Whenever Apple releases a new smartphone or device, sharks circle around, trying to make a killing off Apple fanboys and fangirls who must absolutely have that new Apple thingamajig TODAY. Well, Groupon is one of them. They have just announced their own iPhone 5c deal - RM 2,199 (US$ 699) for the 16 GB iPhone 5c. As you know, the new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c smartphones are not slated for release in Malaysia any time soon. So Apple fans who cannot or will not make the short trip to Singapore now have the chance to own the latest, greatest Apple iPhone 5c without waiting for the official launch with the hoi polloi. But is it really a good deal? Well, Apple's pricing is pretty standard. RM 2,199 is the usual price for the 16 GB version of the LATEST high-end iPhone model, which would be the iPhone 5 (right now) and eventually, the iPhone 5s. Although Apple has not announced any pricing for Malaysia yet, the iPhone 5c is officially $100 cheaper than the iPhone 5s. So when it is eventually launched in Malaysia, we predict the 16 GB version will cost only RM 1,899 (US$ 599) or possibly even RM 1,879 due to the weaker ringgit. By paying Groupon RM 2,199 (US$ 699) for the iPhone 5c, you are actually paying a premium of RM 300-320 (US$ 100). It would be cheaper to just hop over to Singapore and buy the iPhone 5c yourself, or get a Singaporean relative to buy it for you and ship it to you! In addition, since the iPhone 5c has not been launched in Malaysia, you will receive NO SUPPORT from Apple or any of their authorized partners if you have a problem with your iPhone 5c. That's why Groupon is backing up their iPhone 5c smartphones with THEIR OWN WARRANTY. The reality is that all Apple iPhones come with international warranty of 1 year, so you can get it repaired or serviced anywhere around the world without any issue, as long as that Apple has officially launched that iPhone model in that particular country. So what Groupon is doing with regards to warranty issues for the iPhone 5c that they sell is collect those phones and send them over the Causeway to Singapore for servicing / repair. Needless to say, this is not very ideal as it entails additional downtime for the user. So, no matter how we look at it, this Groupon Malaysia deal is a NO DEAL. If you are seriously considering it or have already plunked money down on it, you, my friend, are 101% an Apple fanboy/fangirl!
