HP TouchPad in New Zealand... Who is interested?

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#516101 3-Sep-2011 12:11

Technofreak: I've discovered the seller of the Touchpad that I purchased on Ebay doesn't ship outside of the US. To me there's no earthly reason why they would do this, however no problem I have a friend over there who can receive it and post on for me.

I go to pay for the Touchpad and in the process do the postage calculation and find the only option I can choose is the UPS 1 day at $63.83USD OUCH!!!!!! Sh*t I've got stuff from the US to New Zealand in about 3 - 4 days for about half that price. I don't need it that urgently to pay nearly $77NZD just to move it within the US then pay more on top to get it sent here.

Hopefully the seller will accept my choice of the UPS ground option ($15 USD). I don't expect to see it for about 10 days.

A happy ending. The seller came back with an option to send via USPS airmail for just under $25USD

At 0.83 exchange rate that makes the price $335 NZD for a 32Gb Touchpad, that about $15 more than a 16Gb one from MobiCity. In the current circumstances that's not a bad price. Still kicking myself for not taking the option of a single 32Gb one from WHS at $209 or there abouts. I wanted two 16's and at that stage of the day was confident I could get two 16 Gb Touchpads. Talk about a bird in the hand!!!!!!!!!

Time to be patient now. At least I have one coming

Assuming that Mobi City do come thru on their order, perhaps it's time to look at getting a couple of cases.

Not sure about the value of the Touchstone. Does anyone have any opinions on them?

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asmcar

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#516107 3-Sep-2011 12:46

Technofreak:

A happy ending. The seller came back with an option to send via USPS airmail for just under $25USD

Not sure about the value of the Touchstone. Does anyone have any opinions on them?

Wow that's cheap shipping for eBay, you're lucky your seller was flexible about it, I wish i'd bought a 32gb instead of a 16gb given the price difference on eBay is hardly anything, but didn't think about it at the time.

In regards to the touchstone, I have one which of course I haven't been able to use yet. You may find this thread from PreCentral insteresting, it has peoples opinions on whether it was worth it or not. Keep in mind the pricing they mention is USD.

http://forums.precentral.net/hp-touchpad-accessories/296120-touchstone-hp-touchpad-worth.html

alvin

207 posts

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#516146 3-Sep-2011 14:18

Hi technofreak, can you pls tell me which type of usps shipping option is that? Thats really cheap. How many days do you expect the item to arrive here. It seems that my best buy order has gone thru & just waiting for my sister to confirm it.

Thanks

asmcar

331 posts

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#516149 3-Sep-2011 14:21

I just got my shipping quote from comgateway :/ $74 USD via DHL 5-8 days although this does include fuel surcharge and insurance as well as tracking, I should've just bought from an international seller on eBay rather than trying to get it cheaper!

Ah well, you live and learn

Technofreak

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#516163 3-Sep-2011 15:26

alvin: Hi technofreak, can you pls tell me which type of usps shipping option is that? Thats really cheap. How many days do you expect the item to arrive here. It seems that my best buy order has gone thru & just waiting for my sister to confirm it.

Thanks

According to the Ebay invoice "USPS First Class Mail International"

I'm not sure on the delivery period, though from past experience about 10 days.

amscar: I just got my shipping quote from comgateway :/ $74 USD via DHL 5-8 days although this does include fuel surcharge and insurance as well as tracking, I should've just bought from an international seller on eBay rather than trying to get it cheaper!
Ah well, you live and learn

OUCH!!!!!

You really have to shop around on pricing because you can pay much more than you really need to. I would expect around $25 to $40 USD tops for something like this. I have brought in several items a year over the past three or so years and have seen a wide variation on quoted figures for freight/postage. I have another, non electronic, item coming from the US. It weighs 2 to 3 kg about 50 cm long and 20cm wide and it's costing $40 USD. I'm not sure by which method its coming as it is yet to be sent.

You really do need to check out the options on the various shipping sites, like UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS etc. The price can come down significantly if you are prepared to wait a few extra days for delivery, and even then very often the item will arrive within the same time frame as quoted for the faster more expensive option.

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asmcar

331 posts

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#516169 3-Sep-2011 16:01

Technofreak:
OUCH!!!!!

You really have to shop around on pricing because you can pay much more than you really need to. I would expect around $25 to $40 USD tops for something like this. I have brought in several items a year over the past three or so years and have seen a wide variation on quoted figures for freight/postage. I have another, non electronic, item coming from the US. It weighs 2 to 3 kg about 50 cm long and 20cm wide and it's costing $40 USD. I'm not sure by which method its coming as it is yet to be sent.

You really do need to check out the options on the various shipping sites, like UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS etc. The price can come down significantly if you are prepared to wait a few extra days for delivery, and even then very often the item will arrive within the same time frame as quoted for the faster more expensive option.

I was choosing to get it shipped to either comgateway or shipito parcel forwarders, I originally decided on shipito but when I put the address into the paypal payment page on eBay there was a $20 USD state sales tax for California where their warehouse is based, so I changed the address to comgateway which are based in Oregon (Tax Free). Unfortunately comgateway only offer shipping via DHL, so couldn't choose another option, I knew that when I picked them but a whirlpool member got his shipped to Australia for around $40 AUD, not sure why mine was so much more. I know comgateway add a bit to the shipping price so that they make money off it but seemed a little high. I've paid it now anyway, and I'm not too bothered, once I have it with me i'm sure i'll forget about the extra cost.

I would've paid $8.50 USD (Handling fee) + $20 USD (State tax) just to have it processed at shipito as well, so if I take that off the $74 I paid for comgateway unless shipito could send via DHL for less than $46 USD then it's not so bad I suppose! But still, lessons have been learnt.

Technofreak

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#516175 3-Sep-2011 16:11

I'm also lucky enough to have a good friend who will on ship for me if i need a US address, in one case he even bought the item for me as I couldn't complete the online purchase since I was not in the US. He then chooses the best postage option and I send him the money.

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asmcar

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#516176 3-Sep-2011 16:16

Technofreak: I'm also lucky enough to have a good friend who will on ship for me if i need a US address, in one case he even bought the item for me as I couldn't complete the online purchase since I was not in the US. He then chooses the best postage option and I send him the money.

I'm only 18 so friends on the ground over there are limited! I had one that I sent some headphones to after I checked if she could send them onto me, 2 Months later she said she finally was going to send them on last week (I doubt she did!), so decided I wouldn't try that trick again!

I think it would've almost worked out cheaper for me to purchase a 32gb from someone with international shipping on eBay then get it shipped around America then onto me, and only a 16gb one! I hope it has enough space on it for my use.

Edit: All of these tablets being shipped from the US, it's like the great tablet race of 2011! I think I get emotional when I finally have one in my hands.

alvin

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#516194 3-Sep-2011 17:28

Technofreak:
alvin: Hi technofreak, can you pls tell me which type of usps shipping option is that? Thats really cheap. How many days do you expect the item to arrive here. It seems that my best buy order has gone thru & just waiting for my sister to confirm it.

Thanks

According to the Ebay invoice "USPS First Class Mail International"

I'm not sure on the delivery period, though from past experience about 10 days.

thanks technofreak! I never had an experience buying stuff from the US. it's a good thing i have a sister over there though she was only sending small gifts for the little ones.

I managed to get one from Best buy, hopefully, the touchpad shows up on her doorsteps. it's a terrible waiting game for this device...

fruztrated

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#516215 3-Sep-2011 19:03

Well my 16GB job is on the way from eBay purchase. Cost $249 and like $65 postage but worth it IMHO..

Paid on Sep-01-11
Shipped on Sep-02-11

I doubt it will arrive before Sunday the 11th which is my birthday

Technofreak

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#516224 3-Sep-2011 20:13

asmcar: In regards to the touchstone, I have one which of course I haven't been able to use yet. You may find this thread from PreCentral insteresting, it has peoples opinions on whether it was worth it or not. Keep in mind the pricing they mention is USD.

http://forums.precentral.net/hp-touchpad-accessories/296120-touchstone-hp-touchpad-worth.html

Just had a read. Those posts on that thread certainly made me reconsider the value of the Touchstone.

Perhaps it might be worthwhile after all. That looks like a good site for WebOS owners.

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ahmad

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#516225 3-Sep-2011 20:21

Anyone know if the HP TouchPad keyboard can pair with an iPad and/or other BT devices?

Plenty of opinions on the web saying "I don't see why this wouldn't work", one site wouldn't be suprised if HP made the keyboard so that it will ONLY pair with a TouchPad, but no report I've read that confirms or denies anything?

Technofreak

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#516231 3-Sep-2011 20:52

The Bluetooth on my computer lists quite a variety of protocols, like, Serial port, Hands-free Audio, Stereo Audio, Audio Gateway, File Transfer, PIM sync, Dial up networking, Network access.

I'm not fully familiar with all the Bluetooth protocols. I do know that some devices, i.e. phones etc come with varying levels of Bluetooth compatibility.

For example some phones would work with for Hands-free Audio but not File Tansfer or PIM Sync etc.

So far as I know all keyboards will use the same Bluetooth protocol so providing the device, i.e. Tablet, phone, computer supports a Bluetooth keyboard I would expect any keyboard to work, with the only caution being that some special or unique keyboard functions may not be supported, however that's probably more a limitation of the device and not the Bluetooth protocol.

When I get my Touchpad I intend to attempt to pair it with the Bluetooth keyboard I use on my laptop. I'll be able to give a better answer then.

Edit: The one thing that may skew things is if the keyboard needs preloaded software or comes with software that needs to be loaded, before it will work, then getting that software to work on another OS will be a problem.

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#516245 3-Sep-2011 21:22

I'm pretty sure any standard BT keyboard should work with the TouchPad but I'm meaning the "official" HP BT Keyboard for Touchpad - will that work with other devices or has HP configured it not to?

magu

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#516455 4-Sep-2011 14:50

Just got confirmation from USPS that my TouchPad is in NZ (processed by NZ sorting facility) and en route to destination. It was shipped on the 30th, so that's pretty good. USPS Express Mail International. Cost me US$57.

Total cost of 32GB TouchPad is NZ$419. Quite a lot cheaper than what I would have paid for it originally (I was one of the few considering it when they came out).

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