iPad EU News (Abandon all hope, ye who enter here..) ("Are you nuts?!" - Steve)

[SteveWTW]

Fair enough if they have access to those early supplies, but this company is by no means a cheap option, to say the least.

You are right, it's not cheap but this is the way I look at it.

The price for a 32Gb 3G iPad plus the dock and local taxes works out to around $840. They are charging me $1148 which is a premium of $308. I don't anticipate this being too much above the official price in the UK.

 

[CD3660]

Just for the record, the postage charge came to £100.63.

Indeed.

Incidentally, are you expecting to pay vat on top of the £747?

 

[SteveWTW]

Indeed.

Incidentally, are you expecting to pay vat on top of the £747?

It's being set as a repair so I'll have to take my chances.

 

[TheBigApple2006]

Quite frankly 747 pounds is a lot of money for receiving the unit merely 20 days before UK official release. Not to mention that official pricing will probably be in the 550 pound range for the 32GB 3G....I would not go for any pre-order from next week onwards, simply not worth it.

 

[cyberheater]

You are right, it's not cheap but this is the way I look at it.

The price for a 32Gb 3G iPad plus the dock and local taxes works out to around $840. They are charging me $1148 which is a premium of $308. I don't anticipate this being too much above the official price in the UK.

Worth every penny mate. I know some folks might say that it's too much but when you get the shiny 32gb ipad sitting in your hands and experience the magic, well, you can't really put a price on that.

Most folk here who are importing feel the same. I saw a video of the Apple ipad launch in NY and there was a guy who came all the way from Russia just to pick up a ipad. Such is the passion for Apple products.

 

[Phil A.]

Just to throw this into the mix, Expansys are now selling iPads. It looks like they're importing them from the states and adding a huge markup, but if you are willing to pay £789 for a 32GB iPad WiFi including VAT and with only £6.76 shipping, you can get one here (They don't currently have them in stock, but claim they will be in 8 days)
Personally, I'll just wait for the UK release, but if you really want one early, the advantage of getting one from Expansys is that as you are buying it from a UK retailer, you have full protection under the UK sale of goods act if anything goes wrong with it (i.e. you can return it to them rather than having to send it back to the states)

 

[zen]

Worth every penny mate. I know some folks might say that it's too much but when you get the shiny 32gb ipad sitting in your hands and experience the magic, well, you can't really put a price on that.

Most folk here who are importing feel the same. I saw a video of the Apple ipad launch in NY and there was a guy who came all the way from Russia just to pick up a ipad. Such is the passion for Apple products.

Yeah but in 2-3 months we'll all have them, and to say that you got one a whole 3 weeks before everyone else would just be met with a shrug of the shoulders I suspect.

I mean if you can afford it, go for it. But I'm not sure it's really that exciting. I'm sure the iPad is terrific and magical, but we'll all be able to experience it shortly.

 

[TheBigApple2006]

Worth every penny mate. I know some folks might say that it's too much but when you get the shiny 32gb ipad sitting in your hands and experience the magic, well, you can't really put a price on that.

Most folk here who are importing feel the same. I saw a video of the Apple ipad launch in NY and there was a guy who came all the way from Russia just to pick up a ipad. Such is the passion for Apple products.

this is all true, but how long are you going to use the iPad for? It's not like people waiting for it in the UK are going to use iPads for 2/3 weeks and then put them away! Spending more on it makes really sense if you are going to get it months in advance and you have a deadline against using it. the 3G models are not worth the mark-up at all, not least because you will be getting it less than a week before official UK prices are officially unveiled. I would advise everyone looking into 3G models (as Wifi, at this point in time) to simply wait for May 10 before ordering anything - it's no more than 2 weeks away and we have been waiting since January

 

[QEII Student IT]

My Calendar looks something like this:

30th March: iPad!

30th April: iPad!

30th May: iPad?

 

[cyberheater]

Just to throw this into the mix, Expansys are now selling iPads. It looks like they're importing them from the states and adding a huge markup, but if you are willing to pay £789 for a 32GB iPad WiFi including VAT and with only £6.76 shipping

Nearly 800 quid for a 32gb ipad

Surely you're getting to the point where it would be cheaper to fly to the US and get one yourself.

And to the others that are saying imports are just too expensive. I can understand what you're saying but for some folks, it's worth it.

 

[ct2k7]

Nearly 800 quid for a 32gb ipad

Surely you're getting to the point where it would be cheaper to fly to the US and get one yourself.

And to the others that are saying imports are just too expensive. I can understand what you're saying but for some folks, it's worth it.

I can buy at least 10 copies of Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise Edition for that price. (I get them at £52.95)

 

[CD3660]

My Calendar looks something like this:

30th March: iPad!

30th April: iPad!

30th May: iPad?

That's funny!

My diary was similar until I caved in when Apple announced the delay until the end of May.

Now happily inseparable from my gorgeous iPad imported from the USA in the midst of the volcanic ash crisis.

I hope that time passes quickly for those of you who are still waiting (either for your deliveries or the official launch).

It's definitely worth the wait!

 

[cyberheater]

That's funny!

My diary was similar until I caved in when Apple announced the delay until the end of May.

Yep. I was the same. The fact that they've still not announced pricing for the UK is suspicious and I haven't got a lot of faith that Apple will hit the end of May with significant launch numbers at a UK friendly price. Hence the decision to import.

 

[CD3660]

Yep. I was the same. The fact that they've still not announced pricing for the UK is suspicious and I haven't got a lot of faith that Apple will hit the end of May with significant launch numbers at a UK friendly price. Hence the decision to import.

Absolutely, and I believe that Apple's pricing in Europe will be influenced (adversely for the customer) by the massive demand that there has been for the iPad. On their own admission it has surprised even them.

Companies tend to charge what they think they can get away with.

I have a feeling that 'at an unbelievable price' may have the opposite meaning in Europe to that intended for the US market.

 

[keithsizer]

Gave up waiting today after winning some money yesterday. Just bought a 64GB from eBay for £550 + £4 shipping. Guy has 100% feedback, so hopefully he is genuine.

 

[Boblister]

I was very tempted on the Ebay route. I saw a 64GB one for £700, he had 5 of them. As he was close to where I live I offered to meet and pay cash. He didnt seem keen at first but when explained it's probably the safest for everyone. He agreed and seemed quite keen. Said he would call me to give me a time and place. Thats the last I heard. Despite emails etc. He sold all but one by the end of the auction then put another 5 up for auction. That was two weeks ago. Strange he hasn't had any positive feedback yet.

I posted the above a few days back in this thread. Out of curiosity I have just checked his feedback again. This is the latest entry.

"its a scam! no anwer on emails, no shipped purchase! beware!"

I very nearly took the risk and just paid as he seemed genuine. I am glad I held out then dropped out when he didn't answer.

So it's events like this that has scared me off the current black market route. So it's back to counting the days (and months)

 

[keithsizer]

Gave up waiting today after winning some money yesterday. Just bought a 64GB from eBay for £550 + £4 shipping. Guy has 100% feedback, so hopefully he is genuine.

Just recieved an email saying it will ship tomorrow straight from the factory. He has just listed another one. Do you think I may have been had?

 

[Phil A.]

Nearly 800 quid for a 32gb ipad

Surely you're getting to the point where it would be cheaper to fly to the US and get one yourself.

And to the others that are saying imports are just too expensive. I can understand what you're saying but for some folks, it's worth it.

Well, I certainly wouldn't pay that for one, and think it's pretty close to (if not past) price gouging by Expansys. I just put it out there so people can make their own decision and, as I said, at least it does have the benefit of being covered by the UK Sale of Goods act if you buy from them.

 

[CD3660]

Gave up waiting today after winning some money yesterday. Just bought a 64GB from eBay for £550 + £4 shipping. Guy has 100% feedback, so hopefully he is genuine.

That's a very good deal assuming you have found a genuine eBayer. The shipping sounds a bit cheap. Is this for a sale from the US or within the UK?

 

[keithsizer]

That's a very good deal assuming you have found a genuine eBayer. The shipping sounds a bit cheap. Is this for a sale from the US or within the UK?

He said he will ship it tomorrow. Now I've paid, he said it's coming straight from the factory, and there will be no taxes to pay.

 

[CD3660]

He said he will ship it tomorrow. Now I've paid, he said it's coming straight from the factory, and there will be no taxes to pay.

I wouldn't want to worry you but that sounds a little odd.

iPads are made in China and I don't know how an eBayer would have access to an Apple product straight from the factory unless he has a contact who is stealing them / acquiring them 'at the back door'.

Also if it is coming from China you will be liable to vat charges.

Where is this guy registered eBay wise? Does he have a lot of positive feedback? Any for iPad sales? Any negative feedback?

 

[keithsizer]

I wouldn't want to worry you but that sounds a little odd.

iPads are made in China and I don't know how an eBayer would have access to an Apple product straight from the factory unless he has a contact who is stealing them / acquiring them 'at the back door'.

Also if it is coming from China you will be liable to vat charges.

Where is this guy registered eBay wise? Does he have a lot of positive feedback? Any for iPad sales? Any negative feedback?

He is from East Bourne, UK. He has 100%, 36 feedback. Only sold 1 item, not an iPad. I have phoned eBay, they told me to ask for a refund and to ring paypal. What made me worry is he put another iPad on straight away claming it is a 3g model, which apparently the one I paid him for is.

 

[Reser]

Finally it updated

25-04-2010 11:41 International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGING
25-04-2010 11:41 International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGES
25-04-2010 11:36 International Hub Arrived in destination country
22-04-2010 20:06 Delivery Agent - CHICAGO Arrived at Outward OE
21-04-2010 02:49 Delivery Agent - UNITED STATES AMERICA Coll

Looks like customs caught mine though, lucky people who avoided customs.

Hope it can get sorted by tonight and shipped for postage tomorrow.

and Apparently Cusoms do not work on a Sunday so seems I will have to wait till Tue/Wed till it arrives.

 

[Boblister]

I have noticed quite a few eBay listings which say in the small print that it's despatched from a US source. In large print usually says No Import Tax to pay. They don't mention about the VAT. £550 despatched from the UK for a 64Gb. Is just too good to be true.

 

[Reser]

He is from East Bourne, UK. He has 100%, 36 feedback. Only sold 1 item, not an iPad. I have phoned eBay, they told me to ask for a refund and to ring paypal. What made me worry is he put another iPad on straight away claming it is a 3g model, which apparently the one I paid him for is.

Er.. 3G is not even released, if you were silly enough to actually think he had a 3G on hand then I do not know what to say.

When he says coming direct from factory he probably means he put a Pre-order in from Apple using your money for the 3G