Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Posted by carkitter
Hahaha!
Congratulations!
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Hahaha!
Still we've got a lot of work to do to catch up to the UK users, etc.
@K71: I have just added you to our New Zealanders list on the first page of the thread. Obviously you're sticking around for a bit, so you're in! Congratulations.
Also, humphreybc, RevoWution and Gigs haven't posted in months. I'm just wondering what you guys think is a good time to remove them. Like 3 months? 6 months?
Posted by K71
why thank you!!!however i must remind you that i have been lurking around this site since before the k800 was announced, its just that i don't have too much to say really.except that both t.com and v.fone are quite annoying.i'll stick with v.fone for a while longer anyway.what needs to happen i think is that Sony stores should start selling a good range of SE phones, however i guess you have the possibility that if v.fone don't carry it, it may not work.damn v.fone branding!!why can't they just start selling unbranded handsets!!wankers......
its also annoying that your post numbers seem to reduce after a certain period of time!!i'm not sure if i'll ever actually get into double figures!!
[ This Message was edited by: K71 on 2008-05-26 12:08 ]
Posted by carkitter
On 2008-05-26 11:22:06, Muhammad-Oli wrote:
Also, humphreybc, RevoWution and Gigs haven't posted in months. I'm just wondering what you guys think is a good time to remove them. Like 3 months? 6 months?
Six months isn't enough IMO, but 12 months certainly is.
On 2008-05-26 11:22:06, Muhammad-Oli wrote:
@K71: I have just added you to our New Zealanders list on the first page of the thread. Obviously you're sticking around for a bit, so you're in! Congratulations.
Welcome to the fold. We'll have to teach you the secret handshake...
Not all areas of the forum count towards your post tally; if you spend alot of time in the Non-mobile section for instance, the additional post score keeps getting removed.
Branding is Vodafone corporate policy, they'll never stop.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
On 2008-05-26 16:30:30, carkitter wrote:
On 2008-05-26 11:22:06, Muhammad-Oli wrote:
Also, humphreybc, RevoWution and Gigs haven't posted in months. I'm just wondering what you guys think is a good time to remove them. Like 3 months? 6 months?
Six months isn't enough IMO, but 12 months certainly is.
Branding is Vodafone corporate policy, they'll never stop.
Ok, we'll come back to it in a few months.
Maybe we'll have it at about 9. It doesn't exactly matter though, its nothing important!
And yes, branding may be a policy, but Vodafone is Apple's bitch. In order to sell the iPhone, Vodafone will have to do exactly as Apple says, and they better do it right. I know Apple won't like horrible Vodafone branding all over their beautiful phone, so they won't allow it. At most, I think there will be a small Vodafone logo on the phone's casing and a single Vodafone menu icon - probably linking to Vodafone live. That will be all...
Posted by carkitter
On 2008-05-26 16:56:48, Muhammad-Oli wrote:
...but Vodafone is Apple's bitch...
That'll be a first.
I think it was 2002 that Vodafone lost GBP40bn caused by purchasing 3G spectrum all over Europe and despite that they're still in business.
They're pretty powerful and they'll give as good as they get I'm sure. However if anyone can crack the Vodafone franchise model and start selling official unbranded phones, it's Apple IMO.
It's interesting that Vodafone ditches SE's Play Now link yet I can't see an iPhone landing here without a iTunes icon. It even needs to visit iTunes to become 'activated' before you can use it; if I were at SE NZ I'd be getting pretty pissed off with the liberties Vodafone NZ has been taking over the years.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
@K71: The G700 is now available at Plemix.com, so I'd expect the G900 any day now. The G700 is $572 which I think is pretty cheap for a new release! I think the G900 will be around $650-$700.
@carkitter: Yeah but Vodafone have to keep iTunes for the iPhone because, A: People expect it and it is a main feature, and B: They wouldn't be allowed to sell it by Apple if they were going to get rid of it. And of course, Vodafone can't afford to lose an iPhone deal. If Telecom got the deal in New Zealand instead of Vodafone, Vodafone would be screwed. So they have to comply with Apple's rules.
Contrast this to SE and their PlayNow links, and its pretty obvious why Vodafone can get away with it. SE has a falling reputation and are slowly losing their grasp on the market. It is the opposite really, where SE will probably do anything to get Vodafone to sell their handset, so will allow Vodafone to brand all they want. Also, customers have no idea what PlayNow is, so don't know what they're missing!
Apple have it pretty good. They've created a product so popular, they can pretty much say anything they want and networks will snap it up!
_________________
[ This Message was edited by: Muhammad-Oli on 2008-05-27 12:10 ]
Posted by K71
ah i see..........let kev (the "K" in K71) spend all his hard earned money to buy and experiment with a G900 on the VFNZ network to see if it will actually work!!........................nah bro it's all good!!!!just kidding!!!seriously!!!.......................if i do get it, it won't be for a few weeks anyway.i want to see a few user reviews/photo's first to see if there are any issues that come up.either that or Paris/Shihohoho announcement/spec sheets/etc. that show it'll be worth holding off for a better phone.if ya know wot i mean innit.
anyone here had long term attachments to touchscreen devices?i'm wondering how robust it'll be.i do actually treat my phones quite well (my 20 month old k800 still looks new from a metre away) but it does worry me a little bit how it'll last.
also what are symbian phones like?any particular quirks?i haven't used one of them before.
[ This Message was edited by: K71 on 2008-05-28 13:20 ]
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
On 2008-05-28 14:19:42, K71 wrote:
ah i see..........let kev (the "K" in K71) spend all his hard earned money to buy and experiment with a G900 on the VFNZ network to see if it will actually work!!
Haha yeah, that's the one! Nah I just knew you were interested in one, and am interested in one myself! I dont think I will be able to afford a new phone so soon, so it will be cool to hear how yours turns out!
Umm yeah, UIQ phones have their quirks. I haven't had one before and haven't even been on one before, but I know a few things like all the models released so far up to the P1i haven't been able to display animated images for wallpapers, and the alarm doesn't sound if the phone is turned off, etc. However I don't know if these issues, if you can call them that, have been fixed with the newer models. I'd ask about it in the G900 thread or something!
I think the G900 will be as robust as any other phone really. It definitely looks like a solid phone and I don't think the screen will be a problem. Just keep being as careful as you are with your K800i, and you should have it sweet!
Posted by Evilchap
@K71, you will not have nay problem using the G900 with Vodafone in New Zealand. You will also find the screen is pretty solid compared with previous touch screen handsets made by SE.
Posted by carkitter
Hey have you guys seen this story about 'tele-presence' hologram technology as the next big thing in telecommunications?
It's currently being trialled by Telstra Australia and will appear on TV3's Campbell live tonight at 7pm. Should be good! What's not good is that I work nights at the moment and will be relying on TV3's video-on-demand on thier website so see what it looks like. 
Anyway, I've created a thread about it here.
Posted by Evilchap
Sounds interesting I might have to break my one rule and watch TV tonight.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Lol turns out its not really to do with holograms, but future tech might be. To be honest it looked rather average. Its just high-def video calling with no delay, and I think we could have all guessed that was coming. I don't see it becoming very popular because who wants to get all dressed up just to take a phone call? I bet it will be like mobile phone video calling...
@K71: Plemix.com has the G900 mate. Its $695 for the dark brown and $702 for the red. See here.
If you wait a few weeks like you said you probably will, I bet it will go down a bit!
Posted by K71
yeah thats not a bad price!!add another $90 for post + extended warranty, and you get a brand new smartphone for the price of a k850 in nz!!!!bargain eh??will see where its at in a few weeks time.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Yeah mate, it looks pretty good when you consider the specs the G900 is packing! I hope you have a M2 memory stick cause the phone doesn't come with one, so you may be paying more if you need one!
Posted by K71
yeah i've got a 4gb card, although 8gb cards are coming down to just under nz$100 on ebay (not oem cards but original sealed pack sandisk cards), so again, in a few weeks time!!!!
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Just went and saw a movie with my girlfriend and both our younger brothers and as we were walking home, a couple of idiots attempted to assault our brothers! What the hell is NZ coming to?!
My girlfriend and I crossed the road to avoid them, but our brothers didn't and the two guys, clearly wacked out on something, or really drunk, went up to my brother pretending to know him, then took two swipes at him before having a go at my girlfriend's brother! We went back to help them out and started yelling at them to f*ck off and the two guys started yelling at us saying things like "you want to have a go at a couple of p-heads?" Well we just told them to leave us alone and walked quickly away, but my brother while unhurt, was hit twice and my girlfriend's brother caught one punch and took another to the head and was clearly hurt and upset. As we walked away they started screaming at the top of their lungs at us. My girlfriend was pretty shaken and so were the rest of us I think... I just don't f*cking know whats happening. We used to be able to walk home just fine but now its like we shouldn't even go out and enjoy our Friday night. There's idiots out there who spoil things for everyone...
Posted by carkitter
And its not any better in Auckland either I'm afraid.
When in my late teens, all my mates were in the local church youth group so I pretty much by-passed the whole 'right of passage' drinking culture/marujuana experimenting period. These days it seems compulsory to not just partake, but go all out, to prove how 'staunch' you are. As they say, "It's always funny til someone loses an eye..." When I was a young driver, I knew no-one who was disqualified, now everyone has at least one disqualification and thousands of $ of fines to deal with.
I hope your girlfriends okay and her brother too. I hear Christchurch can get pretty wild, with that guy found guilty of murder just last week for running over 2 girls at a party that go out of control. Same dumb s--t happens up here too.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Yeah I bypassed all that stuff too. Sure I go out for drinks occasionally, but the drugs and taking it way too far part I stayed away from. I think I had good mates who knew how to stay controlled too. Yeah unfortunately Christchurch is just really beginning to get bad. It used to be alright in my opinion...
I think we're all ok though, thanks.
That party where those two girls were run over and killed was actually only a few blocks from where I live, near a small shopping centre where I go often. The street where it happened was blocked off for around 2 weeks while they gathered info. It was a pretty big deal down here, it seemed like a lot of people knew those two girls... My girlfriend sort of knew them too, through her friends.
Anyways, onto better things... I see the carkit review is up!
I am just about to have a good read! Cheers!
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Heh, just realised. If you buy anything from Plemix.com, its a good idea to watch the exchange rate and check back daily. The prices of all their products fluctuate according to the exchange rates, so when the NZ dollar is strong, the prices go down instantly. So in the past couple of days, the price of the G900 has gone down a few dollars. If our dollar gets stronger and stronger, you might pick up a bargain. I'm not too smart with all this so I don't know how much of a difference it could make, but it may be worth it!
Posted by carkitter
Regarding the exchange rate, a strong NZ dollar is a bad thing for our economy, strange as that sounds!
Inflation has risen over the last few years because of high retail spending and an out of control property market. The Labour Govt requires the reserve bank to keep inflation between 1 - 3% (currently 3.4%
) and the only tool it is given to use is interest rates. We have the highest interest rates in the developed world causing overseas investors to buy our currency which has put our dollar up to record values.
As you know, retail spending and property values have fallen but inflation is still high due to food and oil prices and doesn't look like falling anytime soon. Keep an eye on the OCR (Official Cash Rate) - the rate that the Reserve Bank charges the retail Banks for currency. If they put it up or keep it the same then the dollar will stay high.
Come November we could have a change of Govt and finally some fiscal managers who know what they're doing... and the Reserve Bank could get some new toys with which to lower interest rates and the dollar.
So long term, it a good time to buy from Plemix, but between now and November is the best time.
I read today that VodafoneNZ has backed down and will NOT go ahead with its plans to lock phones to its network. It copped alot of flak apparently
I was particularly scathing in my reply to the Herald blog on the matter, and rightly so. No-one in thier right mind supports SIM locking!
Posted by soane28
Just a sidenote on ur friday night -
Palmy is the same. Me and my flatmate got knocked up by a hol gang of guys, so we couldnt do anything. Really pissed me off and i got a few bruises on my face but luckily i was fine. They were really going for it too, this one guy wacked me about 6 or 7 times before he gave up. (He hit like a girl
)
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Thanks carkitter.
I always find it a bit hard to understand everything to do with the economy and interest rates, etc. So before November you say? I think I will upgrade before then.
On 2008-05-31 03:24:54, soane28 wrote:
Just a sidenote on ur friday night -
Palmy is the same. Me and my flatmate got knocked up by a hol gang of guys, so we couldnt do anything. Really pissed me off and i got a few bruises on my face but luckily i was fine. They were really going for it too, this one guy wacked me about 6 or 7 times before he gave up. (He hit like a girl
)
Sounds like you got it a lot worse than we did! Luckily it was just the two guys and there were four of us. My brother said it felt like he was hit with a cushion.
So I guess whatever they had been taking had clouded their judgment and they couldn't really have hurt us if they tried! Haha. Still its not the greatest thing ever to be attacked for absolutely no reason on your night out. It makes you wonder what's going through these guys' heads!
Posted by carkitter
K770i reduced to $399 at Vodafone online shop.
Posted by soane28
oli - Yeah for sure, it shouldnt happen none the less!
$399 is quite a reasonable price for the K770. Id pay that much for it.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Yeah thats a good price for the K770i. I feel like they should be ready to remove the K800i now...
Posted by carkitter
On 2008-06-02 07:43:39, Muhammad-Oli wrote:
I feel like they should be ready to remove the K800i now...
Put it out of its misery more like...
Posted by K71
well the k800 is still a damn good phone, i still enjoy mine, although it is starting to look a bit chunky.i got the brown one, i think it looked alot nicer (+ different) to the plain black one.i've gotta say too, that i really quite like the backside of the k770.very nice lens cover.
just like to point out wellington is better than all those other violent cities you live in.sucks to be you guys eh??
[ This Message was edited by: K71 on 2008-06-03 12:28 ]
Posted by carkitter
Since you live in Wellington, are you gonna go see the Shell V-power petrol launch complete with F1 replica race car and Ferrari road car display? They also have 2 driving simulators using a PS3 F1 game which is quite cool.
I have some pics of the Auckland launch here, 'cause after all Auckland gets everything first...
It seems the iPhone 3G countdown has begun. I wonder if ISP servers/Apples website/Google/the Internet will crash on June 9 (Californian time zone)
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
I find Wellington hard to navigate...
Anyway, there was a fairly interesting article in the Press today, mostly about Vodafone NZ CEO and the future of mobiles (and mobile internet) in New Zealand. It was a pretty good read. I'll post up some of the best bits later tonight after dinner and indoor soccer.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Alright so this article... Well I just found it at stuff.co.nz so that saves me a job! It appears to have come from The Dominion Post first, and it is very slightly different to the Christchurch Press version, but all the info is there.
READ ME
Its interesting that some people believe the iPhone won't be a Vodafone exclusive here, though I don't see Telecom getting a deal with Apple. Telecom are a nobody on the worldwide stage and I bet they have absolutely no pulling power when it comes to these deals. I think also Apple will see how small our market is and see no reason to have it on our two networks.
I'm looking forward to the high speed data though. That should be pretty cool, and 2010 is less than two years away now!
But I found the last few paragraphs the most interesting actually:
He also thinks the company could easily take 70 or 80 per cent of the mobile market if it chose to, but fears the Commerce Commission will move to regulate if it appears to become dominant in mobile.
Mr Stanners smiles at the thought. "We wish, we wish. I'm not sure there's a specific way they suggest we could do it, but I don't think so.
"It's very difficult to make material moves like that."
70 or 80%! And I believe them too. But it makes me wonder what they're holding back with. What is it that they could take over the market with which they aren't giving us? It makes me think we could be getting some serious deals, but because of restrictions by the Commerce Commission, we miss out. Which doesn't make too much sense...
But then maybe he means something like making ads on tv saying "This is a crap Telecom phone. It is on the Telecom network, which is also crap, here's why: (insert every reason Telecom is crap) ...So buy Vodafone cause its not crap". I reckon that would work because NZers only need to be told really!
I would love to see Vodafone have 70-80% market share, and I don't see why they are restricted so much! It sounds like the consumers are missing out. Isn't that what the Commerce Commission is about?
Posted by K71
OMG you find WELLINGTON hard to navigate??!!!??
I would have to assume you have never been to ORKLAND then!!!
ZOMG!!11!?!11.Wellington hard to navigate!!
yes but if v.fone are 70 to 80% then i would say that limits how strong the competition is with regards to services etc. they can offer.Maybe at the moment v.fone could offer ALOT more technology/price wise, but feel its not worth it as their market share would catch the eye of the Regulators.
And in other news, K71 has forked over some $$ for a red G900.
AU $570 (nz$698) including postage + insurance.
I thought that was a good price.
Soon we shall see if it'll work in N.Z.!!
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
On 2008-06-04 15:30:23, K71 wrote:
OMG you find WELLINGTON hard to navigate??!!!??
I would have to assume you have never been to ORKLAND then!!!
ZOMG!!11!?!11.Wellington hard to navigate!!
Quite right, I've only been to Auckland airport on my way out of this country, so I guess I can't really talk. But I have been to Wellington about 3 times. Christchurch in comparison is a breeze.
yes but if v.fone are 70 to 80% then i would say that limits how strong the competition is with regards to services etc. they can offer.Maybe at the moment v.fone could offer ALOT more technology/price wise, but feel its not worth it as their market share would catch the eye of the Regulators.
Yeah true, but what I'm saying is why do they have to regulate it? I think everyone in New Zealand would rather have better deals and better pricing! Regulation means we get the end of the stick with the brown stuff on it.
And in other news, K71 has forked over some $$ for a red G900.
AU $570 (nz$698) including postage + insurance.
I thought that was a good price.
Soon we shall see if it'll work in N.Z.!!
Awesome mate! I hope you'll show us some pictures of it! I think the red looks the best of the two colours, and it sounds like you got a good price for it too! Can I ask where you purchased it from?
Lol I'm sure it will work here, theres no reasons why it wouldn't. All you'd need to get is the P1i settings and you'll be away.
Posted by carkitter
@K71
I've heard several people say Wellington is hard to navigate, and not only because all the street signs are blown over...
My Dad commented on all the one-way streets being confusing but that could be because he drove us the wrong way around the Basin Reserve and was confronted with 5 lanes of oncoming traffic!
I've been to Wellington three times, the last time for a weeks holiday and am beginning to get the hang of it. I was considering moving to the windy city in 2000 but never got around to it. I hear it's overrun with Civil servants now - is it true they all have Helen's haircut and dental work and are on the look out for people who don't think in unison?
Congrats on the G900! Can't wait to see your comments on it.
I'm off to check out the Voda interview, back soon.
Posted by soane28
Oli - you said indoor soccer right? You live in christchurch? What team are you in? I have a friend whos in a indoor soccer team called The Nubs? Might be same tournament?
Posted by carkitter
@M-O
Hmmm... yes, interesting indeed.
I like that they FINALLY see mobile handsets as a delivery device for internet to consumers en-masse. Stuff like iPhones surfing Bebo and Facebook means cheap, fast mobile broadband and if Vodafone can release the iPhone in NZ with 7.2Mbps HSDPA (and LTE hard on its heels in 2010) on a low-price Data deal or a Free Data plan covered in advertising (like Google wants to do) before Xmas, then Telecom are dead and buried for the foreseeable future and NZCommunications will be up against a wall from the start. That scenario could deliver the 70-80% market share the Australasian analyst Buddle mentioned, but I'd find it difficult to see the Commerce Commission stepping in when so much innovation is hitting the market. The CC would only get involved if a dominant player was slowing innovation and holding prices excessively high - Fonterra anyone? Otherwise how can any one-company reap the benefits of being first to market with the technology consumers want?
Telecom are still dominant in fixed line communication and this funds thier discounting strategy in mobile (estimated 48% of the market but only 40% of the revenue) and they will need to roll out 7.2Mbps Data right across thier network to compete, which will take quite so time.
I gonna see if I can be present at that 50-100Mbps demonstration next month. That will be something special; I wonder if I could bluff my way into a Press Pass on the back of my past articles for MyMobile magazine and reporting for a respected international mobile phone website?
_________________
My V640i review and My Carkit review
"Innovation in styling comes from innovation in packaging" - Gord
[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2008-06-05 00:12 ]
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
@soane28: I don't recognise the name, but then I can't remember any team names anyway!
I play in a Wednesday night tournament at Pioneer Stadium. My team is called No Subs. It could be the same tournament, but you'd have to ask him where he plays.
@carkitter: I don't see why Vodafone don't just go all out and get that 70-80% market share. They have everything they need other than a few upgrades... Sorry I'm just failing to see whats stopping them, or why the Commerce Commission would stop them doing this.
Haha, you should definitely try to get in. I don't know if your excuse for a press pass would work, but its worth an attempt I reckon.
Make sure you get us some videos!
Posted by K71
bought it from seller x1387 on ebay.i've used them before when i got a k700, then a k750, but didn't use them to get my k800.so far so good with them, so will see how this one goes.
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Oh yeah, I think they are the same company as Plemix.com which I recommended to you.
Posted by carkitter
Vodafones latest online specials:
V640i $299
W910 $599 including 4GB M2, in Havanna Gold and Black
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
W*NKERS!!!
_________________
[ This Message was edited by: Muhammad-Oli on 2008-06-07 13:21 ]
Posted by carkitter
Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel.
I knew you wouldn't be impressed.
$299 is a fantastic price for the V640i. Two of my workmates have them, one in gold, one in black.
Posted by K71
guess whats going to cost me an extra $82.25 in gst in the next day or two?
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
On 2008-06-07 14:38:58, carkitter wrote:
Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel.
I knew you wouldn't be impressed.
$299 is a fantastic price for the V640i. Two of my workmates have them, one in gold, one in black.
Not impressed at all. I could have waited, paid less, and got a 4GB M2?! That's so annoying! I wouldn't go for black now that I've had the Havana Bronze for a while, but that memory card and extra cash in my pocket would have been handy. Wheres my angry faced smiley?
@K71: What's that? some kind of import tax or something?
Posted by K71
yes oli, alot of things you are sent from overseas will have a gst charge payable if the value of the item/s is stated, or deemed to be over a certain amount by customs.
last time i bought from these guys the stated value was given as us$100, so either customs opened the package and gave it a valuation, or (more likely) the seller now puts the correct value on the customs form.
oh well, it's still cheaper than buying an new k850 or P1 online from vodafone!!!
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Well thats pretty sh*t... Its like hidden charges I guess. Thanks for the warning!
And yes, its definitely still better than buying from Vodafone.
So have you got your G900 yet mate?
Posted by K71
not yet.the gst charge is payable on delivery.no pay, no package.maybe this morning it'll get here.i don't think its too bad when you are getting something cheap anyway.a G900 for $120 less than a P1 is cheap i think!!!although yeah, it could've been $200 less than a P1 without the extra gst.......
it's late!!shouldn't you be in bed?
[ This Message was edited by: K71 on 2008-06-09 14:04 ]
[ This Message was edited by: K71 on 2008-06-09 14:06 ]
Posted by Muhammad-Oli
Shouldn't YOU be in bed?!
Haha, nah I'm normally awake pretty late just hanging around on here. Its annoying cause this site comes alive while us NZers are asleep, and unfortunately because of Esato I've gotten into the habit of very late nights which screw up the following day for me...
I guess I'll sleep now.
Here's hoping your G900 arrives! I'm really interested to read your impressions of it!
Posted by carkitter
On 2008-06-09 14:36:21, Muhammad-Oli wrote:
On 2008-06-07 14:38:58, carkitter wrote:
Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel.
I knew you wouldn't be impressed.
$299 is a fantastic price for the V640i. Two of my workmates have them, one in gold, one in black.
Not impressed at all. I could have waited, paid less, and got a 4GB M2?! That's so annoying! I wouldn't go for black now that I've had the Havana Bronze for a while, but that memory card and extra cash in my pocket would have been handy. Wheres my angry faced smiley?
@K71: What's that? some kind of import tax or something?
There's no way you could've known the price would fall this fast, given Vodafones SE neglect in the past. Besides, you've had a W910 since release which is pretty exciting, been part of all the W910 discussions all this time while the phone is still relevant overseas, and moved up ALOT from the V630i!
I guess this confirms the decision to buy on price from overseas sources.
Perhaps you could complain to Vodafone directly about this. Is the W910 available overseas with a 4GB M2? Such a dramatic change in value within 4 months is unprecedented AFAIK. When I worked for Honda, the 95YM Odyssey sold for $54,000. One year later they dropped it to $45,000 and ended up having to compensate owners who complained! I would certainly email them about it.