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Question of the Day: Have you ever ordered a product online and received a fake knock-off?
Samsung Galaxy S
- Thread starter krepunk
- Start date
I got that also. Then when i explained what it was they offered me a Samsung Star saying it sounds the same as what i explained. I really tried hard to hold in my laughter.
Samsung Star is pretty close ;-). I want my phone, am like a child the day before Christmas. 2.5 hours ago it landed in London Heathrow
Ou grote
Honorary Master
Samsung Star is pretty close ;-). I want my phone, am like a child the day before Christmas. 2.5 hours ago it landed in London Heathrow
Weren't u getting the Wave?
I was about to but changed my mind because of the lack of VOIP on the Wave. I purposely waited a few weeks to see if any solutions would become available but it doesn't look like it. Samsung prohibits VOIP programs to be released on its app store. Further it seems that they have a special agreement with three in the UK who have released a custom version of the Wave with Skype. Some sources say that skype will stay a three exclusive.
Then I was hoping that someone would port Android to the Wave but it doesn't look like that's happening either
Ou grote
Honorary Master
I'm not worried about VOIP, would like to have google maps on it, or some sort of decent free gps software.
I don't want to have to buy a nokia to get that.
At this stage I'm wanting the wave as its a lot cheaper and pretty much the same same thing as the galaxy as far as I can tell.
Not worth paying R3000 more anyway.
There are very few GPS solutions for the Wave at this point either. Google maps is there but it has no turn by turn navigation in SA yet. Further it is an online navigation software so you'll be paying data charges. So far there is no real alternative. The first proper offline navigation for the Wave will be released in August but that has European and American maps only and will cost around 60 euro. It will propbably take a bit longer for SA. Further, it certainly won't be free. I guess google maps is ok if you don't need turn by turn and have a good data plan. My tip, download the Samsung Kies software, install and have a look at applications. There you can see exactly what is available and at what prices. No need to own the phone, you can still go into the store without even registering. But don't expect to much, there still are very few decent apps available except for games...
Hardware wise the two phones are very similar, you are correct, except for the bigger screen of course. A Wave with Android at the lower price would have been amazing!
Ou grote
Honorary Master
tx for that tip.
I have a tomtom one for my car and it works great, but maps and traps expired a year ago.
Bought a navigon to replace it, but I hate it with a passion.
Just want the phone to be a backup gps, or handy if i forgot the gps at home.
My current phone is an iphone 2G, and don't use to many apps from the appstore, most are just gimmicky stuff that entertain for 5 minutes.
I think right now, navigation wise, you will be whole lot happier with the 2G navigation than with the Wave. It's sad really, such an amazing phone at a really good price but the app market is expanding too slowly. In half a year it should look different though, so far the salesfigures of the Wave have exceeded 1 million worldwide so there is an incentive for developers to bring out decent software. Maybe the problem is on Samsung's side and they are restrincting developers to much but that's just my suspicion. Maybe in half a year there will be decent navigation and VOIP sofware for the Wave, but if there is, it won't be free. That much I can guarentee you
Ou grote
Honorary Master
Yep, phone seems to have everything I require expect that.
Even the Jet should be good enough.
Yay! You will enjoy!
K
kingrob
Guest
Maddmatt
Expert Member
So my dad couldn't buy it in India, the store he went to didn't have it yet 
Looks like my best option is handtec.co.uk. I'm a little bit worried about ordering the phone like this, I've never ordered anything expensive from an overseas store before. So I have a few questions if anyone could answer these for me.
If there are any problems, can I rely on Handtec to sort it out? Is there service good and will they replace the phone if it's faulty or goes missing on the way here?
Also, since the charger will no doubt come with a UK plug, should I just buy a UK to SA adapter, or can I buy a compatible Samsung charger locally? Or is the charger designed in a way that I can easily cut off the UK plug and attach a South African plug? I have a few 3-pin SA plugs that I could replace it with if the design allows for it.
I suppose the phone charges over the USB cable so I can charge it from a PC in the meantime?
And lastly, are there any other costs that might come up from customs or something?
I want it so bad, I already download the Android SDK so I can develop apps for it
Looks like my best option is handtec.co.uk. I'm a little bit worried about ordering the phone like this, I've never ordered anything expensive from an overseas store before. So I have a few questions if anyone could answer these for me.
If there are any problems, can I rely on Handtec to sort it out? Is there service good and will they replace the phone if it's faulty or goes missing on the way here?
Also, since the charger will no doubt come with a UK plug, should I just buy a UK to SA adapter, or can I buy a compatible Samsung charger locally? Or is the charger designed in a way that I can easily cut off the UK plug and attach a South African plug? I have a few 3-pin SA plugs that I could replace it with if the design allows for it.
I suppose the phone charges over the USB cable so I can charge it from a PC in the meantime?
And lastly, are there any other costs that might come up from customs or something?
I want it so bad, I already download the Android SDK so I can develop apps for it
So my dad couldn't buy it in India, the store he went to didn't have it yet
Looks like my best option is handtec.co.uk. I'm a little bit worried about ordering the phone like this, I've never ordered anything expensive from an overseas store before. So I have a few questions if anyone could answer these for me.
If there are any problems, can I rely on Handtec to sort it out? Is there service good and will they replace the phone if it's faulty or goes missing on the way here?
Also, since the charger will no doubt come with a UK plug, should I just buy a UK to SA adapter, or can I buy a compatible Samsung charger locally? Or is the charger designed in a way that I can easily cut off the UK plug and attach a South African plug? I have a few 3-pin SA plugs that I could replace it with if the design allows for it.
I suppose the phone charges over the USB cable so I can charge it from a PC in the meantime?
And lastly, are there any other costs that might come up from customs or something?
I want it so bad, I already download the Android SDK so I can develop apps for it
Handtec or any overseas dealer (just like local ones) will only help you up to a certain extent if you have a problem. They'll be happy to take your phone but will only forward it to Samsung. So you might just as well safe the time and give it to Samsung directly... Either way you will be stuck having to pay for shipping if it needs to go in for repairs. The phone does not have international warrenty as far as I know so Samsung SA won't help or will charge. So your best bet would be to give it to a local repair agent and pay for repairs yourself if anything goes wrong with the phone. It is a risk, I agree, but the Galaxy S is quite a reliable phone (compared to many other phones including the Wave). It is the same if you order from Expansys. Unless the phone is broken at delivery you have to pay for shipping if it has to go in for repairs.
The phone uses a standard micro usb port for charging. ANY micro usb charger will do, even one by nokia. If you know your way around electronics you can cut of the uk plug and put on a SA plug... or just buy an adaptor for R20... It also comes with a usb cable which you can use to charge the phone.
There are some costs at customs, namely 15.4% on the value you ordered it for + R20 handling fee. Depending on your courier there might be a handling fee as well. Expect to pay between R600 and R1100 to be on the safe side (but most probably around R650).
Lastly, if you decide to order from overseas DO NOT safe on shipping. Go FEDEX, UPS or whatever there is. It will cost you R200 more but your phone is safe and will clear customs, be with you quick and won't come in a damaged or open box
I recently ordered the Galaxy S from Handtec, but my order was flagged by their computer as suspicious and they declined to ship. They say they get quite a few suspicious orders from SA. One of my problems was that my personal email address does not end in *.co.za or *.com, and that seems to have raised a flag. They also seemed to prefer to ship to a work address. They say that if you are able to pay by bank transfer (you push) rather than giving a credit card number (they pull), their system does not go through these checks. Also it sounds like first time purchase with expensive item is a risk too. Note that they were not scared of not getting the money, they already had it. They were scared of sending the phone to someone fraudulently using the credit card. Another tip, if they ask for ID, don't send a scan of a South African drivers license. These things look like they were made in someone's kitchen with a laminating machine, and do not inspire confidence.
LancelotSA
Banned
If a foreign company asked for a copy of my ID, that is what I would send them, a copy of my ID....