May 31, 2009
Open letter to Core asking it’s 51% more expensive to buy a Mac in South Africa than in the State
This is an open letter to Greg Hill from Core asking him to answer a few questions. Firstly, whether Core apply 51% markup to all of their products. Secondly, if Core hope that people reading Stop Grey will really be convinced to not buy grey Apple products. And lastly, what Core is doing to engage Apple users in South Africa.
The email reads:
From: Roger Saner
Date: 31 May 2009 11:52:28 AM
To: Greg Hill
Subject: Pricing for MacBooks, StopGrey.co.za and Core’s strategy to interact with Apple users
Hi Greg
I’ve been directed to you by Rene Firsing, who gets the contact emails sent to ZA Store via the website. I’m very confused about a few things, and she said that probably only a Core Executive could answer my questions.
My first question is about prices. Today’s Rand/Dollar exchange rate is 1$ = R7.94. You charge R24,000 for the 15 inch 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro ( http://www.zastore.co.za/macbookpro0810.php ) and it’s available from the Apple site for $1,999 ( http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro )
Using the above exchange rate, $1,999 = R15,869.16. That’s a difference of R8130.84 which is 51% markup. Do you apply 51% markup to all of your products?
My second question is about Stop Grey.co.za, a website which makes no definite claims, but makes lots of hints – and uses a fair amount of scare tactics – as to what will happen to someone if they buy a grey Apple import. Do you hope that people will be convinced to buy from Core, even when they are so much more expensive than grey imports?
Core is widely perceived as a command-and-control old-style organisation who doesn’t understand that who you are is more important that what you sell. My final question is this: what is your strategy to start and continue an online conversation with Apple users in South Africa, so that you can continue upholding the good reputation Apple has, while at the same time repairing the damage Core is doing to the Apple brand?
Regards
Roger
[Update: No response yet. Resent to Greg on 7 June 2009.]
[Update: 702 ran a piece this morning on Cool Apple Buddies in Sandton. While nothing to do with Core, it's all Apple, and since Core claim to be the official Apple people in South Africa, it would be prudent for them to response. I resent this open letter to Greg today, 15 June 2009.]
[Update: resent 22 June 2009. Have confirmed with Core that Greg is indeed the person to send this email to, and that I have his correct address. Greg must be really busy.]
[Update: resent 1 July 2009. Deafening silence.]
[Update: resent 16 July 2009.]
Comments(89)
Roger Saner is a web platform developer (using 
[...] Using the above exchange rate, $1,999 = R15,869.16. That’s a difference of R8130.84 which is 51% markup. 51%!!! Are you kidding me? This is unacceptable; I’ve sent an open email to Core asking why this is. Why do you, dear South African Apple user, think this is? And what can be done about it? Filed under: mac, South Africa | [...]
[...] The contents to my email to Greg Hill are at http://www.macgeek.co.za/2009/05/31/open-letter-to-core/ [...]
I absolutly agree wth you on so many levels, Im so tied of been screwed in this country buy monopolys,if some one can get the same product cheaper some where else I say go for it. If importers dont start smelling the roses and soon there are going to be alot more grey products out there. What gets me, if companys in SA dont sell enough product istead of reducing the price they put price up. In the American itunes store they offer specials. Dont get me wrong I love my country, but Im realy tied of this attitude towards the consumer.
Rant done thanks!
@Richard: I too love South Africa, and I love Apples
I think you express what most people feel. I’m waiting for Core to respond…the longer they wait, the more it will hurt them.
Can’t we speak to Carte Blance and let them do a story on the Core group? And how they really cash in on so much money? The Macbook pro 17″ is @2,799.00 in US, but R32999 in SA. It almost 10 grand more.
Or cant we just mail Apple US and complain to them?
@Datsolalee: I’d love for some group to do an expose on Core, but I hope it doesn’t have to come to that. I’d also like to hear Core’s side first, because importing technological products into South Africa is not easy, and is expensive. I’d like to hear what their official relationship is to Apple, what their relationship is with the distribution channels, and who (from Apple) holds them accountable. Or even if their is any sort of minimum service level agreement.
On 702 yesterday I heard a bit of the “other” side – a journalist for the Star was talking about this, and she was fully supporting Core (and lambasting “grey” stores, specifically Cool Apple Buddies in Sandton). It seems she understands more than I do, so I’m trying to contact her and talk – and also tell her the other side. Sure, buying products only through an authorised channel is the ideal: but what if that authorised channel is charging 51% markup on the retail value? I would love to hear her response to that.
So if anyone knows who this journalist is (I didn’t catch her name) or someone else in mass media who would be interested in covering this story – or at least doing some research, please let me know.
Hey Rog….
Don’t forget that state tax is not included on the prices listed on the apple store website. If you want a definitive price you are going to actually have to put that into the equation. Yes I know, that doesn’t warrant the 51% more. But to my understanding Apple put restrictions on prices that ‘official resellers” can charge. Hence the iPhone issue with Vodacom.
I’m not attempting to excuse their costs but there are taxes, transport cost, South African taxes (crazy for electronics) and then mark up…
just my 2 cents though.
If the prices in SA for Apple notebooks and desktops were not so much more expensive than similar hardware on Windows Platform I would have purchased an Apple, granted there are some features that are better e.g. touchpad and whilst the OS imo is better than the alternative it is worse in the sense that there is nowhere near as much inexpensive 3rd party software available as there is on that other OS.
So the only thing that made be buy a Dell with Vista Premium rather than a Macbook was the HUGE price difference. I got the same processor more ram similar graphics card bigger hard drives. If I was more of a pirate I would have be running a hacked OSX on the DELL (I know I could just see the insanely MAC forums)
Maybe your letter should not have been addressed to Core but rather to Apple’s Marketing division Or possibly even Executives at apple Headquarters.
Check out http://www.digicape.co.za/storeview.php?product_id=60
Similar prices…obviously, as I’ve heard mentioned, there is a regulated price for MACs in SA – obviously shipping and import duty on top of the US$ Price, and then some mark up perhaps? but 8 Gs more – sounds a little too much?
But, compared to the SA PC market, as good as MACs are, the price makes it hard buy into the MAC market with the new MAC prices. I was going for MAC, but could only afford R13000 – didn’t want the old white mac 13″ though…
One day….it will be more reachable….also – have you seen the SA price for ADOBE products? Freak – just change countries from US to Africa and the price goes up by 175% – and come on – it’s just shipping charge on a CD box? Can’t be that much more?
StewWest… guess which company distributes the adobe products… Core
@savage0501 Do you know what the exact figures are for import duties on technology? You’re correct about all of the overheads which Core pays for Apples; however, Incredible Connection manage to have similar prices to what you can buy the same laptop for overseas – how do they it? Can they send their procurement people around to Core to advise them?
@Jeremy: hmmm…just for research’s sake, I’d be interested to get OS X working on a non-Apple computer. I’ve heard it’s possible, and with some knowledgeable purchasing, it might be possible. Last time I checked, it wasn’t too complicated to get the OS working, but peripheral support was lacking and not as integrated as it should be.
@StewWest: it’s completely out of the range of most freelancers to afford Adobe products. Which is such a pity! Some other companies have a “Developing World Discount” – or something equivalent – I wish Adobe would offer something like that.
Check out MPieters blog – similar thoughts!
http://www.mpieters.com/2009/05/just-how-expensive-is-apple-in-sa.html
This Greg guy follows me on Twitter.
http://twitter.com/gregoryahill
Has anyone tried sending a mail to Apple Europe ?
I believe that’s where Core purchases hardware.
@savage0501 “South African taxes (crazy for electronics)”…
Wrong. The import duty for computer goods into South Africa is 0%. If you don’t believe me, phone DHL. The only payable tax on importation, is the VAT.
As for shipping, sea freight is cheap, a few dollars per unit in a container.
Furthermore, everyone is forgetting that the US$ prices are RETAIL or to the end user. There’s no way Core would be paying that as they are buying wholesale and distributing, they’d be paying MUCH less!
Another thing to ask Core is why they will not offer an equivalent 2 year warranty on Mac products. ALL Macs in the US get a 2 year warranty. We are paying way more for less. The only way to get a 2 year warranty in SA is to buy from Digicape, although they do charge a premium on the 2nd year warranty.
[...] Originally from Macgeek.co.za [...]
On the topic of warranty’s, had a Macbook Air purchased from Look & Listen that packed up 11 months after purchase as the CPU failed. Was told that it was not under warranty by iStore as it had been sold to Look & Listen one month before it was purchased! Had to fight this as the shelf period at a reseller cannot possibly be part of the warranty period to a consumer. Eventually they agreed to repair it… that was two months ago and we’re still waiting.
The standard warranty on Macs in the US is 1 year, not 2.
Beg your pardon – I stand corrected on the warranty. Was misinformed. Still would like to know why there is only one retailer who will sell us an extended warranty and then only an extra year whereas in the US one can get an AppleCare Protection Plan for USD349 which gets you another 2 years of hardware and software cover and support.
Roger,
Check http://www.insanelymac.com/osx86db/ for a list of hardware that can be used in a PC that will make it OSX compatible. Main issues that I had were I couldn’t get touchpad scrolling working and my intel wifi is not compatible. (Yes I had it running just to prove I could) Basically if a peripheral is supported on a Mac it is supported on ‘PC’ running OSX, the problem is that a lot of peripherals are released without MAC drivers and those would have a problem on a genuine Mac as well. Let’s face OSX (these days on intel cpu’s) is just another Operating System with a much smaller subset of compatible hardware drivers than Linux/BSD/Windows. The fact that you can natively run Windows on MAC hardware tells you that essentially the difference
I agree with Roger’s assessments – the Core will probably suggest you look at European Prices as Apple Europe has oversight over SA.
I listened in disgust to the statements made by Iona Minton on the 702 open line last Friday. It was a misuse of her position as a ‘consumer watchdog’. Her comments spoke of a script written by Core in their attempt to badmouth the competition in their quest to further monolopolise the marketplace. She should be taken to task to prove her comments regarding the ridiculous claims made.One would think that she is on their payroll ! Core do not, and have never had the Sole and Exclusive Distribution for Apple in SA. Core though have continuously misrepresented themselves to the market in that they are “Apple”. All warranty status can be verified on Apples website.
Interesting debate regarding CAB Platinum Store Versus Core’s strong arm tactics on 702 Consumer Watch show on Monday the 15th of June 2009 at 11h00.
702 Studio Phone +27 011 883 0702
Main Switchboard +27 011 506 3702
Comment line (sms) 31702
[...] One of the comments on my Open letter to Core reads: [...]
So after reading all this (which I found very interesting), will someone please answer my question…Should I buy from the States or not?…
@Dave: Apple US won’t ship their computers to a non-US address, so you’ll have to get it sent to someone you know in the US, and then sent here. Best is if you know someone flying – they can take it back with them.
I doubt the core group buys its products from the Apple store at retail prices, it buys its products from Apple at wholesale prices. So the markup is very steep. The only way to change this, is not to support the rotten core, buy grey. The only reason we pay these prices is because we let them.
Hey, for US shipping try http://www.myus.com
They give you a US shipping address. Then they send it to you within the week!
I think they can handle the box sizes…(anything that can fit into a container!)
Let me know if you try it.
One thing to bear in mind – all imports get a 20% tax (covers VAT and other taxes – unless you are an importer) – add shipping of heavy items and that you loose the warranty – could end up costing you a bomb.
Agree with pretty much all the anti-Core sentiment expressed above.
But I’m pretty sure you didn’t resend on the 7th July 2009.
Call it a hunch
It does not make sense at all (the Prices are MAD). I think Apple must open a proper Apple Store in South Africa. Clearly the greedy Core Group is doing us SA buyers a disservice. There’s no AppleCare and their service on faulty machines is awful. Their website is not as comprehensive compared to the Apple Store US (Configure Your Mac: no Hard drive expansion options etc). This is killing the Apple brand in SA because we know that we are not getting value for our hard earned rands. Should I smile because I’ve paid 51% more… I guess that is the problem with most distribution agents.
@Andre – good hunch! I’ve changed that to the correct date – 7 JUNE (lol!) – and added another resend (today). Thanks man
@savage0501 But what is the VAT on secondhand goods ?, if you get a refurb from the Apple Store,( obviously sent to a USA address), and save a couple of hundred doolars is there still VAT as the product is now secondhand
Ok well been reading here about the Core issue, and I can say that as a media producer I only use apple. I purchased most of my machines in the UK and snug them into SA so paid a lot less than most. I run a television production studio and will be more than willing to do a story on Core. If you want to get intouch with me mail me at willgranzier@yahoo.co.uk. and I will forward my details to you.
This could make an interesting post on You Tube, but I bet you that Core will fight it all the way !
Oh yes wanted to mention the Mac on PC thing ! If you want to screw Core big time just get a PC and run MAC os – You might frown at the idea but listen to this. As we work with television media we need pretty punchy stuff. About a month ago we investigated puchasing the new MAC Pro 8 core – R78000 later YES Frikkin R 78 000.00 SO a mate of mine is a PC engineer and he pointed me in this direction
http://www.imakeart.net/blog/2008/02/12/how-to-build-your-own-mac/
We did a few trial runs and guess what – We got a Mac Pro 8 core 3GHz equivilent for under R15 000 – And it runs all the software no Prob ! Fairly easy to set up !
I’m not sure why Core gets all this attention, it’s Apple that are allowing this situation to perpetuate. It’s no secret that the service offered by Core is extremely poor, it always has been; and on the basis of past experience it’s safe to assume that it always will be. But, the blame should be laid 100% at Apple’s doorstep, after all it’s their products and brand that are being badly handled. The fact that they are happy to allow Core to profiteer from the situation is not Core’s fault, the fault lies purely with Apple for allowing it to get to this point and do nothing.
[...] http://www.macgeek.co.za/2009/05/31/open-letter-to-core/ [...]
Greg Hill’s contact details from his twitter account:
@chukaman you can text me on 0823226392 or email at ghill at core.co.za
I received an email today from one of Cores Distributors advertising massive specials. Could this be as a result of all the recent fuss? Anyone know?
EG of special: MacBook Air for R20 999 – thats R9000 off what we bought one for 2 months ago…
Si
Personally, I think that someone with a legal background should lay a complaint with the Competition Commission – the Core control the arrival of Apple in SA, the repairs and all warranty claims and own a whole bunch of the retail outlets (all the iStores) – that does not encourage competition.
Anyone else have any ideas?
After watching this site for a while and doing some research into importing a mac, I finally found Digicape JHB. Although their prices are not as cheap as we would all like, they were better than the istore. What the best part is, is that they are not part of “core”. I got a 15″ Macbook pro 2.66ghz 4 gig ram for R20999.00. A huge saving. Even better was the service…they actually knew what they were talking about. I have nothing to do with them but i appreciate good service when it comes along. Thanks Quinton…
Kind regards
Dave Mostert
If you want to get Apple products direct from the States – or pretty much anything for that matter – that isn’t grey all you have to do is get a MyUS.com mail forwarding account. That is how I buy my Apple products. Basically the website provides a legal US mail address where you can have all your orders in the States sent to this address. They will then forward your items to you via DHL fully insured. You still pay VAT and duties and get the appropriate documentation to prove to Core that your item is legit should you need to get something repaired.
Their shipping costs are also very reasonable. I am about to buy my second a MacBook Pro 13inch from the States. Including shipping and duties it will come in just over R15 000 for the 2,53Ghz version. Zastore sells the equivalent MacBook Pro for R19 000.
Fully agree with Michael. Been using myus for 2 years now. Landed a Nikon D700 at 33% off local prices from the US last year!! and just received on Friday my 13inch MBP 2.53ghz shipped, taxed and delivered for R15 217!!! I fully encourage this. It is legal, above board and above all else socks a finger to the ignorant and unhelpful local monopoly. I only wish Apple would catch a wake-up in terms of the damage being done to their brand locally!
I would like to know why you have not had a response to your letter as yet, that really show “real consumer” care – doesn’t it!!
[...] http://www.macgeek.co.za/2009/05/31/open-letter-to-core/ [...]
Casual Mac-wanting person here.
I flat out refuse to buy a Mac in SA coz the prices are just highway robbery. Will rather wait it out and buy overseas for the real, uninflated price.
Does anyone know what happens if you buy a Mac overseas? Like, if I buy it in the UK or Germany, do I still have a warranty on it here? I took a squiz in some techy shops in Frankfurt and the Macs were going for half the price of what they are here.
Check out this radio interview with Core: http://www.mpieters.com/2009/06/radio-interview-with-core-by-radio-702.html
@Michael / @Wayne
I am about to buy my first Macbook and was also thinking of using myus.com.
Some questions – would the warrentee be valid in SA or do you need to ship it back to US again?
Also — from which dealer are you buying it in us — AMAZON?
Willem – the warranty is 100% valid if you keep all documentation that you get from DHL. All portable Apple products carry a worldwide guarantee and according to Core’s warranty terms (which aren’t the same as Apple’s) as long as you have the original invoice and proof that all relevant duties have been paid they will cover your warranty here.
I bought mine from B&H Photo. It comes with a free printer but since it would cost more than the printer is worth to ship, I asked that they leave the printer out and they gave me $50 off the purchase price. I buy from Amazon all the time too.
Michael – many thanks for info. What costs was payable locally. VAT of cause. Any import duty / customs duty — %?
There is only VAT on laptops and computer related equipment. I think iPods and iPhones carry an extra duty but not sure what that is. If you want to be certain phone customs or possibly DHL.
Guys, anyone actually tried importing a machine into SA themselves? I too refuse to buy any apple products in SA except maybe software, I purchased my macbook in Asia at the beginning of this year and paid like R5000 less than what it would cost in SA, this is just unacceptable, core should do the calculation anyone who can make a plan to buy Apple hardware can also make a plan to dodge buying locally somehow. We all have friends overseas and we can be quite resourceful. For example a friend of mine will be coming here from the states shortly so I told him to pick up a macbook pro for my mom base 13 inch model. Price difference? R4100 cheaper as you go up in the model range the savings become bigger. One things for sure, when its time for my upgrade its unlikely I will give one cent to Core for the machine and I will be looking to make a plan to get it outside SA. Will also pick up some apple care from the US. So I ask you, why is it again that Core group lost a sale????
@Faze: I think there’s even a service where you sign up and they give you a U.S. postal address, and once it arrives there they then forward on to wherever you are in the world.
I’m certainly buying my next Mac from overseas!
Yes I was looking at that lately and calculated that it would still cost less, by the way i linked your blog on my FB group Stop Monopolies in South Africa hope thats ok. The more exposure the better, right?.
I was just thinking the other day what if I needed support for my mac in South Africa googled it and found all this negative info about Core and thats how i found your blog. I feel it is right that we should all be as informed as possible so that we can make the right choices, the info about core enables us to say “ok I have this info so now I know if I should support them or not” I am really just upset about the fact that they are authorised distributors they should not be allowed into the retail chain at all!!!!. If the mandate that apple gave them is as distributors they are acting “ultra vires” (outside their mandate) which is not only contractually wrong but also ethically questionable. I mean they have full control of the supply chain? WTH!!!! meaning they control the stock levels of all the independent stores, meaning they can make sure their own stores are well stocked and just withhold stock from the smaller stores forcing the consumer to buy from them( Core). This is not right….
If they focussed on being the distributor only instead of getting greedy and competing with apple retailers things would be a lot better since their function would be a lot more specialised, they are hurting the Apple brand this way. Pretty soon we will have a signed petition from all disgruntled customers which would go directly to Apple US requesting to grant someone else the distribution licences or to compel Core to remove itself from the retail chain in South Africa. We are not buying from Istore anyway, so they should take a hint already. In the end all this negativity against the Core group is their own fault, if we were happy we wouldnt complain so much….clearly we are not.
Yes, Core have full control of the supply chain. They’ve even set up a website to denounce anyone else who imports Mac’s into South Africa! http://www.stopgrey.co.za
The truth is, Core don’t care about what anybody thinks. They can act how they want to, deliver any sort of service they want to, and charge anything they want to, and no-one has any recourse.
The service that provides a US address is MyUS.com. I set up an account there early this year that cost me $60 PA subscription but there are cheaper ones for one off use. The $60 gives you much better shipping rates than the cheaper ones if you are going to use the service frequently. I saved R8200 on my MacPro Nehalem and have saved up to 50% on other goods like binoculars and SDHC cards etc. The service from MyUS has been exceptional and tracking the parcels via DHL is amazing. My last purchase left Florida, went to Philadelphia, New York, Dusseldorf, London and to Jan Smuts in two days, it then sat in Jan Smuts for eight days.
@chris, just out of interest what import duties did you have to pay on the goods especially your mac pro is it just the vat or are there additional customs. Would be good for everyone to know that information as another way to side-step. Core. Once we as consumers really have the power of choice then maybe we can see some decent and logical price structures with Apple products.
Ok wait i got the info from an earlier thread no need to repeat
It’s only the VAT. There may however be other costs as some US retailers do not accept SA credit cards so on those occasions I use the MyUS personal shopper facility which can cost 6%. In effect what happens is they pay for the product and then charge your credit card.
Just bear in mind that only portable hardware is covered under Apple’s Worldwide Warranty. So if you buy an iMac, Mac Pro or Mac Mini from the US you won’t be covered here.
Yes I know, just gonna cover 2 macbook pros…….;-)
There is a way around the warranty issue, have the Mac delivered to someone you trust in the US, get them to set up and register it. You are then covered under the normal warranty as you have bought from the original owner. I have just got an iMac for someone using this and Core has to honor the warrenty
If you buy an apple in the US how do you go about charging the battery since the plugs etc are different?
@Jenny im not sure about the desktop models but regarding the portables, all you have to do is buy a travel adaptor which are readily available ive even seen them at some pick and pay stores, the transformer will accept between 110v to 240v so you dont have to worry about getting anything else. I will be receiving a machine from the states in December
Even cheaper – cut the American plug off – put a South African plug on. I think Game sells nice white ones, for that authentic look. Otherwise, the Apple-laptop power adapters all take the standard 2-pin power cord (the bit between the white transformer and the plug), that come with camera chargers and external harddrives. Just bear in mind, that if you use a 2-pin plug, your power adapter won’t be earthed. So I recommend the cutting-method.
All the transformers can handle 110V-240V so they work everywhere.
THE CORE GROUP, Apple South Africa Is Rotten !!!, This Is Not Right Am Going To The Press !!!
THE CORE GROUP, Apple Computer, Yeah Right More Like Rotten Apple, We Appealed To them For A Donated Mac, We Are A Small Strugling Graphic Design Business, We Need A Small Mini Mac Or An Imac Or We Will Go Out Of Business.
Have A 19 Month Old Son To Lookafter, They Would Not Help Us !!!
THE CORE GROUP IS ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY, DO NOT CARE FOR THE LITTLE PEOPLE TRYING TO SURVIVE IN THIS HARD WORLD !!!.
They care about the small guy, and they are swindling the SA market with their over inflated prices.
Am Telling Everyone I Know To Stay Away From The Core Group !!!
Have Found Complaints All Over, ie: hellopeter.com, Just Google The Core Group Or The Core Group Complaints !!!
We Need A Small Mini Mac Or iMac, We Do Not Have The Money, We Can Offer The Core Group FREE Premium Advertising On Our New ROCKET SEARCH Website In Exchange For The Apple Mac !!!
Think Apple Should Know What THE CORE GROUP Is Doing To Tarnish And Destroy My Favourite Company’s Name, This Is Not Right Am Going To The Press, Is Apple Going To Help Me And Do Something About THE CORE GROUP.
Have Used Apple Macs From The LC 2, LC 475, Quardra 650 And 950, The Frist Power Macs, I Love An Apple Computer And The Apple Company, Would Love To Own Another Apple Mac.
Contacted THE CORE GROUP South Africa To Become An Apple Dealer, They Gave Me A Hard-Time, All I Want To Do Is Sell Wonderful Apple Computers And Apple Products To People Via My Websites !!!
AGAIN: THE CORE GROUP, Apple South Africa Is Rotten !!!, This Is Not Right Am Going To The Press !!!, THIS SUCKS, DO SOMETHING OR I WILL !!!
Thank You
Chris McCabe – Creative Director
DRAGAN GRAFIX
Office – 2711 791 7044
Cell: 2711 (0)82 482 0076 (A/H)
Fax: 0865031066
Email: chris@dragangrafix.co.za
Copyright 2008 DRAGAN GRAFIX cc 2008/259510/23
Let me get this right, Chris. You’re a struggling small company that will go out of business unless Core donate a Mac Mini to you? Current cost of that computer is R7000. And because Core haven’t given you that for free (or rather, an exchange for FREE Premium Advertising On Your New ROCKET SEARCH Website), they are Tarnishing and Destroying Apple’s name?
Chris.
Firstly, The Use Of Capital Letters On Every Word, is purely childish. Capitals are usually used for capitalization, acronyms and emphasis.
Secondly, while I do not condone Core’ monopolistic business practices, I can only defend them when you come onto this forum and cry about them not giving you a free computer. What are you smoking man? They are a business and they are not likely to stay a business very long if they start handing out a Mac to every person who is struggling to get along in this world.
I hope you get through your problems but please don’t blame Core if you go under.
Chris McCabe – LOL.
I’d love to call you an idiot, but I sort of feel sorry for you.
1 – Seriously. As much as I hate the Core Group and its lovely price/lack of service policy. How is the fact that you are going under their or anybody else’s fault? Wake up and have a look in the mirror if you’re looking for someone to blame. How can you run a graphic design studio without equipment?
2 – I wouldn’t do business with you on any level, I’m not surprised the Core Group wouldn’t consider you as a Mac reseller. What business is not in it for the money?
3 – Condoms are cheap, you should have thought about whether you can afford a child before you had one mate. Get a vasectomy.
If I was you I would ask kindly if your name and contact details could be removed from this site, you look like a twit. Actually the whole posting is sad.
Reply To Roger Saner and Simom:
I try very hard everyday to lookafter my family, times are tough, can not afford a new mac, tried to get one by offering a company some advertising in exchange for a entry level mac, they did not to help me at all, The have a crap attitude and they rip people off, do not want a mac for FREE will pay for it some how !!!
Capitals to make a point, I do not want a Free computer, I want some assistance or a deal so we both win.
Never said I wanted a Free mac, I can not expect that from anyone, but The Core Group keeps the prices so high you can not afford the best PC in the world.
The factr that The Core Group is able to cntrol the market, over charge people and get away with it is really rotten, so what must a person do…
Come On You 2 Have All The Answers !!!
When you can not afford a mac beacuse a company makes the computers to expensive to afford, you try and make another plan.
I hate The Core Group, and they are destoying Apple’s good name.
If you 2 have some good ideas pass them this way…
Hi Fred
I have equipment, I have 2 top laptops, but they are not a Apple Mac, and The Core Group is intent on making it to expensive for most people to afford an Apple Mac without lending money from a loan shark, as far as looking after my kid, I do fine, I need a an Apple Mac to help me get the job done faster and to make more money to give my little boy everything, and I am willing to do anything to make that happen, I am an idiot for believing that their are more people like me with dreams and a backbone, I Hate The Core Group, They Suck, because of their control over the distibution and high pricing of Apple computers in South Africa there are tons of people just like me who have to suffer and make do with Windows PC’s that get the job done, but are just not as great as Mac, If more idiots like me stood up and told this company off this would not happen.
Have You Got Any Better Ideas, Mr Know It All !!!, How Must I Fight The System !!!
Come On !!!
This is not the appropriate place to flame you Chris, but you’re asking for it. You DO NOT need a Mac, what you need to do is wake up and stop whining. Macs are not a necessity but a luxury/choice, you can do anything on a PC you can do on a Mac at a fraction of the price, unpleasant as it may be. No number of macs will help you unless you change your attitude. Use the equipment you have and come up with a plan to get out of your situation. But blaming the Core Group (yuk!) or claiming that only a Mac mini can save you, is laughable. Yes, the Core Group is a monopoly and they can charge anything they like, no its not right, but that has zero to do with your predicament, surely even you must see that!
And for the love of fluffy little animals don’t borrow money from a loan shark or anywhere else. Otherwise I’ll come and donner you.
Chris, you can Fight The System by delivering a service that people want and expecting to be fairly recompensed for that, and using the same standards when you’re a client.
There are two (separate) issues you’re talking about.
1. You offered Core what you thought was a fair proposal: advertising in exchange for a Mac Mini. They refused.
2. Core have a monopoly on Apple computers, and they don’t seem to care about their customers or pricing.
As for the 2nd issue, you’re quite right: Core don’t seem to give a stuff about Apple consumers in SA. It appears that they’re in it for the money, and only the money. Concepts like customer satisfaction and excellent after-sale service are foreign and undesired. To fix this? I have no idea.
As for the first issue, I wonder if you were able to make a case to Core that they would receive R7000 worth of advertising off your site (because you’d be receiving R7000 of new computer in exchange). Core don’t have an online reseller program, and I think they’ve stopped Google Adwords. Hence they don’t have a way to verify that the value you’re offering is, indeed, valuable.
Therefore, their rejection of your offer is entirely reasonable. If you’d like them to accept what you’re offering, I suggest you come up with some way to show them that they are going to get R7000 value from you.
Hi Roger
They would receive well over R15 000 worth of advertising every year, not only on both our websites, but we also have a A4 full colour magazine advert that comes out every moth in The Free Mags, we are willing to say that our Apple Mac was sponsored by The Core Group South Africa, include thier contact details and website address. This is great advertising, thay are just stupid and not willing to help people, would you give me a R7000 or R8000 mac to receive double the amount in advertising for your company, the magazineadvertising is worth the Macs price without the online advertising.
The Core Group Sucks !!!!
Chris
More Core group blah, blah.
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/11/macbook-prices-around-the-world/
http://blog.cmyplay.com/2010/01/04/apple-macbook-prices-infographic/
Check this out: http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/11/macbook-prices-around-the-world/
Looks like South Africa is not the MOST expensive place in the world to buy MacBooks, but it’s pretty close.
[Admin note: Chris has already posted this long, rambling comment here, last year. He was, quite rightly, flamed. I'm saving him from it happening again, so I've deleted this re-post.]
@Chris, did you mean to post exactly the same comment again, a month later? What are you hoping to accomplish by this? Hoping that the universe will somehow provide you with an Apple Mac?
Roger I think you could potentially be my new hero! Haha!
Dont Core import from UK ? Surely that would lead to them asking more since Uk users are also paying more. Makes no sense
Can anyone answer a few unanswered questions/clarify from above:
1. The US warranty is null and void on desktop Macs?
2. Is the 20% VAT/other charges payable to the seller or when you receive the machine in SA?
3. Is the warranty on iphones also prone to null and void US warranties?
4. Has anyone used ebay to import a desktop?
Thanks!
I’ve made a good living (though nothing like that of Apple or Core) since installing my first AppleMac2 in 1987. Apple Computer (and PageMaker) gave me the break I needed to succeed in SA. Apple set the standards then and continues to do so to this day. What a rotten life it could have been without Steve Jobs.
Hi to all fellow Mac users.
Stellenangebote in Deutschland. Stellenangebote in alle Postleitzahlen ….
Freie Stellen in Unternehmen in Deutschland…
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we always use power adapters at home because of our different voltage applications.*’
I’m really tired of the monopoly that Core Group has in South Africa. There is absolutely NO reason why they should charge so much more than Apple…they represent Apple in South Africa and that means they’re prices should be the same as Apple worldwide…you should put this open letter on Hellopeter.com …I want to email Apple US and find out what’s their policies concerning this kind of thing…
power adapters make it so convenient to plug in your appliance on different voltages ~
To not open another can of worms because we oh so love Apple
but how long still are the iStores in SA gonna suck? The staff have no clue of Apple’s way of live and whenever you ask advice they simply give you advice from their “Windows experience”.. I’ve had a number of friends that bought Macs and it’s shocking to hear how they either don’t know or they give you Windows-based advice??? They don’t eat live breath Apple as they do overseas.. When they speak to you they don’t have this driving force that Apple is the best most awesomest thing ever..they could just as well be selling funeral plans..
They really give Apple such a bad name!