Android News
Rumor: Google Nexus One to be delayed for Vodafone
March 15, 2010 | by Chris Smith
Carriers, HTC-Nexus One, Rumors
Anyone in the UK that has been waiting for a duty-free Nexus One to be launched this month may be in for a bit of bad news. According to the Inquirer, Google themselves has delayed the launch of the Nexus One on the Vodafone network. The device is still available for UK consumers but they will have to pay for the tax on top of the phone’s cost.
The Nexus One has had it’s fair share of problems, from customer service woes to hardware issues to cut sales forcasts; it seems that this delay is just par for the course. It is somewhat surprising how many problems have followed the Nexus One launch, especially how Google made it out to be their “super phone”. With a device that is so important, one would think Google would treat it as such. It may be a testament to the notion that Google shouldn’t have gotten into the hardware business, or that this is just the first try of many hardware launches in the future.
With Vodafone working on offering the HTC Legend soon (possibly April) it may be “too little, too late” for the N1 in the UK. And with the break-neck pace of Android devices being released with the latest/greatest hardware, UK consumers that have been waiting for the N1 could turn their attention to the next shiny, new Android device, making this delay not even matter.
Via [Inquirer]
There isn't any 'tax' to pay, there's no customs duty on phones. There will be VAT, but you can bet that Vodafone aren't going to swallow that cost for you when they import it. Plus they, as with many retailers, like to make a profit of their own for their trouble.
I bet it'll be more expensive to buy direct in the UK from Voda than it is to import it now and pay the shipping and VAT yourself.
According to the Nexus One help site there is the VAT of 17.5% that you are talking about plus a "6.5% duty may apply to some items" in the order. That sounds a little wishy-washy, but it does mean that there may be a duty added.
I hope that Voda doesn't make it more expensive than importing it. That will surely be a mistake.
Yeah its very hard to find out what customs duty charges are… the website runs you around a bit teasing you with a list before ending in a phone number. I phoned up and was told phones do not have duty payable.
According to modaco UK forums some people have been charged just VAT, and some VAT + 6.5%, suggestions are that DHL might have labelled things up wrong or just assumed there would be a charge, and that 6.5% should be able to be claimed back if you query it. Only a few people seem to have been that unlucky though.
Ha. Have you not heard of 'rip off Britain'!? I would almost guarantee that the 'Pay as you go' handset price from Vodafone will be more than the current price if you buy from Google yourself.
Unless Google set up some sort of UK branch/distribution centre, which will then have nothing to do with Vodafone, just lower the shipping cost and charge VAT upfront.
As an example of 'rip off Britain', have a look at expansys.com – its £609.99!!
I'm certainly going to consider importing my next PAYG handset from the US for that sort of saving.
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