I’ve been looking at Framework for many years, excited to join the Framework club, but now with the release of the Pro, I think I’m ready to finally pull the trigger. However, I am worried about the current RAM prices and overall price I’m going to pay for the laptop, so I’d just like to clarify some points:
I’m in the Czech Republic. On the configuration page, it says that the estimated price is excluding taxes and duties, but on the checkout page, no taxes or duties get added. How does this work, exactly? Does Framework distribute from within Europe, or will I be surprised with an import duty when the laptop actually arrives? Or will the amount I’ll have to pay increase when it comes to actually shipping it to me? Considering how expensive the laptop is, this would be a complete dealbreaker, as I’d have to pay thousands of Czech crowns in addition to the price of the laptop.
I’m considering ordering the laptop without RAM and waiting for how the prices develop. Even today, I can get LPCAMM2 RAM from local retailers far cheaper than what Framework offers it for. Is it a valid strategy to put in my pre-order without RAM and then deciding whether to cancel my pre-order right before shipment depending on whether I want to pay the current RAM prices? Is there any risk/something I’m missing here?
Thanks so much! Also, sorry for the incorrect tag, but I had no idea what to put in there.
I am just another user like you, so my answer it just based on what other users have said.
For example, during the FW16 AMD 7040 series pre-order. I was in batch 16 for a FW16.
The price you see when you go to pay on the FW web site should include all customs fees. I.e. you will not have extra to pay to get it delivered to your address.
Once you have placed a “pre-order”, you get put in a queue. While you can sometimes make minor changes to your order. Add/remove slot cards. If you change the amount of RAM you wish, you are likely to end up on the end of the queue again, thus losing your place in the queue.
Once FW has delivered all the Pre-orders, it then returns to the normal, about 5 day delivery time from order to delivered. So, if you are unsure, it might be better to wait until after the pre-order period.
The dates next to each Pre-Order batch are essentially guesses by FW. These dates can move later if, for example, FW run into manufacturing problems that need to be fixed. For example, FW has some supply chain delays with the FW16 pre-orders that delayed some batches, depending on what options people had selected, vs. the delayed items.
My guess, is that FW have learnt a lot more about manufacturing than back then when doing the FW16, so the likelihood of such delays is probably less than back then.
Thanks so much for the answer, I’m glad to hear there is not going to be any additional customs fees. To be clear, I’m not thinking about changing what I pre-ordered: I would simply receive the laptop without RAM from Framework and then source the RAM from elsewhere, if the prices would be acceptable to me - otherwise I’d just cancel the pre-order before it ships. I’m wondering if there’s any potential risks I’m not considering with this strategy.
Regarding “Risks and Opportunities”.
FW has a 30 day no-quibble return policy. So, even if you received the laptop and used it for < 30 days, you could still send it back.
I believe FW have been giving full refunds for this in the past, but read the FW terms to be sure.
I ordered the Crucial LPDDR5X 32 GB 7500 MT/s module from Kaufland Global Marketplace for 5 883 CZK. The seller was Morele.net initially, but it appears that they are now out of stock, and the cheapest available option on Kaufland is 7 317 CZK + 227 CZK shipping.
Also worth noting that there is no official word from Framework on this module being compatible as of yet, although there’s no indication it shouldn’t be. I also have not received it yet, so can’t confirm whether it’s actually in stock.