Google Blogoscoped

Forum

Former Google employee Schmidt implicated in anti-Apple grey-imports:// scheme.

ianf [PersonRank 10]

Friday, April 2, 2010
14 years ago2,490 views

» [iPad] buyers outside the US face a frustrating wait. Apple has not announced pricing or specific dates for the introduction of the iPad in the UK [nor anywhere else in the world], leading to speculation that it is facing production problems or that it is waiting to see how the exchange rate moves before setting the price. Sources within Apple UK say that they have still not laid hands on the device.

That has led some eager fans to use services such as Reading-based Bundlebox, which allows Britons to register for a US postal address – meaning, IN THEORY, that they can order an iPad and get it shipped from there to the UK. [...] Founded by Andre SCHMIDT, A FORMER GOOGLE EMPLOYEE, Bundlebox says that a recent Customs ruling also means that such buyers do not have to pay import duty. [...] «
EMPHASIS MINE. To understand the limitations of that theory, read the rest of
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/01/ipad-apple-goes-on-sale

Roger Browne [PersonRank 10]

14 years ago #

> Officially, Apple said today that it has "no position" on the
> legality of grey importers

So no big deal. Apple gets a sale, and they're happy. The non-US buyer gets their device sooner than they otherwise would, so they're happy.

The downsides are:
- the risk of loss, damage or delay in shipping
- possible incompatibilities (WiFi frequencies, micro-SIMs)
- hassles if support or warranty service is required

ianf [PersonRank 10]

14 years ago #

No matter what they state in official or semi-official manner, grey [here: exports] are a seesaw. In times of production scarcity, were Apple's own authorized sales channels to scream for more units across the board, any obvious repetitive or large-scale purchases destined to a gaggle of [moreover "Google-tainted"] mailboxes in the USA could but raise their suspicion and, perchance, force them to take measures; a clampdown of sorts.

It's early days yet, and so far there are no signs –no public lowering of first-day availability expectations that I can see– to indicate any such scarcity in the near future. But what'd happen were demand for the iPad to skyrocket within a month or two after launch, while the production is at its planned-budgeted-executed-for maximum capacity?

Forum home

Advertisement

 
Blog  |  Forum     more >> Archive | Feed | Google's blogs | About
Advertisement

 

This site unofficially covers Google™ and more with some rights reserved. Join our forum!