iPad Pricing Released – MyUS Being Dishonest

SMH broke a story early this morning about Apple releasing the iPad pricing for Australia last night as well as confirming the official launch date as being the 28th of May, less than a month after the US release.

So was I close?

iPad Pricing (AUS - Predicted)

iPad Pricing (AUS - Predicted)

Official iPad Pricing (AUS)

Official iPad Pricing (AUS)

I wasn’t too far off at all (around about 5% over). The other thing to check is the cost of bringing in a unit from the USA and see if it still makes sense.

iPad Pricing (USA Sourced - AUS Currency)

iPad Pricing (USA Sourced - AUS Currency)

As you can see, in most cases it is cheaper to buy locally unless you want the 32GB or 64GB  Wi-Fi + 3G models. The largest saving to be had is on the 16GB Wi-Fi model where you can get it for $20 locally whilst you’d need to pay nearly $15 more for the top of the line 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G model.

Again, it’s up to you as to whether or not the modest saving or additional expense is worth it. I originally intended to get one via MyUS with the hope of getting one on 30th April in the USA however I have hit a bit of a snag.

It’s been well publicised that Apple have been cancelling orders going to freight forwarding companies to preserve stock for the US market. Now, MyUS have been spruiking their ability to source iPads on Facebook and Twitter and have gone as far to buy Google AdWords when searching for “iPad” in Google.

MyUS (Google AdWords)

MyUS (Google AdWords)

So you’d think they would have some sort of reliable process to get an iPad, right?

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the case. I ordered two other items with the iPad through the “Personal Shopper” service in MyUS. One mysteriously had no packing slip whilst the other one did. MyUS even took photos of the items.

iPad Case (MyUS)

iPad Case (MyUS)

iPad Dock (MyUS)

iPad Dock (MyUS)

Packing Slip (iPad Dock)

Packing Slip (iPad Dock)

I’ve blotted out some of the personally identifiable information of the person who ordered the iPad dock to protect their identity.

As you can see, there is an order number (also blotted out) on the right hand side. When I go and check the order at the Apple website, I get the following:

Apple Order (iPad Dock)

Apple Order (iPad Dock)

As we can see that there is a FedEx tracking number (again which I have partially blotted out). Of course, we need to go further down the rabbit hole and see what the FedEx website says.

FedEx Tracking Page (iPad Dock)

FedEx Tracking Page (iPad Dock)

Delivered to a residence?

Customer not available or business closed – at 1:52PM on a Friday?

Then left at the front door?

This is an acceptable business process?

If you don’t believe me, here is the delivery address in Google Maps (what I believe it to be anyway, the scan was a bit poor):

FedEx Delivery Address (Google Maps)

FedEx Delivery Address (Google Maps)

I don’t like the idea for one moment that an item that I have purchased was left on a residential doorstep halfway around the world.

That aside, my iPad delivery date has shifted several times. Originally, I had anticipated the 30th of April which came and went. Then I was assured by MyUS that the iPad would arrive by the 7th of May which has also passed with a new delivery of the 14th of May. MyUS have not been able to confirm a delivery date as they seem to be using “an anonymous supplier” and that whilst Wi-Fi units have been arriving, there have been no Wi-Fi + 3G units to date. I also don’t like the idea that they have been cagey with order and tracking information, especially since I have paid them upfront for the device.

I expected a more robust procurement process to be honest and it has diminished my faith in MyUS and I would even go as far as revoking my recommendation of using them in the future. The online chat consultants have repeatedly set false expectations, withheld tracking information citing “privacy reasons” and failed to fully disclose they way in which iPads were being purchased. Disappointing to say the least.

I have not yet cancelled my iPad order but unless something happens by COB Monday, I am pulling the plug and getting it locally. This will subsequently delay blog updates covering the  unboxing, preview and review of the iPad but I guess that is life.

Stay tuned folks.

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  1. I am currently in Australia for a trip and hopped by the Apple store in Sydney and was disappointed that it wasn’t released yet. So anyway I just ordered an iPad via MyUS.com to get it shipped back to Singapore where I live. I’ll report on the status of my order once I get an updated.

  2. Sorry for the typo… “once I get an update”.

    1. I will keep my fingers crossed for you! I guess you aren’t here this Friday for the Australian launch?

  3. @Boyd Chan

    Nope, I’m already back in Singapore (flew back on Sunday from Melbourne). It was a beautiful trip and will certainly drop by again!

  4. Well looks like it won’t happen:

    “I regret to inform you that we cannot order directly with this company as they decline all of our orders.

    We can however order this same item from Amazon.”

    I checked amazon and the 16GB 3G models were selling for US$900+. Forget it.

    1. I hope they didn’t take any money from your credit card prior to getting back to you. I cancelled my personal shopper order and got a full refund which was good. Did you sign up specifically to get an iPad?

      I also note the deafening silence on their Facebook page and the iPad advertising now gone from their website.

      I am trying comGateway now for my freight forwarding needs. I have a stack of stuff arriving there in the next few days and so far they have been pretty good.

  5. Oh crap, I tried to switch my account from Premium (which costs me $7/mth) to the standard (FREE) and it costs me $10 to make the switch. WTF?!

  6. @Boyd Chan

    Yeah, I signed up a premium account specifically to get, not one, but three iPads. Looks like I can only order one at a moment from them, and it’s not coming from Apple Store but some unknown “supplier” for a slightly higher price of $709 for 16GB 3G+WiFi.

    I see in your new post that your iPad is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Keep me updated!

    1. I shall, today is going to be a big day and I am planning to do an unboxing video and a preview video which will go up on YouTube and the blog. I am watching the courier update page like a hawk!

      I hope that an iPad finds a way to you one way or another, I know how frustrating it is to be baited and kept in the dark.

  1. […] service such as MyUS (I no longer recommend MyUS as a result of what has been happened in this blog post). We’ll also need an American Express card to get around the restrictions on billing […]

  2. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Boyd Chan. Boyd Chan said: Boydo's Tech Talk Update: iPad Pricing Released – MyUS Being Dishon (http://bit.ly/d8Nd22) #in #boydo #Apple #Facebook #ipad #MyUS #Twitter […]

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