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Buying laptop in US for UK gift

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pi6xjdskfa

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 10, 2014
191
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Hi,

I’m purchasing a MacBook Air M4 in the U.S. as a gift for a relative in the UK. If there’s a warranty issue, can they get it serviced in the UK? Additionally, can they purchase AppleCare at a UK Apple Store, or what’s the correct way to enroll in a 3-year AppleCare plan for a U.S.-bought laptop?

Since this is a gift and the receipt won’t be in their name, what are their options for warranty and AppleCare coverage? I’ll be purchasing the MacBook Air from an authorized Apple dealer, B&H Photo.

Thanks
 
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Typically you are allowed to sign up for AppleCare for a limited time after purchase (I think 90 days, but maybe full year). Your relative would register the computer when they set it up in the UK. The fact it is a gift does not matter.
 
Never mind AppleCare (above reply is good advice, they'll have 90 days), how are you planning to get it to your relative? Either shipping or bringing it on flight boxed up, you'll be running a UK customs duty gauntlet which applies at anything above £135 even for a gift or personal use.
 
Warranty isn't a problem as it's universal.
Duty, yes but it might still be cheaper to buy in the USA and pay the duty in my experience.
Keyboard should be the same
Do they still come with a charger? If so the plug will be wrong for the UK
 
Ruggy said:
Warranty isn't a problem as it's universal.
Duty, yes but it might still be cheaper to buy in the USA and pay the duty in my experience.
Keyboard should be the same
Do they still come with a charger? If so the plug will be wrong for the UK
Click to expand...
There are 20 choices for keyboard.

Not sure what the procedure would be to order a compatible charger. The USA 35W charger has a built-in two prong USA plug. The 70W adapter has the slide-on/slide-off USA plug that can be changed to a UK one…it looks like…but there's no such option on the USA order page and I don't know if you can buy that slide on part in the UK. There's always the adapter plug option.
 
The US and UK Keyboards are not the same. But I expect you could get by. Again the plugs are different and possibly voltage may be an issue. UK is 240 Volts!
 
You may need to look into this a bit (not sure if you are there already).
You may have to turn on any electronic devices prior to boarding a transatlantic flight, if requested (to ensure it really is a laptop).
If a device is not charged it can show up as a potential threat (did a quick google…😜)
 
pi6xjdskfa said:
what are their options for warranty and AppleCare coverage?
Click to expand...
Ruggy said:
Warranty isn't a problem as it's universal.
Click to expand...
Warranty is specific to the country where purchased and Apple may refuse to do warranty claims in the UK for a US computer.

AppleCare+ is essential as this is international with no questions asked.

And all these:
Ruggy said:
Duty, yes but it might still be cheaper to buy in the USA and pay the duty in my experience.
Click to expand...
And I expect it is the recipient who will have to pay.
Firestorm007 said:
The US and UK Keyboards are not the same.
Click to expand...
And charger issues, and packaging for international post with batteries inside, and so on.

So, purchase it through a UK Apple Store. But, I don't know if, in the UK, you can purchase the AppleCare+ at the same time as purchasing the computer.
 
I would buy it in the UK, as the keyboard will be different and typing something like a £ will be annoying.

Another annoyance - they would always need to use an adaptor for the plug.
 
I have bought Apple products in Thailand but used a US Apple account to register/buy the AC+. Never had a problem. The voltage doesn’t matter. The Apple charging brick is capable of either. Can take the larger 70W charger and use it with the UK plug connection. Costs like $10 for the individual one or $35 for world travel kit with the UK adapter.
 
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I have bought devices in the US like ipads and a mac mini. Applecare is not an issue. Just sign up at home. The power supplies will work in the uk fine with an adapter. I just bought an anker charger for my ipads. Work well (and they are smaller). When it comes to tax, I took the devices out of the boxes and packed them in hand luggage. I walked through nothing to declare...YMMV
 
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Could you not just add Apple Care in the US when purchasing/checking out in the Apple Store? Apple Care seems to be cheaper over there also?
 
Out of curiosity which Mac model is it, and what’s the saving…?
Just be aware, when buying from B&H Photo (which are great), there will be sales tax added at checkout.

When I bought my G4 PowerBook in NY, it was $2 = £1, so it was a damn bargain.
 
Registered usa owner of said laptop under warranty in the usa.
Getting it repaired in the UK if needed good luck with that.
Reciprocal warranty is what your looking for.
🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️
 
The Apple US website lists "Global repair coverage" for AppleCare+ for Macs:
www.apple.com

AppleCare Products - Mac

Learn how to set up and use your Mac computer. Get direct access to Apple experts for questions on using MacOS and iCloud, and connecting to printers.
www.apple.com
 
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masques24 said:
The Apple US website lists "Global repair coverage" for AppleCare+ for Macs:
Click to expand...
This could be taken as ambiguous.
This could mean repair coverage worldwide ‘wherever you have bought a Mac’ (i.e. there is coverage wherever Macs are sold). Whether this applies to (non mobile) desktops I don’t know.
But I think global coverage is more applicable to mobile devices (i.e. not mini/studio).

Unless it is a ‘massive’ saving, it makes more sense to buy in local country, to avoid any headaches (especially if it’s a gift).

I didn’t get AC with my PowerBook, so it didn’t bother me.
Plus there where not any physical Apple Stores in UK until 2004.

 
Last edited:
Purchasing from B&H photo and then shipping to the UK may attract a VAT bill from HMRC (Customs) (worth 17.5% of the cost) and any other import duties due. Total cost may end up broadly the same as buying from the UK store and shopping so eliminating any savings from favourable exchange rates although carrying onto a plane with a passenger obviously could sidestep this.

I'd expect charger adapters to work ok, and in the era of USB-C chargers a UK charger but you need to be aware of the US/UK keyboard differences.

1 years warranty coverage for a US device may or may not be honoured in the UK but a US machine must certainly won't be after that year is up. It could well be treated as a grey import so Apple UK stores may not even cover the first year (this happens with grey market cameras as the warranty only applies in the market in which the device is bought).

I'd also perhaps keep an eye out for 3rd party deals in the UK - sometimes they have sales that approach the levels of discounts seem at B&H, Best Buy etc.

The equivalent UK retailers who do deep discounts from time to time include Costco UK, Very.co.uk, and Argos. Amazon UK price match them from time to time.
 
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MarkC426 said:
Still waiting for the OP to tell us the price.
As @sublunar mentions above, there could be offers to be had in the UK.
Click to expand...
The other point I'd probably make is this kind of multinational purchase may be flagged as something fraudulent by credit card companies - either a US credit card buying from B&H only to ship to UK or a US credit card in use on a UK store to ship to a UK address.
 
After reading many of the above posts...
... this scheme sounds like it could be more trouble than it's worth.
(and possibly end up costing MORE, as well)
 
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pi6xjdskfa said:
Hi,

I’m purchasing a MacBook Air M4 in the U.S. as a gift for a relative in the UK. If there’s a warranty issue, can they get it serviced in the UK? Additionally, can they purchase AppleCare at a UK Apple Store, or what’s the correct way to enroll in a 3-year AppleCare plan for a U.S.-bought laptop?

Since this is a gift and the receipt won’t be in their name, what are their options for warranty and AppleCare coverage? I’ll be purchasing the MacBook Air from an authorized Apple dealer, B&H Photo.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Buy it on the UK Apple Store (and mention that it's a gift so they don't include payment details). That way, the device will be adapted to local standards and delivered to the UK address. AppleCare+ : your call. I usually include it (and pay it myself) when offering an Apple device, or you can leave it for now and it'll be up to the user whether they want to add it later on.
 
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