Given the iPhone price difference between AU and US/Canada, I am seriously considering buying iPhone from overseas. Would that be advisable to do so? How would the warranty/returns be managed after buying? Also, how could I have it delivered to AU?
Any feedback/personal experience will be appreciated.
Send the phone back overseas, return and pay extra 10% tax in Australia for warranty cover.
You will only be given with 1 year of Apple's warranty.
If you purchase in AUS they give you 2.
technically as well, apple CAN refer you to the original place of purchase (but they never do)
In the US, you may have to pay state tax as well. If the business you're buying from has a presence in the state you're having it shipped to, and the state has a sales tax (virtually all do), then you have to pay tax. Not a big problem if you're buying off eBay, just make sure the seller isn't one that charges sales tax to the address you're having it shipped to. If you're not using a reshipper and having it delivered to the US, then anything you buy off Amazon or eBay will definitely have GST added, no way around that.
Easiest way is to find someone who already has the model you want here in Australia and buy it from them.
As for warranty, yeah you'll get the standard 1yr Apple warranty worldwide (doesn't matter where you bought it or where you're taking it, Apple will honor the warranty). The only question would be, would you get the exact same model (i.e. you buy a US version but take it to an Australian Apple store for warranty, will you get the US version as a replacement or the Australian version)?
I am seriously considering buying iPhone from overseas. Would that be advisable to do so?
Check that the frequencies are the same as we use in Australia. Other country phones may not have the same frequencies meaning the phone may under perform or even not work in Australia.
The phone may even be locked to an overseas provider and will cost to be unlocked, it may not even be able to be unlocked.
The price isn’t that different
I used a NYC Zip code -10010, tax rate 8.875%
iPhone XS 64GB. Space Grey US$1087.66 ($999+$88.66 tax) = A$1521.41 + shipping + Aus GST
Shipping would be $50? Or more if you have to use a forwarder.
IF you need to pay GST then that’s another 10%
iPhone XS 64GB. Space Grey A$1629
Price difference of A$108 - shipping - GST
Australia has 2 year + consumer law warranty, the correct bands are guaranteed and has the correct charger.
There used to be issues with North American iPhones and cellular iPads as they run on CDMA, not GSM like we have here. I'm not sure if this is still a sticking point, though.
Thanks guys for all your inputs, I was considering buying refurbished iPhone X from Apple's website which is lot more trustworthy than buying refurbished iPhones from Kogan in Australia. Sadly, Apple AU do not sell refurb iPhones AFAIK, but considering the GST and 1 yr less warranty, it makes sense to just buy it locally in AU. Just need to find some good deal.
Thanks again everyone, much appreciated.
Which phone were you looking at that give the price difference? The price that you see on Apple's US website is exclusive of tax and you have to pay 10% GST when import it to Australia