Grey Importers

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brettmeyer

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Hi all. So a few weeks back (when the ZAR/USD wasn't so bad) I got a quote from iStore for a special order i7 iMac 5k with SSD - that they don't sell locally. Wasn't too bad actually when you compare building a PC with the same specs and a 4k screen instead of the 5k one.

Anyway, their turn around is 6-9 weeks and regret not doing it now, so wondering if there are any grey importers or means of doing so that can get machines in quicker. Fully understanding the warranty won't be honoured by iStore here.

Thanks.
 
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why would you want to spend all that money going grey and have no warranty?
 
Impatience of not waiting 9 weeks really... and just exploring this as an option.

Alternatively does anyone know how to calculate import duties on electronics? Using aramex global shopper from HK could be an option.
 
Woah wait a minute what you mean fully understanding the warranty wont be honoured?

Apple products have global warranties and the partners have to honor that global warranty? If they're declining to repair devices not sold by them there's a major issue here.

I buy all my Apple Macbooks on Amazon and ship them here, with the 1-year warranty that has to be honored. I do it primarily not to support the crooked and incompetent Core Group.
 
neoprema said:
Woah wait a minute what you mean fully understanding the warranty wont be honoured?
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As far as I understand Core group won't fix devices not bought through them. I've taken a phone in I bought in the US and after going through the process of getting a recall fixed they told me they wouldn't fix because of that.

Can you give me a rough estimate on the taxes and duties you pay?
 
brettmeyer said:
As far as I understand Core group won't fix devices not bought through them. I've taken a phone in I bought in the US and after going through the process of getting a recall fixed they told me they wouldn't fix because of that.

Can you give me a rough estimate on the taxes and duties you pay?
Click to expand...

I took a Vodacom iPhone to the USA on business that I got at iStore in Sandton some time ago and it broke while there. I went to an Apple Store at a US Mall and they booked it in, apologised for it breaking and said I can either wait or have it swapped out for a refurb. Which I did. 30 mins...

Thats what Apple is, not this stupid incompetence and greed of Core Group.

PS - I pay around R1500 for the Fedex for the Mac with insurance and then VAT when its landed (which you could claim back I think if you're a company). Thats over and above the USD of the device of course.
 
I agree, wish we could get apple in directly. I also replaced an iPhone in Munich. They didn't even touch the phone, the guy asked me to show him the issue and they gave me a new one.

So you basically only pay the VAT? Nothing else charged by customs?
 
I was told by Core that they will honor the warranty of Apple products purchased abroad, providing you can present proof that all required import taxes and duties were paid on the product.
 
If you got your iPhone serviced under warranty in a different country then you're lucky. They have normally restricted the warranty on those to the country where it was purchased.

Usually these days Core will honour the warranty on any Apple product that has an international warranty. There was a time when they were routinely refusing to do so though. Note that if you have an Apple product that has an international warranty and the local reseller refuses to honour it you can contact Apple directly and they'll step on the reseller.

brettmeyer said:
So you basically only pay the VAT? Nothing else charged by customs?
Click to expand...
There might be 9% Ad Valorem as well. The documents with the details can be found on the SARS site. You're looking for Schedule No 1 Part 1 and Schedule No 1 Part 2B. Search online for computer harmonised code to find the code as the descriptions in the customs documents can be a bit arcane.
 
brettmeyer said:
I've obviously not read the whole documents, but the word computer does not feature in either document, and I cannot see anything when looking at the chapter titles...
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You won't find that anywhere. The categories and descriptions may not be the terms we'd use. And that's not because South African customs chooses weird language as this is an international system of categorising goods.

Anyway that is why I suggest searching for the item on the internet, e.g. harmonized code laptop; if I remember correctly in the document it will be called something like data processing equipment or machine.

Once you find the code in the first, and larger, document you need to check in the second one for the same code to see if there are any additional duties.
 
Thanks Noxibox. In that first document the definition of data processing machine sounds very much like a computer and those have rate of duty is free. And if I'm reading the code correctly it does not appear in the second.

I've mailed aramex to see if they have any info, but no response yet.
 
Price one on Amazon.

You’ll see all the relevant costs and duties at the final screen calculation.
 
Good advice.
I battled to find an iMac that would ship to SA, I did the same on a dell laptop and duties quoted are 16.5%.
 
werfie said:
I was told by Core that they will honor the warranty of Apple products purchased abroad, providing you can present proof that all required import taxes and duties were paid on the product.
Click to expand...
This is so much BS.

Apple product = Yes
Under warranty = Yes
Tax paid = No

Sorry we dont fix because Taxes weren't payed
 
brettmeyer said:
Good advice.
I battled to find an iMac that would ship to SA, I did the same on a dell laptop and duties quoted are 16.5%.
Click to expand...

Seriously though mate just order it locally and wait it out.

The difference to your pocket at the end of the day will be minimal.
 
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