I`m considering buying a laptop from the US, the prices we pay in this country compared to the US for the same system is comical. Thats not all down to the weak pound either, it was the same before that.

The only differences in spec between the US and Uk machines appear to be that the keyboard is slightly different and obviously the power adapter is a 2 pin one but thats easily sorted with an adapter. Apart from that their arn`t any other differences, most warranties are worldwide, the one i`m looking is a worldwide one.

Anyway, has anyone got any experience of doing this ? Did you ask the seller to lower the value at the other end so you get charged less VAT ? I know thats a risk but its what most people are seeming to do from my research so far.

 

Won't the power supply be 110v ? So factor that in as a extra cost for it too

 

The ones ive been looking at in the US are all 240W, the same as the ones ive been looking at in the UK.

 

Shipping and import duty will hammer any apparent discounts.

IMHO

dunx

 

230w or V?

U.S household electric is 110v ours is 240v so it won't be a simple case of changing the plug

 

I am pretty sure it is just a case of swapping the plug lead I am sure my laptop is a variable voltage something like 110 to 250 volts

 

Dont't forget VAT as well.

 

Shipping isn`t too bad, its $120 ..... VAT you can get around by declaring a lower amount which most people seem to do from what ive been reading, yeh it has risks attached if it gets lost, as long as you arn`t silly and declare too low an amount it seems to be fine.

On the laptop i`m looking at ive worked out that i can save approx £580 by shipping it from the US after all the extras of VAT and shipping.

As an example, the base spec for the laptop i`m looking at in the UK is £1,499 where as the same base spec in the US is $1,499

 

That assumes you don't tell the world about the deal and some grumpy old man doesn't report you to C&E for fraud

 

I`d do it legit anyway as the savings are still huge, its a bit too much of a risk to declare a lower amount incase it gets lost or damaged which can happen.

At the legit prices including VAT this is what i would save:

UK price: £2,678

US price: $2,779 + $120 shipping = $2,899 = £1,800

Add the 20% VAT = £2,160 total price ....

Thats a saving of £518 on the same laptop in the UK.

 

You can buy a classic Impreza for that much !

dunx

 

Those figures do seem good - what make / model is it?

 

Alienware M17X R3

 

It wouldn`t be much of a classic for that kind of money