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iPhones and Apple products market in Poland

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iPhones and Apple products market in Poland

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Sep 2, 10, 20:34 #1

I wanted to know about the iPhone and Apple market in Poland. I have a small electronics business here in Chicago and my goal is to start a website to ship to Poland. I haven't been back in Poland since 2000 so I'm not sure what to expect.

I'd like for anyone to let me know if they're readily available to buy? Also, are most Poles comfortable and feel secure buying things over the internet? I am completely legitemate and I'm not trying to advertise or solicit business. I'm curious about the state of the electronics market.

What's popular? iPads, iPhones, MacBooks...etc. ???

I know here in Chicago if you're not careful walking down the street it's pretty easy for a thief to snatch it out of your hands. Is it the same sort of crap in Poland?

Thanks for any help. It is appreciated.

aphrodisiacThreads: 19 Posts: 3,900 Joined: Apr 15, 09 ♀	Sep 2, 10, 20:42 #2
kchociej: iPads, iPhones, MacBooks...etc. ??? all of the above, especially since they are 20 % more expensive in Poland, are you an authorized dealer? kchociej: I'd like for anyone to let me know if they're readily available to buy? they are in larger cities and they are more expensive.

kchociejThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Joined: Sep 2, 10 ♂	Sep 2, 10, 21:00 #3
I'm not an "authorized" dealer. I have lot of connections where I can buy Apple products at below retail store prices. All of the products are completely legitimate and come with standard warranties just like you would buy at any store. Are most Poles comfortable shopping online?

aphrodisiacThreads: 19 Posts: 3,900 Joined: Apr 15, 09 ♀	Sep 2, 10, 21:04 #4
kchociej: Are most Poles comfortable shopping online? I would say so.

kchociejThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Joined: Sep 2, 10 ♂	Sep 2, 10, 21:10 #5
Ok, thank you for the reply.

MEMBER ♂

Sep 2, 10, 21:12 #6

kchociej:

Are most Poles comfortable shopping online?

I would say most are not, they would be worried sick firstly about the mail service, then about credit card fraud, Poland is behind the times in many areas. Also American company?? theyre not going to like that, its long way for fragile electronic producst to travel by post.

Its a great idea though and i wish you all the best. All Apple products are grosely over priced here.

kchociejThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Joined: Sep 2, 10 ♂	Sep 2, 10, 21:38 #7
That was my concern about the confidence of Poles using the internet. My goal is to gain the confidence of the buyer. It sounds like it may be an uphill battle though.

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Sep 2, 10, 23:46 #8

you've never heard of the obsession that Poland has with allegro have ya? :-)

One tip I'd give you...a lot of polish people dont have credit cards and most do their internet shopping via bank transfers with software that's like paypal but i cant remember it's name.

anyway look at allegro and check out the prices there so you'll know what you're up against.
I've friends who have businesses and they do all their selling on allegro and never bothered to even set up a proper website/e-shop themselves, why bother when everyone just uses their allegro profile?

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Sep 3, 10, 01:16 #9

kchociej:

I'm not an "authorized" dealer. I have lot of connections where I can buy Apple products at below retail store prices. All of the products are completely legitimate and come with standard warranties just like you would buy at any store.

Forget about it - anyone savvy enough to buy Apple in Poland is going to buy from an authorised dealer.

Also - are you really cheaper, once you factor in VAT and import duties?

FUZZYWICKETSThreads: 12 Posts: 1,817 Joined: Nov 3, 09 ♂	Sep 3, 10, 07:01 #10
aphrodisiac wrote: especially since they are 20 % more expensive in Poland, are you an authorized dealer how much does an iPhone cost in Poland?

ukpolskaThreads: 51 Posts: 2,159 Joined: Oct 23, 06 MEMBER ♂	Edited by: ukpolska Sep 3, 10, 14:01 #11
I would agree with delphiandomine but not for the same reason, as TBH I would take an Android system over Apple any day. They are as buggy as hell the software configuration looses its settings constantly, the new OS4 doesn't stay logged into many websites, and don't get me started on 'Apple Antennagate' lol Oh and the biggy of all "it doesn't have flash support'.

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Sep 3, 10, 14:45 #12

Wroclaw Boy:

Sorry to be slightly off topic. How are the polish postal services these days? (when dealing with packages from abroad) Few years back I traded 'heavily' with UK, managed to send thousands of packages with only few lost or delayed, worked like a charm, fast and reliable, delivery within 7-10 days tops from Asia, as opposed to fx: France where it was more of a game of chance. Are there lot of delays in Poland, packages gone missing, etc?

delphiandomineThreads: 39 Posts: 9,476 Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂	Sep 3, 10, 14:46 #13
FlaglessPole: How are the polish postal services these days? (when dealing with packages from abroad) In general - no problem within the EU, but many bad reports about the service to/from non-EU countries. I suspect Customs and not Poczta Polska are to blame, though it's hard to say.

MEMBER ♂

Sep 3, 10, 14:51 #14

FlaglessPole:

How are the polish postal services these days? (when dealing with packages from abroad) Few years back I traded 'heavily' with UK, managed to send thousands of packages with only few lost or delayed, worked like a charm, fast and reliable, delivery within 7-10 days tops from Asia, as opposed to fx: France where it was more of a game of chance. Are there lot of delays in Poland, packages gone missing, etc?

There not so bad to be honest, its more of a stigma than anything else, crooked post men/workers etc. Similar to getting gassed on trains, somebody allways knows somebody that knew someone who.......

The DHL depot in Wroclaw is atrocious on a personal level i can vouch for that, but generally ive experienced no issues with the standard service.

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Sep 3, 10, 14:56 #15

Wroclaw Boy:

Similar to getting gassed on trains, somebody allways knows somebody that knew someone who.......

Funny thing is, it's the same story with people being gassed in trucks in Belgium. Apparently some trucking magazine investigated this and didn't find one confirmed case by any medical authority. I'm pretty sure it's exactly the same with "gas" on trains - the truth is that they got drunk and passed out, or something similar.

FlaglessPoleThreads: 7 Posts: 1,336 Joined: Aug 19, 10 ♂	Sep 3, 10, 15:02 #16
Thanks I really appreciate your help (delphi and WB)! Though the fate of my Polish Reconquista By Mail remains uncertain...

MEMBER ♂

Sep 3, 10, 15:13 #17

kchociej:

My goal is to gain the confidence of the buyer.

How do you do that with mostly one time purchases? fancy web site? testimonials? Create an affiliate with Apple.pl? its a tough world we live in..

The only real guarantee is some kind of payment on delivery system, take the card details and only draw payment once the package has arrived safely, then they'll try and scam you.

Complications, complications.

kchociej1

Sep 4, 10, 23:09 #18

I plan on having a "fancy" web site ...I have a gerat web designer. I'll have customer testimonials. I don't want to create an affiliate with apple.pl ...costs too much money.

I've been scammed through paypal before by a few customers. Every case it has happened where it's a big ticket item over $500. But I always save all proof of shipping and post office receipts. It's a hassle but I get my money back always.

Scams are a part of internet business. No real way to protect yourself 100% since there are a lot of dishonest people out there. That is why I will not be doing paypal as a payment processor.

kchociej1

Sep 4, 10, 23:12 #19

FUZZYWICKETS:

I would agree with delphiandomine but not for the same reason, as TBH I would take an Android system over Apple any day.

They are as buggy as hell the software configuration looses its settings constantly, the new OS4 doesn't stay logged into many websites, and don't get me started on 'Apple Antennagate' lol

Oh and the biggy of all "it doesn't have flash support'.

I agree android blows iPhones out of the water but that's not the point of this discussion.

Thanks to all who have contributed.

warszawskiThreads: 60 Posts: 2,222 Joined: May 21, 10 ♂	Sep 4, 10, 23:16 #20
delphiandomine: Forget about it - anyone savvy enough to buy Apple in Poland is going to buy from an authorised dealer. Dunno about that, the company that has the rights to sell apple in Poland is SAD based in Warszawa. Many Iphones are sold on the parallel market and NOT through authorized dealers resellers.

kchociej1	Sep 4, 10, 23:23 #21
kchociej1: Dunno about that, the company that has the rights to sell apple in Poland is SAD based in Warszawa. Many Iphones are sold on the parallel market and NOT through authorized dealers resellers. What do iPhones go for in Poland outside of an authorized Apple retailer? Like person to person sales or rynek?

warszawskiThreads: 60 Posts: 2,222 Joined: May 21, 10 ♂	Edited by: warszawski Sep 5, 10, 02:03 #22
kchociej1: What do iPhones go for in Poland outside of an authorized Apple retailer? Like person to person sales or rynek? 3GS 16 GB open 2000PLN

AussieSheilaThreads: 6 Posts: 112 Joined: Aug 14, 10 ♀	Sep 5, 10, 06:51 #23
Don't even think about shipping electronics to Poland. The postman will charge a whooping 22 or 25% whatever TAX (I guess its VAT or GST) on the product. I remember sending a Kodak camera to a friend and they charged that disgusting tax. Here in Australia we can import $ 1000 worth of goods duty free.

ukpolskaThreads: 51 Posts: 2,159 Joined: Oct 23, 06 MEMBER ♂	Sep 6, 10, 09:17 #24
kchociej1: I agree android blows iPhones out of the water but that's not the point of this discussion. Kind of is if you are trying to get a foothold in to a decreasing market... Android is being the OS of choice of many operators now and there is even talk of Nokia dropping their buggy and sluggish Symbian OS and using Android across the board.

Omar_RahmanThreads: - Posts: 3 Joined: Sep 6, 10 ♂	Sep 6, 10, 09:43 #25
To try and send stuff to Poland might not work too well right now because the zloty is weaker than it was. Wait till the rate changes again and start your business...and shut it down the instant the rate changes for the worse again. Hope this helps!

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Sep 6, 10, 10:01 #26

ukpolska:

Kind of is if you are trying to get a foothold in to a decreasing market

Apple sold more than 11 million iPhones in the last quarter of 2009 and will sell an additional 37.3 million during 2010, a financial analyst said in a recent research note to clients.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/331550/apple_boost_iphone_sale s_35_year_says_expert/

Hardly a decreasing market. Apple will always be the favourite of richer people while Android phones will cater to peasants who want to look posh like iPhone users.

southernThreads: 116 Posts: 10,873 Joined: May 17, 07 ♂	Sep 6, 10, 12:44 #27
As a user of both systems I prefer android because I can watch porn on it.

FlaglessPoleThreads: 7 Posts: 1,336 Joined: Aug 19, 10 ♂	Edited by: FlaglessPole Sep 6, 10, 13:09 #28
AussieSheila: Apple will always be the favourite of richer people while Android phones will cater to peasants who want to look posh like iPhone users spoken like a true Queen of The Mall.

southernThreads: 116 Posts: 10,873 Joined: May 17, 07 ♂	Sep 6, 10, 16:01 #29
AussieSheila: while Android phones will cater to peasants When I see a guy sending e-mails in his tractor he always uses android.

FlaglessPoleThreads: 7 Posts: 1,336 Joined: Aug 19, 10 ♂	Sep 6, 10, 17:04 #30
southern: AussieSheila: while Android phones will cater to peasants When I see a guy sending e-mails in his tractor he always uses android. ...and I'm so envious of that blue blood coursing through the veins of any IPhone owner.

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