los Angeles residents pay 8.25 percent and because they are in Cook County, even shoppers in many Cook suburbs will be hit with higher sales taxes for example paying 10 percent in both Schaumburg and Skokie and 9.75 percent in Orland Park. So a shopper in Schaumburg will pay a higher sales tax then NYC! Think on that for a while.

On the contrary, online retailers remain tax free (for now) but we’ll see for how long. My guess is 10.25% starts to make the county look at how they can join in what New York is trying to do. We’ll see how this does/doesn’t make people think twice about where they make their purchases.

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