MP 7,1 Mac Pro on the plane.

[kittiyut]

Guy i have been take an iMac Pro (+ Original box and apple brown box) from US to Thailand by TG flight (Thai airways).

I come to my home perfectly.

I think apple box design for this situation.

I live in both Bangkok and Portland, OR.

I was going to order my MP and have it shipped to my place in Portland - no sales tax - Maxed out everything except the RAM (32GB) and SSD (4TB). I can order it in BKK but it'll cost me $6,xxx more and that's after 25% employee discount. So I decided to import it myself - carry on. But before ordering, I remember that prices in HK is exactly the same as in the US with no sales tax, sometimes a tad bit cheaper (insignificant), so I ordered mine to be shipped to my friend's place in HK. Flying to and from HK is only 2hr45m away and business class seats with big overhead storage is plentiful. I've ordered this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y9SRW2Z/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2GM3DB5NJCW4D&psc=1 from Amazon so I can hand carry on the plane.

No import tax for computers, just 7% VAT - and most customs don't even bother.

As for the XDR display and stand, it is only ~$400 more to have it shipped right to my place in BKK so that's what I chose to do.

 

[sapralex]

I live in both Bangkok and Portland, OR.

I was going to order my MP and have it shipped to my place in Portland - no sales tax - Maxed out everything except the RAM (32GB) and SSD (4TB). I can order it in BKK but it'll cost me $6,xxx more and that's after 25% employee discount. So I decided to import it myself - carry on. But before ordering, I remember that prices in HK is exactly the same as in the US with no sales tax, sometimes a tad bit cheaper (insignificant), so I ordered mine to be shipped to my friend's place in HK. Flying to and from HK is only 2hr45m away and business class seats with big overhead storage is plentiful. I've ordered this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y9SRW2Z/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2GM3DB5NJCW4D&psc=1 from Amazon so I can hand carry on the plane.

No import tax for computers, just 7% VAT - and most customs don't even bother.

As for the XDR display and stand, it is only ~$400 more to have it shipped right to my place in BKK so that's what I chose to do.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ve bought a MacBook in Hong Kong but Mac Pro can be delivered only to an address and I have no friends there Tickets have almost the same price so for me the US will be easier in some way.
As for the business class, I think I can take it with miles for my returning journey, but still all the carry on items have smaller limits even in business class. Have someone checked this bag with your MP(weight, dimensions?) Or does it really look like an appropriate carry on so the airport stuff don’t bother checking you?
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...and hope that you're not caught smuggling contraband into the EU.

I’ve said that I’m not breaking any rules, just taking the personal item into my country within the import limit rules. Everything is legally good.

 

[Amethyst]

I live in both Bangkok and Portland, OR.

I was going to order my MP and have it shipped to my place in Portland - no sales tax - Maxed out everything except the RAM (32GB) and SSD (4TB). I can order it in BKK but it'll cost me $6,xxx more and that's after 25% employee discount. So I decided to import it myself - carry on. But before ordering, I remember that prices in HK is exactly the same as in the US with no sales tax, sometimes a tad bit cheaper (insignificant), so I ordered mine to be shipped to my friend's place in HK. Flying to and from HK is only 2hr45m away and business class seats with big overhead storage is plentiful. I've ordered this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y9SRW2Z/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2GM3DB5NJCW4D&psc=1 from Amazon so I can hand carry on the plane.

No import tax for computers, just 7% VAT - and most customs don't even bother.

As for the XDR display and stand, it is only ~$400 more to have it shipped right to my place in BKK so that's what I chose to do.

Thanks guys. Now, I may need a ticket to HK. ^_^

 

[nigelbb]

Yeah it’s much cheaper, so buying 2 tickets isn’t a problem, but some airlines say that it’s possible only for musical instruments and not a desktop computer ) I will definitely try to ask more

There is little difference in price here in the UK once you realise the UK price includes 20% VAT (sales tax) & the US price doesn't. The base model is $5999 or £5999. Once you factor in VAT the real difference is about £500 ie less than 10%.

Unless the Mac Pro is for your very expensive hobby surely if you are a business you would be registered for VAT & thus able to claim the VAT back on sales in any case?

 

[kittiyut]

As for the business class, I think I can take it with miles for my returning journey, but still all the carry on items have smaller limits even in business class. Have someone checked this bag with your MP(weight, dimensions?) Or does it really look like an appropriate carry on so the airport stuff don’t bother checking you?

The dimensions of the bag is a tad shorter than my usual carry on, with the same depth (thickness), but a bit wider - which is no problem. It'll easily fit in the overhead bin of a 777. I'm also not concerned about the weight either.

When you're flying Biz or International First, gate agents never bothers to check carry-on weight.

 

[annk]

Admin note:

One last time, further comments about healthcare and taxes MUST go in a related thread in PRSI. Feel free to start one there.

 

[Ifti]

I’ve said that I’m not breaking any rules, just taking the personal item into my country within the import limit rules. Everything is legally good.

Are you sure??
The only reason you are doing this is so that you do not have to pay the VAT Tax within the UK. If you courier the item to yourself, its picked up by customs and taxed. If you do it any other way then hand luggage its taxed - it cant be in its original box because it'll again be picked up by customs and taxed etc
Last time I checked, it wasn't legal to circumvent tax in this way.

Do you know anyone in the US you could have it shipped to? They could then ship it to you as a personal item - not a transaction. It would then not be taxable I think - as long as its marked as a personal item or gift etc?

 

[h9826790]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ve bought a MacBook in Hong Kong but Mac Pro can be delivered only to an address and I have no friends there Tickets have almost the same price so for me the US will be easier in some way.
As for the business class, I think I can take it with miles for my returning journey, but still all the carry on items have smaller limits even in business class. Have someone checked this bag with your MP(weight, dimensions?) Or does it really look like an appropriate carry on so the airport stuff don’t bother checking you?

For HK Airport, that's really up to the airport staff.

In most cases, it depends on the flight loading. If the flight is very full, the staff will have more concern about "if the cabin overhead compartments have enough space for all pax". Therefore, they will care more about the carry on bag's size / weight.

On the other hand, if the loading is low, they don't care that much. However, it doesn't mean they won't check it (especially the bag looks seriously over sized or extremely heavy, which may exceed the overhead compartment's weight limit)