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Foreigners getting shafted on the Iphone
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jdog2050



Joined: 17 Dec 2006

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:06 pm    Post subject: Foreigners getting shafted on the Iphone Reply with quote

Sorry for another Iphone thread but hopefully this is more interesting--

I'm already hearing reports that Foreigners are not only non-eligible for the initial pre-release, but that they will also be subject to higher pricing plans than Koreans.

First, can anyone confirm this? I'd go to an Apple store but my evening is already scheduled.

Second, if it is true, this is EXACTLY why I didn't want the Iphone to go to KT because they are the worst in terms of service for foreigners...I was really hoping for SK telecom, but that's a side issue. Let's try to get the word out and nip this garbage in the bud. I don't even really want an Iphone anymore, but this pointless game of charging foreigners more for completely suspect "reasons" has to end. Let the end begin with this stupid phone.

A good start would be to confirm this issue, email Apple, then email Gizmodo and Engadget; those are two blogs I'm sure Apple employees read.
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TheUrbanMyth



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 10:17 pm    Post subject: Re: Foreigners getting shafted on the Iphone Reply with quote

jdog2050 wrote:
Sorry for another Iphone thread but hopefully this is more interesting--

I'm already hearing reports that Foreigners are not only non-eligible for the initial pre-release, but that they will also be subject to higher pricing plans than Koreans...


Where are you hearing these "reports"?
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sendittheemail



Joined: 15 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 10:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I ordered mine on WED of last week through the KT website.

They said they would start delivery on Saturday. Today I called and asked when I might be expecting delivery and was told "Oh, you have to come in and de-activate your old phone first". I'm an existing customer. Whatever. I went in and "de-activated" my old phone.

Now I'm phoneless, and the best answer I got from KT was that "we don't really know when your phone will be delivered".

I'm not a new KT customer, so basically I had to pay off my old phone to the tune of around 600,000 (the cost was setup in installments), and then pay for the i-phone, bringing the total to around 930,000+.

I don't mind the money, and I don't mind the wait. What I do mind is when I call or ask the KT store if they know when I'll have a phone again, and then being told "We dunno". I also asked about the unlimited internet pricing plan with the i-phone, and was also told "I dunno how much it will cost".

To me it seems, if you are ready to take pre-orders (in the form of cash) from customers, you should probably KNOW how much things will cost, and when they will be delivered.

Anyhow, as a foreigner, I had no trouble ordering the i-phone, and KT had no trouble at all accepting my payment for the i-phone. Speaking Korean will help greatly, of course =) Whatever, I can't wait to throw my Samsung phone in the trash, where it belongs.
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redaxe



Joined: 01 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Foreigners getting shafted on the Iphone Reply with quote

TheUrbanMyth wrote:
jdog2050 wrote:
Sorry for another Iphone thread but hopefully this is more interesting--

I'm already hearing reports that Foreigners are not only non-eligible for the initial pre-release, but that they will also be subject to higher pricing plans than Koreans...


Where are you hearing these "reports"?


Don't you have anything better to do?
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what the thunder said



Joined: 23 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:09 pm    Post subject: Re: Foreigners getting shafted on the Iphone Reply with quote

redaxe wrote:
TheUrbanMyth wrote:
jdog2050 wrote:
Sorry for another Iphone thread but hopefully this is more interesting--

I'm already hearing reports that Foreigners are not only non-eligible for the initial pre-release, but that they will also be subject to higher pricing plans than Koreans...


Where are you hearing these "reports"?


Don't you have anything better to do?


Why are you so peeved? Honestly, it's a good question. I'm interested in getting an iphone but I'm not interested if there is some shady foreigner discrimination going on, and in order to know this, actual sources should be provided not "i heard from a friend" or "some reports."
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jdog2050



Joined: 17 Dec 2006

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:14 pm    Post subject: Re: Foreigners getting shafted on the Iphone Reply with quote

what the thunder said wrote:
redaxe wrote:
TheUrbanMyth wrote:
jdog2050 wrote:
Sorry for another Iphone thread but hopefully this is more interesting--

I'm already hearing reports that Foreigners are not only non-eligible for the initial pre-release, but that they will also be subject to higher pricing plans than Koreans...


Where are you hearing these "reports"?


Don't you have anything better to do?


Why are you so peeved? Honestly, it's a good question. I'm interested in getting an iphone but I'm not interested if there is some shady foreigner discrimination going on, and in order to know this, actual sources should be provided not "i heard from a friend" or "some reports."


Well I"m hearing this as of 9am, I'm still at work, and won't have time to look into it today. But, I'm hearing it from 3 friends, 2 on E2s, one on an E1.

If you've gotten the green light for the phone, what kind of visa are you on? I know that they (KT) still does the whole deposit thing for E2's and E1's, but not F's or E7's. Could be possible that they're applying the same BS to the Iphone.
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jdog2050



Joined: 17 Dec 2006

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

per one of my friends:

"Registered for the iphone yesterday. Let's see if I can actually get it. The guy at one of the stores I visited was basically telling me that foreigners will get the phone later, they won't be able to get the same deal as the Koreans, and we have to prove we will be in the country for a year. Which means we may or may not get it, but if we do get it, we will pay a lot more for it upfront and monthly than Koreans will"
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red_devil



Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Korea

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Let's put the rumors to rest:

Not sure how these foreigners are able to register for pre-ordering. The SHOW website doesn't allow foreigner ID numbers and if you go into a SHOW store they will tell you that foreigners aren't eligible for pre-ordering they need to buy it at the store once it comes out, and the first batch is going to pre-orderers of course. The only way these E2 holders are getting pre-registered is by using girlfriends or friends NID numbers.

There is no "foreigner rates". It's simply a 1 year plan where the foreigner needs to prepay more cash up front. More money for those that represent a greater risk. Makes total sense to me. F-Visa holders will qualify for the same plan as Koreans but you will need a KOREAN credit card.
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jdog2050



Joined: 17 Dec 2006

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

red_devil wrote:
Let's put the rumors to rest:

Not sure how these foreigners are able to register for pre-ordering. The SHOW website doesn't allow foreigner ID numbers and if you go into a SHOW store they will tell you that foreigners aren't eligible for pre-ordering they need to buy it at the store once it comes out, and the first batch is going to pre-orderers of course. The only way these E2 holders are getting pre-registered is by using girlfriends or friends NID numbers.

There is no "foreigner rates". It's simply a 1 year plan where the foreigner needs to prepay more cash up front. More money for those that represent a greater risk. Makes total sense to me. F-Visa holders will qualify for the same plan as Koreans but you will need a KOREAN credit card.


"Total risk" as regards to what? Leaving the country after BUYING the phone? Risk of not paying a bill that would expose KT to, what, 50,000 won? Wow, what a "risk" to Korea's second largest phone company...oh, but a Korean teenage student with no actual job could buy the phone just as well.

This "risk" BS for foreigners is the same garbage Korean Banks use to stop your ATM card from working overseas and "limiting" you to sending more than 10,000,000 Won back home. It's crap, and it should end.

Also, this "risk" stuff is blatantly targeted towards E1's and E2's.
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redaxe



Joined: 01 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:47 pm    Post subject: Re: Foreigners getting shafted on the Iphone Reply with quote

what the thunder said wrote:
redaxe wrote:
TheUrbanMyth wrote:
jdog2050 wrote:
Sorry for another Iphone thread but hopefully this is more interesting--

I'm already hearing reports that Foreigners are not only non-eligible for the initial pre-release, but that they will also be subject to higher pricing plans than Koreans...


Where are you hearing these "reports"?


Don't you have anything better to do?


Why are you so peeved? Honestly, it's a good question. I'm interested in getting an iphone but I'm not interested if there is some shady foreigner discrimination going on, and in order to know this, actual sources should be provided not "i heard from a friend" or "some reports."


I take it you and TheUrbanMyth aren't well acquainted. His chief pastime is going through all the threads and demanding source citations for any statement that could be construed as directly or indirectly critical of Korea, and trying to discredit the writer.
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Old Gil



Joined: 26 Sep 2009
Location: Got out! olleh!

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

^
Do you have a source for that?
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runthegauntlet



Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Location: the southlands.

PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jdog2050 wrote:


This "risk" BS for foreigners is the same garbage Korean Banks use to stop your ATM card from working overseas and "limiting" you to sending more than 10,000,000 Won back home. It's crap, and it should end.

Also, this "risk" stuff is blatantly targeted towards E1's and E2's.


You're going to the wrong banks. I've never had those 'limitations'.
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Xuanzang



Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang

PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

runthegauntlet wrote:
jdog2050 wrote:


This "risk" BS for foreigners is the same garbage Korean Banks use to stop your ATM card from working overseas and "limiting" you to sending more than 10,000,000 Won back home. It's crap, and it should end.

Also, this "risk" stuff is blatantly targeted towards E1's and E2's.


You're going to the wrong banks. I've never had those 'limitations'.


Considering 5/7 of the major banks enforce BS and false bank regulations. You got lucky then.
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crossmr



Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jdog2050 wrote:
red_devil wrote:
Let's put the rumors to rest:

Not sure how these foreigners are able to register for pre-ordering. The SHOW website doesn't allow foreigner ID numbers and if you go into a SHOW store they will tell you that foreigners aren't eligible for pre-ordering they need to buy it at the store once it comes out, and the first batch is going to pre-orderers of course. The only way these E2 holders are getting pre-registered is by using girlfriends or friends NID numbers.

There is no "foreigner rates". It's simply a 1 year plan where the foreigner needs to prepay more cash up front. More money for those that represent a greater risk. Makes total sense to me. F-Visa holders will qualify for the same plan as Koreans but you will need a KOREAN credit card.


"Total risk" as regards to what? Leaving the country after BUYING the phone? Risk of not paying a bill that would expose KT to, what, 50,000 won? Wow, what a "risk" to Korea's second largest phone company...oh, but a Korean teenage student with no actual job could buy the phone just as well.

This "risk" BS for foreigners is the same garbage Korean Banks use to stop your ATM card from working overseas and "limiting" you to sending more than 10,000,000 Won back home. It's crap, and it should end.

Also, this "risk" stuff is blatantly targeted towards E1's and E2's.

If you get a phone price on a 2 year contract and skip out on the second year, you're buying that phone at a reduced rate. Unless foreigners get the phone on the first day of their contracts (if they're E2s) their contract will be up before their phone contract is. That is a risk for the company since there is something like a 50% turnover rate on E2s.
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GwangjuParents



Joined: 31 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe the Telecom companies took a look at the Seoul Metro Police internet message board designed to help foreigners ask questions to the police...

Maybe after reading 20 posts on the Police community liaison message forum about being "cockblocked", they decided that most English teachers aren't worth the bother...
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