Apple is set to come down hard on vendors selling unauthorised iPod accessories that connect to an Apple iPod.
Officially authorised manufacturers of iPod accessories such as Belkin and Griffin have been told that Apple is set to take action against several vendors who are not part of an authorised “Made for Apple” program but are selling products into retailers at considerable lower prices than authorised partners.
Currently Apple gets a 17 pin licence fee from vendors participating in authorised programs and with some vendors such as Hi Fi manufacturers who are manufacturing attached sound systems the licence fee is as much as 10% of the retail sell in price.
In recent weeks several global retailers have found themselves left with racks full of iPod accessories that they purchased from non Apple approved organisations with many such as Harvey Norman in Australia now moving back to the likes of Belkin and Griffin. While iPod product sales increased by up to 400% iPod accessories only increased by 30% leaving retailers with a mass of unsold stock.
Currently the 4 top selling iPod accessories are Cases, Card Chargers, FM transmitters, and attached sound systems. Mr Kannyn MacRae Product Marketing Director of Belkin Australia said “The iPod accessories sell through that retailers were expecting over the holiday period did not happen. Every retailer knew that iPods would be big sellers over the Xmas holiday period so they stocked up on both players and accessories. However many retailers purchased stock that has not sold through and they are now coming back to authorised Apple accessory partners. Basically they bought stock from anybody and no it is still on the shelves as consumers want good quality accessories from branded manufacturers like Belkin, Griffin and others who are manufacturing the high quality accessories”.
He added “Apple are getting tough on the non authorised guys and this is good as they intend to enforce the Made For Apple program via the authorised partners”.
