If you’ve bought a car from BeForward before (not too sure how many HAVEN’T) but you’ll be pleased to know the largest car dealer selling cars to Africa is now selling laptops.
Yes, you know them for being one of the largest (if not the largest) online used car sales websites, sending hundreds of thousands of vehicles to Africa annually and have undoubtedly gained the trust of users and followers. If you look at almost every Japanese car that is in Zimbabwe right now you’re bound to see a black and orange sticker written BeForward.
Well, they’ve decided to take it up a notch. BeForward have realised that the need is greater than just used cars (I haven’t seen a motorbike or quad-bike listed on their website, guess the Japanese are a bit cautious) and are now selling used laptops!!!
The well known car dealer has seen an opportunity to build on the relationships of their following by adding these digital products into the fray (hand clap).
How to buy laptops from BeForward
The logistics are a lot similar to how they sell their cars. You search for the product that you want, select it and add it to your cart, then you check out when you’re done choosing.
A proforma invoice is then emailed to you that requires you to make your way to the bank (no VISA, MasterCard or even PayPal payments just yet, even though we can now pay using PayPal in Zimbabwe we’ll have to wait for other services to start using our account) and do a telegraphic transfer. Once payment has been made within 48 hours from the proforma being sent, they “pack your product with insulation and shock resistance and hand in your goods to DHL“.
No mention is made as to how long it will take to get to Zimbabwe but they do state that they’ll give you the DHL tracking number once it’s left their hands so that you can keep track of your order. Fair enough.
Should you buy laptops from BeForward?
Though this is early days yet, my main reason why you should hold on to your cash and not buy laptops from BeForward just yet is pricing.
With laptops priced at between $200 and $400 at the former Ximex Mall-area (a shopping complex in Harare where cellphone traders buy and sell their wares)Â for second hand ones (I will not answer the moral blameworthiness of buying from such places) and $400 – $750 for a well spec’d laptop in Harare, getting a laptop from BeForward is very expensive.
Though on face value, it looks cheap, a low spec’d brand new laptop goes for as little as $350, but this is before the $30-$40 that banks charge you to do a Telegraphic Transfer (please someone briing BitCoin to Zimbabwe!), then they have a flat fee of $150 for shipping (they don’t really state what weight this is for, as it surely will be cheaper to buy them in quantity.
Conclusion
It is a great initiative to see BeForward (renowned for used car sales) stepping into the laptop arena. This didn’t seem an obvious to me, sure, car parts or car accessories is the way to go, no? This is an interesting pivot, though for now I wouldn’t recommend anyone to take up this offer, especially since these devices are readily available in Zimbabwe.
Would you buy a laptop from BeForward? How price sensitive are you? Any particular way that they should adjust to make this offer more lucrative? Are options for buying laptops like Zimbo Shopper better?
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44 comments
Nice catch William – but this is incredibly over priced! My runner in SA can do much better, I can do much better using the Herald or Classifieds.co.zw I see no appeal for going this route! At those prices I am going straight to the likes of Solution Cent. or Arkmate or whoever respective dealer is for the brand I am chasing! Even the Econet Franchise Shops are cheaper than this and they give me in store swop for defective items! Imagine the horror should that laptop arrive and the hard drive is not working or a ram chip failed the 1 in 100000 failures that occur. Thanks but no thanks be forward.
When the laptops cost a dollar and shipping is $150 then I will be interested! $250 for a core 2? SMH
Thanks for the read Fourwallsinaroom.
Yes there is also the risk of getting a defective gadget and it being very costly to repair, while Japan is not a kombi-ride away…
Specs are also very poor on the devices that they have listed, devices that are readily available locally for that matter. Wait and see for you? Or would you just walk along?
As a tech / IT person I tend to shop around. Lately some of my favourite stores are Gold Tech and Spell Bound Gold Tech is flexible if the owners / managers are there usually willing to knock of a dollar here and there. Spell bound will bring to spec. If Be Forward can do something where there is a local shop and at the right price I would walk in and take a look.
I am thinking two scenarios here :-
1. They have identified a niche market where people will accept these crazy prices (Zim is not one of them)
2. The used devices are ex be forward devices and staff are also allowed to supply and sell on there
just another thought!
True, we are a very price sensitive market and these prices are prohibitive. Not too sure if they selling ex-staff equipment, but the prices (maybe because we don’t readily access cars as opposed to laptops locally) are nowhere close to the “great deals” that they give with their cars!
Hy am looking for mini laptop hw march in zimbabwe
Thanks for the new deal. I want to know if its possible to buy cameras from Japan in short video equipments
expensive, and considering Dhl wil make you pay duty again. This is Jst messed up.
Thanks for your comment Thabiso. Yes there is the duty aspect as well, though it will actually be ZIMRA that will be charging and not DHL, but same difference hey.
How can BeForward improve on such?
I dont know how many recall the DHL double charging scam that was in the press around April? Sunday mail quote
“COURIER service provider DHL Zimbabwe has been sucked into a scandal in which the company is being accused of fleecing scores of unsuspecting Zimbabweans of substantial sums of money by charging unjustified clearance fees for parcels that would have already been paid for by the sender.”
I wonder what the conclusion was! if it was never resolved you are looking at another $50-$120 over the $150. If my math serves me right thats $270 tops which is a laptop from laptop place in harare!
True Fourwallsinaroom, it would be great to know the full upfront cost of the device, so that you don’t get shocked by any new invoices once your goods have arrived. If you have already invested $500 to land your laptop here (at about the same price in the shop) it becomes painful to then find out you have to pay an extra fee for XYZ (though from the ZIMRA website you should only be charge VAT, do factor that into your costings) and after having already laid down $500 on the table you have no option but to pay
wow talk about ripping people off!.
We are the biggest reseller of Asus in Zimbabwe and our prices are way cheaper.
check our site for compassion
http://www.zelpac.co.zw
How are your online purchases paid for? Visa, Master, Zimswitch, Ecocash?
We are in the process of integrating the webdev paynow system.
at the moment we accept:
RTGS
Ecocash
pay on delivery (we do deliver free of charge in Harare, or use Swift for out of town deliveries)
Thanks for the read and comment Duwayne. Who do we forward the invoice to for referrals gained? 😉
William Be Forward already offers car parts! They sent out an email a couple of weeks back saying they can ship original OEM parts for any car bought from them. You give them your BF number etc and they will sell them to you. Apparently now they ship to Dar Es Salaam only so there is the logistics nightmare unless maybe one can have someone already going there picking up the parts?
Thanks for that tip “Cool Guy”. I seem to have missed that email.
I do have an ex-Be Forward vehicle, but mine was bought from someone who imported it, so don’t have access to the BF number. Would be great if they requested the engine or chassis number. Shipping to Tanzania is a bit of a bother.
But we digress…. About the laptops
BeForward now doing laptops hey? So, would I have to pick up the laptop from Dar / Durban / Maputo?
Hi there Mhof,
Thanks for reading.
No, they will send it to you via DHL (hopefully that will be your doorstep). Though there is the added aspect of ZIMRA duty that will need to be paid for.
he he he! Not sure if you were serious or joking either way I had a good chuckle!
Yeah, NEVER use DHL.
According to ZIMRA, there are no taxes on computers… someone correct me here.
Like Fourwalls said, Better use a runner to SA and give them a “lil something” which will still amount to far less than the Beforward cost + potential stress + regret + repairs or disposing(at worst)
I wouldnt buy. But if you are desperate and it is not a long term investment(~1.5yrs) and its cheaper than local market, buy then. If its a means to an urgent end, one has no choice.
Do not touch pre-owned laptops. If you can avoid them please do. If buying, buy from a refurbishing company where it has some sort of support or warranty a
Confirmed: http://goo.gl/LfVBv2
No taxes.
But DHL will LIE to you and tell you you were charged duty. Sneaky bastards! They did the same for books I was importing for a sibling when we ordered, including shipment and customs! I had a bit of relief when I saw that my embarassing tantrum was justified. They think we’re all rich buggers who pick their teeth with diamonds… nc!
Well the ZIMRA website does state that there is VAT, 15% this end of the world, and that wil be on total cost of the consignment, including shipping.
However, I’m not too sure on the books saga, as I’m not qualified to speak on that. Would be interesting if someone from ZIMRA or DHL (or any shipping company for that matter in Zimbabwe) can comment on this
Customs duty is not and should not be charged.
DHL issue was covered and investigated by Gvt
http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/dhl-in-double-charging-scam/
http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/shamu-investigating-dhl-over-charging-scam/
http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/shipping-association-fights-in-dhls-corner/
Thanks for the comments tinm@n.
Yes, pre-owned laptops are a tricky affair, people are advised to tread cautiously when it comes to buying them.
My advice on pre owned laptop is that dont pay for an electronic gadget that you have not personally tested. Be Forward has to reduces the prices to as low as $50 depending on the specs, taking into consideration cost of shipping, handling etc. Honestly i would never pay more than $300 for a used laptop.
true i bought a phone i lost $1200 factering e duty whereas here in Zimbabwe it was selling @800 by that tym
i like the products
William Chui I would like to know if one can buy a phone from be forward
iam glad you guys are selling laptops i will buy one for my son soon.
I need to know can one also purchase a
used mobile phone ??
of course i need a mobile phone
They are selling all the products cheaper than last year…
its awesome….
how reliable is this source of buying.???? will the goods truly reach my destination
Are you just selling laptops only?if not what other products are you selling?
Guys this is just too much for us zims in south africa.Order your laptop from me from as little as 180us. everythiing included. You pay when you receive your machinemWe supply desk tops and laptops. Call t27787579622. Give your order and we supply .Note that these machines will have cclean papers although they are used
Wat about someone in Lusaka Zambia wants to buy laptop using kwacha ,u can him give the price in Zambian currency ?
Hey William i want to buy a motor bike through bforward how do i do it
Laptop frm Beforward …hell NO!!
why not its possible cause tineyiwo as zimbabweans to be honest with u guys I’m not proud to be a Zimbabwean wish
can i buy a vehicle using bitcoins and get it delivered in zimbabwe using bitcoins
I’m also surprised with Be forward guys I purchased a car and it costed $2599 to Daaresalam but when I went to the bank at Baclays I was told to deposit $2800 since in Japanese yen was 273000 yen.its a pity because it means the car would have costed me $2800 instead of written original price of $2599.
i need a samsung galaxy s7 active
hey mr willium how z it my brother, i need hp min laptop how can i get it. am frrom tyanzania and what price of it.
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