General Discussion

joshcryer

(62,535 posts)

46. *Very* simple calculation. 90 million iPhones. $8 per phone to manufacture.

Mon Jan 16, 2012, 08:58 PM

Jan 2012

Assuming that $8 is directly reflected in the labor costs, and we go by the $2.08 per hour living wage estimate for China, which is about 3 times what these Foxxconn employees are paid, we can calculate how much manufacturing costs would be:

90 million * $8 * 3 = 2,160,000,000

However, since the first $8 in the manufacturing costs, the total hit to them would 'only' be 2 times that amount.

90 million * $8 * 2 = 1,440,000,000

So, around $1.5 billion dollars more. Over the lifetime of the iPhone.

Pretty sick, isn't it?

If the Apple corporation cared about these workers, they could easily remedy these working conditions. The company would be fine with being paid more for it, and it would not make the iPhone cost much more.

Frankly I think they should get paid twice living wage, if you ask me (or 6 times what they currently get paid).

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

46 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Your iPhone Was Built, In Part, By 13 Year-Olds Working 16 Hours A Day For 70 Cents An Hour [View all] joshcryer Jan 2012 OP

They also built your: Bonobo Jan 2012 #1

That's exactly right, Bonobo. cliffordu Jan 2012 #2

The ROFL is in the signature line. tabatha Jan 2012 #4

It has always been my feeling that people that CLAIM to be laughing online... Bonobo Jan 2012 #5

Josh has a sense of humor. tabatha Jan 2012 #9

You have no idea how much laissez-faire claptrap amuses me. joshcryer Jan 2012 #11

... SidDithers Jan 2012 #36

I built my own computer using an ASRock motherboard. My next will be US made Supermicro. joshcryer Jan 2012 #7

All the SuperMicro gear around here says Made in China Sen. Walter Sobchak Jan 2012 #23

How about a Futijsu TS mainboard? joshcryer Jan 2012 #26

So many apple defenders here. It gets annoying. Logical Jan 2012 #37

So basically it's this: Initech Jan 2012 #3

For PC building you can use Futijsu TS mainboards in Germany, or Supermicro made in the US. joshcryer Jan 2012 #10

Steve Jobs on Foxconn: 'We're all over this' joshcryer Jan 2012 #17

IMO..... AverageJoe90 Jan 2012 #19

That's reasonable, from a purely capitalist business perspective, but it's against FCPA. joshcryer Jan 2012 #20

Good post. Now, what are you prepared to do about it? flvegan Jan 2012 #6

I think Open Hardware is the eventual solution. joshcryer Jan 2012 #8

Thankfully, I have avoided cell phones. tabatha Jan 2012 #13

Xilinx FPGA based Linux machine is my current idea. joshcryer Jan 2012 #14

An idea for you sigline (OT) Cerridwen Jan 2012 #38

No, just kidding about the ROFL. tabatha Jan 2012 #39

Good idea! Open hardware and open software is power to the masses. Zalatix Jan 2012 #18

Until consumers in the U.S. boycott products made using unfair labor practices think Jan 2012 #40

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Jan 2012 #12

I think we, as a consumer oriented culture, just don't care that much. We want the "cheap stuff." joshcryer Jan 2012 #15

I dont see that as likely to happen with the trade agreements we have in place now. cstanleytech Jan 2012 #16

Nah, automation would end it. Just requires sophisticated AI. joshcryer Jan 2012 #21

International laws are the root of all evil Ter Jan 2012 #22

poke, poke, poke.... Ellipsis Jan 2012 #24

We'll see if they'll admit to the child labor practices or if they'll dismiss it. joshcryer Jan 2012 #27

Own a flashlight do ya... portable phone, how 'bout that backup battery on your logic board Ellipsis Jan 2012 #30

Nope, I'm not, but they come like flies to honey for some reason. joshcryer Jan 2012 #31

Not glossin'... just perspective. Own a cell phone? Then you've contributed 3.2 million deaths Ellipsis Jan 2012 #33

This sort of rhetoric is pointless. Merely using electricity, as you are doing now... joshcryer Jan 2012 #34

Exactly my point. Ellipsis Jan 2012 #35

What ISN'T Made in China? DeathToTheOil Jan 2012 #25

If you have a 401k this is how your bread is buttered. raouldukelives Jan 2012 #28

Don't have a 401k. joshcryer Jan 2012 #29

Not at all. I was just making a general observation. raouldukelives Jan 2012 #43

Where do you think defined pension plans invest? dmallind Jan 2012 #44

Americans LINE up for this crap, and make a HERO out of that asshole Steve Jobs Skittles Jan 2012 #32

I have a HTC Touch Pro II. I'm one of those non-conformist types. Edweird Jan 2012 #41

But have you seen all the cool apps? nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #42

Apple is reportedly holding ~ $55 Billion in cash. If they paid a living wage.... Scuba Jan 2012 #45

*Very* simple calculation. 90 million iPhones. $8 per phone to manufacture. joshcryer Jan 2012 #46