Apple iPad prices in SA

AcidRaZor said:
It's only "grey" if the product isn't actually manufactured by the company. In this case, no one else except Apple makes the iPad, so saying they're "grey" importers is a false statement.

For an individual importing this only Custom Duties apply. So with overnight shipping (about 3-6 business days from the USA to SA) including the minimum price of $499 it's a total of $538.99, Import Customs Duty cost (It's usually around R40 but let's say R500 because we're feeling generous), I'd be paying roughly R4407.67 (which is roughly 33% less than the quoted price, so you're right, it's not a 50% markup :rolleyes:) today to have it in my hands within a week. I would actually then be able to afford the 64g model of for R6506.54, if I was willing to wait a couple of weeks for delivery and not have it delivered within a week. And this all from genuine Apple retailers, none of these so-called "grey" ones (actually got pricing from amazon.com)

I'm pretty sure more or less the same duties are applied to when a business imports bulk (which would save on shipping costs) but I might be mistaken. However, this country has a culture of "OMG, we're sooooooooooooo isolated from the world, and with the rand flucuating so much, OMG! We can't charge anything less than 50-100% markup or we'll be out of business" is BULL****. Profiteering and greed. That's where it's at in this country. Want to argue? Look at our dear leadership (both now and "tomorrows") and tell me I'm lying.

I really fail to grasp that importing products in bulk COSTS more to import including duties + vat that they want on top of their markup? I could phone 3 shipping companies right now (well, probably tomorrow or Monday?) and get quotes from all of them that would prove the more I ship (or import, for example via container) the better the shipping price I'd get. But no, greed is what drives this country... not proper business and competition. It's a "I want to nail as many people as possible for as much profit as possible because they don't have choice" type situation...
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correct me if im wrong but isnt the markup based on the cost price? so (6299-4408)/4408-1=42.9% markup?
 
manesan said:
On a side note, dont ever buy from wantitall.
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I don't have a strong opinion about them, but we've ordered three items over the past year and it was delivered on time in good condition.

They do stock odd items you can't easily find elsewhere (which is why we ordered from them).
 
Guys,

I'm taking the plunge and placing an order today. Any recommendations of how to get it in? Or should I stick with MyUS?

Thanks!

M
 
PoiZoNouZ said:
+1

And grey merely means it is imported parallel to the legitimate distributor. I am in electronics distribution, and it is a constant battle we face with the grey guys, who simply piggy back off the marketing and back up we provide, and just cut the prices on products where the demand is high.

Luckily we have trademarks and international protection.
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Agree and disagree

I have sympathy with 'legitimate' distributors IF and only IF multiple independent legitimate distributors exist.
Taking the Apple example Core is a monopoly and they take advantage of it. Its not just price. Lead times are terrible. They keep very low stocks so often one has to wait a long time for regular stock items.

So if they drop the monopoly I will stop complaining.

In a monopolistic situation grey imports at least set some limits the abuse handed out by the monopoly.
 
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HP slate please... I want to see what the Slate comes in on price which is better in hardware specs and the top model is $100 less than the top iPad. If the Slate is much cheaper than the iPad then we know Core is full of ****.
 
When I bought my Sony Reader WIA where the only ones that had the ability to get it. Yes was bloody expensive but I did not want to import myself
 
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Will be interesting to see what Core does this time. The sad thing is that even if they charge something like R5500 for the 16GB model, which isn't too unreasonable, you would still be able to get a larger capacity or 3G model overseas for the same price. So, buy Core's 16GB or import 32GB or 3G? Sigh.
 
francoiswnel said:
Will be interesting to see what Core does this time. The sad thing is that even if they charge something like R5500 for the 16GB model, which isn't too unreasonable, you would still be able to get a larger capacity or 3G model overseas for the same price. So, buy Core's 16GB or import 32GB or 3G? Sigh.
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HI guys,

Most of you have probably heard about my new website, www.BringITover.co.za

Will be launching very soon, still sorting out a couple of stuff on this side, but as soon as the iPads are released in Australia (in 2 weeks time), I'll work out a good deal for you guys, shipping & insurance included... I'll keep you all posted :)
 
hotmojo said:
When I bought my Sony Reader WIA where the only ones that had the ability to get it. Yes was bloody expensive but I did not want to import myself
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Hi hotmojo, i'm looking myself of buying Sony Reader from States. Did you buy the one with 3G and if you did please tell if the 3G works? Saw on the I-net that 3G does not work out of the States and this is the only reason why i did not buy it yet :( Tnx
 
Gonna wait till the 3g version is available and then get it in the US. The Core group, would by then hopefully be stocking then, then I can get a warrenty:)
 
Have2Have has cheaper prices... http://www.have2have.co.za/index.php?cPath=676_31_6428_6446

And to all you price haters remember that the USA prices don't include VAT.

So $499 + 7% (Vat) + $40 shipping = $575

I'm not sure what customs charges but I guess it's around 15%. So that's $660.

Now remember that the dollar value fluctuates daily so people importing need to pick a value and stick with it or actually change the price daily which is just stupid for a retailer. So if we pick 8.5:1 which is really low since that's only giving a R1 fluctuation (it would be closer to 10:1). So that's 660*8.5 which is about R5600.

Now of course it will be lower than that because of volumes and how competitive the market is. So lets say it's probably R5000. Have2Have have the cheapest price at R5300.

edit: oh and remember that if you import you don't have a warranty. I would gladly pay an extra R500-800 to get a proper warranty.
 
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soldierboi said:
Gonna wait till the 3g version is available and then get it in the US. The Core group, would by then hopefully be stocking then, then I can get a warrenty:)
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Also regarding the 3G models ... don't forget you will still need to wait for the a local cellular provider to be able to supply you with a Micro-SIM needed by the iPad 3G models. I haven't heard any rumblings of if and when they will be planning anything along those lines.
 
tried out have2have it, and they were brilliant. received the package right on time, which i didnt expect because of the long weekend. looks like they are also taking ipad orders, so if you looking for 1 you may check them out.
 
Expensive kit, this iPad. I think the biggest buggers in this whole deal is guvvament. I paid almost $100 import duty on my Kindle the other day. Freakin' lots of money for doing nothing (guvvament)

I am actually considering saving up, then go for holiday in the states and then just buy what I want and come back, also not declare any of it, just open the stuff and put it in the suitcase. Did it before, works great. Can't buy big PC's though, but laptops, digital cameras, cam corders, cell phones, they all look just like standard holiday equipment.
 
Before anyone buys an iPad wait a couple weeks: [video=youtube;9kS6z3hxgcU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kS6z3hxgcU&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kS6z3hxgcU&feature=related[/video].

The hype will die down, and reality will hit.
 
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