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Going to America

M

Mugs

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 17, 2007
213
0
Walton-on-Thames, UK
Hey this is my first post, but anyway! I live in England n im coming over to America in 5 weeks cus my sis married an american guy n they have a reception thingy!!! so yer im coming over for 3 weeks, do u think i would have enough time to order a 17 inch macbook pro with 160 Gb 7200 Rpm n hi-res screen? Do u think they'd get it in if i order it straight away, Im going to Chicago if that helps at all!!!
Thanks a lot
Mugs
x
 
buy it when you are over there and save a tonne of money, just don't tell customs. ;)


converted to GBP the 17' works out only a little more than your would pay for the basic MBP over here
 
I'd buy it from an Apple store, or order it before you leave to be delivered to your sister's address.
 
Try and buy from a Shop rather then the net, remember u will get an american plung not english,

Oh and have your family post it out as a gift because u will have to pay a duty on it when u return to the UK
 
posting as a gift usually dosnt work. i got taxed the last time i did this.
best thign to do is bring it back in a laptop bag, and they cant prove otherwise.
youd have to ditch the box though.
 
Buy a powercord in the UK and bring it with you to the states. Normally it is what they look at when you return. US powercord means it from the US .....UK powercord = UK.

and yes ditch the box
 
i was going to do this for when i go to hawaii. but it's not worth it. you have to remember the americans add on tax afterwards, not included like in uk/ireland. so in the end you dont save that much
 
Thanks a lot guys, bt do u think they would get it in, in 3 weeks? cus iv herd there is big delays for the 160gb 7200 hard drive???
 
Oh to be a Brit coming to America these days! The Dollar is practically worthless against your almighty pound now. I'd concur with others and suggest you buy your Mac while you're here since it is technically cheaper than it would be for you otherwise.
 
Get your sister's new husband to order it for you and to give it to you as a gift. I don't believe you have to pay anything for customs if that is what occurs.

Just wire him the cash for it and call it good. Or if you don't have the cash, take out a loan from some place. You'd have been paying off the credit anyway. ;)
 
Benedictus-x said:
i was going to do this for when i go to hawaii. but it's not worth it. you have to remember the americans add on tax afterwards, not included like in uk/ireland. so in the end you dont save that much
Click to expand...

Its not so much the taxes but the currency ratio that will give this guy the upper hand.

Let's do some math!

UK: 1960 pounds including VAT
US: $3050 + sales tax = 3250 = about 1625 pounds

A savings of 335 pounds or roughly $675! :)

Oh and if you're a student, be sure to bring some sort of student ID card or schedule and get the student discount when you go to the Apple Store. Not sure if they will take it, but worth a try.

-GF
 
gfreaky said:
Its not so much the taxes but the currency ratio that will give this guy the upper hand.

Let's do some math!

UK: 1960 pounds including VAT
US: $3050 + sales tax = 3250 = about 1625 pounds

A savings of 335 pounds or roughly $675! :)

Oh and if you're a student, be sure to bring some sort of student ID card or schedule and get the student discount when you go to the Apple Store. Not sure if they will take it, but worth a try.

-GF
Click to expand...

Two things: Sales tax varies greatly by state and even town. Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon all have no state-wide sales tax. In Alabama, you might be paying up to 9%. Tell us what state you're going to and we can help you more. ;)

Also, Apple's student discount only applies to college students in the US.
 
Kasper Winding said:
Buy a powercord in the UK and bring it with you to the states. Normally it is what they look at when you return. US powercord means it from the US .....UK powercord = UK.

and yes ditch the box
Click to expand...

Actually the way Apple designs the power adapters, all he has to buy is the plug end, and pop off the US top, and put on the UK top. (He can buy a plug set from apple which includes every country for about $39 I believe)

Counterfit said:
Two things: Sales tax varies greatly by state and even town. Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon all have no state-wide sales tax. In Alabama, you might be paying up to 9%. Tell us what state you're going to and we can help you more. ;)

Also, Apple's student discount only applies to college students in the US.
Click to expand...
Tax in the US is definately broken. When I visited Europe, having the tax included in the price was a dream to shop with. I wish we had the tax included in the price as well, it sure as hell would make counting money a whole lot easier..however the stores would complain because it makes their prices look higher.
 
The man is not asking for taxes and techniques to pass the laptop trough the Customs, He just want to know if 3 weeks is enought time to get it by BTO (160 gb 7.2k rpm drive).
Answer what he is asking. I'm american (Chile) not from US, and I will like to know the anwer to.
PD: This happend here very often, the people forget what you are asking.
 
dollystereo said:
The man is not asking for taxes and techniques to pass the laptop trough the Customs, He just want to know if 3 weeks is enought time to get it by BTO (160 gb 7.2k rpm drive).
Answer what he is asking. I'm american (Chile) not from US, and I will like to know the anwer to.
PD: This happend here very often, the people forget what you are asking.
Click to expand...
Thanks dollystereo, thats what i more want to know, wether id have enough time???? all ur answers are really useful n i'll be in chicago!!! thanks a lot anyway.
 
Wipeout said:
Maybe something to think about - tax rate in the city of Chicago is almost 9%. Thanks mayor Daley.:eek:
Click to expand...
we're doin road trip to new york as well so are the tax rates better there? this will be my first time in America so i wanted to go to sum places!!! any thoughts on if they would get it in in time?? thats my main question bt also if the tax rates are less in new york!!!
 
Mugs said:
we're doin road trip to new york as well so are the tax rates better there? this will be my first time in America so i wanted to go to sum places!!! any thoughts on if they would get it in in time?? thats my main question bt also if the tax rates are less in new york!!!
Click to expand...

Sorry, my response was slightly OT or tangential. NYC tax rate is 8.375, but New Hampshire does not have any retail sales tax.

As for your main concern, it's a bit of a crap shoot as to whether you would receive the machine in the time frame you require - IMO.
 
Like other people said, it would likely be a better idea to go to an Apple retail store. I've heard that the on in Manhattan (New York) is really really cool, and they should have plenty in stock. As far as shipping, I would *think* three weeks would be enough, but I could be wrong :-/


Edit: This is the one I was talking about:

http://www.apple.com/retail/fifthavenue/gallery/
767 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10153
(212) 336-1440
 
Mugs said:
Hey this is my first post, but anyway! I live in England n im coming over to America in 5 weeks cus my sis married an american guy n they have a reception thingy!!! so yer im coming over for 3 weeks, do u think i would have enough time to order a 17 inch macbook pro with 160 Gb 7200 Rpm n hi-res screen? Do u think they'd get it in if i order it straight away, Im going to Chicago if that helps at all!!!
Thanks a lot
Mugs
x
Click to expand...

Yeah, they should have it in time. go to the Michigan Ave. store. that one's pretty good.
 
A long time ago I bought a laptop on my way to the airport heading to south america. I kept the box and installed/played with it in the plane but when it was time to disembark i put it back in the box but customs stopped me and wanted me to pay duties on it. I told them I wasn't selling it here or anything but they made me PROVE that I was using it... so thank god I installed so programs.
 
I live in the UK and I got a friend to buy me a MBP from the states and bring it back to the UK, unless you have access to a higher education discount in the UK i would definitely recommend buying ur MBP in the states. Bring it back through in a laptop bag and post the packaging to your address in the uk.
thats my advice anyway...
 
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