iPad Retina - Buying from the States questions

ChickenBalls

Didn't find much on the forum about this, I have a few questions I hope someone can answer: (It's all related to buying from the US)

1) Is Amazon.com the best place to buy? It's tax free isn't it?
I noticed when I tried to buy on apple.com that the US delivery address added tax onto the state I was getting it delivered to.

2) Are all iPad retina's network unlocked? Will I be able to us it here in Ireland once I get it? I think they are afaik

3) When selecting a cellular network which one is best when I'm going to be using it over here. I think the preferred choice is Verzion but not sure.

flyguy

1. Dunno about amazon, but apple.com only deliver to us addresses. Tax free? Possibly where/when you buy it, but if its shipped to Ireland customs will be sure to slap some tax on it for you when it arrives here.
Basically unless you're going abroad yourself and bringing one back its gonna be hard to find one abroad, get it shipped here and save money...

2/3 don't know about US networks but in case of iPhone some don't work here ,also US 4G is different to 4G here and lastly if a network is mentioned I assume you're supposed to sign up to a contract with them to get the iPad at the advertised price.

Many topics around, basically ordering a new apple product abroad generally will not save you any money. If you go aboard and buy there it will be cheaper but you're supposed to declare it when you enter Ireland and pay vat which again will make it more expensive than buying it here...

culabula

ChickenBalls wrote: »

Didn't find much on the forum about this, I have a few questions I hope someone can answer: (It's all related to buying from the US)

1) Is Amazon.com the best place to buy? It's tax free isn't it?
I noticed when I tried to buy on apple.com that the US delivery address added tax onto the state I was getting it delivered to.

2) Are all iPad retina's network unlocked? Will I be able to us it here in Ireland once I get it? I think they are afaik

3) When selecting a cellular network which one is best when I'm going to be using it over here. I think the preferred choice is Verzion but not sure.

iPad is iPad and one bought stateside will work here. The only locked iPads are the ones sold in Japan or ones that you might (foolishly IMO) buy via a network in the UK much as you might sign up to a mobile phone contract. If you buy an iPad outright in the States, it's exactly as though you bought it here, except for the different charger (not a problem). Warranty is global.

As for a cellular model, you must not buy the Verizon flavour, if you wish to use it with a network here -instead choose the GSM model that works with AT&T.

WayneEnterprise

culabula wrote: »

iPad is iPad and one bought stateside will work here. The only locked iPads are the ones sold in Japan or ones that you might (foolishly IMO) buy via a network in the UK much as you might sign up to a mobile phone contract. If you buy an iPad outright in the States, it's exactly as though you bought it here, except for the different charger (not a problem). Warranty is global.

As for a cellular model, you must not buy the Verizon flavour, if you wish to use it with a network here -instead choose the GSM model that works with AT&T.

Warranty is not global, you have to return the item to the region you bought it in. So if you buy it in the states and need it repaired you have to bring it back there. Apple will not accept it in Ireland - found this out the hard way on Friday and now I'm stuck with an iPad they won't accept, even though it's 3 months old. Their only options to me were to send it to a friend in the states (don't know anybody there, so not an option), or fly there myself and return it. They will not accept the return here or even let me post it to them directly in the states.

ChickenBalls

WayneEnterprise wrote: »

Warranty is not global, you have to return the item to the region you bought it in. So if you buy it in the states and need it repaired you have to bring it back there. Apple will not accept it in Ireland - found this out the hard way on Friday and now I'm stuck with an iPad they won't accept, even though it's 3 months old. Their only options to me were to send it to a friend in the states (don't know anybody there, so not an option), or fly there myself and return it. They will not accept the return here or even let me post it to them directly in the states.

What happened to it?

culabula

WayneEnterprise wrote: »

Warranty is not global, you have to return the item to the region you bought it in. So if you buy it in the states and need it repaired you have to bring it back there. Apple will not accept it in Ireland - found this out the hard way on Friday and now I'm stuck with an iPad they won't accept, even though it's 3 months old. Their only options to me were to send it to a friend in the states (don't know anybody there, so not an option), or fly there myself and return it. They will not accept the return here or even let me post it to them directly in the states.

Warranty IS global -have no idea why you were told that. That is nonsense on the part of whoever said that.

Walk into the Apple Store in Belfast and it will be swapped out on the spot if defective.

WayneEnterprise

culabula wrote: »

Warranty IS global -have no idea why you were told that. That is nonsense on the part of whoever said that.

Walk into the Apple Store in Belfast and it will be swapped out on the spot if defective.

Nope they won't, tried that - it's because the 4G chips are different in the states. They can't replace it here with the same model cause they don't have them here. I think it's crazy to be honest and from now on I won't buy any more Apple products because of this policy. If you read the terms and conditions of your warranty it does say it has to be returned to the same region it was bought in.

As for what happened it, the volume buttons have stopped working, the are really loose and won't register when i press them.

culabula

WayneEnterprise wrote: »

Nope they won't, tried that - it's because the 4G chips are different in the states. They can't replace it here with the same model cause they don't have them here. I think it's crazy to be honest and from now on I won't buy any more Apple products because of this policy. If you read the terms and conditions of your warranty it does say it has to be returned to the same region it was bought in.

As for what happened it, the volume buttons have stopped working, the are really loose and won't register when i press them.

Yes, they replace like with like but this does not negate global warranty. Unfortunately, they don't have like for like. However a faulty iPhone bought in Ireland will be replaced in the states for example, if under warranty.

WayneEnterprise

culabula wrote: »

Yes, they replace like with like but this does not negate global warranty. Unfortunately, they don't have like for like. However a faulty iPhone bought in Ireland will be replaced in the states for example, if under warranty.

In essence it doesn't negate global warranty, but in reality it does! I am covered by the warranty but only if i bring the phone to the states, which obviously I can't. So stuck with a broken device. Terrible service on Apple's behalf and they have lost me as a customer because of it.

ChickenBalls

WayneEnterprise wrote: »

If you read the terms and conditions of your warranty it does say it has to be returned to the same region it was bought in.

Dont see that in this warranty - http://images.apple.com/legal/warranty/docs/NA_iPad_Warranty_v20.pdf

culabula

I feel these words are telling:


IMPORTANT RESTRICTION FOR iPHONE AND iPAD SERVICE.
Apple may restrict warranty service for iPhone and iPad to the country where Apple or its Authorized Distributors originally sold the device.


Clearly you have fallen victim to this because of the 4G chip therein. But I would be very surprised if Apple in Belfast refused to repair your volume controls for you.

If I can help, you are welcome to post it up to me and I will bring it round to them and post it back to you. I know them very well and they're very helpful.

WayneEnterprise

culabula wrote: »

I feel these words are telling:


IMPORTANT RESTRICTION FOR iPHONE AND iPAD SERVICE.
Apple may restrict warranty service for iPhone and iPad to the country where Apple or its Authorized Distributors originally sold the device.


Clearly you have fallen victim to this because of the 4G chip therein. But I would be very surprised if Apple in Belfast refused to repair your volume controls for you.

If I can help, you are welcome to post it up to me and I will bring it round to them and post it back to you. I know them very well and they're very helpful.

Yeah from memory that is the line the guy quoted me on the phone, the guys in the shop just entered the serial number and said staright out it is only eligible for repair in the U.S.

Thanks for the offer, I'm trying to get a friend of a friend to bring it to the states in a few weeks, but he doesn't know if he'll have time to go to an Apple store. I might PM you if i need some help with the Belfast lads!!

culabula

WayneEnterprise wrote: »

Yeah from memory that is the line the guy quoted me on the phone, the guys in the shop just entered the serial number and said staright out it is only eligible for repair in the U.S.

Thanks for the offer, I'm trying to get a friend of a friend to bring it to the states in a few weeks, but he doesn't know if he'll have time to go to an Apple store. I might PM you if i need some help with the Belfast lads!!

Well, in those few weeks, we could get it done for you. Tell you what, ill go round and ask them.

culabula

WayneEnterprise wrote: »

Yeah from memory that is the line the guy quoted me on the phone, the guys in the shop just entered the serial number and said staright out it is only eligible for repair in the U.S.

Thanks for the offer, I'm trying to get a friend of a friend to bring it to the states in a few weeks, but he doesn't know if he'll have time to go to an Apple store. I might PM you if i need some help with the Belfast lads!!

I'm in the Apple Store, where they are sympathetic. Can you give me your serial number and they will do a "quick look" on what they can do? PM if you prefer. Otherwise, they suggest you phone them.