Chinese Tablet Buyers Guide.

Weird they shipped the tablet covers this morning, but not with DHL but with buff couriers.Then it clicked.

I ordered two tablets, two screen protectors, and two tablets case covers, which means the package would have been pretty large to start with so they split the order in two. That said I ordered DHL and they ended up using buff couriers for the tablet covers it is a bit lousy, but on the other hand because of the low value under R500.00 it should clear customs no problem, and I wouldn't have to pay the DHL disbursement fee of R150.00 which would have been silly.

The tablet already comes with a screen protector already applied, but getting one to fit here isn't that easy, sure you can go to a vodacom shop Bloemfontein they have a machine that cuts screen protectors for around R250 to 300.

Which if you have a cheap tablet or phone isn't worth it. Honestly you don't replace a plastic screen protector that often, but with regular use, general usage marks do show up on plastic eventually. So handy to have that around, especially considering it isn't a fully laminated glass panel, which means reflection is going to be a beatch, without a screen protector to dull the reflection a bit.

Also didn't want a glass screen protector as that might further reduce over all responsiveness of the screen, being not fully laminated, I suspect there MIGHT be some slight precision tapping issue and slight tap lag.

My current tablet isn't laminated either and has a plastic panel, precision tapping issue there was really only with much smaller things like moving the cursor around in a text document, which can be annoying at time, having used the tablet for over two years, one hardly notices it.

Now with the new tablet nearly on my door step, I am planning on replacing the battery on the old tablet, but that just might end up being to much effort and time, so might as well get a 10K powerbank for it which is far cheaper then the hassle of a battery replacement, I am planning on ordering a 20K powerbank on takealot next week to use with the tablet, it's nearly rainy season and that means lots of thunder and lighting, with out electrical grid above ground means a slight grumble for the sky and the power dips or goes off entirely.

I have 2 x 2.5K powerbanks but it's hardly enough to charge the tablet to 100% now and extra power (average power failure here can last 2 to 10 hours) the battery is sightly larger then my previous one, often a power failure here happens so unexpectedly you haven't charged your devices, so we have a habit of checking the skies and preparing for the worse by charging all our devices beforehand :D
 
Holy smokes, I got lucky, the sale ended yesterday, normal price is back at 3.6K, with the GB points used I got it for 2.4k, excluding shipping and import duties of course.Wow even the T10 is back at normal price of 3k. That is some serious good luck on my part. I don't know if they were trying to get rid of stock or what, this updated version (4gig ram 128gig rom) was only released in June this year.

Here I was complaining about inflated RRP. Lol It's $247 now compared to the $165.99 I paid.
The price now matches other websites with the exception of one website that is still running a special on it.
DHL website have captured the tracking number and should be here tomorrow, they have delivery as estimated 12 September. 1.2k saving that is the price of craptastic tablet here.....:D

Sweet.

 
Custom clearance and payment done, was budgeting for 1K clearance fee.Gearbest under reports the value, they mention on their website it's illegal to under report value and they don't do it, according to custom documents the value reported was 1.7K, for a grand total of R282.00 VAT, they have the shipping costs at over $50 and the usual DHL R150.0 disbursement fee.Thanks gearbest, that extra is going towards a decent powerbank today

Bargain, for the 2 tablets, 2 screen covers and 2 tablet covers little over R5777.00 and R432 for customs, between the neighbor and me 3.1K each, was a seriously good deal.


As for the Powerbank some advice there would be nice, I can only assume buying cheap here means inferior battery quality ?

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
 
3 x Xiaomi 20000mAh Mi Powerbank 2C continue to serve me well.
 
Milano said:
3 x Xiaomi 20000mAh Mi Powerbank 2C continue to serve me well.
Click to expand...

Thanks will have a look, and see what is what, I also see the have solar panel powerbanks, but I think that is more a gimmick then any thing else.Did find a 30 000 mah powerbank on special, might as well give it a go and see what happens, if it doesn't do the rated 30 000 mah I can always send it back.

On the DHL front, DHL submitted the wrong entry code got rejected twice, just got customs release now, Hopefully the delay didn't cause problems with it shipping out today, as they usually have cut off times.
 
wizardofid said:
Thanks will have a look, and see what is what, I also see the have solar panel powerbanks, but I think that is more a gimmick then any thing else.Did find a 30 000 mah powerbank on special, might as well give it a go and see what happens, if it doesn't do the rated 30 000 mah I can always send it back.

On the DHL front, DHL submitted the wrong entry code got rejected twice, just got customs release now, Hopefully the delay didn't cause problems with it shipping out today, as they usually have cut off times.
Click to expand...

Just more concerned about the safety of the too-cheap power banks more so than even performance.

Agreed, from everything I have read the solar appear to be gimmicks.
 
Milano said:
Just more concerned about the safety of the too-cheap power banks more so than even performance.

Agreed, from everything I have read the solar appear to be gimmicks.
Click to expand...
well Going to give it a go reasonably priced and from what I can see a decent discount, retail prices else where some as high as R479.00. Don't know the brand, just plain and simple no gimmicks or any thing else.

Seems good from this post

Hardware Bargains - Open Thine Wallet

Takealot Daily Deal: https://www.takealot.com/ravpower-usb-c-portable-macbook-charger-20100mah-qc3-0-45w-power-bank/PLID53595838 Looks like a really decent one, as it supports Power Delivery, so if you have a newfangled device, that'll come in handy.Really expensive. Rather get a romoss.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za


Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
 
wizardofid said:
well Going to give it a go reasonably priced and from what I can see a decent discount, retail prices else where some as high as R479.00. Don't know the brand, just plain and simple no gimmicks or any thing else.

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
Click to expand...

Looking forward to your feedback as need to get more for the family and that is a good looking price.
 
wizardofid said:
well Going to give it a go reasonably priced and from what I can see a decent discount, retail prices else where some as high as R479.00. Don't know the brand, just plain and simple no gimmicks or any thing else.

Seems good from this post

Hardware Bargains - Open Thine Wallet

Takealot Daily Deal: https://www.takealot.com/ravpower-usb-c-portable-macbook-charger-20100mah-qc3-0-45w-power-bank/PLID53595838 Looks like a really decent one, as it supports Power Delivery, so if you have a newfangled device, that'll come in handy.Really expensive. Rather get a romoss.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za


Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
Click to expand...
Romoss or Xaiomi ... I don't really trust any others.

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
 
wizardofid said:
Weird they shipped the tablet covers this morning, but not with DHL but with buff couriers.Then it clicked.

I ordered two tablets, two screen protectors, and two tablets case covers, which means the package would have been pretty large to start with so they split the order in two. That said I ordered DHL and they ended up using buff couriers for the tablet covers it is a bit lousy, but on the other hand because of the low value under R500.00 it should clear customs no problem, and I wouldn't have to pay the DHL disbursement fee of R150.00 which would have been silly.

The tablet already comes with a screen protector already applied, but getting one to fit here isn't that easy, sure you can go to a vodacom shop Bloemfontein they have a machine that cuts screen protectors for around R250 to 300.

Which if you have a cheap tablet or phone isn't worth it. Honestly you don't replace a plastic screen protector that often, but with regular use, general usage marks do show up on plastic eventually. So handy to have that around, especially considering it isn't a fully laminated glass panel, which means reflection is going to be a beatch, without a screen protector to dull the reflection a bit.

Also didn't want a glass screen protector as that might further reduce over all responsiveness of the screen, being not fully laminated, I suspect there MIGHT be some slight precision tapping issue and slight tap lag.

My current tablet isn't laminated either and has a plastic panel, precision tapping issue there was really only with much smaller things like moving the cursor around in a text document, which can be annoying at time, having used the tablet for over two years, one hardly notices it.

Now with the new tablet nearly on my door step, I am planning on replacing the battery on the old tablet, but that just might end up being to much effort and time, so might as well get a 10K powerbank for it which is far cheaper then the hassle of a battery replacement, I am planning on ordering a 20K powerbank on takealot next week to use with the tablet, it's nearly rainy season and that means lots of thunder and lighting, with out electrical grid above ground means a slight grumble for the sky and the power dips or goes off entirely.

I have 2 x 2.5K powerbanks but it's hardly enough to charge the tablet to 100% now and extra power (average power failure here can last 2 to 10 hours) the battery is sightly larger then my previous one, often a power failure here happens so unexpectedly you haven't charged your devices, so we have a habit of checking the skies and preparing for the worse by charging all our devices beforehand :D
Click to expand...
I order the tablet and covers via Buffalo and didn't pay any duties.
 
Dan C said:
Romoss or Xaiomi ... I don't really trust any others.

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
Click to expand...

With power outage lasting a couple of hours here during summer, don't think 20mah will cut it, if I have to charge phone as well. From a quick search fonsi uses a samsung battery, so definitely not some cheap china brand thing so worth a go.Pretty much checked out every powerbank in that price range considering the price discount being real, it worth a shot.
 
wizardofid said:
With power outage lasting a couple of hours here during summer, don't think 20mah will cut it, if I have to charge phone as well. From a quick search fonsi uses a samsung battery, so definitely not some cheap china brand thing so worth a go.Pretty much checked out every powerbank in that price range considering the price discount being real, it worth a shot.
Click to expand...
Just get lots of them. Having said that... this is my collection. The 30,000 Romoss is a beast :P

710557
 
Dan C said:
I order the tablet and covers via Buffalo and didn't pay any duties.
Click to expand...

Yeah I didn't want to wait that long for buff. In fact quite hilariously, the tablet covers are still in HK, they haven't even moved yet from the warehouse, and they were shipped a day after the DHL order, and that cleared customs and on it's way here in two days over a weekend as well, only cost $8 shipping. With buff it would have still been in HK, and another 8 days shipping and delivery.
 
Dan C said:
Just get lots of them. Having said that... this is my collection. The 30,000 Romoss is a beast :p

View attachment 710557
Click to expand...
lol

I have a sony 2400mah, and 3 x 2400mah no name brand stuff I got at checkers for R69 each, sony was a gift. Each one does about 1.5mah ish. Don't want to spend more money now, saving up for a proper LTE router and booster antenna. Which ain't going to be cheap.

slow pokes


Ship From:Ship To:
HONG KONG,
HK		FREE STATE
ZA



EVENT CATEGORY
09 Sep 19 1:47 PM - Clearance processing complete - JOHANNESBURG,SOUTH AFRICA
 
wizardofid said:
Yeah I didn't want to wait that long for buff. In fact quite hilariously, the tablet covers are still in HK, they haven't even moved yet from the warehouse, and they were shipped a day after the DHL order, and that cleared customs and on it's way here in two days over a weekend as well, only cost $8 shipping. With buff it would have still been in HK, and another 8 days shipping and delivery.
Click to expand...
Yes it's not always certain when they actually ship. I have been really lucky and most of the parcels from ordering to getting it in my hands were about a week with buffalo.
 
wizardofid said:
lol

I have a sony 2400mah, and 3 x 2400mah no name brand stuff I got at checkers for R69 each, sony was a gift. Each one does about 1.5mah ish. Don't want to spend more money now, saving up for a proper LTE router and booster antenna. Which ain't going to be cheap.

slow pokes


Ship From:Ship To:
HONG KONG,
HK		FREE STATE
ZA



EVENT CATEGORY
09 Sep 19 1:47 PM - Clearance processing complete - JOHANNESBURG,SOUTH AFRICA
Click to expand...
Which router are you looking at ?
 
Dan C said:
Just get lots of them. Having said that... this is my collection. The 30,000 Romoss is a beast :p

View attachment 710557
Click to expand...

As bad as me. They are awesome. 3 x Xiaomi and 4 x Romoss. Wife is so pissed with me each time I buy another. But not too salty to connect up to one when she needs :ROFL:
 
Dan C said:
Which router are you looking at ?
Click to expand...

Huawei B618 & POYNTING LTE Antenna about 4k excluding shipping. Was looking at getting a router with dongle support, but having been burned before with modem compatibility, I don't want to mess around this time.

So I willing to wait a bit and get the cash, next data sim contract upgrade is in 4 or 5 months, might get a router then.However I prefer sim only deals as cancellation is a breeze.

The other option was those cheap TPlink mobile little dongle routers, still requires USB be power, kinda defeats the purpose of wanting proper wifi internet not relying on my PC. Got internet sharing working with my PC and TPlink router, but such a beatch and relies on the PC for internet, I setup the old totolink as a repeater.

Connected the wifi on the bedroom media player and job done, I do however want to cut out reliance on the PC, doesn't bother me should the power go off, I have the tablets for internet.

Just the annoyance of internet access, it also restricts me to one room as signal in other parts of the house sucks, there is literally one spot in the entire house with direct line of sight, that I had to my office to for signal.
 
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