Buying a MBP from the US

[jlc1978]

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?

They do not because there are so many different tax rates - even within states and zip codes you may have different tax rates depending on the location.

If you go through Delaware - Christiana Mall (just off the interstate) has an Apple store and no sales tax, as well as a Best Buy that will sell at edu price if the Apple store doesn't. It's about 2.5 hours from NYC, however so the cost of going there just for a MBP may not be worth it; unless you plan to buy other things as well.

Your best bet is to buy it mail order and ship to a friend you'll be visiting. If you have a UK credit card, call them or stop by your bank and explain you want to buy something in the US and ship it to a US address you'll be visiting. Many US cards allow you to add a second address as a verified address, don't know about UK cards. I can't imagine it's that rare given the amount of business travelers that go back and forth regularly.

Amazon even takes Paypal which may be another option. Amazon is pretty good about that - I've had friends in Europe buy things with a Eurocard and ship them to my house.

Bring a UK uni ID and the Apple store probably would do accept it if they need an ID. My experience has been they don't check and I've often seen people buying it as a gift for a student get the discount.

 

[jlc1978]

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

Let me second B&H - a very reputable store. Also, they are closed all day Saturday.

 

[bluntmachetti]

Hi, as a matter of fact i didt the exact thing in December. But i took a higher risk and purchased it of Ebay US from a trusted seller ( That way i didnt get to pay sales tax). I also got my MBP for much cheaper.

One thing i would ask you to do though is check the prices at the Dixons Duty free at the airport, they are about the same price as the US prices. I purchased my MBP a week before i actually got to the US, because experience had taught me to add at least 5 days to the US promised shipping speeds, else i would have just bought it at the airport. its way cheaper !!!

Hope this helps

 

[bluntmachetti]

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...

Actually its cheaper to just get someone to buy it for you at the airport. The prices at Heathrow's Dixons are cheaper than both the US rates and the UK rates. no VAT !!!

 

[s1lv3r]

I'm doing the same think, but I'm from Brazil and I'm going to NYC on Feb i.o. Sept.

Buying a MBP here is like being raped three times. A standard 15" 2.53ghz MBP costs here BRL 7.499 , which are aroung US$ 4.500. So you can get almost arround 2 times and a half the same laptop in the US. Even buying it in Europe is much cheaper for us.

I'm doing the following: Taking my external HD fully loaded with stuff (pics, movies, music, etc) and I'll transfer it to the MBP just after buying it there in US. And I'm going to the "nothing to declare" queue line, with no pain in my heart. If someone complains, well, I can prove it is mine and for my personal usage only - which is true - and according to the law, they cannot charge me. If complaining about not declaring it prior going to the US, I'll just say that I forgot doing that, but it won't happen.

Also, you should check for prices there, it's much easier.

http://www.appleinsider.com/mac_price_guide/

 

[AnonMac50]

try aramex shop and ship: www.aramex.com

That doesn't always work. Apple often cancels the orders because they don't ship to "forwarders" or "P.O. Boxes".

 

[ThaDoggg]

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

The prices for AppleCare are good but be advised that Apple can refuse to register your AppleCare as it appears that B&H is not on their authorized reseller list