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iPhone 3Gs - Italy and Belgium - unlocked?

DO NOT ORDER FROM DIGITAL-TEK

I searched around this site and there are reports of them ripping off customers with no communication.
 
iAppTime said:
I live in Belgium and as far as I know, the iPhone here isn't unlocked. You still need to buy a contract with Mobistar I think. Or am I wrong?
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Well certainly with the 3G you did not need a contract - although some moron Mobistar shop staff did try frightening people into a contract.

Now there's no news of the 3GS suddenly being locked so I don't think it will be the case. Certainly they would kiss their sales figures goodbye if they did so, and besides, despite the law change to a subsidized market model the big player just aren't ready yet with their systems to start locking down phones and contracts.

So no, it wasn't locked and I don't think it will be, but I could be wrong.
 
I'm planning to go to Milan next Wednesday for work. But if the 3GS is 600 euros, what's the point in buying it in italy ? :(
 
GogNav said:
I'm planning to go to Milan next Wednesday for work. But if the 3GS is 600 euros, what's the point in buying it in italy ? :(
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Because the handset is officially unlocked. Meaning you can use your current carrier and tariff.
 
Guys, can somebody advise on the availability of the Iphone 3GS in Italy?
My friend will be cruising around the country during 29 June - 5 July and would require to buy 3 iphones.
Please advice of a shop were he for sure can buy phone and also receive IVA (tax) documents to get it back on the border?
 
Deten said:
Guys, can somebody advise on the availability of the Iphone 3GS in Italy?
My friend will be cruising around the country during 29 June - 5 July and would require to buy 3 iphones.
Please advice of a shop were he for sure can buy phone and also receive IVA (tax) documents to get it back on the border?
Click to expand...
Well I should imagine that the Apple Store in Rome would be a good bet. Does the cruise ship count as non-EU when he gets back on? Think he'll only be able to reclaim sales tax if taking it out of the EU - though to be sure I'm not too sure on the mechanics of it all.
 
I know it's unlock, but I'm talking about the price. You can have it for almost the same price in Switzerland and maybe for some of you, the distance is shorter.

What i'm looking at now is the availability of the Iphone 3GS in HK. Should be released in July but not dates are mentioned... and I hope finding it for 500 euros max.

Any pointers ?

I didn't know you could ask to get the taxes back! How does that work ? How much are the taxes in Italy ?
 
GogNav said:
I know it's unlock, but I'm talking about the price. You can have it for almost the same price in Switzerland and maybe for some of you, the distance is shorter.
Click to expand...

Is it sim-free in Switzerland? I've got relatives from there who are visiting in August - maybe they can bring me a gift!
 
WoW, VAT tax is 20% in Italy !

Now if one can explain how to get reimburse those 20%, it becomes pretty interesting (even if at worse you have to pay back the VAT taxes of your country - 7.6% for Switzerland)!
 
iSimon said:
Well I should imagine that the Apple Store in Rome would be a good bet. Does the cruise ship count as non-EU when he gets back on? Think he'll only be able to reclaim sales tax if taking it out of the EU - though to be sure I'm not too sure on the mechanics of it all.
Click to expand...

He will be travelling by car inside Italy and then will catch a lane back to his country of origin (non-EU). Is it possible in this way?
 
BTW, if somebody hasn't seen it, I'm linking an image from Italy apple store indicating the VAT.
Also is there a limit on how many phones you can buy in Italy?
 

Attachments

  • IVA(VAT).jpg
    IVA(VAT).jpg
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GogNav said:
Sorry to say, but yes, you can find them for the price I mentionned unlocked
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Hmm, how are they unlocked? If it's by jailbreaking, then it doesn't count IMHO. I don't know of an official seller that sells them unlocked while being able to get all future Apple updates, but as it's an info from a Swiss friend, he might just not know about it...
 
The only problem with these phones is if they brake. apple won't repair them in your own country, and you have to find a way to send it back to Italy/Switzerland etc.

Thanks to a firm, here in Finland, we get these phones with a little extra cost, but the guy handles all the repairs, and if he has phones in stock he will give you a new one straight away (ofcourse the problem has to be covered by the warranty)
 
I have read in a newspaper (so it's not official) that Swiss Customs accept 10 Iphones (why ten, why not less or more, I don't know).

A nice rebate of 100 euros would be very interesting :)!
 
Veldek said:
Hmm, how are they unlocked? If it's by jailbreaking, then it doesn't count IMHO. I don't know of an official seller that sells them unlocked while being able to get all future Apple updates, but as it's an info from a Swiss friend, he might just not know about it...
Click to expand...

Well they are unlocked as any of the unlock-free phones. There's a code which unlocks the phone from its sim-lock. After this code is inputted all future firmwares and updates will keep the phone unlocked.
 
Veldek said:
Hmm, how are they unlocked? If it's by jailbreaking, then it doesn't count IMHO. I don't know of an official seller that sells them unlocked while being able to get all future Apple updates, but as it's an info from a Swiss friend, he might just not know about it...
Click to expand...

You are correct, they don't come from an official carrier (but you can buy the Iphones 3gs from them unlock, but at a horrible price)... but trust me, why would I lie about something that doesn't change anything about my life :) ? They are full unlock !
 
inf said:
The only problem with these phones is if they brake. apple won't repair them in your own country, and you have to find a way to send it back to Italy/Switzerland etc.

Thanks to a firm, here in Finland, we get these phones with a little extra cost, but the guy handles all the repairs, and if he has phones in stock he will give you a new one straight away (ofcourse the problem has to be covered by the warranty)
Click to expand...

That's my plan too... i now a firm here that do great repairs for Iphones.. especially the broken glass :D
 
Re EU 1999/44/EC directive and warranty info

Thanks for the advice, they seem very dangerous alright.

I also wonder if Apple can refuse to repair an iPhone purchased in one member country in another, e.g. if you buy an iPhone in Italy and you live in the UK, I would assume under EU trade laws it would have to repair the iPhone in the UK, otherwise it is creating artificial barriers to free trade within the EU. Maybe someone should put in a complaint to the commission, maybe they can't do anything without a complaint (it hasn't happened to me so I can't).

Under EU law, directive 1999/44/EC (if I, all consumer electrical items are covered for up to 2 years (and in some cases longer) from purchase date end of story. They can try and say 1 year, but quote that directive and they have to abide by it.

Here are links to the legislation and it applies to ANY consumer electronic items.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:1999:171:0012:0016:EN:PDF

In other EU languages:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/c...numdoc&lg=en&numdoc=31999L0044&model=guichett

I guess most companies assume consumers don't know about this legislation or won't quote it...

The same legislation says that consumers in one country have to free to purchase products in another EU country, so in theory shouldn't I be able to order an iPhone on the Apple Italy website and have it delivered to the UK?

T.
 
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