Sweet Deals Made of WIN

[TriniXaeno]

I believe you may lack knowledge on the inner workings of local business and hence your myopic view on this subject.

US$100 for an item in the US of A does not translate into a reasonable selling price of TT$640 in Trinidad

A general rule of thumb for most industries is 10 to 1

Which takes into account overheads like shipping, staff, property rental, etc...

So again, if the monitor costs US$295 a local price of TT$2950 is fair.

If same monitor is sold locally for TT$2500.00 that is a pretty decent deal.

If it goes for $1999.99, it probably fell off the back of a truck in Costa Rica. lol

Had it been an individual selling a monitor on the trading grounds, your point would stand, since he does not have the overheads of a business.

However, Cariszone is a fully established company that has to endure all the trappings of operating legitimately in our Twin Island republic.

[captainchris]

I rest my sword on the table....

[woodyear99]

Does cariszone offer a warranty? Shipping items back to the us is expensive in the event of a defective product.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

[Hard o/c]

Does cariszone offer a warranty? Shipping items back to the us is expensive in the event of a defective product.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

I think is only a 5 days return/replace/refund policy they have.

Only bought two memory kits since, no problems were had.

EDIT: 5 days return, 30 days warranty on most electronic items.

http://www.cariszone.com/return-policy.html

[TriniXaeno]

Yes they do.

[Arcmanov]

I believe you may lack knowledge on the inner workings of local business and hence your myopic view on this subject.

US$100 for an item in the US of A does not translate into a reasonable selling price of TT$640 in Trinidad

A general rule of thumb for most industries is 10 to 1

Which takes into account overheads like shipping, staff, property rental, etc...

So again, if the monitor costs US$295 a local price of TT$2950 is fair.

If same monitor is sold locally for TT$2500.00 that is a pretty decent deal.

If it goes for $1999.99, it probably fell off the back of a truck in Costa Rica. lol

Had it been an individual selling a monitor on the trading grounds, your point would stand, since he does not have the overheads of a business.

However, Cariszone is a fully established company that has to endure all the trappings of operating legitimately in our Twin Island republic.

THIS is your explanation of the infinite vagaries of local pricing?
...and how does one explain instances where it might be cheaper to buy certain items here...rather than importing them?

WOW...I must have missed that particular class in smart-man school.   

Not buying that for a second.

[rassmatic]

[Berzerk]

QFT

[Preston786]

AHAHAHAHAAHAHAAH oh lord

[Preston786]

Origin Sale 2013

http://store.origin.com/store/eaemea/es_ES/html/pbPage.spring_sale_2013_es_ES/

[Arcmanov]

Awwww... poor feller. 

I hope it's not the incurable, terminal kind. 




Origin sale?  Hoo-rah...now I can finally complete my Peggle collection.

[TriniXaeno]

lol @ peggle collection.

If you missed that class in school, let me explain the economics behind it briefly.

Some items with decent demand can be imported in bulk over sea (which is considerably cheaper than via air)

A business owner could purchase 20+ units and get a better price than you would via retail from Amazon or NewEgg.

These two factors, when put together can result in a cheaper final price to you in Trinidad vs importing it yourself.

Of course, items like high end GPUs and exotic motherboards won't have enough demand to warrant that. Basic items like a 21" LCD monitor, Keyboards, Generic mice, System Cases, Line Conditioners, etc.....tend to fall in that category.

[Arcmanov]

Well it's either the 'x10' rule  applies or it doesn't.

Hoss... You could be a Kamla spin-doctor.  Yuh good.  Ever try selling ice to Eskimos? 




SwiftKey 3 | Samsung Galaxy Note 2 | Tapatalk 2 | Omega v15

[TriniXaeno]

nah man...just been in the import game for almost two decades so I know it like the back of my hand.

The x10 rule is general....a good consumer guide. I use it even when looking at kitchen utensils and such for the misses. lol

Brisk bar code scan with my android phone and insta-check the price online. If it is a food warmer for example, going on amazon at US$30.00 and the store selling it for TT$295.99 we'll still buy it instead of importing.

As is the case with most rules, there will be exceptions.

If we were going to buy 40 of those warmers and could afford to wait 4 - 6 weeks for it to arrive, we would import via sea and it would work out much cheaper.

[Arcmanov]

Ha...well you and that 'x10' mentality could stay right dey.

This is me not throwing money away for the sake of what passes for local 'business'...



Yeah...add that to the $1161 that I paid for it on Amazon.

So for just a dollar or two over $1300 TT, I am now the proud owner of a Galaxy Tab 2 7.0.

*wonders how much it sells for locally*  :/


I'll be getting all my 'sweet deals' on Amazon, thank you very much.



SwiftKey 3 | Samsung Galaxy Note 2 | Tapatalk 2 | Omega v15

[TriniXaeno]

It sells for TT$1634.77 locally to be exact:

http://www.cariszone.com/categories/computer-accessories/computers/tablets/galaxy/samsung-galaxy-tab-2-7-inch-wi-fi.html

If you apply a GATT 5% discount, the price falls even lower to TT$1553.00

The Galaxy Tab 2 sells for US$179.00 on Amazon. As a result, the 10 to 1 rule of thumb would provide a suggested retail price in Trinidad of around TT$1790.00

To summarize the discussion using this as an example, the local price on Cariszone.com would be classified as "fair".

No price gouging or other alarmist claims need be made. lol

I had a friend who brought in a Galaxy Tab that was DOA (dead on arrival). She had to send it back up to the states with a friend to get it exchanged.

If someone chose to pick one up locally at $1600.00 at Pricesmart or Cariszone, I won't rag on 'em.

[LQDSNK]

Someone should call PETA for you guys, i never see people could beat a dead horse so.

You do realise that TW not going to change Arc mind and vice versa? Evidence after evidence, scenario after scenario and nobody budging, no one is going to change so why continue?

[Arcmanov]

So in summary... I just saved about 300 dollars on my car insurance. 

@ LQDSNK: we're having a very pertinent discussion.  It's not about 'changing minds'.  I'm presenting a different perspective to challenge the status quo.
No one's forcing you to read it either.

Carry on.




SwiftKey 3 | Samsung Galaxy Note 2 | Tapatalk 2 | Omega v15

[captainchris]

TW bro, that $300 is just change shy of my internet bill /month. Thanks, id have me some of that!

[TriniXaeno]

@ LQDSNK: we're having a very pertinent discussion.  It's not about 'changing minds'.  I'm presenting a different perspective to challenge the status quo.
No one's forcing you to read it either.

Carry on.

Precisely.

That is the very purpose of the forum. To foster discussion amongst members.

Something that has become a dying art form. lol.

More common to just click "like" on facebook nowadays than to actually discourse intelligently with your fellow gamer.

In the case of my friend who got the defective galaxy tab, it ended up costing her more than the local price after having to ship it back and wait weeks to get a replacement.

More in terms of $$ and more in terms of time as well. Poor thing.

As with many things of this nature....there isn't a right or wrong answer. It always "depends"

A lot of factors to consider. Do you want warranty? Do you want the item right away, or can you wait weeks for delivery? Are you a risk taker and don't mind rolling the dice with customs? Are you comfortable with ebay? Do you have an Amazon Prime membership? Do you have a reliable sky box service? Is the item large and would be costly to ship via air? etc....etc...

After someone reads this discussion, they will be able to way all the options and take the best course for them.

Also, staff would be less callous in derailing local sweet deals by comparing them to foreign yard sticks.

Apples to Apples, you know the deal.

I'd say it was a healthy discussion all things considered.