Buy new laptop here or when in US?

itsanne

I'm thinking of buying a new laptop, but as I'm off to the US in six weeks wondered about leaving it until then.

Any thought would be much appreciated.

macman

Which make and model? You will need a UK voltage plug and charger, and you may not get a UK warranty (unless it's a global one). The laptop will have a US ($) keyboard.
And if it's over the £390 limit you'll need to pay VAT and import duty on return.
Factor in US sales tax and it may not be much of a bargain.

John259

Bear in mind that shop prices in the USA are quoted before sales tax.

The total UK duty free allowance when returning from a country outside the EU is £390. Beyond that limit, if you don't declare it then you're smuggling.

Check that the warranty will be honoured in Britain.

photome

I would say buy in the UK.
as others have said you may have voltage problems and warranty issues.

itsanne

Thanks, everyone. That confirms what I had been thinking but thought it was worth checking.

benjus

Voltage problems are very unlikely - I think every laptop power supply I've seen over the last 15 years has been multi-voltage, and it's easy enough to check when you buy. In the unlikely event that it's not multi-voltage and you really want that specific model, you could buy a UK power supply for it when you get back. Power cables and keyboards are easy to change (remember to factor in the cost of this though).

The other issues mentioned are valid, though.

Roger1

I agree with the cautious advice above.

For info, there's 0% import duty on laptops, so if below £390 with nothing else to declare, it would be 0% duty and no VAT. Above £390, just 20% VAT and no duty.

http://www.dutycalculator.com/hs-lookup/283115/hs-tariff-code-for-laptop-computer/

davidious

to be fair just don't bring the box back with a laptop.

if your going for apple its ton cheaper some states don't have sales tax Delware, Oregon.

My US MAcbook is vaild warranty wordwide and I saved 400gbp.
9 times out of 10 it will be cheaper in the US.
People fly all the time with laptops

macman

Are you seriously suggesting that the OP makes a special trip to Delaware or Oregon just to save the sales tax? And then attempts to smuggle an obviously US-purchased laptop into the UK, having abandoned the proof of purchase?

stoneman

macman wrote: »

Are you seriously suggesting that the OP makes a special trip to Delaware or Oregon just to save the sales tax? And then attempts to smuggle an obviously US-purchased laptop into the UK, having abandoned the proof of purchase?

They never said any such thing. And how does getting rid of the box equate to abandoning the POP. IF the OP was going for an Apple product the warranty is linked to the product worldwide, you don't get a receipt from them these days anyway, they email it to you. You could ask a shop to do the same thing.
I have bought 4 iPads and 4 iPhones in the states.
The keyboard will be in US though, just a couple of differences that can be got around.
No voltage problems, I haven't seen a laptop in several years that isn't duel voltage, but do check.

stoneman

davidious wrote: »

to be fair just don't bring the box back with a laptop.

if your going for apple its ton cheaper some states don't have sales tax Delware, Oregon.

My US MAcbook is vaild warranty wordwide and I saved 400gbp.
9 times out of 10 it will be cheaper in the US.
People fly all the time with laptops

alt+3 will get you the "£" sign