September 2014
Decided to purchase the Samsung Galaxy S Tab 10.5 inch. After searching web and price spy the price ranges returned where from $610 to $750.
Off topic: Nearly all my gadgets are purchased abroad, the majority when I am visiting the USA. if you are a person who is concerned the thing will fail in some way, or prone to change your mind (don't like the colour, or find a better model after you have ordered), and want to return the product locally, then BUY from an NZ based supplier and pay the extra.
My favourite NZ based supplier who use both official NZ supply chain and grey imports is Expert Infotech they had this item for $642 plus shipping (grey import item). And for $40 odd dollars I would recommend buying from them.
Value Basket where the cheapest at $609.89 including free postage and 3 year warranty. I have in the past couple of years keep coming across Value Basket, but keep coming across negative reviews, but a majority of these negative reviews have an unrealistic expectation of the supplier.
Value Basket are based in Kowloon, Hong Kong. I Emailed them checking if they had the item in stock, i.e. in their HK warehouse, and also expressing concerns about customs and GST. Received very prompt reply confirming that item was in stock and could be shipped immediately on payment clearance. Also confirming that there courier DHL would handling customs clearance, and any fees or charges would be born by them.
Late on the afternoon Friday 19th September 2014, I completed checkout on valuebasket.co.nz web site, and paid by visa (which is goes through paypal, they get the money quicker by paypal, and your item is shipped sooner). Received detailed automated email confirming order stating item would be shipped when payment cleared.
Checked my account the weekend and it showed payment pending but not debited against my account. Monday received email confirming shipping with DHL with tracking saying I had been upgrading to DHL Priority Shipping. Checked web banking and payment had been debited, so it seems they only debited payment when item was shipped, but this my vary if you use paypal directly, not sure.
DHL tracking website confirm item had been picked up. By Tuesday evening item had arrived in Auckland, Wednesday Customs clearance, and sent to Regional Delivery Centre. Thursday 9:30am delivered to my door in Whangarei.
Item well packed and protected, comes with a very nice little 3rd party travel adapter (which is always useful) as in the box it comes with a slim UK 3 pin adapter.
Well in conclusion I am very satisfied that I ordered late Friday afternoon with weekend in between and received item 9:30am Thursday, when I was allowing 2 weeks. I for one would not hesitate to use Value Basket again.
twobikes.
