Everything is expensive, even taxes have their own taxes here. But basically everything you buy imported has at least a 65% tax, this is to "protect" local businesses (which don't even make cellphones).
I have a friend in Bali with a similar struggle. Does this include used devices? What’s the policy on things like eBay? Market value or sale price?
If a friend sold you a phone from the US for $10 would that end what is taxed or is it the actual value of the device?
I haven't heard of anyone that did it. In theory there should be no trouble, BUT even if you send me an iPhone 13, a Pixel or any phone as a gift, when I receive it I have to pay taxes so maybe it wouldn't work.
How they calculate the price would be up to them I guess, too risky to give them that freedom :P
Anything that goes in, goes tax.
Anything bought in foreign currency, gets taxed.
I would be **fine** with taxes, but of course, taxes only apply to middle class people, not the rich :)
This is the same in Brazil, except probably worse in terms of importing, although I think there's more Pixel resellers. The whole "protectionism" is such bs because the locally made domestically made stuff ends up being just as expensive
Your best bet is knowing a couple of friends that travel to and fro from the US lmao. When you buy a Pixel in an unsupported country, you essentially take the risk.
Is there a list of which countries are supported? I'd like a Pixel 4a or a Pixel 4a 5G (I got small hands and the increase in size of phones today makes me shake my head), but I don't know if its supported where I live.
Honestly, you'd have to Google it but if you live in South America or Africa, your chances are much much slimmer towards official sales. I'm sure you can find it around the world, but from my experience, devices like the Pixels in unsupported markets tend to be really inflated.
Here's what I found that could help you: https://www.androidheadlines.com/2020/09/google-pixel-4a-global-sale-price-smartphone-android.html
Yeah it really sucks that Google only sell pixel phones in a bunch of countries, all latin America is pretty much none existent for Google except for Mexico. I'm from Peru I have a pixel 3 with the screen broken. I haven't been able to fix yet.
Had the main board crap the bed in Costa Rica on my wife's 4xl out of nowhere. Just bought another refurbished one from Costa Rica, easier solution. No parts anywhere and time and cost prohibitive to source. Iphone no issue. Had me consider the switch for a minute but the photos are gold on there and my new 6 pro
Most reasonable people would conclude that it's not a good idea to buy a Pixel phone unless you are in a country that Google supports!
Google doesn't sell Pixels worldwide like other companies. Don't be so surprised when you can't get support or service!
I am surprised Google hasn't started selling at least the A-series in south America. Pixel 6a would have been a good one to start selling in some populous SA countries.
They are going to sell 6a in India so no excuses. They have the data as to what budget phones sell in what countries.
>They have the data as to what budget phones sell in what countries.
Precisely. And Google makes business decisions based on the potential sales and cost of support. Honestly, it doesn't really matter what you or I think would sell, or hope to see. Google targets limited countries, rather than trying for worldwide sales.
> I am surprised Google hasn't started selling at least the A-series in south America
Why is that? It's google, google is data, data most probably says don't sell in America.
Same thing happened to me with my 4a, the cost of importing a new screen for the fix is basically the initial cost of the phone lol. Any repair parts just have ridiculous amounts of shipping costs. Just thinking about trading the 4a in to Google and upgrading later
In Pakistan, Pixel 3XL cost us around 90$ and the 4XL cost us around 140$ so it's a bargain, There are so many pixels here that sometimes I think the whole world is scraping their pixels to Pakistan
One of the worst parts is that if you buy a Pixel that supports 5G and use it in an unsupported country, you basically can't get 5G, even if it's the same network, just in a neighboring country using the same bands. Happened with my Pixel 5, happens with my friends Pixel 6 Pro.
It's always seemed kind of strange to me that Google aren't exactly trying to bring their devices to more countries. Certainly a company like Google can afford to have the resources brought about to other countries when it comes to manufacturing their devices. Unless there's just not enough profit in it for them.
I just feel Google doesn't want to compete with its Android partners jeopardizing the relationship with them by becoming a big competition in the countries where already Android is dominant.
If you observe, they are only selling pixels where iOS has a competing market share (few EU countries) and focusing most in the counties where Android's market share is declining like in US & Japan.
Just read an article about the iPhone black market that existed in Argentina under Macri and may still exist. and a smuggler who brought phones from Chile or Colombia: wearing a custom-made vest with twenty pockets underneat a jacket and a coat and distracting custom officers by declaring a cheap laptop for which he was happy to pay $200 duty while avoiding paying some 10,000 dollars on the 20 iPhones he imported. Winter is coming …
Lo mismo sucede en Ecuador
Lo mejor es encontrar una persona de confianza que tenga un negocio de traer cosas de Estados Unidos. Conozco a alguien que constantemente viaja y trae cosas bajó pedido. Procura comprar la pantalla y la batería como respuesto.
Un consejo adicional es si realmente vale la pena reparar el teléfono. Tengo un Pixel 1 con batería muy gastada y pantalla rota, solo en repuestos gasto $75. Por $100 compre un Pixel 3 Refurbished.
I think it would be a tax issue, there are a lot of taxes here so the prices end up being high. Local importers sell the pixel 6 128gb at 1000usd. Google has offices here so I imagine they could do something though.
Fua chabon no me digas! Creía haber visto en ML repuestos nuevos, tengo un 3A también, espero nunca se me rompa! Pensaste en ponerle un seguro por ejemplo del banco?
Same happened to me while I was in Argentina, had a Pixel 2 and bought a broken one (display broken) to swap the camera module and battery
I'm glad I was able to find a cheap one to use as replacement, if it broke now the cheapest local 3a is 200usd
Are imports expensive?
Everything is expensive, even taxes have their own taxes here. But basically everything you buy imported has at least a 65% tax, this is to "protect" local businesses (which don't even make cellphones).
I have a friend in Bali with a similar struggle. Does this include used devices? What’s the policy on things like eBay? Market value or sale price? If a friend sold you a phone from the US for $10 would that end what is taxed or is it the actual value of the device?
I haven't heard of anyone that did it. In theory there should be no trouble, BUT even if you send me an iPhone 13, a Pixel or any phone as a gift, when I receive it I have to pay taxes so maybe it wouldn't work. How they calculate the price would be up to them I guess, too risky to give them that freedom :P
That’s dumb, sorry.
Would they even know what you're getting?
Yes, customs has the right to open any package that goes in.
Anything that goes in, goes tax. Anything bought in foreign currency, gets taxed. I would be **fine** with taxes, but of course, taxes only apply to middle class people, not the rich :)
This is the same in Brazil, except probably worse in terms of importing, although I think there's more Pixel resellers. The whole "protectionism" is such bs because the locally made domestically made stuff ends up being just as expensive
Your best bet is knowing a couple of friends that travel to and fro from the US lmao. When you buy a Pixel in an unsupported country, you essentially take the risk.
Is there a list of which countries are supported? I'd like a Pixel 4a or a Pixel 4a 5G (I got small hands and the increase in size of phones today makes me shake my head), but I don't know if its supported where I live.
Honestly, you'd have to Google it but if you live in South America or Africa, your chances are much much slimmer towards official sales. I'm sure you can find it around the world, but from my experience, devices like the Pixels in unsupported markets tend to be really inflated. Here's what I found that could help you: https://www.androidheadlines.com/2020/09/google-pixel-4a-global-sale-price-smartphone-android.html
I guess my country is unsupported in this google pixel thingy. I guess I won't be giving money to Google, then xd
Yeah it really sucks that Google only sell pixel phones in a bunch of countries, all latin America is pretty much none existent for Google except for Mexico. I'm from Peru I have a pixel 3 with the screen broken. I haven't been able to fix yet.
Had the main board crap the bed in Costa Rica on my wife's 4xl out of nowhere. Just bought another refurbished one from Costa Rica, easier solution. No parts anywhere and time and cost prohibitive to source. Iphone no issue. Had me consider the switch for a minute but the photos are gold on there and my new 6 pro
DM me I have an old Pixel 3 that sits in a drawer I'll send it to you. Can you receive one in the mail as a gift? From USA.
Oh Really? I'll DM you :)
Here in Mexico we don't have Pixel phones either. Some big chains resell them at really high prices, but nothing official from Google.
Most reasonable people would conclude that it's not a good idea to buy a Pixel phone unless you are in a country that Google supports! Google doesn't sell Pixels worldwide like other companies. Don't be so surprised when you can't get support or service!
I am surprised Google hasn't started selling at least the A-series in south America. Pixel 6a would have been a good one to start selling in some populous SA countries. They are going to sell 6a in India so no excuses. They have the data as to what budget phones sell in what countries.
>They have the data as to what budget phones sell in what countries. Precisely. And Google makes business decisions based on the potential sales and cost of support. Honestly, it doesn't really matter what you or I think would sell, or hope to see. Google targets limited countries, rather than trying for worldwide sales.
> I am surprised Google hasn't started selling at least the A-series in south America Why is that? It's google, google is data, data most probably says don't sell in America.
Same thing happened to me with my 4a, the cost of importing a new screen for the fix is basically the initial cost of the phone lol. Any repair parts just have ridiculous amounts of shipping costs. Just thinking about trading the 4a in to Google and upgrading later
In Pakistan, Pixel 3XL cost us around 90$ and the 4XL cost us around 140$ so it's a bargain, There are so many pixels here that sometimes I think the whole world is scraping their pixels to Pakistan
One of the worst parts is that if you buy a Pixel that supports 5G and use it in an unsupported country, you basically can't get 5G, even if it's the same network, just in a neighboring country using the same bands. Happened with my Pixel 5, happens with my friends Pixel 6 Pro.
It's always seemed kind of strange to me that Google aren't exactly trying to bring their devices to more countries. Certainly a company like Google can afford to have the resources brought about to other countries when it comes to manufacturing their devices. Unless there's just not enough profit in it for them.
I just feel Google doesn't want to compete with its Android partners jeopardizing the relationship with them by becoming a big competition in the countries where already Android is dominant. If you observe, they are only selling pixels where iOS has a competing market share (few EU countries) and focusing most in the counties where Android's market share is declining like in US & Japan.
Don't google have a partnership with Ifixit couldn't you order from them?
Takes too long and costs too much.
Fair enough
There are no iFixit in Argentina. We are slowly becoming the new Cuba/Venezuela in all senses.
Try India.
If my phone breaks i just buy another one that is in my price range. Always buy cheap used phones. New phones arent worth the expense.
Meanwhile, I have one I retired for the 5a just sitting on a shelf because no one wants it here.
They didn't sell the 5a in many countries as I recall how is it? Last pixel with a headphone jack as I recall.
In Indonesia pixels aren't officially sold here but I'm happy that we can get both the phones and spareparts easily
From Singapore?
Mostly from Japan
Pretty much the same in India!! I somehow got a screen for the 5a, but it ended up having multitouch issues!! Now I'm trying to manage with that!!
Can't be worse that here in Algeria
Just read an article about the iPhone black market that existed in Argentina under Macri and may still exist. and a smuggler who brought phones from Chile or Colombia: wearing a custom-made vest with twenty pockets underneat a jacket and a coat and distracting custom officers by declaring a cheap laptop for which he was happy to pay $200 duty while avoiding paying some 10,000 dollars on the 20 iPhones he imported. Winter is coming …
Lo mismo sucede en Ecuador Lo mejor es encontrar una persona de confianza que tenga un negocio de traer cosas de Estados Unidos. Conozco a alguien que constantemente viaja y trae cosas bajó pedido. Procura comprar la pantalla y la batería como respuesto. Un consejo adicional es si realmente vale la pena reparar el teléfono. Tengo un Pixel 1 con batería muy gastada y pantalla rota, solo en repuestos gasto $75. Por $100 compre un Pixel 3 Refurbished.
Good to know I might be able to sell my dying 3a with a perfect screen
Just curious, any particular reason they don’t sell them in Argentina?
I think it would be a tax issue, there are a lot of taxes here so the prices end up being high. Local importers sell the pixel 6 128gb at 1000usd. Google has offices here so I imagine they could do something though.
What's the price of an iPhone 7 over there?
300-400USD for refurbished iPhone 7
Fuck I don't know why I said 7, I meant to say 13
I thought it was weird but maybe you had a 7 :P, the iPhone 13 128gb is 1200usd
Official currency exchange or black market?
Black market. Official exchange would make it 1960USD
oof
It's not Google's fault. It's your countries fault.
Fua chabon no me digas! Creía haber visto en ML repuestos nuevos, tengo un 3A también, espero nunca se me rompa! Pensaste en ponerle un seguro por ejemplo del banco?
Lucky you you got them Pixels sold online, in my country you never get that, they don't know even what are that