The UK price contains VAT, the US price doesn't contain Sales Tax. So US prices start from £912+Local Sales Tax, not £777.
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iPad EU News (Abandon all hope, ye who enter here..) ("Are you nuts?!" - Steve)
- Thread starter Yixian
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The UK price contains VAT, the US price doesn't contain Sales Tax. So US prices start from £912+Local Sales Tax, not £777.
I'm assuming those lucky eBayers whose resolve has cracked have been lucky with regards to dead pixels etc?
I nearly bought one yesterday that had two dead pixels and I'm really wary of dipping my toes in the import market again. The waiting's absolute agony but the agony would be as nothing compared to buying one from Ebay and not having anywhere to return it to if there was something wrong with it.
I'm a bit worried that if they do meet 'late April' it will be a very limited launch, ie. none of the pre-order pampering that the US got - just an annoucment that there will be limited stock in stores from April 30th and it will be a mad scramble!
I nearly bought one yesterday that had two dead pixels and I'm really wary of dipping my toes in the import market again. The waiting's absolute agony but the agony would be as nothing compared to buying one from Ebay and not having anywhere to return it to if there was something wrong with it.
I'm a bit worried that if they do meet 'late April' it will be a very limited launch, ie. none of the pre-order pampering that the US got - just an annoucment that there will be limited stock in stores from April 30th and it will be a mad scramble!
Agreed. That way they won't have to commit huge numbers, keep their promise and will sell out right away which of course the news outlets will lap up. Way to drum up business at the expense of corporate love. Still I know I'll be there...please be the 23rd or 24th. That's the thing with this thread it is a distraction but all the pain of waiting will dissipate come launch day. I know this for myself.
What your saying makes sense from a business point of view...but other then that is EXTREMELY unfair to other markets.
It does however look highly likely this is the case...as wrong as it is.
Yeah i'm the same, this is my worry really.
Saying that, you could buy a UK one and it has dead pixels..it's just my luck there be thousands on it.
How do we go about this?
EDIT: Apologies about the double posting, thought the forum would automatically add this to my other post, seeing as i've posted within a minute.
If I buy one from the UK store, I can at least take it back. Apple are always really good about swapping stuff you're not happy with. With the online store it's literally no questions asked - they just ship another one out and send a courier to pick up the bad one.
Can't do that with eBay!
It doesn't matter where you buy it, if there's a problem, it's sorted under warranty. You can just visit a local Apple Store or call Apple Care.
ive been wondering this myself, however surely the 1 year warranty comes in the box, and no receipt would be required to prove where you purchased it, right?
Don't forget the duty too. Usually you are looking at a 22% hike for vat and duty combined. Apple are one of the few where UK and US prices are pretty close once you factor on various taxes.
If people are desperate to get their hands on an iPad, have you considered using something like Borderlinx? I used them when I needed a pair of hockey skates which weren't available in the UK (and when they did appear they were stupidly expensive compared to the US price). They give you a US address to ship stuff to so you just shop online and have it delivered to that address. Once it arrives they e-mail you, so you just login to your Borderlinx account and request delivery to the UK.
They're linked to DHL for delivery and you can even request a full door-to-door cost (including VAT and Customs Duty if applicable) before you buy anything. It only took 2-3 days for my hockey skates to get from New York to my door step - because the tax/customs charges are paid in advance it just sails through, no hold ups.
If the exchange rate works out good I might buy a basic WiFi iPad that way... Although I'm in Vegas this summer so I might just pick one up then.
They're linked to DHL for delivery and you can even request a full door-to-door cost (including VAT and Customs Duty if applicable) before you buy anything. It only took 2-3 days for my hockey skates to get from New York to my door step - because the tax/customs charges are paid in advance it just sails through, no hold ups.
If the exchange rate works out good I might buy a basic WiFi iPad that way... Although I'm in Vegas this summer so I might just pick one up then.
Yeah that's true for something disastrous like, say, a non-working speaker or a completely non-functioning screen but I wonder whether a UK Apple store would swap a US Pad with two dead pixels out for a fresh UK one. I doubt it. I'd rather not take the risk.
And of course, until it's launched here there's no stock here for them to swap anything with!
Ha ha. Loving the change of topic title.
I still can't believe the UK have no official information from Apple. I can't help but feel something is terribly wrong.
I still can't believe the UK have no official information from Apple. I can't help but feel something is terribly wrong.
HM Customs have classified it as an item that doesn't attract duty, apparently - a 'counting device' or somesuch!
I was at the apple store yesterday in Birmingham, fooling around on the iMacs (as much as i want one, i have other things to spend money on for now... but its nice to look)
And an apple employee started quizzing me on OS4, and asked me about what i thought of the iPad, i more or less stated that i'm waiting on a price before i judge it.. and he said he's expecting it to be around 450.. And well, i politely said that i'm not sure if i'd be interested if it's that much.
I mean, wow. I'll certainly be ordering one via a friend over in america if this happens.
And an apple employee started quizzing me on OS4, and asked me about what i thought of the iPad, i more or less stated that i'm waiting on a price before i judge it.. and he said he's expecting it to be around 450.. And well, i politely said that i'm not sure if i'd be interested if it's that much.
I mean, wow. I'll certainly be ordering one via a friend over in america if this happens.
Your obviously correct that there is a price difference but your mistaking the cause of the difference.
The US Apple site quotes the price without tax (each US state sets it's own tax rate so the actual price paid is always higher except for a few 0% tax states).
The UK Apple site has to quote the price including VAT (UK residents all have to pay 17.5% VAT and it's a government requirement to quote prices that include VAT). So if you look at a US price add 17.5% to it see what it will be in the UK including tax.
Using your example of the 13" MBP, it converts to £777 but when you add 17.5 VAT it is £912.98 which is a lot closer to £999. The Apple premium is actually 9.4% which to cover currency movement and compared to premiums in the past is not bad.
So, taking the 16GB wifi iPad at $499, convert it at 1.54 (they probably won't be as generous as this), this comes to £324.03 add 17.5% vat, comes to £380.74, add the same premium as the 13"MBP (9.4%) comes to £415.01.
Given they seem to like 9 in their pricing I'm guessing £419 or £429 but who knows let's split the difference at £424.
Only my thoughts, I may be miles out, but because of the above I don't believe it will be under £400. Anyway this stopped me checking for any new announcements for a while. Now back to checking announcements and a bit of work!
No, it's true. I know people who have imported them, both from Bundlebox (who have the documentation below re the import rate) and sent from friends.
See here for the signed, legally binding document from HMRC
Ah thank you I hadn't thought of that. I am not trying to argue that I had not completely mistaken the reason that there is such a difference in price but I don't understand, is the price on the apple US site the actual amount you pay or do they add tax onto that number in america, if the actual price some one will pay in america is what is on the site then my figures will still be the same for how much it actually costs, but my reasoning will have been completely wrong.
Just want to make sure I am not misunderstanding this all completely! Thanks!
Local tax is added on to the price shown on the Apple Store in the US. The tax rate varies from state to state.
Im still of the opinion that apple may take a small hit, just so they can advertise the price as unde £400
Hopefully theyll start the base model at £389 or £399 something that looks attractive for the casual teche, rather than us people hunched over our laptops in the dark.
But i hope/think that they may do this
Hopefully theyll start the base model at £389 or £399 something that looks attractive for the casual teche, rather than us people hunched over our laptops in the dark.
But i hope/think that they may do this
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