Buying an iPad whilst in US - Any problems back in UK?

humfer

Going on holiday later this year to America and having now decided I want an iPad just been looking at prices. The entry 16GB model is £429 in the UK but just $499 in the US which works out at around £346. As I understand it UK import limit is £390 so no issues there with customs, etc. Am I right in assuming that all iPads now matter where bought from are the same, so apart maybe from a adaptor plug there should be no issues when I get back to the UK?

littlepanther

People I know who got them in the States don't seem to have any problems. They usually honour the warranty but get from an Apple store if you can. However, just remember they can refuse to honour the warranty as it is a limited international warranty. Apple are into customer service so they usually do what they can.

Try and get early on in holiday so you can give it a good try out just in case there is a fault.

Enjoy it. I am.

dickydonkin

The entry 16GB model is £429 in the UK but just $499 in the US which works out at around £346.

There will likely be a state tax to add on to that (assuming you have not already factored that into the price you stated) and just hope the £/$ exchange does not deteriorate any further.

GrahamW

I was going to get a colleague to bring one back from the US this week. Just looked into the costs again and it's only about a £30 saving as the sales tax is around 8.5% and the exchange rate is really rubbish at the moment.

I've decided that I will get one locally at least you have it straight away and can bring it back if any issues (just a local piece of mind thing). However they do have international warranty, so shouldn't be an issue.

kwikbreaks

Certainly with savings that low it really wouldn't be worth the possible hassle if it did go wrong - given this is a brand new product there must be a chance of that.

jeanniebeanie_2

I posted a thread on here about this a few weeks ago, and after lots of research found it wouldn't be an issue in the UK to get one in the US.

Got back 3 days ago after travelling around for 3 weeks (Georgia, S Carolina and Florida) and could't get one! Got a nice case for one though :rotfl:!

I wasn't prepared to make my trip all about getting an Ipad, but I tried several Apple Stores and Best Buys with no luck. They could order me one, but of course we were moving around.

Bit the bullet and got one here. As has been said, the dollar rate isn't great and the State tax was 7% for me, so not gutted

BTW -2 days on LOVE IT! :T

S0litaire

There's one tiny (micro) problem with buying them in the US...

If you get a 3G version then you'll need a "micro SIM card" (it's half the size of a mobile sim card)

Don't think their are any of the providers in the UK selling the Micro sims without a contract. but I might be wrong.

You can take a sharp knife to a normal sim to trim it to size, but it's not for the faint hearted

littlepanther

Microsims are available here from O2, Vodafone, Orange and Three.

JeannieBeanie, shame you couldn't get one there as I know how much you were looking forward to it. At least you got one. I got one too and better than expected.

If you need to create documents I got the Pages app and it is really good for word processing.

If you haven't search on the app store for iPad and you should a number of popular apps that have been made for the iPad.

S0litaire

ok I heard reports from a few people having problems getting micro sims for their ipad after getting them direct from the US.

littlepanther

Solitaire, you probably heard correctly but they soon put that right when they came out over here.

jeanniebeanie_2

littlepanther wrote: »

JeannieBeanie, shame you couldn't get one there as I know how much you were looking forward to it. At least you got one. I got one too and better than expected.

If you need to create documents I got the Pages app and it is really good for word processing.

Thanks, nice of you to remember, I got Pages too, so now it does just about all I need. Already been boring people to death with my trip photos on it- they look stunning!

BTW, this is my first Apple product ever (apart from a 1st gen shuffle) and having noted you signature you may be getting a pm if I get in trouble with it (yes, I KNOW they're supposed to be idiot proof, but they never met me!):o