Comments on: CORE GROUP INSIDERS COME FORWARD

By: iPad Accessories

iPad Accessories — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 11:21:41 +0000

I can not possible until the apple company ipad is otherwise engaged in britain, i’ve seen some reviews online from All of us consumers also it appears awesome. I’ve come across some incredible components ^ nearby also! apple company ipad PWNS!

By: SamQ

SamQ — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:47:52 +0000

@ Guess Who, If you are talking about the Apple iStore on Sandton Drive then you are talking about the official Core flagship reseller. So if you are complementing their service then you are complementing CORE and so they can’t be all bad. Give credit where credit is due.

By: ex- Core Employee

ex- Core Employee — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:06:07 +0000

To understand how morally depraved Core is you just have to google “ivor ichikowitz” he is the brother of Core’s CEO Rodney and part owner of Core. He’s a weapon’s dealer, running a company called Paramount; with a likely corrupt relationship with the ANC…no wonder they think they can get away with murdering the South African computer market.

By: ex- Core Employee

ex- Core Employee — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:24:51 +0000

I worked for Core for a few months. It was the worst working experience of my life. It’s a family owned business and they only care about themselves and regard their customers as rubes to be milked out of their money. Forget about getting any service out these folks. They also believe that the law doesn’t apply to them. Next time you approach Apple in the states please mention that Core doesn’t comply to employment equity laws and cannot obtain a RSA tax clearance certificate. They are disgraceful corporate citizens in addition to being horrible people.

By: GuyBrush

GuyBrush — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:01:59 +0000

@paulus – from what I remember all Apple products carry a global warranty provided you have your proof of purchase (POP) so even though they might make you wait (and they do…) they have to honour the warranty locally

By: Paulus Santiago

Paulus Santiago — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:51:05 +0000

I support the “gray”-import thing.
For example: An entry level MacBook Pro 2.26 GHz at bhphotovideo.com: $1194. Add shipping: $119. Total = $1313. Now, there is no VAT on shipping, so, $1194 x 8 = R9552 x 14% VAT = R10889 + R300-400 (Duties) = R11189. Shipping = $119 x 8 = R952. This comes to R12141-12241.

Core price: R13999 – Import price: R12241 = R1758
That is a 14% saving.

Yes, that also means you don’t have local support, but again, even sending the computer back to the US under warranty will be much less of a pain than dealing with Core for service.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:07:46 +0000

Macwannabee

I have tried to find the import duties, it appears there are no additional duties on computer equipment (apart from the 14% VAT).

Everybody
We can whinge on this forum all we like, I think we’re better of talking to Apple themselves. Nobody else can fix the situation. I’m pretty sure that Apple will kick RJ’s butt as soon as somebody senior at Apple becomes aware of the damage he’s doing to their brand here. So lt’s start spamming Apple ASAP with all our bad experiences.

By: macwannabee

macwannabee — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:46:32 +0000

As an avid Microsoft hater. I have been waiting to buy the right mac for over a year.
I have compared pricing from many countries, and here is the following.

A macbook pro 17? with a 3.05Ghz, 500gig @7200rpm harddrive costs $2850.00 from the US website. When the US$ was 10 to 1 to the Rand a few months ago, I saw a macpro 2.66Ghz without the hectic upgrades(which are not available in SA), for GET THIS, 45000 rand. You do the math.
(28500rand for a 3ghz 17″ or a 2.66Ghz for 40 something) check it out for yourself.

The only reason I haven’t bought yet is that I can’t handle paying a rip off price and without the top of the line spec upgrades available in the US.

Unfortunately, Apple store US wont sell to anyone outside the US. So here is my solution.
1) A friend of mine will buy my mac in the US. 2)She will then courier it to Jordan where they do not charge duties on computers.
3) I will then collect it in Jordan when I go there in two weeks and then fly back to SA with it.

Admittedly, it is a long way to go about buying something. But you have to look at it this way, for the price of a mac in SA, I get to fly on a nice holiday, get a top spec mac, swim at the Dead Sea and still have money in my pocket and CORE gets nothing out of it.

As for backup, lets face it, we live in Africa. The only backup we get from anything is purely theoretical.(well I live in Zim so were used to it)

In fairness, I think Core is obligated to buy from Europe due to territorial sales agreements made before it came into business. Its Africa Europe and middle east is all one zone. Canada & US is a completely different zone with much better options and services available.

Take matters into your own hand and make a plan to get your own from the US. You’ll all wait a long time before you see any changes.

A final point: does anyone know what duties are charged to the importer. There is a chance the SA government is eating a nice chunk out of the margin.

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:20:47 +0000

dexim brand iPhone/iPod accessories

By: Sergeant Accountability

Sergeant Accountability — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:02:08 +0000

For those of you who HAVE struggled, and for all you who WILL still go through the struggle these should be useful . . .

CEO
0825536540
Rodney Ichicowitz

Operations Manager
0823256530
Nico van der Westhuizen

GM
0823226392
Greg Hill

Service Centre
0860227753

Service Center Manager
0823313620
Madelein Moolman

Apple Warranty Officer
0836073047
Paul Damhuis

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:02:40 +0000

RJ van Spaandonk.. thinks that EVERYBODY else is being unreasonable, and can't understand why Core Group is not universally praised for being 'only' 12.5% more expensive after taxes, forward cover, shoe-shines, company fishing trips and who knows what else. RJ, we're not interested in the details of how you hedge/speculate against currency. We want to know why Apple marketshare in this country trails the rest of the world, why Apple products are so much more expensive here, and why you are behaving like a monopolist by attacking parallel (aka grey) imports. Surely a larger base of Apple users in South Africa is good for your business?

By: David Donde

David Donde — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:35:25 +0000

Hi, want to discuss this on my show on Cape Talk/702 just after midnight tonight?

By: Knersus Pteranodon

Knersus Pteranodon — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:55:45 +0000

I’d like to echo DigiCape’s response. I’ve been a long-time customer of their Cape Town branch, and have been blown away by their incredible service and dedication. In fact, I don’t recall ever getting such great service from any business in SA.

The blog posts about Core’s 50% mark-up on some models infuriated me as much as any Mac enthusiast.

About the V&A Waterfront iStore in Cape Town – I was at there one evening a year ago when I walked in to window-shop. After enquiring with a sales employee about their Wacom tablet – on display next to one of their only 3 Macs on the display shelf – I got a blank look. he had to go ’round the back to check with the manager what that thing was.

To those who don’t know, Wacom tablets are popular with illustrators and graphic designers – part of the traditional Mac user-base. Not only could he not tell me what the price was, but after I enquired about a particular Wacom model not on display – the Wacom Graphire (one of only 2 models at the time), he returned from the back to tell me they couldn’t import the Wacom “Great Fire”.

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:22:20 +0000

I started a Twitition for everyone who wants to Stop Core http://twitition.com/phm3t/

By: Derrick

Derrick — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:41:40 +0000

Stuff Core – Build a Mac on a PC its a third of the price and just as good ! http://www.imakeart.net/blog/2008/02/12/how-to-build-your-own-mac/