Help with overseas ordering!

[gripen]

Ok, so myself and a friend have been battling with local stock issues for the Creative Labs USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1. Nobody in SA seems to have or be able to get stock!

* before anyone suggests PCI-E etc, it has to be USB and Creative (or better)

Decent review: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...1&csid=ITD&recordsPerPage=5&body=#ReviewStart
Product page: http://za.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory=669&product=17751&listby=

Options:

Option A
ebay
URL: http://buy.ebay.co.za/buying/za/dis...XFi-Surround-51-USB-Sound-Card#paymentmethods
Shipping: R304 (UPS worldwide express)
Price: $138
Customs: various reports from 10%-25% - who knows?
Total: R1389

Option B
Take2
URL: http://more.take2.co.za/moreusa-cre...und-blaster-x-fi-surround-5-1-b0017qqqae.html
Shipping: R40 (courier)
Price: R812
Customs: not sure
Total: R1664

Option C
WantItall
URL: http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardw...B-Sound-Blaster-X-Fi-Surround-5-1__B0017QQQAE
Shipping: R100 (-R100 for promotional coupon)
Customs: included
Price: R1786

Option D
BHPhotoVideo
URL: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=556216&is=REG
Shipping: UPS Worldwide Saver $92.60
Price: $54.95
Customs: who knows?
Rand price: R1566

Which would you advise? (hopefully based on past experience)

ebay seems risky
Wantitall is risk-free

Which would you go with?

 

[LFX]

ebay doesn't have to be risky if you check the seller ratings

 

[gifs]

How about this:
http://www.prophecy.co.za/zalman-zmrssc-audio-24bit-96khz-with-builtin-amplif-p-20193.html

Don't know if it is better than Creative, but a couple of reviews should tell you.

 

[gripen]

Have considered the Zalman, reviews look good but it does not have an optical out (which while I don't need it now, will be good to heave for the next speaker upgrade)

Seller ratings are good for the ebay seller. Still not sure about customs though. Apparently it's 25%. Even so, then the ebay option comes in at R1632 or so.

 

[zeb]

Have considered the Zalman, reviews look good but it does not have an optical out (which while I don't need it now, will be good to heave for the next speaker upgrade)

Why would you buy a quality soundcard and then use the optical output?

btw, I see the Zalman does have an optical output.

 

[gripen]

Interesting. With this adaptor: [ame]http://www.amazon.com/Toslink-To-Optical-Mini-Adapter/dp/B0002MQGRM/ref=pd_sim_e_2[/ame]

The Zalman provides TOSLINK

Any suggestions on suppliers for Zalman? Frontosa CPT has but we are looking for someone in Jhb/Pta possibly.

 

[JohnnyQ]

What about these guys?

http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardw...B-Sound-Blaster-X-Fi-Surround-5-1__B0017QQQAE

Sorry, i see you already had this link, but there is a big price difference. It is R883-00 on "my" link.

 

[gripen]

That was one of the links in the OP.

 

[auriga1000]

ebay doesn't have to be risky if you check the seller ratings

+1

 

[PeterCH]

ebay doesn't have to be risky if you check the seller ratings

CORRECT. What many people don't realise is that many EBAY sellers are just shop front-ends. Those are not risky at all. They have their own offline websites too. It's similar to Amazon MarketPlace.

 

[Sackboy]

Surely a shop like Computer Mania can order this for you?