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Buying in US vs Europe

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G_Cassius_Longinus

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 28, 2010
12
0
I'm planning to buy an air, not sure which one though. I live in Europe where the prices of the apple products are more expensive. To my knowledge; what an apple product costs in the states in dollars would be the same number here but then in euro's. So depending on the exchange rates, i could get a 1400 euro air in europe for a couple of hundred dollars cheaper in the states. I will visit the states soon so i might buy one. Does anybody know if there is any downside to this? e.g. problems with warranty or such when i return to europe?


thanks

- the douche
 
W

Westyfield2

macrumors 6502a
Jun 9, 2009
606
0
Bath, UK.
Warranty on an Apple Laptop is international, as-long as it's a product that they sell in your country. So you'll be fine :).

Only downside is that you'll have the USA keyboard layout, which I personally prefer to the UK one!

I did it back when it was £1:$2 with my MBP, and got my iPad in the 'states before they were released over here :cool:.
 
1

184550

Guest
May 8, 2008
1,980
2
I would just keep in the mind that the in the US, you will pay that states sales tax, which varies from state to state. Some states have significantly higher sales tax than others.
 
s2dio

s2dio

macrumors regular
Oct 28, 2010
109
0
Riga, Latvia
Is it possible to order from the Apple Online Store in the US, and ask to put in a european wall plug instead of the american?
 
M

molala

macrumors 6502a
Oct 25, 2008
620
3
Cambridge, UK
s2dio said:
Is it possible to order from the Apple Online Store in the US, and ask to put in a european wall plug instead of the american?
Click to expand...

Not sure. But this shouldn't be a factor. The plug end of the power adapter is removable and you can either buy a set of international Apple brand plugs or just use some cheap generic brand of figure 8 cable that has a European plug at the end (most stereos/mini hifi's have a compatible cable). I change cables when travelling to continental Europe.
 
C

celo48

macrumors 6502a
Apr 9, 2010
668
205
As far as I know in Europe Apple warranty is 2 years vs. 1 year US warranty.

If the price difference is not too much, it may worth for the 1 year extra warranty.
 
Scottsdale

Scottsdale

Suspended
Sep 19, 2008
4,473
283
U.S.A.
Taxes do change the overall price considerably, unless you're in one of a handful of states that don't charge sales taxes.

What you could do is order it to the address you will be at in the US, and if you have it shipped by Mac Connection or Amazon you can most likely save the taxes.

This would work much better if you know the people where you're going... but I have even had products shipped to hotels in cities I travel to when I am staying for a week and can be sure it will arrive while I am there.

Good luck.
 
pianojoe

pianojoe

macrumors 6502
Jul 5, 2001
461
26
N 49.50121 E008.54558
celo48 said:
As far as I know in Europe Apple warranty is 2 years vs. 1 year US warranty.

If the price difference is not too much, it may worth for the 1 year extra warranty.
Click to expand...

This is the *real* reason why Apple products are more expensive in Europe than they are in the U.S. Overall service costs are higher here (EU), because warranty laws are more in favour of the customer.
 
C

chockymonster

macrumors member
Jul 9, 2008
45
0
pianojoe said:
This is the *real* reason why Apple products are more expensive in Europe than they are in the U.S. Overall service costs are higher here (EU), because warranty laws are more in favour of the customer.
Click to expand...

Warranty is 1 year in the UK and France, I'd assume the same for the rest of Europe.
Although UK law does enable you to challenge the only 1 year should you need to.
 
firestarter

firestarter

macrumors 603
Dec 31, 2002
5,506
227
Green and pleasant land
chockymonster said:
Warranty is 1 year in the UK and France, I'd assume the same for the rest of Europe.
Although UK law does enable you to challenge the only 1 year should you need to.
Click to expand...

UK law allows you to challenge up to 6 years after buying - as long as the item could 'reasonably be expected to last that long'.

Since Apple offer a 3 year warranty, it's reasonable to assume that all their products are expected to last for at least 3 years. You should therefore be able to challenge Apple and get them to fix any manufacturing defect at least up to 3 years, even if you don't buy Applecare.

And yes, this probably accounts for some of the extra cost of items in the UK.
 
H

hamlin

macrumors regular
Aug 31, 2010
141
0
Ontario, Canada
Not sure where you are from but the euro prices for macbook airs (I randomly checked italy) were not 1400$. I saw 1299 euros and 1599 euros (two 13 inch models)

1299 euros = 1829.88 USD

1599 euros =2252.92 USD


From the US store

1299 USD(not included taxes) = 922.16 euros

1599 USD(not including taxes = 1135.02 euros


You would definitely save some money buying from the US. You can find an adapter that will change US plugin to Euro. Just remember to also buy a laptop bag and carry it with you so they won't know you bought a macbook and charge you duty fees. I'm not sure if they do that for people outside north america but in Canada they ding you pretty good. Especially on alcohol.
 
G

G_Cassius_Longinus

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 28, 2010
12
0
Thanks but I was aware of the fact that they might check it at the airport here in The Netherlands where I live (but the chances are slim). Furthermore does anybody know if I would even have to pay taxes over it when I buy it in NY? Cause I remember some stuff where they didnt charge us taxes at all ( I believe it was in a big department store).

de kat krabt de krullen van de trap.
 
H

hamlin

macrumors regular
Aug 31, 2010
141
0
Ontario, Canada
G_Cassius_Longinus said:
Thanks but I was aware of the fact that they might check it at the airport here in The Netherlands where I live (but the chances are slim). Furthermore does anybody know if I would even have to pay taxes over it when I buy it in NY? Cause I remember some stuff where they didnt charge us taxes at all ( I believe it was in a big department store).

de kat krabt de krullen van de trap.
Click to expand...

I don't think the US pays taxes on clothing items(American confirm?)
 
jzuena

jzuena

macrumors 65816
Feb 21, 2007
1,126
150
G_Cassius_Longinus said:
Thanks but I was aware of the fact that they might check it at the airport here in The Netherlands where I live (but the chances are slim). Furthermore does anybody know if I would even have to pay taxes over it when I buy it in NY? Cause I remember some stuff where they didnt charge us taxes at all ( I believe it was in a big department store).

de kat krabt de krullen van de trap.
Click to expand...

You would definitely have to pay taxes on a laptop in New York. If you will be in New York City it will be an additional 8.875%. Other parts of the state will be slightly less, but I would plan on at least an additional 7-8%. As hamlin says, you probably aren't taxed on clothing (but some states are taxed on clothing as well). Tax rates and what items they apply to are completely controlled by individual states.
 
P

pscraig

macrumors member
Apr 9, 2008
91
0
You can buy the Euro (or UK) plug for the Apple power supplies on eBay for a few dollars. I bought adapters for UK, Europe and China for less than $10 total.
 
D

drxcm

macrumors regular
Nov 2, 2010
243
71
The only other consideration, if you are not ordering a BTO model online, is whether you want a UK or US keyboard layout.

I bought mine in the UK but needed to BTO to get the US keyboard...
 
B

barmann

macrumors 6502a
Oct 25, 2010
941
626
Germany
If you own/buy through a business and hence get back the VAT in Germany (Mwst), the prices are almost identical in the US and Germany - worth considering .

There is indeed a two year warranty in Germany, but that's a vendor warranty with a few limitations; the manufacturer/Apple warranty is 1 year .
 
C

Cerano

macrumors 6502
Oct 28, 2010
268
1
firestarter said:
UK law allows you to challenge up to 6 years after buying - as long as the item could 'reasonably be expected to last that long'.

Since Apple offer a 3 year warranty, it's reasonable to assume that all their products are expected to last for at least 3 years. You should therefore be able to challenge Apple and get them to fix any manufacturing defect at least up to 3 years, even if you don't buy Applecare.

And yes, this probably accounts for some of the extra cost of items in the UK.
Click to expand...

wouldnt they only fix it if you sue them?
 
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