2019 iMacs not yet available in my country. Options?

[WatertribeTim]

I'm an English teacher living in Taiwan and would like to purchase a 2019 customized iMac from the online store.

They show up, but only with a "please look forward to the release date" message. I find this odd because new, customizable 2019 iMacs have been available in the Japanese, Chinese, and Hong Kong stores since launch (or close to it).

From others' experience, is this lag in release normal? Or is Taiwan unique? And are there other options for purchasing in a foreign market?

Thanks!

 

[Sartoria]

Same thing here in South Korea, 2019 iMacs are not yet available for ordering (though in my experience living here so far, every single product released by Apple has always come out way later here).

 

[SaSaSushi]

I can't recall the last time a product was released later than the USA here in Japan.

I suspect the issue in South Korea is likely Samsung/Chaebol-related (strict control of imports and exports) and also the reason that the first Apple Store in the country was only opened in 2018.

I'm not sure what's going in Taiwan.

 

[WatertribeTim]

Same thing here in South Korea, 2019 iMacs are not yet available for ordering (though in my experience living here so far, every single product released by Apple has always come out way later here).

Interesting, roughly about how long would you consider "way later" in South Korea?

 

[Sartoria]

Interesting, roughly about how long would you consider "way later" in South Korea?

Hmm, I remember the Apple Watch series 4 taking a couple of months after launch to release here in Korea, though I’m not sure exactly how long that took. Same story with the latest iPad Pros. I imagine the iMac (and AirPods 2) going for sale here maybe later this month or next month perhaps.

 

[WatertribeTim]

Well, I see the new iMacs are now available in South Korea... but still not Taiwan! Argh!