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Buying an iPad in the US and bringing it to the UK

S

shandyman

Suspended
Original poster
Apr 24, 2010
6,458
397
Dublin, Ireland
I'm off to america in a month or so and with the pricing of the iPad over here being nearly £100 more, i was thinking of getting on out there.

I've a couple of questions, if anyone can help :)

firstly, will there be any issues with the power supply? should i just use my uk iPhone charger on it?

also, will i be able to bring it back ok? or will i have to pay extra?

Cheers for any help!
 
You wont be able to use your iPhone charger as the iPad needs more power, you will however be able to switch the US adapter on the plug with a UK one and it should work fine.

And you *should* declare it on your way through customs but if you dont look suspicious you might make it through without declaring it. Although this is legally questionable.
 
DKatri said:
You wont be able to use your iPhone charger as the iPad needs more power, you will however be able to switch the US adapter on the plug with a UK one and it should work fine.

And you *should* declare it on your way through customs but if you dont look suspicious you might make it through without declaring it. Although this is legally questionable.
Click to expand...

so basically just switch the plug side of it? cool, i have enough of them sitting around here at the moment!

if i declare it, will i have to pay? i've not been to america before, so its all new to me. i was just thinking of having it in my bag carrying on to the plane.
 
DKatri said:
You wont be able to use your iPhone charger as the iPad needs more power, you will however be able to switch the US adapter on the plug with a UK one and it should work fine.

And you *should* declare it on your way through customs but if you dont look suspicious you might make it through without declaring it. Although this is legally questionable.
Click to expand...

The charger does come with the US plug, but as the ends are changeable, no problems.

I purchased a 16Gb WiFi to bring it below the customs threshold. It seemed a bit pointless to spend money on an item for it to be potentially seized - and 16Gb is big enough for me.

You may want to sign into more than one Apple Store to reserve the model of your choice - if you do you will need an Apple ID for each.

Chris
 
I would have to say good luck on even finding one to buy. There are not that many floating around here for sale in the stores. As far as ebay or craigslist, I have no idea.

EDIT: I just re-read your post and realized you'll be here in a month. I really hope there are more available by then.
 
Tulipone said:
The charger does come with the US plug, but as the ends are changeable, no problems.

I purchased a 16Gb WiFi to bring it below the customs threshold. It seemed a bit pointless to spend money on an item for it to be potentially seized - and 16Gb is big enough for me.

You may want to sign into more than one Apple Store to reserve the model of your choice - if you do you will need an Apple ID for each.

Chris
Click to expand...

i was looking to get the wifi 32Gb, how much is the customs threshold?
 
PorterRocks said:
I would have to say good luck on even finding one to buy. There are not that many floating around here for sale in the stores. As far as ebay or craigslist, I have no idea.
Click to expand...

well i'm not going to be out there until end of june/beginning of july to be precise, and if i can by one there, cool, if not then no biggie, just thought whilst i was out there, might be better off to get one there.
 
DKatri said:
You wont be able to use your iPhone charger as the iPad needs more power, you will however be able to switch the US adapter on the plug with a UK one and it should work fine.

And you *should* declare it on your way through customs but if you dont look suspicious you might make it through without declaring it. Although this is legally questionable.
Click to expand...

no one in their right thinking mind would stop and declare an ipad/ipod or even a laptop/ digital camera etc. to customs!!! LOL

when you buy it, take it out of the packaging, ship the packaging home or pack it in your checked luggage and say you have had the ipad for months...or if you want to give £200+ to customs and excise, just follow DKatri's advice and have them rummage through your baggage for anything else you might have purchased.
 
Tulipone said:
You may want to sign into more than one Apple Store to reserve the model of your choice - if you do you will need an Apple ID for each.
Click to expand...

Very good point! Might want to use a few family members accounts, as there's no obligation to purchase.

Yesterday I only knew of 16GB and 32GB WiFis in stock anywhere, no 3Gs in either Apple or Bestbuy. Today I haven't heard of any WiFi's even!

The plugs are just like the iPhones and Macbooks, they use those Apple world travel adapters.

Most people are fine at customs, I've personally brought a MBP through fine before :p, and that was back when in it was £1 = $2 :D. (For the record I was 16 and didn't know about declaring ;)).


The only issue with a US bought iPad in the UK is the question of warranty (sure you know already but iPhones are only covered in the country they were purchased, but Macbooks are worldwide)... and the warranty issue is being discussed here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/913202/
 
andythursby said:
so basically just switch the plug side of it? cool, i have enough of them sitting around here at the moment!
Click to expand...

Yep, swap it over and you should be good to go

andythursby said:
if i declare it, will i have to pay? i've not been to america before, so its all new to me. i was just thinking of having it in my bag carrying on to the plane.
Click to expand...

If you declare you will have to pay import duty (no idea what % it is) but if you put the box in your suitcase and take the iPad in your carry on you should be fine. I think they are more bothered by people buying them to just to sell them on. My sister has come back with an iPod and a camera and never had any trouble.
 
iWannaBeAdored said:
Could you not just put it in your suitcase? I don't understand why you'd have to pay if it is in your suitcase with your other belongings?
Click to expand...

I think the customs personal limit is £390 - a 32Gb inc sales tax in Orlando is £431. If you attempt to not pay they can seize - as they do with cigarettes and booze (and drugs). Just by putting it in a case does not remove the requirement to declare.

Personally I don't care what others do, but I would be really pissed if I got caught. Just as a slight aside, my case was opened on the way back by US Customs and the empty box was at the top of the case when I got home with a note apologising for the busted lock. I had my iPad in hand luggage - but I wonder how much communication goes on between the US and UK Customs?

Chris
 
iWannaBeAdored said:
Could you not just put it in your suitcase? I don't understand why you'd have to pay if it is in your suitcase with your other belongings?
Click to expand...

bluefox9er said:
no one in their right thinking mind would stop and declare an ipad/ipod or even a laptop/ digital camera etc. to customs!!! LOL

when you buy it, take it out of the packaging, ship the packaging home or pack it in your checked luggage and say you have had the ipad for months...or if you want to give £200+ to customs and excise, just follow DKatri's advice and have them rummage through your baggage for anything else you might have purchased.
Click to expand...

so if i put it in my suitcase that goes into the hold baggage, it should be ok to go thru with no extra charge?

i was planning on taking it out of the packaging, can't be bothered to cart the packaging back with me. just don't wanna fork out an extra bunch of cash if i don't have to.
 
Yeah this whole "of course really you should toe the line" thing is ridiculous. We all know that not a single one of us Europeans buying an iPad in the US would declare it. We'd just unpack it, keep the packaging in our suitcase if at all (good for resale though!) and then carry the iPad through in our hand baggage like we've always had one. Absolutely nothing whatsoever will happen to you.
 
andythursby said:
so if i put it in my suitcase that goes into the hold baggage, it should be ok to go thru with no extra charge?

i was planning on taking it out of the packaging, can't be bothered to cart the packaging back with me. just don't wanna fork out an extra bunch of cash if i don't have to.
Click to expand...

If you dont wanna keep the packaging get rid of it. Then there is no way for them to tell if you only just brought it, if they ask (very little chance they will) you can say you have had it for ages.
 
owen-b said:
Yeah this whole "of course really you should toe the line" thing is ridiculous. We all know that not a single one of us Europeans buying an iPad in the US would declare it. We'd just unpack it, keep the packaging in our suitcase if at all (good for resale though!) and then carry the iPad through in our hand baggage like we've always had one. Absolutely nothing whatsoever will happen to you.
Click to expand...

Why not 'toe the line'? There is flaw in your argument. I specifically decided not to pay and to follow the guidance.

DKatri said:
If you dont wanna keep the packaging get rid of it. Then there is no way for them to tell if you only just brought it, if they ask (very little chance they will) you can say you have had it for ages.
Click to expand...

Maybe I am paranoid - else sad that you think that UK Customs really are that stupid. They have only been out for a month - and they have US as part of their serial number. Whilst I have no idea if the GB ones will have GB written on them - and neither do you as they are not on sale here yet, the serials will be traceable.
 
I'm going to Ireland in a few months and was wondering WHERE I can get that British adapter for the iPad power plug.

Also will Customs give me any flack about it in my bag? I'll have in in a Water Ford bag of its own not a retail box. Would I be able to sell it there at a profit? :)
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)

Don't misinform the OP. If you don't declare it and get caught it could be seized or he will have to pay a fine.

I know this is worst case but I wouldn't want to chance it.
 
Get rid of all the packaging and just put the iPad and charger in your suitcase. They have no proff you bought it and are bringing it back.

and to be honest what are the chances of them opening YOUR suitcase, finding the iPad and then saying you are smuggling it?
 
andythursby said:
so if i put it in my suitcase that goes into the hold baggage, it should be ok to go thru with no extra charge?

i was planning on taking it out of the packaging, can't be bothered to cart the packaging back with me. just don't wanna fork out an extra bunch of cash if i don't have to.
Click to expand...

Dude, i'd NEVER put something like an iPad (or camera, or computer....) into checked luggage. No way.

1. they beat your luggage to crap

2. they can rummage thru your luggage on a whim. I don't even bother locking mine at this point anymore... they won't relock it even if you use the fancy locks most of the time, so i might put a zip tie on there to start, but figure it's just going to be opened.
 
andythursby said:
should i just use my uk iPhone charger on it
Click to expand...

I'm in continental Europe and I use my US iPhone charger with a cheapie plug adapter. Works great and beats the size of the little white cube transformer that comes with the iPad.

There is zero chance you will have an issue with customs.
 
PorterRocks said:
I would have to say good luck on even finding one to buy. There are not that many floating around here for sale in the stores. As far as ebay or craigslist, I have no idea.

EDIT: I just re-read your post and realized you'll be here in a month. I really hope there are more available by then.
Click to expand...

I was in Vegas this past week and reserved one at the apple store in ceasars palace. I had it in my hand the next day. Canada customs were nice and even though I declared the full value of the iPad, they didn't charge me a cent in duties or taxes. I would suggest declaring the purchase just in case, if customs decides to make your life hell it will be hell ;).
 
skubish said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)

Don't misinform the OP. If you don't declare it and get caught it could be seized or he will have to pay a fine.

I know this is worst case but I wouldn't want to chance it.
Click to expand...

I am not sure anyone has misinformed the OP. There is obviously a risk that if you get caught in customs you will have to pay an import tax. However, if you do like other posts have mentioned and remove the iPad from the box you should be just fine. Even if you do get caught the fee (for the UK) actually only brings the price of the iPad to approximately £30 over the UK price. In my opinion £30 would stilll be worth it just for early access. :D
 
andythursby said:
I'm off to america in a month or so and with the pricing of the iPad over here being nearly £100 more, i was thinking of getting on out there.

I've a couple of questions, if anyone can help :)

firstly, will there be any issues with the power supply? should i just use my uk iPhone charger on it?

also, will i be able to bring it back ok? or will i have to pay extra?

Cheers for any help!
Click to expand...

Do these work with the iPAd power supply ?

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB974ZM/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY
 
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