iPad from the US

m5rcc

cem wrote: »

This is a great post. Is there another way to buy from the US or HK and get delivered to UK .. assuming you don't have relative/friends coming back to the UK.

Wonder if there are services setup in the US where people take the delivery for you and then post to your UK address (all for a charge off course) ??

Come to think of it .. can you not order from amazon US site for delivery to UK ?

There was a guide on MSE, but it appears to have disappeared...

InsideInsurance

cem wrote: »

Come to think of it .. can you not order from amazon US site for delivery to UK ?

Not sure Amazon allows you to but there will certainly be others that will.

Remember if it is posted rather than carried through then duty/vat has to be paid on top of the total cost (inc postage and insurance) plus often an admin fee.

When that is factored in the benefits will be massively smaller, if any still exist, plus you lose the consumer protection you get from buying here. We have a nanny state that people complain a lot about but it does result in a lot more statutory rights than you get in countries like the USA

m5rcc

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Not sure Amazon allows you to but there will certainly be others that will.

Remember if it is posted rather than carried through then duty/vat has to be paid on top of the total cost (inc postage and insurance) plus often an admin fee.

When that is factored in the benefits will be massively smaller, if any still exist, plus you lose the consumer protection you get from buying here. We have a nanny state that people complain a lot about but it does result in a lot more statutory rights than you get in countries like the USA

Amazon definitely won't: I tried in the past.

As the previous post states, only worth it if you're doing it yourself or have a friend there and coming back and avoiding the customs.

almillar

The American site will be listing it without any tax as different states have different tax rates. By the time you ordered it from anywhere that would send it, got it in, got the customs paid (as you should), it would cost more than UK. If someone sneaks it in, without the box and stuff and slipping through past customs, you could save a bit but is it worth it?

liubeliu

almillar wrote: »

If someone sneaks it in, without the box and stuff and slipping through past customs, you could save a bit but is it worth it?

My dad brought in a Canon 450d, took it to items to declare. Below the threshold as proved by receipt and was told that's fine have a nice day. So was it worth it? Yes, as got a Canon SLR for well below what you could have bought it for in the UK and no sneaking in necessary. If we had to pay 20% on top we would still be slightly better off (admittedly only £15 saving).

I am fortunate as my dad goes to Hong Kong twice a year and usually brings nothing back with him so this would fall within his £390 allowance

m5rcc

liubeliu wrote: »

My dad brought in a Canon 450d, took it to items to declare. Below the threshold as proved by receipt and was told that's fine have a nice day. So was it worth it? Yes, as got a Canon SLR for well below what you could have bought it for in the UK and no sneaking in necessary. If we had to pay 20% on top we would still be slightly better off (admittedly only £15 saving).

I am fortunate as my dad goes to Hong Kong twice a year and usually brings nothing back with him so this would fall within his £390 allowance

Don't sneak, the Government doesn't like competition

shaun_from_Africa

The American site will be listing it without any tax as different states have different tax rates. By the time you ordered it from anywhere that would send it, got it in, got the customs paid (as you should),

It's normally easy to avoid paying US sales tax when purchasing via mail order.
The tax is only charged if the retailer you are buying from is in the same state that the goods are being delivered to, so picking an out of state retailer can avoid this charge.
Many retailers also offer free postage provided that you don't require express delivery, and as has already been mentioned, it's easy to avoid paying import duty and VAT when coming back into the UK by simply ensuring that you don't have too much stuff.

I travel to the USA on a regular basis and am usually well stocked with stuff when I return. I always declare what I have, and generally never get charged when over the limit. (I'm usually about a hundred or a hundred and fifty pounds over).

Rebecca01

If you were buying the new ipad the siri voice maybe set to understand the american accent and be the girls voice. The mans voice will be the one on the pads for the UK, like it is on the iphones , however you may not use siri much and not be bothered about this.

cem

so basically not really any cheaper way of buying it from the states unless you or someone you know was coming back..!!!!!!

Notmyrealname

liubeliu wrote: »

Grrrr, we really are rip off britain,

You think? Look at the consumer laws. In the USA there is nothing like SOGA. Buy it and if it breaks next week then unless the manufacturer provides a warranty its tough luck.