Weeks before the iPhone 12’s launch, there were rumors that Apple’s impending new device would be sold without a charger in the box. Shortly after, after the presentation keynote, the controversial decision was upheld. Apple explained that the vast majority of users already have a charger at home, and that when removing the case from the iPhone many polluting emissions would be saved.
The truth is that Apple also saves a few dollars by not including the charger with the iPhone 12, which although it is more expensive to produce. its price has not changed. But all this is no excuse in Brazil where they are not very happy with Apple’s decision.
A few weeks ago we learned that Brazil had opened an investigation against the Cupertino company for not having included the charger in the iPhone box and which could even force Apple to change this decision in the country. Something is already happening in France with the headphones included in the box. Although what has happened so far is that Apple has been fined by the Brazilian state of São Paulo.
Fine of 1.6 million dollars for not including the charger in the iPhone box
Remember that Apple’s decision to eliminate the charger is not exclusive to the iPhone 12. Since October all new iPhones sold do this without the charger in the boxwhatever the model.
Now in Brazil a consumer protection agency called Procon-SP succeeded in getting the State of São Paulo to impose a fine of more than 1.6 million dollars on the company.
“The agency [Procon-SP] announced on Friday (19) that it had fined Apple R $ 10,546,442.48 for selling the iPhone without a charger. In addition, Procon-SP accuses the company of misleading advertising, of selling devices with factory defects, of maintaining unfair terms in the contract with consumers and of not having repaired a product that is still under warranty.“.
Procon-SP CEO Fernando Capez reportedly said that Apple “must understand that there are strong consumer protection laws and institutions in Brazil.”
The fine imposed also refers to other problems: Apple misleads consumers by announcing that the iPhone is “waterproof” despite not repairing them if damaged by contact with water, “problems with iPhones after system updates” and an issue in which Apple was accused of “disregarding Brazilian law “by refusing to repair devices purchased abroad within thirty days.
Apple again you can appeal the decision, and the case could go to court if no agreement is reached. This is the first country to officially fine Apple for not including the charger in the box, we’ll see if the same happens with Samsung making this decision as well.
