How can I "order" a Mac Mini with upgraded ram in the US as a visiting European?

[Brain Damage]

I'm gonna travel to Orlando/Miami in April 2025 and planning on buying a new Mac Mini there. But looking at Best Buy for example all of their Minis are standard. I want the M4 Pro with 48gb ram.

How do I get my hands on that? I can't order without a US adress, and since i'm gonna be over there for a limited time order in-store and wait will probably not work.

Never been to the US before so not sure how to go about getting this...

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[chabig]

When you're choosing your hotel, call them and ask if they will accept and hold a package delivery for you. If they say yes, you can have it waiting for you when you arrive.

 

[chrfr]

I'm gonna travel to Orlando/Miami in April 2025 and planning on buying a new Mac Mini there. But looking at Best Buy for example all of their Minis are standard. I want the M4 Pro with 48gb ram.

How do I get my hands on that? I can't order without a US adress, and since i'm gonna be over there for a limited time order in-store and wait will probably not work.

Never been to the US before so not sure how to go about getting this...

Any suggestions?

Thanks

You won't be able to get the ordered computer delivered at a specific time so unless you'll be at your destination for quite a while this won't work. You may be able to specify in-store pickup, but again, there's no guaranteed delivery date on custom ordered computers.

 

[chabig]

Looking at this again, you're planning ahead and that's good. I'm sure there is an Apple Store in the Orlando area. Just order in advance to pick up at the store. Apple's shipping and pickup estimates are very good, and they'll hold it for two weeks (I'm pretty sure). So if you order for delivery about one week before your arrival you could have it waiting for you at the store.

 

[NoBoMac]

IIRC, might not be able to order ahead as if wanting to buy via Apple US site, need US payment method (think this would work between Canada and US; I once tried to do a dummy purchase trans-Atlantic and it did not allow selecting a US store for pickup).

Other issue: how to get it across home country's border and not pay VAT? Per the interwebs, Orlando sales tax can vary between 6-7.5%, depending on where in Orlando and what one is buying (did not know Orlando is in two counties: state county and "Disney" county? [their special district]). Combine the two numbers, could be possibly not saving what one thinks they are going to save, especially if getting fined for trying to avoid VAT.

And iirc, warranty will be US terms, so if home country has better warranty/consumer rights laws, not going to be eligible for that.

 

[Brain Damage]

1. IIRC, might not be able to order ahead as if wanting to buy via Apple US site, need US payment method (think this would work between Canada and US; I once tried to do a dummy purchase trans-Atlantic and it did not allow selecting a US store for pickup).

2. Other issue: how to get it across home country's border and not pay VAT? Per the interwebs, Orlando sales tax can vary between 6-7.5%, depending on where in Orlando and what one is buying (did not know Orlando is in two counties: state county and "Disney" county? [their special district]). Combine the two numbers, could be possibly not saving what one thinks they are going to save, especially if getting fined for trying to avoid VAT.

And iirc, warranty will be US terms, so if home country has better warranty/consumer rights laws, not going to be eligible for that.

1. This is my concern. How can I pre-order since they most likely only accept a US payment method.

2. It's about a $700-750 difference from buying it where I live compared to the US. So sales tax or not. I still save a lot. Just open the box and there's no problem getting it over the border + they are really not looking anyway where i'm located. So not concerned at all about that.

 

[btbeme]

It may be possible to use your Apple Account Balance to pay for the mini. You can add $$$ to your Apple Account via transfer from a bank or by using Apple Gift Cards, then choose that method of payment on checkout. Whether this works internationally is unknown to me but may be worth exploring. You could certainly create a new Apple Account once you are in the US and fund it with gift cards purchased locally.

The Apple Education store online also offers a decent discount if you "qualify." I do not know how, or even if, they check credentials for that...

There are US states that do not have a sales tax - Montana, Delaware, New Hampshire, Oregon, Alaska (I think) - if you know someone in those states, you could ask them to purchase it and send it to you once you are in Orlando - saving that sales tax would easily pay the cost of overnighting a mini to you...

 

[ChrisA]

The Apple Education store online also offers a decent discount if you "qualify." I do not know how, or even if, they check credentials for that...

Last time I checked Apple only required that you have a .edu email address to show you were a student.

The bigger problem will be warenty service if you need it. The computer would have to be shipped to the US.

 

[Alameda]

Looking at this again, you're planning ahead and that's good. I'm sure there is an Apple Store in the Orlando area. Just order in advance to pick up at the store. Apple's shipping and pickup estimates are very good, and they'll hold it for two weeks (I'm pretty sure). So if you order for delivery about one week before your arrival you could have it waiting for you at the store.

I think this is the best way.

 

[pacmania1982]

I'm gonna travel to Orlando/Miami in April 2025 and planning on buying a new Mac Mini there. But looking at Best Buy for example all of their Minis are standard. I want the M4 Pro with 48gb ram.

How do I get my hands on that? I can't order without a US adress, and since i'm gonna be over there for a limited time order in-store and wait will probably not work.

Never been to the US before so not sure how to go about getting this...

Any suggestions?

Thanks

My suggestion would be to order it on the Apple.com and choose to pick it up at an Apple Store over there. I've done it several times and never had an issue. You can pay a none American card too.

 

[laptech]

Wont the OP have to declare it at customs when going back to home country? which could be problematic.

 

[G5isAlive]

Wont the OP have to declare it at customs when going back to home country? which could be problematic.

Not that I would advocate breaking the law, but my company's owner lives in Brazil, comes to visit I think just to load up on Apple Stuff for his family. He just takes it out of the boxes and slides it in his carryon and suitcases. His plan, if asked, is to say it's his old stuff that he came into the country with. He has never been asked over a dozen trips, and often has $10,000 worth of new stuff including multiple phones and computers. Customs is usually chill if you are and are really looking for the people with tons of stuff obviously looking to resale. It's a lot of hassle for them otherwise.

 

[laptech]

Not that I would advocate breaking the law, but my company's owner lives in Brazil, comes to visit I think just to load up on Apple Stuff for his family. He just takes it out of the boxes and slides it in his carryon and suitcases. His plan, if asked, is to say it's his old stuff that he came into the country with. He has never been asked over a dozen trips, and often has $10,000 worth of new stuff including multiple phones and computers. Customs is usually chill if you are and are really looking for the people with tons of stuff obviously looking to resale. It's a lot of hassle for them otherwise.

People used to do that with clothing in the US because brand name stuff is so much cheaper. People visiting for a holiday would purchase an extra suitcase whilst in the country, buy tons of clothes, remove the tags, fill the suitcase and take it back home with them. People will always finds ways and means to get around the laws.

My thought process was if the OP bought the mac mini, removed all the packaging and stuffed in their suitcase, what would happen if customs stopped them and questioned them about what it is doing in their suitcase.

I am sure somethings a person can get away with but a mac mini would need a screen, a keyboard and mouse. Therefore trying to use the reason of 'it's my own and I brought it into the country to use', might draw suspicions from customs officials, especially if the person enters the country on a tourist visa. Try explaining to a customs official why someone on a tourist visa needs to take their own desktop computer with them.

Your company boss may have got away with it if he/she said they were visiting the country on business.

 

[G5isAlive]

People used to do that with clothing in the US because brand name stuff is so much cheaper. People visiting for a holiday would purchase an extra suitcase whilst in the country, buy tons of clothes, remove the tags, fill the suitcase and take it back home with them. People will always finds ways and means to get around the laws.

My thought process was if the OP bought the mac mini, removed all the packaging and stuffed in their suitcase, what would happen if customs stopped them and questioned them about what it is doing in their suitcase.

I am sure somethings a person can get away with but a mac mini would need a screen, a keyboard and mouse. Therefore trying to use the reason of 'it's my own and I brought it into the country to use', might draw suspicions from customs officials, especially if the person enters the country on a tourist visa. Try explaining to a customs official why someone on a tourist visa needs to take their own desktop computer with them.

Your company boss may have got away with it if he/she said they were visiting the country on business.

eh, I doubt it had anything to do with business.. rules are rules. and honestly the customs guys are not trying to break people's balls. They have two main concerns, one to keep dangerous things in and out, this doesn't qualify as dangerous, and two to stop smugglers (which if you are trying to make a profit on electronic devices sure). Otherwise they pretty much leave you alone. sure it's a theoretical risk. but one can easily say 'I used a monitor and keyboard where I was, I just needed to bring my computer.' Shrugs.

A lot of this of course depends on the OP's country. Some country's customs are really relaxed and they dont even stop you, have one line for nothing to declare and one for something to declare. the line for nothing to declare is a door to the outside. sometimes you will see a drug sniffing dog, never a computer sniffing dog. It sounds like the OP knows the risk is minimal to non existent.

 

[pacmania1982]

We've been to the US so many times and brought back tons of stuff. I'm sure you are supposed to declare it but my argument is I've already paid tax on it - even though it's not British Tax (and they get enough of my money as it is!).

I've bought a number of iPads, MacBook Pros, iPods, EarPods and Apple TV's from the US and brought them home without issue.

We were in Florida once and we got upper class tickets with Virgin too and from the US for stupidly cheap - I think we paid £1,200 for Premium Economy return but then got an email asking if we'd like to upgrade for £100 per person each way, so for £400, it was a deal I couldn't turn down. We got an extra luggage allowance so whilst in Walmart we bought a couple of extra suit cases and brought back clothes and food. We had five suitcases when we got back home. No one approached us or anything.

 

[pacmania1982]

Oh - before Apple.com accepted UK credit/debit cards, the loophole was to go and buy a gift card in an Apple Store using your credit or debit card, then use a Mac to order the machine for pick up in that Apple Store or another and collect it when it gets delivered to the store.

Prepaid Visa cards were ideal for paying for cellular service on an iPad as they wouldn't accept a UK card. The issue with those is you have to buy the denomination cards (like $25 - $50 etc) and not like a prepaid mastercard where you decide how much to put on the card because you have to activate them and since the Patriot Act you have to specify a Social Security Number, which obviously us foreigners wouldn't have.

 

[psingh01]

I'm gonna travel to Orlando/Miami in April 2025 and planning on buying a new Mac Mini there. But looking at Best Buy for example all of their Minis are standard. I want the M4 Pro with 48gb ram.

How do I get my hands on that? I can't order without a US adress, and since i'm gonna be over there for a limited time order in-store and wait will probably not work.

Never been to the US before so not sure how to go about getting this...

Any suggestions?

Thanks

The Aventura Apple store in Miami often carries many upgraded models. You may just be able to walk in and purchase the one you want. But call ahead to be sure. A lot of international tourists go to that store to get their apple devices.