Kogan.com launches in New Zealand

Forums › Off topic › Kogan.com launches in New Zealand

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solaybro

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#1013434 26-Mar-2014 21:34

nigelj:
solaybro: What do I need to look for when buying a phone? To my understanding some don't work in NZ.

I was looking at this one http://www.kogan.com/nz/buy/samsung-galaxy-s4-mini-duos-i9192-white/

General rule of thumb (n.b. this does NOT apply to 4G services/phones) is, if it's advertised as compatible with Telstra 'Next-G' (I think that is what they used to call it) or Vodafone AU, then it supports 850MHz 3G and will work on Telecom NZ (and it's MVNOs), if it's advertised as compatible with Optus/Virgin/etc then it typically operates on the 900MHz 3G and is better fitted towards Vodafone NZ/2degrees.

From the 'Specs' tab:

2G Network (MHz)850 / 900 / 1800 / 19003G Network (MHz)850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100

It'd appear that it's quad-band and would work on all 3 NZ networks. Anyone else on similar view?

What do I need to look for when looking at 4G phones, I found another phone that is 4G LTE.

It's out of stock but here it is: http://www.kogan.com/nz/buy/samsung-galaxy-s4-mini--4g-lte-i9195-white/

rugrat

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#1014491 28-Mar-2014 11:37

Geektastic:
Tinshed: I have just bought a 2m lightening cable for $15 (so obviously not Apple branded). Free shipping, so will see how we go. Says will ship in 1-2 days. Invoice is definitely from Kogan Australia Pty Ltd with its ABN.

Cables can be a PITA.

I have, for example, a non-Apple USB-Lightening cable, came from VF shop with "Made for Apple" etc and cost about $40 I think (outrageous!).

I tried using it to tether my iPhone and my MB Air the other day. No can do. Yet the original Apple one works just fine.

It seems really odd that cables, the apparently simplest of things, can vary so much between two more or less identical offerings - and that it can be so hard to find out before time whether X cable will do the same as Y cable.

Off topic sorry, but may be useful info.

I've found usb extension cable works fine to make apple cable longer, used with ligtening cable to ipod touch, and an ipad 2 with the older connection.

Tinshed

278 posts

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#1014502 28-Mar-2014 11:46

rugrat:
Geektastic:
Tinshed: I have just bought a 2m lightening cable for $15 (so obviously not Apple branded). Free shipping, so will see how we go. Says will ship in 1-2 days. Invoice is definitely from Kogan Australia Pty Ltd with its ABN.

Cables can be a PITA.

I have, for example, a non-Apple USB-Lightening cable, came from VF shop with "Made for Apple" etc and cost about $40 I think (outrageous!).

I tried using it to tether my iPhone and my MB Air the other day. No can do. Yet the original Apple one works just fine.

It seems really odd that cables, the apparently simplest of things, can vary so much between two more or less identical offerings - and that it can be so hard to find out before time whether X cable will do the same as Y cable.

Off topic sorry, but may be useful info.

I've found usb extension cable works fine to make apple cable longer, used with ligtening cable to ipod touch, and an ipad 2 with the older connection.

Good thought! I am sure I have several of those in the bottom of my cable box... somewhere.

Tinshed
Wellington, New Zealand

richms

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#1014906 28-Mar-2014 22:43

There is considerable electronics in the lighting end of the cable as the design has multiplexed lines for different uses, and puts electronics in the cable to break out other formats. Cheap cables will work for charging and not data, or nothing at all after the ios7 updates. Same for all those cheap 30 pin to lightning adapters that were all the rage at iphone 5 launch time, the real apple ones will pass audio and sync and charge. The fakes would usually charge and sync till ios7, then its hit and miss what they will do.

Richard rich.ms

dtmcgregor

32 posts

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#1015138 29-Mar-2014 18:41

gzt:
Kyanar: Additional note though, their NZ terms and conditions state that Australian Consumer Protection Law applies to your purchase (which is even more strict than NZ law is it not?) and that any faulty goods are serviced by an NZ based service agent, so not quite as bad as "ship it back" like with Amazon.

This is encouraging about nz service agents. Does anyone know what they are like to deal with? I'm not going to an Australian court lol ; )

Beware.

I've not had a problem with them myself, I've bought a few cheap gadgets in Australia from them and not had to deal with their customer service. But there are a lot of horror stories on whirlpool.net.au and ozbargain.com.au about people who've had very unpleasant experiences with Kogan, especially with returns. They seem to be rather good at selective interpretation of Australian Consumer Protection Law.

I wouldn't buy anything expensive from them.

Regards,

- David.

Dunnersfella

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#1015166 29-Mar-2014 20:17

Meh. Another on-line offering competing with entry level kit found at the Warehouse big stacks in the big-box stores. They're a little too late to bring much of interest to the NZ market IMHO. Do we need another Aussie owned company selling here?

richms

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#1015209 29-Mar-2014 22:01

They are selling the low end TVs at a reasonable price, unlike the warehouse who are pricing them stupidly high for what they are and then having 40% off which is still too expensive for a low end TV.

Richard rich.ms

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Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

Geektastic

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#1015245 29-Mar-2014 23:08

richms: There is considerable electronics in the lighting end of the cable as the design has multiplexed lines for different uses, and puts electronics in the cable to break out other formats. Cheap cables will work for charging and not data, or nothing at all after the ios7 updates. Same for all those cheap 30 pin to lightning adapters that were all the rage at iphone 5 launch time, the real apple ones will pass audio and sync and charge. The fakes would usually charge and sync till ios7, then its hit and miss what they will do.

Yes I have a cheap one that worked fine on my B&W Zeppelin Air at first but now is just a paperweight.

I did ask B& W if I could have the 30 pin connector replaced with the Lightening one but they said not in NZ.

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