Buying Openmoko GTA02 from Europe

[Andrew Loughran]

Hi Guys,

I'm not sure if I posted to the list before, or was just chatting on IRC -
but I have been a little busy over the past few days.

I collected my neo just over a week ago (see http://blog.zrmt.com/?p=42) and
was suitably impressed with it.  I don't think there are enough
superlatives, but I'm sure I don't need to tell you guys that.

Through some rather lucky family links (my brother is dating the daughter of
a handset procurement manager at Vodafone UK) I've managed to generate quite
a bit of interest in the neo1973.  My little brother can be held responsible
for whetting the appetite of his girlfriend's father - and as he was going
on holiday to Spain this week with the family - I let him take the neo with
him to show the guy.

My gut feeling was that Vodafone would probably be one of the last providers
to support/distribute a linux-based 'open' phone given their reputation fro
crippling devices with their own version of the software, none the less I
also felt that the attempt was worth a shot - and hopefully he will see the
potential of the device.

I think the hardest thing to fight at the moment is the fact that the
current telecommunications market must undergo a paradigm shift in order to
find a way of continuing to profit (so substantially).

I'll hopefully post an interview with the guy when he returns from his
holiday.

If anyone could provide me with some good information (I do feel like I'm
going into this a little under-prepared) then I'd be happy to
accept/discuss.

Regards,

Andy Loughran

-----Original Message-----
From: community-bounces at lists.openmoko.org
[mailto:community-bounces at lists.openmoko.org] On Behalf Of Jay Vaughan
Sent: 23 August 2007 11:16
To: List for OpenMoko community discussion
Subject: Re: Buying Openmoko GTA02 from Europe


As a programmer, even *I* might be selling them, directly, from the  
factory ..


j.

On Aug 23, 2007, at 8:27 AM, Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller wrote:

> I am quite sure that there will be others who are longer in the  
> business
> (like http://www.handheld-linux.com to name one I know very well)  
> to resell
> the GTA02 from within Europe.
>
> But we must be aware that reselling needs some more margin for  
> handling all these
> duties, tax, repacking, shipping, insurance issues (there are a lot  
> of people involved
> who want to be paid for their services). So, the device will  
> certainly cost more than
> 450 USD + shipment.
>
> But you get all issues solved. And there will be warranty. And more  
> options
> for payment (e.g. Credit Card or bank transfer). And someone to  
> directly talk to.
>
> Am 22.08.2007 um 21:19 schrieb David Pottage:
>
>> Jean-Eric Cuendet (ML) wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> It seems that a big problem we have here in Europe to get Openmoko
>>> devices is that the shiping costs are quite high: around  
>>> 80-100USD !!
>>>
>>> I've opened a website that will sell GTA02 devices when they are
>>> available, to other Europe countries. I'll buy quantities of devices
>>> from FIC and resell them from here, in Switzerland, middle of  
>>> Europe.
>> I am interested, but I am concerned about VAT and import duty  
>> issues, as
>> Switzerland is outside the European Union.
>>
>> I would feel much happier ordering from an importer inside the EU, as
>> that way the importer would be responsible for sorting out and paying
>> any import duties and taxes. The price I pay would include VAT at the
>> prevailing rate in the importer's country. (So it would be better to
>> ship from Belgium where it is low, rather than France where it is  
>> high).
>>
>> Unfortunately I don't get any of those advantages if buy from a  
>> retailer
>> ouside the EU. I may save a small amount on shipping, but I would  
>> still
>> have the headache of paying those taxes myself, and the posibily of
>> paying a lot more than I expect if the customs officers  
>> misclassify the
>> Neo 1973, or disagree with me on it's value.
>>> Payment will be possible through Paypal or direct postal payment in
>>> Switzerland. Shiping costs will be around 20-25EUR for countries in
>>> Europe.
>> I *HATE* paypal, so in any case, if you can find another way of
>> receiving payments that would be good.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> -- 
>> David Pottage
>>
>>
>>
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>
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;
--
Jay Vaughan




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