buying a laptop in america

snowmen

Looking at getting a laptop (possibly a dell) and am going to america in may.
Just wondered if it was worth waiting and buying it over there.
Would it be cheaper? I suppose you could claim their version of vat back as well.
Anyone have any experience/views of this?
Thanks.

ChiefGrasscutter

Don't. (This is from what I've heard/read - I've not got personal experience)

You may well end up with all sorts of hassle - not least with customs and excise........and should it fail within the guarantee period your problems will just be starting.

redped

Various reasons why this mightn't be as good an idea as you think:

- You'll be liable for paying the import tax when you bring it in to the UK - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/tax-and-duty.htm

- The laptop will have an American keyboard - it's easy enough to buy a UK keyboard and swap it if you want, but it'll bump up the cost.

- Any warranty will be with Dell in the US, so I doubt Dell UK would be willing to fix it if anything goes wrong.

TBH, I'd just buy a laptop here, and save any hassle.

aarrgghh

If you want to know how much it will be in America why don't you do a search. To start with try Amazon USA. Try a Google search for retailers in USA.

d42mat

I got a friend to buy me a laptop when she was over there.

I had to promise to pay any import duty and she removed all packaging and made it look old in case customs stopped her.

LUCKILY for me she didn't get stopped (didn't declare it) - even more lucky was that Toshiba honoured the warranty when it went wrong despite being bought abroad.

All the points above are valid though - I got lucky.

It's also annoying having the wrong power lead - 2pin US - going into a shaver adapter (as well as the US Kb).

Next time I'll buy UK.

Are they even that much cheper these days?



Matt

shaun_from_Africa

even more lucky was that Toshiba honoured the warranty when it went wrong despite being bought abroad.

You'll find that the Toshiba warranty is a worldwide one so it doesn't matter where it was purchased from. In fact, I think this is the case with most of the big manufacturers nowadays.

It's also annoying having the wrong power lead - 2pin US

Does the lead that goes to the mais plug come off the power supply?

Generally the newer Toshiba power units have a lead with what is called a "cloverleaf" plug, and you can get them with a UK standard plug.
http://www.xxion.co.uk/power-cables/laptop-power-cable-iec-c5-cloverleaf-to-uk-plug-1-8m/prod_76.html

You can also just cut off the US plug and fit a UK one instead.

chunter

If it breaks, Dell will ask you to post it to the US and then ask for a US postal address to send it out to (don't post overseas for US warranty) when repaired.

Seen this only last year with someone.

cubegame

It is worth doing with a Dell but the savings are not all that great (maybe 25% at best).

Tips are as follows:-

1. Decide what you want before you go.
2. Buy the UK power adapter before you head out. Makes it look much more credible to customs.
3. Throw away the box and manuals (manuals usually not needed or available online). Post any necessary discs home.
4. Use the website below to transfer the service tag to UK. Thus leaving you with a UK warranty despite what people above say.

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/international_ownership_transfer_form1?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&redirect=1

Chorlie

Buy it at the airport before you fly out (duty free), you'll have a UK Plug, Keyboard & Warranty and save a little.

It's the best of both worlds

Even thou I've bought my iPad in the USA, I wouldn't buy a laptop.

Dippypud

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

You'll find that the Toshiba warranty is a worldwide one so it doesn't matter where it was purchased from. In fact, I think this is the case with most of the big manufacturers nowadays.


Does the lead that goes to the mais plug come off the power supply?

Generally the newer Toshiba power units have a lead with what is called a "cloverleaf" plug, and you can get them with a UK standard plug.
http://www.xxion.co.uk/power-cables/laptop-power-cable-iec-c5-cloverleaf-to-uk-plug-1-8m/prod_76.html

You can also just cut off the US plug and fit a UK one instead.

Do NOT cut off the US lead, they are a different voltage to UK and the earth / ground lead may not be compatable with UK

shaun_from_Africa

Do NOT cut off the US lead, they are a different voltage to UK and the earth / ground lead may not be compatable with UK

What earth lead?

It's also annoying having the wrong power lead - 2pin US

2 pin connectors only have live and neutral wiring, and 99% of computer power supplies are double insulated and do not have an earthing requirement.
Also just about all computers now operate on multi voltage and will work on either 110V or 220V.