Dont Believe Everything You Read (aka) - iGear

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CTaztec

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iGear iPad Shop
http://www.igear.co.za/c166/iPad-Shop.aspx

NOTE : There is a worldwide shortage of the iPad WiFi. First come, first serve, while our stocks last. General availability in retail stores only in July 2010 (after the world cup.) The iPad WiFi+3G is carrier-locked and we cant use the U.S ones here, so we only expect availability toward September. They will be about R2,000 more than the WiFi ones.

Forum member SMC proves iGear's statement using Vodacom SAF is nothing but utter rubbish and sales talk... http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?228628-Apple-iPad-3G-on-Vodacom-networks

Plus these 3G iPad owners (GSM network) post the same success to Apple's Discussions:
Saudi Arabia
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2423651&tstart=0
Switzerland
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2418482&tstart=60
Egypt
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2418482&tstart=60
Hong Kong
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2417750&tstart=120

I annoys me that certain SA online companies, show such little regard for the SA Apple consumer - iGear being one. In an earlier iGear thread, I commented on their US$100% markup on US iTunes cards - as an update (coming tonight) read what a US supplier says about SA companies charging VAT on these Gift Cards!
 
About a year ago I complained bout iGear & their crap service etc. Once bitten twice shy they are arrogant & a bunch of thieves. If its Apple you want find a better supplier iGear :mad: never ever again.
 
bex.cpt said:
About a year ago I complained bout iGear & their crap service etc. Once bitten twice shy they are arrogant & a bunch of thieves. If its Apple you want find a better supplier iGear :mad: never ever again.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Nicole at iGear looking out for customers? Really?

The statement on iGear's website by Nicole
The iPad WiFi+3G is carrier-locked and we cant use the U.S ones here, so we only expect availability toward September.
Click to expand...
is absolute BULL and is CLEARLY intended to create confusion around the importation and use of US-purchased iPad 3G's for use in South Africa.

I raised this point directly with Nicole in an email which pointed out that the quote on their website was incorrect.

On your website you state that: "The iPad WiFi+3G is carrier-locked and we cant use the U.S ones here."

This is not actually true at all…

The Wi-Fi <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi> + 3G <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G> model has a micro-SIM <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_Identity_Module> slot (not mini-SIM <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_Identity_Module> ) located on the side of the device. The 3G model may be used with an AT&T data plan that does not require a contract. Apple has heavily advertised the uses of the no-contract plan on their website. Unlike the iPhone <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone> , which is usually sold locked to specific carriers, the 3G <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G> iPad is sold unlocked and can be used with any compatible GSM <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM> carrier.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad

I don't know if you've included this statement on your website to try encourage local South Africans to purchase a WiFi version now, instead of waiting for later in the year once the iPad is officially launched in SA?

I don't think that it's right, and your statement is merely creating confusion regarding the 3G iPad and its use outside of the USA!
Click to expand...
As you can see I raised the point of whether their intention was to encourage local South Africans to purchase a WiFi version now (from them at INFLATED RATES) instead of waiting for later in the year once the iPad is officially launched in SA, or instead of importing either the WiFi OR 3G model from the US for use now.

Nicole disagreed completely with me, and shot back a brief email which merely contained a quote from the iLounge website which Nicole used to back up her claim:

One big difference between the iPhone and iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G needs to be underscored at this point: every iPad ships unlocked and unsubsidized, without any requirement that you sign up for a cellular data plan. In other words, if you don’t purchase a cellular subscription for the iPad, it can still be used with any 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi network—just like the iPad with Wi-Fi. But if you want to be able to access the Internet with the iPad outside your home, office, or free Wi-Fi hotspots, you’ll have to pay a monthly service fee to do so, and as of review time, AT&T remains Apple’s only cellular partner in the United States.
Click to expand...

It is clear that the above quote is stating that "AT&T remains Apple’s only cellular partner in the United States" and that "if you want to be able to access the Internet with the iPad outside your home, office, or free Wi-Fi hotspots, you’ll have to pay a monthly service fee to do so" and basically because AT&T are the only cellular company in the world that makes the micro SIM cards, you essentially can't use the iPad on any other cellular network in the world.

The quote even states that "every iPad ships unlocked" ... so where's the confusion?!?!?

(We know that all you have to do is to take a pair of scissors to your Vodacom SIM card and cut it down to size and it will work perfectly in the iPad 3G)

I then wrote Nicole a whole long email explaining the difference, including a whole host of source articles on the subject, and telling her that she was wrong, and should amend her website accordingly.

She ignored me.

Since then my iPad 3G has arrived from the US, and I duly purchased a Vodacom 3G SIM card, RICA it, activated it, loaded on a data bundle, CUT it up - and guess what: IT WORKS PERFECTLY ....

:) :) :) :)

So I sent Nicole another email updating her:

Just thought that I would drop you a follow-up email to confirm that my US purchased 64GB iPad Wifi + 3G is working perfectly and has been for the past week on the Vodacom 3G network... Just had to cut the SIM card a little smaller, but got it right first time around.

I trust that this puts the rumour that the iPad 3G is network locked to bed.
Click to expand...

Her reply was brief:

This message has been marked as spam and will not reach the intended recipient.
Click to expand...

:p :p :p :p

Clearly there is no getting through to the people at iGear ... it makes you wonder what's going on there!!!!

~AndrewGoldy
 
Thanks for the heads up. This proves how companies like to scam ignorant customers.

Thats why myBB is worth it's wait in gold.
 
I certainly will never do business with Igear (Nicole in particular - one rude individual) ever again 2 orders with wrong items dispached on both seperate orders. then I had to fight to get my money back...........Be aware of them check hellopeter
just my 50c worth
 
Yes be careful when buying from them. I think this is how they work - they deliver small stuff and when you order big items, all hell brakes loose. Ordered a iphone G4 from them. We had to pay via EFT. Item has not arrived since April. Nicole and her side-kick Kerry send you harrassing emails and ask you to do a post office search for yourself, although the tracking number belongs to a courier company. When asked for proof of tracking numbers they simply ignore you. They refuse to refund you the money or send a new item. You are subjected to an investigation into an item which according to them is not lost and you must just wait until they find it!. We reported them to the Consumer Protection Commission - after which Nicole told us not to threaten them. We phoned them today as well and Nicole had a screaming fit over the telephone as soon as we mentioned from where we phoned. She screamed and shouted and put the phone down. Subsequently she then responded to an email where we quoted her page 162 of the Consumer Protection Act which points out Administrative Fines. Once again, she makes out as if she is fully conversant in the Protection Act. The Complaints Unit told us in writing that it would take 6 weeks to resolve this dispute, but Nicole knows it takes 8 months. This makes you think that she must have been investigated by some body before or not? We suggest you file a complaint the Complaints Handling Unit at [email protected].
 
AndrewGoldy said:
The statement on iGear's website by Nicole

is absolute BULL and is CLEARLY intended to create confusion around the importation and use of US-purchased iPad 3G's for use in South Africa.

I raised this point directly with Nicole in an email which pointed out that the quote on their website was incorrect.


As you can see I raised the point of whether their intention was to encourage local South Africans to purchase a WiFi version now (from them at INFLATED RATES) instead of waiting for later in the year once the iPad is officially launched in SA, or instead of importing either the WiFi OR 3G model from the US for use now.

Nicole disagreed completely with me, and shot back a brief email which merely contained a quote from the iLounge website which Nicole used to back up her claim:



It is clear that the above quote is stating that "AT&T remains Apple’s only cellular partner in the United States" and that "if you want to be able to access the Internet with the iPad outside your home, office, or free Wi-Fi hotspots, you’ll have to pay a monthly service fee to do so" and basically because AT&T are the only cellular company in the world that makes the micro SIM cards, you essentially can't use the iPad on any other cellular network in the world.

The quote even states that "every iPad ships unlocked" ... so where's the confusion?!?!?

(We know that all you have to do is to take a pair of scissors to your Vodacom SIM card and cut it down to size and it will work perfectly in the iPad 3G)

I then wrote Nicole a whole long email explaining the difference, including a whole host of source articles on the subject, and telling her that she was wrong, and should amend her website accordingly.

She ignored me.

Since then my iPad 3G has arrived from the US, and I duly purchased a Vodacom 3G SIM card, RICA it, activated it, loaded on a data bundle, CUT it up - and guess what: IT WORKS PERFECTLY ....

:) :) :) :)

So I sent Nicole another email updating her:



Her reply was brief:



:p :p :p :p

Clearly there is no getting through to the people at iGear ... it makes you wonder what's going on there!!!!

~AndrewGoldy
Click to expand...

What a ret***** bi***
 
About two years late, but i really dont know how igear is still a viable company. I dont think they have ever has a repeat customer with the attitude they have.
 
does iGear think that everyone in the UK, or EU, or ... China , with an iPad is on AT&T ? Lol
 
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