Easy Come, Easy Go
Being the tech geek I am, I got all flustered and *wet* while I learnt there was an easy-to-follow, step-by-step unlock for the Apple iPhone, and that I could get a hold of the Apple iPhone direct from its US web store, ship it via vPost directly into my hands. AHEAD of its official SG release at an unknown date/month in 2008!
So on Sept 18, I did exactly that. Placed my order via vConcierge, since Apple US only accepts US credit cards, and vConcierge is a service that "buys" items from such stores on your behalf(at a fee of course) and ships it back via vPost (at another fee).
So here's the timeline in brief: (vPost should PAY me for this)
- 18 Sept: Submitted request to vCon to buy 8gig refurbished Apple iPhone from Apple Store US
- 18 Sept: Received reply from vCon with charges (S$20.38 + 5.1% of invoice value) and requesting confirmation to proceed & make payment.
- 18 Sept: Payment made without hesitation! (Cost: S$588 - Refurb iPhone @ US$349 + vCon charge)
- 19 Sept: vCon makes order with Apple Store US
- 19-20 Sept: Purchased clear acrylic case from ebay for iPhone. Case is shipped from seller.
- 22 Sept: Refurbished iPhone arrives at vPost center in Oregon.
- 22-23 Sept: Weekend! Boohoo...iPhone does not move an inch closer to my hands
- 24 Sept: vPost bills shipping charge of S$19.65 + GST of S$37.73 = $57.58
- 24 Sept: Shipping charges paid without hesitation so as not to delay delivery a second longer!
- 25 Sept: Item is shipped from Oregon enroute to SG (I presume...becos no info is given on its whereabouts until it arrives in SG on...)
- 29 Sept: Item arrives in SG Speedpost Processing Centre
- 29-30 Sept: zzz...shouldn't the postal service operate on weekends? Esp. if the service sells itself as being SPEEDy??
- 2 Oct: Item delivered...Hallelujah! Its in my hands! FINALLY!
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. - 10 Oct: iPhone sold @ S$810. It was fun while it lasted...
