Is Ipad 4 Available In Thailand?

[wpcoe]

I was idly browsing at the IT City store in Hua Hin a week ago and saw iPads on display and picked up a flier for "The new iPad" for B16,500 (16GB WiFi only). They also had a 16GB WiFi iPad2 on display for B13,500.

After I got home I realized the "new iPad" on display had the old power connector, not the new, smaller Lightning adapter, so that must be an iPad 3, no?

I googled "Apple Thailand" and following links was lead to http://store.apple.c...pad/family/ipad, which mentions the A6X processor & the Lightning connector, so that must be the iPad 4, no? (It shows B16,500 for 16GB, WiFi only)

[begin mini-rant]

On the IT City flier is a URL: www.itcity.com/apple. The itcity.com domain appears to be publicly available, it is *not* IT City's web site. <sigh>

I googled "IT City Thailand" and the first link was http://www.itcity.co.th --> "Under construction" <sigh>

Back to Google results, and I followed the "Promotions" link, got a live page, and put "Apple" in the search box. Lead to: http://www.itcity.co...ufacturers_id=1 --> a page with original iPads, and the iPad 2 starting at B15,900. Obviously an outdated page <sigh>

[/end mini-rant]

My understanding is the online Apple store items are shipped from Singapore. Are there stores in Thailand that sell the iPad 4, or are they only available from the online Apple store, shipped via Singapore? I'll be in Bangkok in about a week, and it would be nice to know where to look.

Edited December 18, 2012 by wpcoe

[Somtamnication]

All shops have them now. I see them everywhere. If you see the 6x chip on the box, then that is it.

[wpcoe]

Okay, thanks! I guess I found the one place displaying an iPad 3 as "The New iPad." But, based on the odyssey I embarked on their web site, I guess that's par for their course. I'm off to the Market Village Mall in Hua Hin this afternoon and will nose around in the computer area.

[wpcoe]

Found the iPad 4 locally at PowerBuy and Banana IT. I didn't bring enough cash and spent more than I had intended at other stores, so will return to buy one.

At PowerBuy they had an iPad Mini, Ipad 2 and two iPad 3s on display. After a while, a clerk came over to pester assist me, so I asked if they had iPad 4, and "Yes, we have. Not on display, but many in stock." Go figure. I've been here long enough to not question why they don't display the flagship product.

If the Nexus 10 were available here, I'd have a tough time choosing between the two. The Nexus has faster processor but slower graphics, and has a customizable home screen. The iPad has a larger selection of tablet apps, and apps in general. Chris Pirillo has a great YouTube review comparing/contrasting the two. Luckily for me there is only one choice in Thailand: iPad 4.

[edited to add, after reading the iPhone 5 thread:]

Ooooh. I forgot about a VAT refund. I'll probably be departing within 60 days on an overseas trip.

For some reason I thought living here on a long-term visa/extension I would be excluded from the VAT tax refund, but per these pages:

http://download.rd.g...?id_article_=18

http://download.rd.g...?id_article_=16

I don't see that I would be ineligible. Anybody have experience with this?

Edited December 19, 2012 by wpcoe

[Somtamnication]

Friend of mine got me one on his 6 month payment plan. Got it yesterday. What a marvel of a product. Had the ipad 1 for 2 years and loved it. (Hate the iphone, got an SGS2). This ipad is extraordinary.

The usual complaint is still about the walled garden. I cannot print to my networked printer and bluetooth from samsung to ios does nothing for transfers.

Anyways, if you find the ipad4, you will be happier than a pig in shit.

[lomatopo]

I think the store.apple.com/th fulfills orders in Singapore but ships product from mainland China. At least that's what several with experience have posted here.

The iPad 4/16 GB/WiFi only version is 16,500 THB all in via the on-line store. It does include all taxes and shipping but you cannot get any VAT back via this channel.

To get the 7% VAT back you'll have to buy from a store which offers this service, which tends to be the larger retailers. Note sure what the MSRP is on this model?

Note that iStudios have a promotion on now, but not sure of you can get VAT back from them on this promotion. They have the iPad4/32 GB/WiFi only marked down from 19,500 to 17,500

http://www.macthai.c...-บา/

Re: VAT back at the airport, some have reported success with a long-stay visa, but many of the published regulations, available in English, indicate otherwise. As with all things, YMMV.

Edited December 20, 2012 by lomatopo

[wpcoe]

Note that iStudios have a promotion on now, but not sure of you can get VAT back from them on this promotion. They have the iPad4/32 GB/WiFi only marked down from 19,500 to 17,500

Hey, that is a good deal. Only B1,000 to double the storage from 16GB to 32GB. I think there's an iStudio store at the MV Mall in Hua Hin. (There's some Apple-looking shop there...)

Re: VAT back at the airport, some have reported success with a long-stay visa, but many of the published regulations, available in English, indicate otherwise. As with all things, YMMV.

Yes, I noticed various web sites saying that to qualify the purchaser must have spent less than 180 days in Thailand the previous year, but yet the official site -- the pages I linked -- make no such reference.

I was planning to buy one at PowerBuy, which I assume participates in the VAT Refund plan, but now think I will head over to iStudio (if there in fact is one in Hua Hin). If I get rejected for the refund at BKK airport, so be it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, but if it works, it would be a sweet bonus.

Hmmm, I just noticed that the macthai.com link has a date of 29/07/2012 (both in the URL and on the web page itself) which pre-dates the existence of the iPad 4. Running the page through Google Translate, one paragraph starts: "IStudio by CopperWired way to organize promotional discount is 20% -70% - 5 August only"

I wonder when that sale ends? If there is no iStudio here in Hua Hin, I'll be in Bangkok next week.

---

[edited to add:] My optimism about the sale is waning. I googled "Copperwire" and found this page for iPad and this page for promotions, and don't see any sale prices for any iPad...

Edited December 20, 2012 by wpcoe

[wpcoe]

The Apple-type store in Hua Hin is an "iBeat by comseven" and the iPads are not on sale there:

I will be in Bangkok in a few days, and will check at an iStudio store and see if they have it on sale.

FYI, it's not readable on the image I uploaded, but at the bottom of the display, it says: "Get two years of service and expert telephone technical support from your hardware product's original purchase date for just $XX.XX with the AppleCare Protection Plan for iPad."

Wow, only $XX.XX!

For those looking for iPad Mini, both the iBeat store and Power Buy in Hua Hin have them in stock.