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Buying a MBP from the US

R

RossMacca

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 31, 2009
374
378
I'm from the UK, and as most of you know, Apple products cost a lot more over here than they do in the States. There is a possibility that I'll be in the US (New York, or California) around August/September.

I'm thinking about buying a new MBP while over there, however I have a few queries if anyone happens to be able to help, or preferably, has bought one from the US as someone from the UK before.

  • I'm a student, would I still be eligible for an education discount?
  • Would there be any sort of tax applied when I bring it back into the UK?
  • Is the keyboard layout different in anyway on US MBPs?
  • Obviously the power adaptor will be different, but is the half of the charger than connects to the laptop itself, universal? ie I would only need to buy a UK one of those, not the entire thing.
  • If something were to go wrong with it, which is usually covered under warranty, would I be able to get it repaired in the UK?
  • Would I be able to get Apple Care on it? (similar to the above question)

I think that's everything. If I think of anything else I'll add it later. Thanks a lot if anyone can help!
 
The power adapter has a removable plug, so you can swap that out with a UK one (or just use a separate pin adapter).

I think the keyboard is slightly different; the shifted number keys are !@#$%^&*() whereas I believe that the UK keyboard has a £ sign in there somewhere (£ is accessible on a US machine by pressing Opt-3).

AppleCare is worldwide. I've had my US machine repaired in NZ without issue.
 
RossMacca said:
  1. I'm a student, would I still be eligible for an education discount?
  2. Would there be any sort of tax applied when I bring it back into the UK?
  3. Is the keyboard layout different in anyway on US MBPs?
  4. Obviously the power adaptor will be different, but is the half of the charger than connects to the laptop itself, universal? ie I would only need to buy a UK one of those, not the entire thing.
  5. If something were to go wrong with it, which is usually covered under warranty, would I be able to get it repaired in the UK?
  6. Would I be able to get Apple Care on it? (similar to the above question)
Click to expand...

1. Unlikely.
2. Don't know about that - MRoogle?
3.
British: http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC184B/A?n=keyboards&fnode=MTY1NDA1Mg&mco=MTMzNzkyMzM&s=topSellers
MB167B
English: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC184LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA1Mg&mco=MTMzNzg5MDM
MC184
4. Only the prongs are different, you only need to replace them, not the entire power adapter.
5. Apple Care is world wide.
6. Yes
 
RossMacca said:
I'm from the UK, and as most of you know, Apple products cost a lot more over here than they do in the States. There is a possibility that I'll be in the US (New York, or California) around August/September.

I'm thinking about buying a new MBP while over there, however I have a few queries if anyone happens to be able to help, or preferably, has bought one from the US as someone from the UK before.

  • I'm a student, would I still be eligible for an education discount?
  • Would there be any sort of tax applied when I bring it back into the UK?
  • Is the keyboard layout different in anyway on US MBPs?
  • Obviously the power adaptor will be different, but is the half of the charger than connects to the laptop itself, universal? ie I would only need to buy a UK one of those, not the entire thing.
  • If something were to go wrong with it, which is usually covered under warranty, would I be able to get it repaired in the UK?
  • Would I be able to get Apple Care on it? (similar to the above question)

I think that's everything. If I think of anything else I'll add it later. Thanks a lot if anyone can help!
Click to expand...

- Yes
- Depends how brave you are... you could walk through the 'nothing to declare' passage
- A bit different, but not much
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
 
If you go to NY City and plan on buying one there I would highly recommend B&H Photo. Not only are the prices slightly below apples, but they also have several BTO models in stock. They are one of the biggest and most trusted stores in the US for photographers and they have a computer department with numerous MBP's to play with. One tip, they are closed Saturday and Friday afternoons.

Scroll down this link to see the models - also B&H has one of the best prices anywhere for Apple Care
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...h6o3yde16f&ci=13223&N=4294250031&AID=10603278
 
Do you even need to be here physically?

Why not just buy from US online apple store?
 
Thanks for all the quick straightforward answers! The student discount still seems a bit uncertain but I think it's still cheaper without that anyway.

As for paying import tax, I'd probably be happy unboxing it all and acting like I took it with me. I'd even send the empty box home too, cause I'd want to keep that. I don't see why the UK government should have anything to do with me buying a laptop abroad...

Blu101 said:
Do you even need to be here physically?

Why not just buy from US online apple store?
Click to expand...

Pretty sure they don't allow you to send it to a non-US address.
 
Blu101 said:
Do you even need to be here physically?

Why not just buy from US online apple store?
Click to expand...

i also live in the UK and was having the exact same thought the only problem is that i am not going to the US anytime soon and from the quotes i have its pretty expensive to ship using couriers and i dnt think apple US ship to the UK or UK pricing structure would be pretty irrelevant
 
O.G.Q said:
i also live in the UK and was having the exact same thought the only problem is that i am not going to the US anytime soon and from the quotes i have its pretty expensive to ship using couriers and i dnt think apple US ship to the UK or UK pricing structure would be pretty irrelevant
Click to expand...

It's actually cheaper to fly to NYC, buy the laptop and fly back rather than buying here in the UK.

The prices here are just RAPE...
 
O.G.Q said:
i also live in the UK and was having the exact same thought the only problem is that i am not going to the US anytime soon and from the quotes i have its pretty expensive to ship using couriers and i dnt think apple US ship to the UK or UK pricing structure would be pretty irrelevant
Click to expand...

Yea, I looked into that too before I found out there was a strong possibility that I'll be there later; it doesn't seem worth the effort.

Can anyone that's every bought one in the US and brought it home to the UK comment on the whole tax issue?
 
RossMacca said:
Yea, I looked into that too before I found out there was a strong possibility that I'll be there later; it doesn't seem worth the effort.

Can anyone that's every bought one in the US and brought it home to the UK comment on the whole tax issue?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've done it twice... just unpack it and take it with you as if you took it with you from the beginning.
 
I would consider NOT buying it from the US because the price would probably be marginal by the time you take into account sales tax and import duties. Also when you buy an MBP in the UK as a uni student, you get a 3-year warranty (3-months phone support). Don't think you'll get this with a US purchase.

Edit:
Just to add some figures:

Base 13" UK (w/ uni discount) = £877.20 = ~$1359
Base 13" US (w/o uni discount) = $1199 (before any taxes)
 
Last edited:
bigjobby said:
I would consider NOT buying it from the US because the price would probably be marginal by the time you take into account sales tax and import duties. Also when you buy an MBP in the UK as a uni student, you get a 3-year warranty (3-months phone support). Don't think you'll get this with a US purchase.
Click to expand...

Umm, have you even read what's been said in this thread? You don't have to declare it... just get rid of the packaging and walk in as if you've always had it.
 
Xil3 said:
Umm, have you even read what's been said in this thread? You don't have to declare it... just get rid of the packaging and walk in as if you've always had it.
Click to expand...

Yes I did read it thank you but I didn't want to respond to that as its up to the OP to decide whether to take that approach or not. Besides, if the OP cannot get student discount in the US but can do so in the UK, its still probably better to buy it in the UK anyway. See edit in previous post.
 
It's likely I won't have the money until then anyway, so I could try getting the student discount in the US (this seems to be luck depending on the person serving you in the store) and if I don't get it, just wait till i get back home.
 
RossMacca said:
It's likely I won't have the money until then anyway, so I could try getting the student discount in the US (this seems to be luck depending on the person serving you in the store) and if I don't get it, just wait till i get back home.
Click to expand...

If you're coming to NYC, it might be worth your while to head like 30 minutes into New Jersey and buy the macbook pro at the microcenter. I've picked up about 3 now for 999$+3.5% sales tax which is 1034.99USD out the door. No educational discount needed. Basically 646pounds... But this doesn't include apple care. So depends how how you want to take your chances. I know there are some microcenters in CA too.

Now depending on how unscrupulous you are... You could just put it into a computer bag, toss your box and pretend it was your laptop just like previous posters stated

Otherwise I know of a place in NYC to get it for 1049, but you'll have to pay 8.5% sales tax here.
 
fibrizo said:
If you're coming to NYC, it might be worth your while to head like 30 minutes into New Jersey and buy the macbook pro at the microcenter. I've picked up about 3 now for 999$+3.5% sales tax which is 1034.99USD out the door. No educational discount needed. Basically 646pounds... But this doesn't include apple care. So depends how how you want to take your chances. I know there are some microcenters in CA too.

Now depending on how unscrupulous you are... You could just put it into a computer bag, toss your box and pretend it was your laptop just like previous posters stated

Otherwise I know of a place in NYC to get it for 1049, but you'll have to pay 8.5% sales tax here.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the useful advice!

If going 30mins out of NYC makes it cheaper, I'm sure I could manage that. I totally forgot that tax in the US varies per state. Does the Apple online store include tax in it's prices?
 
I think what everyone else is suggesting re: customs is the way to go. Unbox and bring it along with you. If you get questioned, you could easily say that you bought it before the trip. Though I'm not sure what happens if you get nabbed... i.e., are there fines, or would you just have to pay tax? (Chances are nothing will happen, though).

Regarding the student discount, if you have a US address, you can just get it mailed there. On the website all they make you do is enter your school, or at least that's what happened last time I ordered. I had thought they'd ask me to confirm my student status via my university email address, but that never happened.
 
Oh I wish I could just buy a MBP from the American Apple Store.. I live in Belgium and the base 15" i5 2.4Ghz costs €1799 here, which is $2,443..
Oh AND we don't have refurbs in the store here..:(

RIDICULOUS!
 
RossMacca said:
  • I'm a student, would I still be eligible for an education discount?
  • Would there be any sort of tax applied when I bring it back into the UK?
  • Is the keyboard layout different in anyway on US MBPs?

I think that's everything. If I think of anything else I'll add it later. Thanks a lot if anyone can help!
Click to expand...
You should be able to get the educational discount.

Paying import tax is between you and Her Majesty's Customs. If the look at it they may notice a non-UK keyboard. While i would not condone avoiding paying duty, having a bunch of file son it that pre-date your leaving the UK and a UK keyboard cover with UK symbols may make it less obvious it was purchased in the US.

If you buy it in a US Store, you'll pay sales tax (often 5 - 8%) which, unlike VAT, is not refunded if you export it. Some states have no sales tax, and mail order outlets don't as long as you ship to an address where they have no "presence" which means Apple, Best Buy, etc generally charge sales tax but smaller companies and Amazon generally don't.

Depending where you go you may want to make a side trip to states with no sales tax. For example, Delaware and NH don't on the east coast of the US.

If you know someone in the US you'll visit you could also have a machine shipped to them.

While the key layout is different you can setup the keyboard as a UK one - all that means is the physical key may say # (the US pound symbol) but you'll get a £ when you do shift-3.

Applecare is worldwide - you can get it pretty reasonably from Amazon in the US.
 
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