View Full Version : Buying from overseas (Australia)
hey guys,
since the device (N900) is more likely will come soon. and Nokia Aus respond to my email said that there is no plan to make N900 available in AUS :mad::mad: i would like to ask your experience if had to buy a device from overseas. :rolleyes:
there are some importers company who will sell N900 in Australia such as mobicity (as an import product) but with the price that's double than US selling price so i'm planning to import.
since i know mobicity will also import the device, i understand there will be a lack of support and warranty in Australia as Nokia device warranty can only be claimed in the country of purchase.
as far as my research going, there are 2 major ways to do this.
- Buy in US/UK > send it to local (US/UK) forwarder company > forwarder send to me
- Buy from US/UK company who have international shipping
from the two possible solution above, i would like to know wheter any of you guys have used any of those solution before, and which way and which company is trustable? maybe this thread can also help people who need to import their N900 :D
one of the US company "BLT" (Bottom Line Communication) ask me to send them my CC front and back images if i'm a first time buyer (which is suspicious for me) :confused::confused:
thanks, and if this thread is not fit to be in N900 section please move it to general of anywhere appropriate. :):)
When I was in Russia I bought stuff in the US using a forwarder company, but the company I used went out of business and I never received my last package -- you are right, you need a reliable company!
Most countries have a group of expats who talk about such issues; you should try to find the most popular group of expats and you can probably find out just by reading their messages what they use to buy goods from the US and the UK. I would start Googling the word expat and Australia. and it might become obvious from messages you find what company is reputable.
G'day, I'm in the same boat. I mentioned this place a while back...
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=345026#post345026
They're not as cheap as Amazon, but they will deliver almost everywhere. Otherwise, wait until other stockists on Amazon sell it (it will be a long wait) and ship overseas.
Unfortunately I have no experience with proxy mailers/forwarder companies, but fingers crossed, someone with experience will post.
G'day, I'm in the same boat. I mentioned this place a while back...
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=345026#post345026
They're not as cheap as Amazon, but they will deliver almost everywhere. Otherwise, wait until other stockists on Amazon sell it (it will be a long wait) and ship overseas.
Unfortunately I have no experience with proxy mailers/forwarder companies, but fingers crossed, someone with experience will post.
i was looking at shop BLT before but as i say before i don't want to send them the image of my CC with everything on it...
yeah will wait for someone with more experience to help us..
linguini
2009-11-08, 16:49
I bought my N810 from BLT, and my experience with them was quite positive. I know others who have bought laptops from them and had them sent overseas with no problems.
I bought my N810 from BLT, and my experience with them was quite positive. I know others who have bought laptops from them and had them sent overseas with no problems.
good experience, did then ask you to send the image of your CC as well?
since the device (N900) is more likely will come soon. and Nokia Aus respond to my email said that there is no plan to make N900 available in AUS :mad::mad::
Are you sure about this, it doesn't seem that way in the OCAU thread:
http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?t=807719&page=12
Maybe only specialist importers are planning to get it in?
So the official word from Nokia Australia is that they don't intend to bring it here *ever*?
How useless.... :mad:
If you read that thread there are some good tips RE MFS's, specialist importers, insurance etc etc.
linguini
2009-11-09, 05:42
good experience, did then ask you to send the image of your CC as well?
yes, they asked for an image of my CC; I can understand why they want it, and since I'd read many positive review of this store before ordering from them I agreed.
Okay for all of you guys here.. i just pre order mine from Price USA... the direct link is here..
http://www.priceusa.com.au/order/index.php?mod=order&item=9
however in that link the shipment method is the cheapest (longest one) i ask for the fastest one for extra 6 dollars.
the feedback on PriceUSA and if you want to ask Question to the business owner (a she) it can be found in Aus WP forum here:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1306486&p=8
after looking at the good feedback and return insurance (which mean in the case of warranty claim or DOA, price USA will send the item back to the US and deal with the warranty claim, we just need to send it to them in AUS)
i think it might be a good idea to try them.
Price USA is not only available for Australian buyer but is located in AUS and everything is send from US > AUS first then to other country.
Yeah they're one of the options we discuss in the ocau thread i linked to earlier...
But are you "sure" Nokia has no intent to bring the N900 to Australia "ever"?
I find that to be a little surprising.....
@BaKSo:
Asking for front/back copy of the credit card is pretty common when a retailer wants to be extra careful against credit card scam on online/international orders. Amazon does this too on occasion.
Btw, what is the import tax like in Australia?
Yeah they're one of the options we discuss in the ocau thread i linked to earlier...
But are you "sure" Nokia has no intent to bring the N900 to Australia "ever"?
I find that to be a little surprising.....
the WP member has made a online petition (which most of them never work anyway) to make N900 available in Australia.
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1286209&p=6
in this thread there are also some discussion and email reply from nokia customer service in AUST which is not good..
there is no absolute "NO" from nokia but they saying it "will not" so i may be a long long wait for us.. also considering this is a tablet.. even E90 which is definitely a phone was not released in AUS.. why? because it is to expensive and not a mass market device..
maybe in the future N900 will come to AUS but i can't wait that long... =)
@BaKSo:
Asking for front/back copy of the credit card is pretty common when a retailer wants to be extra careful against credit card scam on online/international orders. Amazon does this too on occasion.
Btw, what is the import tax like in Australia?
yeah, anyway i now have use an Australia forwarder service to buy it for me.. so i paid them with money transfer and i paid them in AU dollar.. so it's gonna be easier for me =)
i have no idea of tax in AUS lol... as i'm just studying here.. maybe there will be extra charge.. i'm currently paying 706 AUD about 654 USD for it..
@BaKSo:
lol ok. That's a pretty good price with int'l air shipping.
as far as I know, up to 1000 au$ there is no additional taxes.
I don't get why forwarding btw...
BLT looks fine to me
as far as I know, up to 1000 au$ there is no additional taxes.
I don't get why forwarding btw...
BLT looks fine to me
with forwarding it only cost me 700 AUD, mobicity (also importing them from US) sell it for 900 ++...
about the warranty by buying it in AU since no official N900 in AU i suppose Nokia AU can't do repair etc..
yes BLT looks fine, but Price USA will handle the warranty or return claim if something happen to your phone (they paid for the post if you took the return insurance as well),
as for BLT you need to send it yourself to BLT, then BLT will forward it to Nokia US to be repair/replace then to BLT again and to you again and you need to pay for all the shipment cost etc. anyway BLT look like a few dollar cheaper then Price USA in total cost..
A very good price but when are they going to supply your phone.
Also I have it on good authority that Optus have it scheduled for the middle of 2010 (don't ask me why so long).
hellomezzy
2009-11-10, 11:12
Hey I am an Australian too, but am in London atm. I asked in the Nokia store on Regent street a few days ago about the N900 in Australia, and (although only a customer service rep) she said that she had heard Australia was one of the last places that Nokia are planning on distributing it to.
I am in London for two more days... looks like my timing sucks, hopefully the N900 comes in before I leave!!
Are you coming back to Brisbane?
If it's out before you leave care to buy a 2nd one?
I'll give you cash on delivery? ;-)
I can come meet you wherever it suits?
cocayden
2009-11-10, 11:43
The cheapest way to get the n900 to Australia is using shipito.
$8.50 per package plus ~$36 for fedex priority(1-3days).
If you buy it from amazon at the $559 price and including currency and credit card transfer fees etc and based on current exchange rate the price will be ~$660AUD.
hellomezzy
2009-11-10, 11:45
Sorry... I am from Melbourne. And I won't be back in Australia til the 29th December, by which time I am sure you could get it delivered by one of those other companies.
I would have done it if it worked out for you, but will probably faster from somewhere else. Good luck!
I thought Amazon cannot sell hardware to Australia?
Sorry, I gather you mean send it to ship it to.
Hmm, no PM on these forums...
I'm not in any rush to get it (well the reported mid-July is too long) & I do have a sister in Melbourne ;)
But I'm not sure I'd be too popular if I got her to take time out to collect it off you and stump up the cash :D
But it's not worth all the hassle if one of those MFS or specialist importers aren't much more on top..
I wonder what where looking at %-wise?
Sorry... I am from Melbourne. And I won't be back in Australia til the 29th December, by which time I am sure you could get it delivered by one of those other companies.
I would have done it if it worked out for you, but will probably faster from somewhere else. Good luck!
They don't ....
Shipito is obviously a mail forwarding service....(MFS)
So you buy the item in the US and it gets shipped to a US address, and the MFS ships it to Australia for you from there.
I thought Amazon cannot sell hardware to Australia?
Sorry, I gather you mean send it to ship it to.
They will have included GST in the total amt they charged you.
I don't think there will be any duty/import tax either as it's normally for more expensive items than that.
But my memory might be wrong, it's mentioned in the OCAU thread I linked to earlier.
yeah, anyway i now have use an Australia forwarder service to buy it for me.. so i paid them with money transfer and i paid them in AU dollar.. so it's gonna be easier for me =)
i have no idea of tax in AUS lol... as i'm just studying here.. maybe there will be extra charge.. i'm currently paying 706 AUD about 654 USD for it..
What's the disadvantage of having a N900 with USA firmware?
you make some good points, if it does ever come it will be a long way off. I've heard rumours of July next year but it's total speculation at this stage...
I personally am not interested in waiting that long even if it does come true. Let us know how you go with your import and whether you're happy with your new toy! :D
the WP member has made a online petition (which most of them never work anyway) to make N900 available in Australia.
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1286209&p=6
in this thread there are also some discussion and email reply from nokia customer service in AUST which is not good..
there is no absolute "NO" from nokia but they saying it "will not" so i may be a long long wait for us.. also considering this is a tablet.. even E90 which is definitely a phone was not released in AUS.. why? because it is to expensive and not a mass market device..
maybe in the future N900 will come to AUS but i can't wait that long... =)
Good question, that's why if I ever do decide to go with an import job it'll be from Europe. No doubt people will quickly come up with ways to enable disabled functionality as I doubt the underlying hardware will be different. But I'd prefer not to wait/take that chance. Things could change though.
What's the disadvantage of having a N900 with USA firmware?
sparkle58
2009-12-23, 05:55
Hey there, I'm late to this thread so apologies if some of my info has already been posted here or elsewhere. I'm speaking specifically of my experience with Mobicity and despite what some might think on another thread, I'm only affiliated with them through the purchase process.
I ordered my N900 on Monday last week and got it on Thursday. Price was more than if ordering from the States but I wanted it quickly. They were professional all the way, friendly and open with their advice. They offered a local warranty which, combined with the speedy delivery, was the clincher for me. When I noticed a substantial price difference the day after I ordered my phone I called and queried this. I was offered a part or full refund but chose to have them send me a 16g card instead. This was my idea and they sent it the same day, arriving last Monday.
I also received the original American Nokia charger with a convertor plug plus a non-original local MicroUSB charger so now I can charge at work and home.
Btw BaKso, I was entertained by your tribulations re delivery on the whirlpool forums. I hope the wait was worth it and you're having as much fun with the N900 as I am.
i ordred on friday week and a half ago and got it on monday ALL the way from USA so not sure how you can call that speedy for local delivery when they only managed to match postage from other side of the world :P
sparkle58
2009-12-23, 06:17
Mine came via HK, just up the road in comparison really. But reading this and other threads, you're luckier than a lot of others so congrats on getting yours so easily.
mysticrokks
2009-12-23, 06:20
bakso- do u have any friends/family living in uk at the mo.
simple soloution then.
u probally dont or u wouldnt have asked but i thought i would say any way- as london is full of aussies on visas.
bakso already got his phone :)
so post your thoughts on it Aussie people! :)
@jalyst
I asked on ocau thread if anyone was interested in buying my other still-in-box-never-opened N900. Obvisouly the mod wasn't in a good mood. :p
I finally got my n900 yesterday @approx. 5pm AustEST, yay!
$469 all up, including all original packaging/accessories & proof of purchase.*
Everything is in "good nick", no scratches etc.
So do ya'll reckon that's a good deal?
I have a niggling feeling I should've been more aggressive on price.
Oh well, too late now :D
*yet to confirm with Nokia that a scanned copy of original tax invoice is sufficient should I need to do warranty claim.
I finally got my n900 yesterday @approx. 5pm AustEST, yay!
$469 all up, including all original packaging/accessories & proof of purchase.*
Everything is in "good nick", no scratches etc.
So do ya'll reckon that's a good deal?
I have a niggling feeling I should've been more aggressive on price.
Oh well, too late now :D
*yet to confirm with Nokia that a scanned copy of original tax invoice is sufficient should I need to do warranty claim.
where did u buy yours? i'm from mauritius and i can't find a reasonably priced n900. here it is around USD759. so you see why i'm wanting it from abroad
2nd-hand, from someone who bought it 2nd-hand, from someone who got it as part of contract with their mobile carrier (Optus Australia).
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