Hi, On 10/05/2013 3:27 PM, Brent Wallis wrote: > Agreed on the Buyer Beware statement, but if you search RC's comments on > the subject of 3G data plans/costs/value for money the last couple of > years you may find that there is a thread of tryout/discovery as to what > is a valid deal and what is not. That is, RC manages to eek out the best > deals on paper, experiments, then HAS reported back to the list if the > plan did not work out.
RC.... let's not go there. > Crazy Johns, went through a similar ordeal....but won a large payout in > the end. Yes, CJ had the best deal with Telstra way back ... nobody has any hope of getting any kind of deal like that ever again from Telstra. > All it took was persistence...deep pockets or not, Telstra does have a > duty to adhere to the law....and can be forced to when push comes to shove. If they can't find a loophole, they'll use. They can bully you with over zealous legal gang, it just might be too costly to get justice, it often is for the average person and/or small company. > Oh and if I was the government, I would put a stop to the practices of > Kogan, that is, avoiding GST by selling to Australians IN Australia, but > from an "overseas supplier" .... well, the sooner we get a fair market > place, the better. > > > Government on all sides is looking into this , but at present, the cost > of admin and recovery is far greater than the amount gathered by the GST. > Remember, imports over $1000 are subject to GST I understand, but this is very blatant. It is one of the things that government must get a better handle on -- just like the profits of Google and other major multinationals that trade here. > Let me re-iterate, Kogan sells grey import product -- Samsung has said > that they would be applying updates to geographic locations based on the > target product's market, which means that a 9500 S4 will not be expected > to get updates over the AU model 9505 S4 when being used in AU. Also, > the 9500 doesn't include any 4G capability. Buy the AU version from an > AU retailer, giving full warranty protection and a proper GST inclusive > tax invoice and you'll get better support through Samsung (warranty and > official software updates). > > Perhaps we should be a little clearer here. > > Most "Grey" imports are deemed such by the manufacturer!. Yes, I agree. I certainly don't think we should be paying more, just for being in AU. However, take the 9500 S4 vs the 9505 S4 -- the Kogan price doesn't represent value even sans GST. Their best price today seems to be $699, but for not much more you can have the AU product and be able to claim GST back (as a business). A Melbourne supplier of unbranded 9505 product is selling the 9505 for $799 today, including GST and normal manufacturer AU warranty (not third party warranty). Paying a little more for the peace of mind and a proper tax invoice is enough for me. > Your Samsung example is case in point. True, but I didn't make the "rules", not happy about the situation either, but that's part of buyer beware too. > They create artificial geographic market borders then sell to each on > different terms. Yes. > The fact we pay more for prop. software is another example of this. Absolutely, I agree. > Kogan has found a way to work around that and I argue it is to all of > our economic benefit whether you buy from him or not. Yes, but most suppliers won't match pricing on unlike product options; if it was AU stock and available on hand, then we would be better off from a consumer point of view. As it is, it almost becomes apples vs oranges, they aren't the same product. > Kogan is a disruptor trying to undermine the absolute control that a > manufacturer tries to excersize in global markets. Yes, I concede that they do help somewhat though .... but I'm not so sure it is enough to make a real serious difference. > Without that business getting "in the road", Gerry Harvey would be > charging 30% more for TVs in this country make no mistake. A rarely shop at "hardly normals" ... ;) > I politely disagree. RC has always reported back on list if there was an > issue. I appreciate your politeness, thank you. But I'll politely remain in disagreement. > Whilst I do not agree with RC on some issues.....I can not fault the > honest appraisals and analysis of these sorts of cost/benefit subjects! > ...and I hope it continues! I don't, I think his analysis isn't really up to scratch, but enough said there -- glad you enjoy his input, I don't really enjoy it at all myself; to each, their own. > I do not support Kogan today and I will likely never > support them for the reasons given. > > A lot of people in my Model Aircraft Hobby said that about these guys a > few years back: > http://hobbyking.com Okay, I get your point. Hopefully, they can be held accountable too one day though. Price is just one principle, there are always other considerations when making a "value and/or values" assessment. > ...but now at least 90% of our club is buying at least some of their > "stuff" from them. > Kogan, Hobbyking and any other number of other online only retailers are > simply reflecting the merchanidising and marketing > concepts/possibilities described here: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_tail > > It pisses the hell out of the Telstra's, Samsungs and Gerry > Harveys....but in the end, consumers benefit to some degree. > I have NEVER purchased a Kogan item....but I am really glad he is there > cos I have probably saved thousands the last few years when shopping at > JB or Hardly Normal simply because he exists ! I think you will find that JB wouldn't be much different due to Kogan, but otherwise I do see your point. Kind Regards AndrewM _______________________________________________ luv-main mailing list [email protected] http://lists.luv.asn.au/listinfo/luv-main
