Robert Rosario

As title suggests, I have a colleague going over to the states next month, and I fancy a 20gig i-pod.

I have a few questions.

1) On Amazon.com they are showing a retail price of $199. How does this compare with US general retail?
2) Presumably I will need a some sort of AC adaptor? Any ideas on cost?
3) What about the warranty situation? Are they internation or country specific like Sony's?
4) Anybody bought one this way, and if so, is it a good idea or not as good as it seems?

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers.

lpski1

2. yes you will, i bought mine from Robert Dyass (sp) £25
3. IIRC country specific (would need to check that though)
4. my ipod mini is from USA, *touch wood* no problems so far.

Freak

I bought a 20gB ipod in new york earlier this year

Got it from the apple store in soho- $299 + $25 NYC tax. $299 is the official US retail and at the time was the only price anyone would do it for.Nowhere would dip lower than that, and i looked around a bit too!

Works fine- and was a hell of a lot cheaper than buying over here.

mad_dr

Instead of buying an adapter, wouldn't it make more sense to buy a dock and Firewire cable? That way you can charge it straight from your PC!

Brendan Hughes

Don't apple do international warranties? Mad if not.

stevem2k

my mate has sent his US mini ipod back ( it was DOA ) with no problems from Apple.

Steve

JackClark

The power adaptor will be fine, you'll need a lead from a sony power adaptor or similar that's all. Couple of quid if you don't have one already.

SiPie

Bought mine in Kong Kong and came with necessary adaptors for varying power supplies

Dracoro

So
$299 + $25 NYC tax
so $324 which is about £175
+ any taxes when bringing it back (depends on customs, whether you declare or not etc.?)
+ £25 for an adapter for use here
So that's £200 (IF you get away without paying customs tax) which is the SAME price as a 20GB ipod over here.

JackClark

>+ £25 for an adapter for use here

£2.50 more like.

Dracoro

This is where I got £25 from
IF it's just a plug adapter you need then it's a coupla quid as you say. If it needs a different 'power' adapter thing then they're probably £25.

Either way, it's not that much cheaper to buy from the US, moreso if tax gets added when you bring it back. However, a few quid saved is a few quid saved

Freak

Mine was still sealed in the box, and customs at Heathrow terminal 4 didnt bat an eyelid.
You could always post the box to yourself if you are that concerned- would cost about $4 to post that.

Ian_S

apple warranties are worldwide, you can use a shaver plug to adapt to uk plug socket.

we paid same price in stores as any internet sellers over there so was a bargain

no customs hassle either and we brought 4 home

class_A

Right a lot of ***** being talked in this thread so I'll post my real-life experience:

1. Apple control supply so prices are fairly equal but remember buying on the street means you'll pay sales tax on top of the price.

2. AC adaptor is 110/220V, 50/60Hz so all you need is a UK "figure-of-8" (IEC-320) power lead like you get with an Xbox or PS2. Cost around 60p. The plugs are detachable from the actual adaptors so if you are very fussy, you could by the Worldwide Travel Adaptor Kit

3. Warranty on all Apple portable products is worldwide. Simply retain the receipt and register the product when you get home at the Apple web site. You can even extend the standard warranty by purchasing AppleCare.

4. Bought my 60GB iPod photo from NYC in December. No problems bringing it back, registering it or updating the software. I carried mine through customs on my person. Ditch the packaging, manuals and CD's as you can get everything from the Apple web site.

GU5

Didn't the budget say you could bring back £1000 worth of goods through customs without declairing them?

Or is this not in effect yet?

Robert Rosario

Excellent reply, cheers mate.

class_A

"Mr Brown's call for the duty-free shopping allowance to be increased would need to win the unanimous backing of EU member states."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/budget2005...439487,00.html

So still £145 of "other goods" plus your alcohol and tobacco allowance.

wez_sti

Found it IPKIS, sorry!!!

annoying these people who dont search before posting


how much am i looking at for a 40G then???

lpski1

nope im lpski1

IPKIS is the other one snet member and all that. The small one

40G ive no idea, i let you know, im going next week

wez_sti

ahhh, sorry again! yeah let me know if you can though you'll have to be quick, they go at the end of the month! (might even end up going myself )

SlowBoy

iTrader: (1)

Don't think they do the 40Gb any more. Think's it's either a 20Gb or the iPod Photo at 30Gb or 60Gb. The 30Gb is around £200 incl local sales tax at 8.25%.

wez_sti

just had a look at their site,

£180 and £235 exc taxes for 30G & 60G iPOD photo respectively!!!!


why do we get so damn ripped off in this country!?!?!