Importing laptop to the UK?

pin

Don't know if this is the right section to post this thread on, if it is not please feel free to move.As I've been researching into buying a laptop I've noticed there is much more choice outside of the UK and they are often cheaper.As a result I'm considering buying a laptop from North America or Asia. I just want to know what the issues / pitfalls there could be of purchasing one from abroad.So far I'm aware of the following issues: shipping costs, payment in foreign currency, import duties, fact that keyboard won't be UK spec, power supply will be foreign (i.e. not three pin flat).What will the warranty situation be? I know that some laptops (like Asus) come with global warranties or they can be purchased as extra. Would that be OK for me?Is there anything else I should be considering?Are there any retailers in North America or Asia who have a good reputation for importing laptops?Thanks for any help.

Lord_Chris

honestly, laptops arent that expensive in the UK. Dont even think asian laptops because you wont be able to read the keyboard and you'll need to buy a copy of windows.

Once you've paid import duty, the additional shipping costs, and you've bought a worldwide warranty you'll be paying much more than simply buying a laptop in the UK. Worldwide warranties when available are not cheap at all, and to my knowledge no companies offer warranties outside the country of sale.

The only way to really save any money is to buy a laptop from the US, not get caught with it coming through customs, and for you or the person who buys it, to have been in the US anyway.

Bob63

It really isn't worth the bother. A UK keyboard and warranty are two very compelling reasons for sourcing one in the UK.

To answer your quesiton on power supplies. I have owned a number of laptops in the past 18 years and every single one has had a multi-voltage power supply. All you need to do is replaced the plug on the end of the power lead or use a plug adaptor.

Mike

webrits

Lord_Chris wrote:

Worldwide warranties when available are not cheap at all, and to my knowledge no companies offer warranties outside the country of sale.

I bought a Fujitsu laptop while living in the USA and they definitely come with a Worldwide warranty http://www.computers.us.fujitsu.com/www/support.shtml?support/warranty/notebooks/warranty_terms
I saved a bundle! Got it for a least half-price. These are great laptops and get some of the best reviews along with IBM laptops. I got away without paying duty as I carried it through customs as luggage....Duty costs may be the only problem with what you want to do....

pin

It is more about choice for me also. There is serious lackage of choice for what I am after.Also I have done the sums and they still work out cheaper (including shipping and import duties. I also live in the Channel Islands so I don't have to deal with VAT).

hobo28

Seems an awful lot of hassle to me for little gain. What specifically are you after from the laptop? Maybe we can recommend a model which will suit?

Lord_Chris

as hobo said, tell us what you need it for, because i find it hard to believe that you've done that much research if you cant find anything suitable.

Almost any laptop will work for almost anything you want to do - the only exception to this is, for example, if you were a graphic designer and you were using photoshop (which i use on a £750 sony) or programs such as 3DS Max or Maya which i must admit can be a little bit slow on my Sony.

If you tell us:

- what you want to use it for
- what sort of programs your planning to use (only bother mentioning high-end stuff)
- what sort of budget your on

id suggest taking a look at Sony Vaios, mines been great and the service for warranty repairs was fantastic when my DVD writer was playing up.

madauri

You will have to buy a second cable to plug it to a UK wall.