Advice on Macbook pro

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Neethling

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Hello

I'm planning on buying a 15 " Macbook pro 2.8 ghz .

I would like some advice on the cheapest way to get it !

Atm the cheapest I could get is R24599 from www.A7.co.za
I would also like to know how the mail forwarding works if you buy from the US.
I have seen websites like myus.com offer this service and would like to know for starters have any of you used it and how trustworthy it is ?
Also what is the import tax on Macbook pro's .

Would greatly appreciate any comments and help , cheapest prices in SA or abroad .

Ps . going to Israel soon will it be cheaper there perhaps ?

Thanks in advance
 
Well I'm not sure it will be cheaper in Israel - the cheapest place for Macs/Apple stuff seems to be the USA. As for MyUS etc I don't really know.
 
They have the older gen MBPs at Incredible Connection for R20,000 - that's at Canal Walk. They also have the 'dropped' demo model (on display) for R18,000.
 
The cheapest way is relative to what you can afford. Mail Forwarding has it's risks and the whole procedure demands extra time and effort.
Walking in-store and taking the gear home, can be handy too
 
iStore has a cool 3G agreement, i have a Macbook PRO 15" 2009 model, pay R700 a month and iSTore paid into my account my 24 month subscription for internet ie R189 x 24 months..... GREAT
 
Antybubbs said:
iStore has a cool 3G agreement, i have a Macbook PRO 15" 2009 model, pay R700 a month and iSTore paid into my account my 24 month subscription for internet ie R189 x 24 months..... GREAT
Click to expand...

700 PM over how many months??
 
Macbook Pro

Hi Neethling,

Thanks for bringing up the topic... I've been visiting this discussion a few times a week, and no good advice of yet...

I just contacted SARS, and this is what they said to me:

Kindly be advised that laptops are currently free of customs duty but subject to VAT at the standard rate of 14%. The duties and VAT are calculated on the value of the imported item converted to the South African Rand, this value is known as the Customs Value (CV).

VATwill becalculated as follows in this case:

VAT = ATV x 14%

where ATV = CV + 10% of CV

-------------------

At first I was a bit confused... this is how it works... If the laptop is $1999, the converted value is currently: R15450 + R1545 (10%) x 14% = R2379

R2379 would be all the VAT that you would need to pay (based on the amount of $1999 at the current rate dollar rand rate 7.6). This is going the legal way.

Altogether its R17829 directly from the States, as opposed to R21499 from most South African stores. However, you would still need to get it here... I looked into myus.com, they look good + do ship laptops. I think the overall figure with them came up to +- R1350 to ship here, including insurance on the laptop...

You are not really getting it that much cheaper if you ship it yourself...The best will be if you have a friend who is visiting SA from USA... You will then save R4000, and still have a warrantly because you have paid the required customs.
 
Just buy a Macbook here, dont wait for the USA, also check bidorbuy, i bought a 1 month old Macbook 13" for R7000
 
I looked into myus.com, they look good + do ship laptops.
Click to expand...

I recently bought the Red iPod Nano 16GB from the US Apple store using Myus.com.

I had no problems with them, they kept me updated via email.

The only issue I had with them was that they didn't reply to me when I asked a simple question.

I know they are busy with +-3000 packages per day, but a reply would've been nice.

It took 2 1/2 weeks for my iPod to arrive. (6 days it took for customs clearance)

Red iPod Nano 16GB $179 + tax = $192 (R1442-00)
MyUs.com membership fee = $10 (R76-00)
DHL shipping = R394-00
Customs Duty = R274-00

Total = R2186-00

It's not a big saving, but I really wanted the Red iPod Nano.

I came to find out later that I can buy the Red iPod nano locally from:

http://megagraphix.co.za/store/mac/ipod/nano.html
 
Jonm said:
Hi Neethling,

Thanks for bringing up the topic... I've been visiting this discussion a few times a week, and no good advice of yet...

I just contacted SARS, and this is what they said to me:

Kindly be advised that laptops are currently free of customs duty but subject to VAT at the standard rate of 14%. The duties and VAT are calculated on the value of the imported item converted to the South African Rand, this value is known as the Customs Value (CV).

VATwill becalculated as follows in this case:

VAT = ATV x 14%

where ATV = CV + 10% of CV

-------------------

At first I was a bit confused... this is how it works... If the laptop is $1999, the converted value is currently: R15450 + R1545 (10%) x 14% = R2379

R2379 would be all the VAT that you would need to pay (based on the amount of $1999 at the current rate dollar rand rate 7.6). This is going the legal way.

Altogether its R17829 directly from the States, as opposed to R21499 from most South African stores. However, you would still need to get it here... I looked into myus.com, they look good + do ship laptops. I think the overall figure with them came up to +- R1350 to ship here, including insurance on the laptop...

You are not really getting it that much cheaper if you ship it yourself...The best will be if you have a friend who is visiting SA from USA... You will then save R4000, and still have a warrantly because you have paid the required customs.
Click to expand...

Liars and thieves these SARS. They say they charge VAT but that's VAT on 110% of the value which means they charge 10% x 14% surcharge. Idiots.
 
You can get a 15" Macbook Pro 2.4Ghz on special for R15,999 from all the usual Mac shops. I prefer DigiCape.

Ok, it is the previous model - I bought just this model 6 months ago for R24,000. Sad.
 
I have a customer who bought the MBPro 3 weeks ago (Same spec as Neethling wants), I opened the box on Sunday, yesterday he tell me it's too big and wants to sell it, it's up in Joburg, he wants R21 000 for it, New price is R25 499, PM me Neethling if interested.
 
I think I'm gonna import one... it works out to be cheaper for the macbook pro 15" 4gb, 2.53ghz... My main reason is for the anti-glare option... Yes, they are clearing the older models for R15900, but they are all glossy... I compared the glossy and matte option the other day, the glossy is great, but I prefer matte mainly because it will have less eye-strain. Nothing wrong with glossy though, its a matter of preferance.

This is how much my import will work out to (at the 7.4 dollar rand rate):

Macbook pro = $1749 = R12942
Shipping + insurance through myus.com = R1346
Tax/Vat = R1993

Total = R16281 (legal, with warrenty)

This same laptop here, with a anti-glare screen, will cost R21499.

It does not make sense to buy it here. I'm gonna be saving over R5000. Thats if the dollar rate doesn't jump up before I go ahead :)
 
Last edited:
SlinkyMike said:
When you say 'previous model' are you talking 'pre-unibody'?
Kinda lost track of whats out there at the mo... :o
Click to expand...

Not at all, is was the latest version just a few months ago - slightly different specs. The biggest difference in my opinion is that it doesn't include Apple's new "7hr battery". Otherwise it looks, and is constructed, exactly the same way.
 
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