Yes I thought 'retarded' was a bit harsh too, but I have been called worse

If the *official* price is higher than the US converted price (highly likely) then so beit but no one can disagree you are paying a premium from Tosh Computers and I am not saying it's a bad thing, I am just making people aware of the differences, regardless of what else is involved with getting it here.

Please note I have nothing against Tosh Computers and had this pricing been released by anyone else, even Apple, then I would have said the same thing and done the same comparison (but where it says "Early Bird tax" it would have said "Apple tax")

The that fact the we offered them advertising on our site (we didn't ask them for "advertising money") is completely irrelevant.

Due to the direction these comments have turned I am now locking them.

(Daniel Burgess has made 613 comments)

The folks here had asked us for advertising money when they started, and we declined, so the less-than-careful and argumentative approach is probably related to their displeasure that we support a competing web site – but then again, it could just be the lack of knowledge and nothing sinister at all.

(toshcomputers has made 9 comments)

Actually you're right, I shouldnt have used that term. This article just really annoyed me for some reason. This aside, I really enjoy the site and visit it frequently. Keep up the good work Dan

(wpcnz has made 10 comments)

Ouch, "retarded" is a little strong, probable 'careless' is a better term, and I would have expected more transparency from someone who operates in this space commercially and should know better.

(toshcomputers has made 9 comments)

Thanks for your comments toshcomputers. We'll leave it for others to debate and make up their own minds.

(Daniel Burgess has made 613 comments)

We are only in business, and growing at an unhealthy 30% a year in 9 countries, because we are always cheaper than Apple for all Apple products. Yes, unless there is some weird Apple pricing going on, we will either be $100 less than Apple, or we will not bring in the units. Also remember that it is not yet clear if and what lock restrictions Apple will place on the unit to only work with AT&T WiFi spots, but since they are being sold through a carrier, it is reasonable to expect that the carrier will want some protection and assurance that the data purchases will come their way. All still factors to be worked out, and until the units have arrived in NZ and are up and running, it's a little early to think about economics. Obviously, once the units are available widely throughout NZ and at a good price, we no longer need to sell them and, like with the iPhones we sold before Apple brought them to NZ, we will then leave the sales to Apple and the carrier.

(toshcomputers has made 9 comments)

Interesting debate..what do you mean by "That’s quite simple. Once the retail price has been announced, we will lift our price to within $100 of Apple’s price"…are you suggesting that your current price is MORE than $100 cheaper than Apple NZ will be selling at? I am not implying its not, i have no idea…just curious if that is what you beleive to be the case and regardless of import taxes and frieght, you confident your price will be cheaper than Apple NZ? You have my interest…

(camtab has made 464 comments)

This is a pretty retarded comparison. Using this logic, not only Tosh are charging a premium but so are Apple (NZ) themselves. Example, 13″ MBP – US1200 = ~NZ1725, but they retail here for NZ2000. Point – CLEARLY you cannot just convert the US price and expect that to be the price here

(wpcnz has made 10 comments)

“Launched” in Apple-speak does not mean “widely available in quantities”. For instance, the 27″ Quad iMacs were launched several months ago but are still not widely available in NZ (except through us of course)… We fly freight twice a week into Auckland and Sydney, and I would expect that it takes about a week to get the first bunch of units into Tauranga after they have been received from Apple in the US. Our current wait list totals nearly 200 units, so most new orders wouldn’t fill out of the first shipments anyway, so there will be a wait with its length depending on when the order has been received. Hope this helps, Jens

(toshcomputers has made 9 comments)

Oh and forgot to add..seems obvious but just checking (sorry Iphonewzealand..dont mean to use your forum as means to contact toshcomputers)..when you say “once launched” I assume you mean April 3rd in US for the WIFI version and we can expect you to start the delivery from then or is there a different date for your shipments (might not use a US based distrubution)

(camtab has made 464 comments)

It’s not a “low level of knowledge” when comparing the prices. I understand there are other factors involved and that’s fine but it is still a premium.
If you wait and purchase the product from Apple in New Zealand once it is launched, items 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 are all moot points.

A premium is being charged to cover these factors. I never said there was anything wrong with doing it, I was just letting people know the pricing and that they will be paying over the odds for it, regardless of what factors are involved for you getting it to the end-user.

I’m glad to see you have broken it down so that readers can see where the costs are going.

(Daniel Burgess has made 613 comments)

Yup, a good fact-based debate is always helpful.

(toshcomputers has made 9 comments)

Of course, what hasn’t been discussed yet are the capacity constraints to get units into the Apple distribution chain in NZ, and as they will be sold the same way as iPhones are sold, it will require both Apple and the phone carrier to hold stock available. That hasn’t been a very satisfying experience for many iPhone customers…

(toshcomputers has made 9 comments)

That’s quite simple. Once the retail price has been announced, we will lift our price to within $100 of Apple’s price.

(toshcomputers has made 9 comments)

It seems rather uninformed speculation and outright silly to assume that Apple would not pass on freight costs, currency risk etc when they sell in NZ; they do sell all other of their products at hefty premiums over the US price (which is why we are in business…). Why would you assume they would not do the same with an iPad product and expect they would sell that in NZ for their US price?

All Apple products we sell, we sell at substantial discounts over Apple NZ list prices, and looking at the comparison of US Apple prices and their corresponding NZ prices it is quite clear that the iPad will be sold by Apple at a higher price than we would…

“Paying over the odds” seems to imply that this product could be purchased cheaper in NZ, and I would be delighted to see you point me to any commercial seller in NZ that offers this product cheaper than we do.

Cheers, Jens

(toshcomputers has made 9 comments)

I’d also be interested to know how your “Guaranteed Savings at least $100 below retail price” badge stands up when the retail price has not been announced yet?

(Steve Lawrence has made 645 comments)

As much as we appreciate the publicity, I marvel at the low level of knowledge when comparing prices.

1. You forget the 7-8% sales tax for an item purchased in US.
2. You forget the $60-80 for express freight to NZ.
3. You forget the 12.5% GST charged on import plus the broker’s/agent’s fees, about $280 per shipment.
4. You forget the on-shipping costs in NZ.
5. You forget the shipping costs to the end-user in NZ.
6. You forget the costs to maintain replacement units available for swaps until the iPad is officially sold in NZ and Apple will provide service.

By our count we ‘make’ less than $40 on each iPad and are selling them as a courtesy to those who can’t wait.

(toshcomputers has made 9 comments)

You forget that the New Zealand prices include sales tax (12.5%) while the US prices don’t.

The premium is $94 on the low end and $161 on the high end model. So the premium is around 12%. Not to bad considering you are getting it early and there are actual costs involved in shipping it from the US to NZ.

Also Apple never sell their products at the direct currency converted price.

FYI I do not work for toshNZ but have purchased from them in the past.

(747 has made 3 comments)