Buying abroad?

Question

Level 1

80 points

Buying abroad?

Hey,

I'm currently going to college in Ireland, and the price of a 17 inch MBP on my college's Apple Educational is just under 3,300 euro (with AppleCare Extended Warranty). The cost of the same laptop on the Apple US site is just over 2,600 euro (again with the extended warranty), representing a saving of just under 700 euro.

I'm heading over to the States in August, and was considering picking up a 17" MBP while over there. Are there any issues I should be aware of regarding buying a laptop in a different country, apart from voltage issues that is? Will my warranty still work in Ireland, or does it just apply to the United States? Plus, is this actually a legal thing to do? It seems crazy Apple selling their laptops for so much cheaper in the States.

Thanks,
Dermot

Currenly Mac-less

Posted on May 15, 2006 9:41 AM

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Answer 1

May 15, 2006 10:25 AM in response to Dermot Solon

Warranty is fine - it's worldwide. Voltage is not an issue - you just need to change the plug or wire that goes into the 110-240v power adapter.

If you get it in the US, the keyboard layout is a bit different. You should also order some ram while you're there.

You do have to pay VAT on it when you re-enter the EU tho.

Good luck.

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Answer 2

May 15, 2006 10:29 AM in response to Dermot Solon

I live in Switzerland and I bought my Mac in the US. Both warranty and Apple care are world-wide. The price diffrerence isn't so dramatic with Switzerland, though. I began using the Mac straight out in the US, so it was open and box-less at customs (they did raise an eyebrow at my two laptops on the way back but said nothing).

So in my experience, no worries. Just buy your Mac in the US. As for voltage, it has automatic selection and you can buy a convenient and nice-looking set of plugs at the Apple Shop to go with your power block.

I'm going to buy my next one in Japan when I'm there a bit later... want to have the right keyboard for my wife.

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Answer 3

May 15, 2006 2:21 PM in response to Dermot Solon

If you're visiting a friend, I suggest you look into having somebody stateside order it from Amazon. You can potentially save up to $620 going this way rather than buying the 17" retail once you tally up their $150 rebate, no sales tax and other promos.

Check out this worksheet - http://www.mactelchat.com/showthread.php?t=50.

The worksheet also allows you to weigh going the ADC route.

For the 17", it cheapest to go Amazon if you take advantage of all the Amazon promos (A9 and Amazon Visa).

If you don't want to be bothered, doing it via the Student ADC level is $65.70 cheaper than Amazon even after the $99 ADC fee; and up to $521.71 cheaper than retail.

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Answer 4

dosers

Level 2

391 points

May 15, 2006 3:55 PM in response to Dermot Solon

... are you sure the cost savings are taking tax into account?
In the EU, tax / VAT has to be included in the price (though Apple will sometimes show both) while the US price never included tax / vat.

Amazon is great, but a) they won't ship outside the US (as they won't ship outside the EU certain things) and they won't allow you to customize....

Cheers,
dan

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Answer 5

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

May 15, 2006 4:06 PM in response to Dermot Solon

It seems crazy Apple selling their laptops for so much
cheaper in the States

Same situation between Australia and the USA, an identical machine is AU$1,147.13 cheaper there. As the poster above suggests, unpack it, use it overseas and don't declare it on re-entry.

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Answer 6

May 15, 2006 7:29 PM in response to dosers

Yep. Amazon only charges sales tax in Washington, Kansas and Kentucky and North Dakota, where they actually have a physical presence.

The worksheet takes that into account. The Apple Store and ADC, in contrast, charges tax in all 50 states, since they are more of a typical "brick/click and mortar" company.

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Answer 7

reserves

Level 1

80 points

May 15, 2006 2:59 PM in response to javesmeister

Buy it in the US, make sure you open it and then post the boxes/manuals back (if you want them).

No-one at customs can argue that you didn't take the laptop out with you.

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