Buying a Laptop in the USA on hols?

BikerEd

Lots of talk of getting caught by customs. The chances of this happening for a laptop are virtually nil as everyone on business travels with a laptop these days - and a lot of holiday makers too. If you are stupid enough to keep the laptop in its box then that's a different thing, but travel with a laptop in an appropriate bag and it won't warrant a second glance from customs. Some years I can to as many as 15 transatlantic trips, plus other trips to places like Moscow, Dubai and the far east and I have never had my laptop questioned in any country - even though I have been stopped by customs.

FlameCloud

Regardless of the moralities of buying something abroad and smuggling it through customs, it would be prudent to point out that any items brought into the country this way are essentially uninsurable, so you wont be able to claim for them if they are damaged/nicked.

Stubert

alanjuk wrote: »

That would be the thing that would put me off buying one from the States. It'd drive me mad.

Quite. US Keyboards are annoying when you're used to British ones, although you do get used to them somewhat (obviously).

No pound sign, @ and " switched round plus blackslash by shift is above the return key (which is smaller I think). @ and " I could cope with by the moving of \ button frustrated me no end!

BikerEd

FlameCloud wrote: »

Regardless of the moralities of buying something abroad and smuggling it through customs, it would be prudent to point out that any items brought into the country this way are essentially uninsurable, so you wont be able to claim for them if they are damaged/nicked.

Why? If you have a receipt then insurance should cover them no matter where in the world you buy things. We have works of art / collectibles at home bought from the four corners of the world. Our kayaks are from France. My camera is from Hong Kong. All are fully covered by our home contents insurer.

spiro

alanjuk wrote: »

That would be the thing that would put me off buying one from the States. It'd drive me mad.

Thats another reason you would have problems proving to customs that you bought it in the UK. Whilst there is mention of paying the duty, if you come through the green channel then they have every right just to confiscate the goods.

Wheres Phatbear when you need him?

FlameCloud

BikerEd wrote: »

Why? If you have a receipt then insurance should cover them no matter where in the world you buy things. We have works of art / collectibles at home bought from the four corners of the world. Our kayaks are from France. My camera is from Hong Kong. All are fully covered by our home contents insurer.

Because the law says so

The relevant precedent was set down in Geismar vs Sun Alliance. Essentially, Mr Gesimar brought in gold to the country, didn't disclose it to customs to avoid duty and then had them nicked. Insures refused, citing a lack of legal insurable interest in the items as the items in question were in Geismars possession as a result of a criminal act (smuggling).

In short, the judge agreed that if an item was not disclosed an insurer is fully within their rights to repudiate any claim in similar circumstances.

Also, if you annoy the adjuster enough they will tend to make a quick call to the HMRC re the tax evasion as well