cabby Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 I'm about to buy a new macbook and, if bought in the states, which requires a US address to ship to, I can save approx. 30%. I have a friend living in the states so no problem getting is shipped internally. Now the tricky bit - I want to get is shipped back to the UK but don't want to 'lose' the saving on import duty. My questions therefore are: a) At what rate is import duty charged (the item is approx $2,500)? b) Is there a way of minimising/avoiding import duty ? If my friend were to, say, open the box and turn it on, it is technically secondhand and therefore void of duty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 Send the packaging on its own along with the receipt etc. Get your friend to forward it to you with a note saying don't be so stupid and leave your laptop behind next time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eolair Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 also check out the mac refurb store online - machines are good as new, and at 15-35% discount. full intl warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 Come pick it up to be 100% sure of paying no duty. duty for computers is 10% then 17.5% on top of the 110%.... a lot basically. Plus there are a ton of thieving postal workers in the UK too....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_d Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 PilotDan> you could still be stopped at customs and asked to produce a receipt to prove it wasn't purchased in the states. My sister got stopped coming back from FL and they had to pay up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 Won't it have an American keyboard layout ... Oh no wait a minute its a Mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan32 Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Could it be a gift? I think there is a limit to that also. Or computer parts up to value of $100 but then its not insured. Or think the other dodgy one is replacement for broken one. All a risk but not sure if punishment is only to pay duty if you got caught. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Gifts are limited to something really silly like £18 (might be £36, but certainly no more). "Repair - Being returned to owner" sometimes works but not very feasible on computer gear, especially as Macs have an ace repair/replacement network existing within each country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Cabby - don't forget that it's wise to buy AppleCare with your new Mac, and so you need to make sure that your US saving (which isn't guaranteed re UK duty) doesn't screw that support. I use a lot of Apple products and find AppleCare invaluable 24/7 - Great techsupport team for both hardware and software . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 I just paid £13 customs fees on a £33 DVD boxset coming from the States... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 ....It's totally outrageous isn't it! The bastards' calculations go something like: Value of item + Shipping costs included + £10 handling charge + VAT on all. I just can't understand the minds of people who are happy to do such 'work'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hixster Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Hey Cabby, Speaking from experience.I wouldn't bother with trying to import a Mac from the US, unless you've got someone who can bring it back for you personally or know someone who travels there regularly in case it goes wrong.I went through exactly the same process last year and on balance bought a machine here. One thing to bear in mind is that the savings you think you might get aren't as big as they first seem. For starters, all prices advertised on Apples site, or any US vendor are tax free, you still need to add the state tax onto that purchase which can be between 8-10%. Robin already mentioned the warranties and applecare. You get a free 1 year warranty with any Mac. You won't be covered if anything goes wrong with your machine if you buy it from the states. Anyone or Apple vendor can check a machines origin and warranty by typing the serial number into Apples website, this will give you where the machine was purchased and existing warranty info. My macbook has been in for warranty work twice since i bought it, once for a new screen and another time for a new case. I'm so glad it's covered under warranty , it would've cost a fortune. When i added it all up, The peace of mind of a warranty. The correct power charger Added in the state tax The poissibility I could get wacked for import duty anyway The machine getting knicked in the post... It made sense to buy locally. Anyway, good luck whatever decision you make, and enjoy that macbook(pro?), they are great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Ditto to hixster's post. In fact, I would strongly advise against importing - Just not worth it imo. There's a Japanese saying that translates to: "A crashed computer is as valuable as a stone". Btw, AppleCare (not expensive) gives 3 years full warranty and the service is second to none - If they can't fix, they'll replace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan32 Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I just paid £13 customs fees on a £33 DVD boxset coming from the States... [/ QUOTE ] My favourite: EIP CCAI and bypass valve - £252.32 Shipping and import - £74.93 x 2.7% for something THEN VAT Total - £394.91 or nearly double the original price of a part costing $429 if I lived in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hixster Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 [ QUOTE ] There's a Japanese saying that translates to: "A crashed computer is as valuable as a stone". [/ QUOTE ] that's fecking funny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacake Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] There's a Japanese saying that translates to: "A crashed computer is as valuable as a stone". [/ QUOTE ] that's fecking funny [/ QUOTE ] It's from a haiku - a Japanese poem of 17 syllables. There were quite a few haiku error messages doing the rounds a whle back: A crash reduces Your expensive computer To a simple stone. My favourite haiku error message is Serious error. All shortcuts have disappeared. Screen. Mind. Both are blank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 ....Thanks, S8'ed . Once upon a time I had about 20 of these haiku 'poems' but have lost them. Sharply brilliant - Like a Samurai sword! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacake Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 [ QUOTE ] ....Thanks, S8'ed . Once upon a time I had about 20 of these haiku 'poems' but have lost them. Sharply brilliant - Like a Samurai sword! [/ QUOTE ] There ya go Haikus. How on earth did we cope before the interweb was invented? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabby Posted May 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2007 Went to the Apple store in Regent Street last week and realised the MacBook range had received minor upgrades. I ended up buying the 'old' black MacBook model which had been reduced from £999 to £779 due to being superseded. Using it now & very pleased with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted May 21, 2007 Report Share Posted May 21, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] ....Thanks, S8'ed . Once upon a time I had about 20 of these haiku 'poems' but have lost them. Sharply brilliant - Like a Samurai sword! [/ QUOTE ] There ya go Haikus. How on earth did we cope before the interweb was invented? [/ QUOTE ] Snopes don't give the full story there. Most of those error messages actually originate from the BeOS web browser. Since BeOS has been discontinued a group of fans have been working on a remake, named Haiku in tribute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 24, 2007 Report Share Posted May 24, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Went to the Apple store in Regent Street last week [/ QUOTE ] ....Mac Mecca . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted May 24, 2007 Report Share Posted May 24, 2007 Must go back and have a look last time I visited the store, they were rebuilding the theater bit at the back so missed half of it. Managed to get a T-shirt from the opening of the West Quay store </apple geek mode off> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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