Living in Mexico, I had no problem buying Apple devices in the US, even some that have not quite launched over here. You can even reserve in the online store with a foreign credit card for pickup or even have it shipped, as long as you have a US address to ship it to.
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Buying Vision Pro as a Canadian
- Thread starter kelvin.lau
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symphony
macrumors 68020
If you haven’t found your answer then and if I remember I’ll let you know tomorrow.
Surprised nobody has posted yet. So I was able to setup the device with my Canadian Apple ID and get access to my iMessages, iCloud Photos, contacts, calendar, etc. Unfortunately that's where it stops. No access to the app store, Apple TV only shows content I have purchased (but not ATV+).
The werid thing is after I set it up with my Canadian Apple ID, the section "Media and Purchases" within Apple ID settings was not signed in, so I clicked on it and signed in with my American Apple ID, but after signing in for some reason it automatically signed me back into my Canadian Apple ID, will need to try again later when I have more time.
So far it seems like its not as easy as iOS where I can activate the phone with a Canadian Apple ID but sign into US App Store but I might also just not be looking in all the right places. If anyone else has any ideas I'm happy to try!
The werid thing is after I set it up with my Canadian Apple ID, the section "Media and Purchases" within Apple ID settings was not signed in, so I clicked on it and signed in with my American Apple ID, but after signing in for some reason it automatically signed me back into my Canadian Apple ID, will need to try again later when I have more time.
So far it seems like its not as easy as iOS where I can activate the phone with a Canadian Apple ID but sign into US App Store but I might also just not be looking in all the right places. If anyone else has any ideas I'm happy to try!
sean+mac
macrumors regular
I also noticed I was able to "buy" a free Vision Pro app through a direct web link the other day via my Canadian Apple ID when browsing from another device (I think on iPhone.) It let me complete the $0 purchase and said it'd begin installing on my (non existent) Vision Pro when it was next online, or something to that effect.
But if the device actually prevents sign in for "Media and Purchases", of course, I don't imagine then that purchase/pending download will ever show up until the Canadian market is opened.
But if the device actually prevents sign in for "Media and Purchases", of course, I don't imagine then that purchase/pending download will ever show up until the Canadian market is opened.
sean+mac
macrumors regular
Interestingly this "i wore Apple Vision Pro for 24 hours" video was filmed entirely in Toronto. No details though on any country-specific limitations as that was not the focus. Perhaps the fact he stuck entirely with stock apps is a bit telling, but then again he did watch some content.
raz0r
macrumors newbie
I am in Canada with the AVP, but my primary AppleID is US. All apps are running without the need of a VPN.
Finally spent some more time with it. Signed out of the "Media/Purchase" account and re-signed in with a US account and everything works perfectly. Works just like iOS!
Main Apple ID is Canadian (sync messages, photos, contacts, calendar). Media/Purchases account is from USA and all apps work properly including Apple TV and Disney+
Main Apple ID is Canadian (sync messages, photos, contacts, calendar). Media/Purchases account is from USA and all apps work properly including Apple TV and Disney+
faythebest
macrumors regular
So if I want to watch Apple TV+ content, I'll need to subscribe again with a US account. I have one, I just need to buy a US gift card.
Nimoy
macrumors 6502
Thanks all for sharing your feedback / experience. Good to hear re using Canadian Apple ID for iCloud and an American one for media and purchases.
faythebest
macrumors regular
Yes. I will likely just do a trial or subscribe for a month just to check out the immersive content.
It's based on your province of residence, for me it was 12% GST+PST (in BC), no duties or import fees.
faythebest
macrumors regular
Thanks for the info. Will try to get it from Buffalo next month since I am out of the country for a month.
A tip for people who have a US account as secondary (thus no active subscriptions on it). You can redeem a free 3 month trial of ATV+ and Apple Arcade if you are a Target Circle member, it's free to sign up!
It also stacks on top of Apple's own trial! So ATV is 7 days + 3 months, and arcade is 1 month + 3 months! Helps fill the gap until AVP App Store is available in Canada!
It also stacks on top of Apple's own trial! So ATV is 7 days + 3 months, and arcade is 1 month + 3 months! Helps fill the gap until AVP App Store is available in Canada!
faythebest
macrumors regular
Hi all - hoping I can get some advice. I'm in Vaughan. I just bought an AVP which I will pick up in Buffalo tomorrow. I currently have a canadian Apple ID. I understand I need an American account (this means an American apple ID right??) - and that I should become a Target Circle member. 1) how do I get an american account? 2) how do I load money on it? 3) how do I become a target circle member? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I picked up my Vision Pro a few days back in Buffalo. Funny enough, someone at the same table as me who was doing a demo / picking up a purchase was also from the GTA. And the store reps helping us mentioned how there has been high traffic from Canadian customers at their store since launch.
Anyway, your Canadian Apple ID will work as expected (for iCloud, but no access to App Store or TV+/Music/Arcade/etc). You will see previous iTunes purchases you've made though (TV/movies, but not the updated 3D version of them - for whichever ones do have 3D available).
I had an American Apple ID from the past that I used to sign into the App Store (Media & Purchases). I believe you can create a new Apple ID here (and choose United States for the country): https://appleid.apple.com/account
While in Buffalo I purchased a $50 US Apple Store gift card so I could throw some credit onto the account (as I don't have an American credit card or PayPal account). FWIW, when I was first trying to subscribe to TV+, it would give an error that I didn't have a valid payment method on the account. But then the day after it worked fine.
The target circle member I hadn't tried myself. But it looks like you can sign up on their website, and they have the links for the 3 month promos there too: Target Circle [credit to @bb147 ] for sharing that.
EDIT: Just tried the target circle signup. Damn that was simple. Just email address and name to sign up. And then the redeem button immediately jumps you to the 3 month credit and also sends you an email with code to redeem 3 months free.
EDIT 2: I noticed you can first signup for Apple One to get a full month free, and then when that is near the end stack it with the 3 month promo from target circle.
Hope that's helpful!
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Thank you SO much - this was very helpful! Are you happy with your Vision Pro? I've been watching reviews and it seems they are mixed - the one caution I've taken away is to be SUPER careful not to break it - apparently quite fragile.
I was able to create a US Apple ID using my brother's credit card since he lives in the US. Where is there an option to add credit using a gift card? I was also able to join Target Circle and got my Apple TV redemption code - I guess I shouldn't redeem it until I have the vision pro and you redeem it right on the device? I figure if I do it now from my mac it will attach to my canadian apple id - I don't want to take a chance.
One last question if any of you see this on time - I checked out of the apple store with the AVP and with the +2.00 readers - I think that's what I need, but will they let me confirm that at the Apple Store? I don't have an appt for a demo, but I do have a "pick up at 3:00 pm" reservation. Does anyone know?
Thanks!
Pickup appointments include a brief demo. Not sure about lenses specifically but I did see people trying them while I was doing my demo/pickup.
You can redeem on the device or just on the web (sign in with the US Apple ID though): https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201209
Personally I would recommend waiting till you have the device to maximize the trial period. In theory because the code is region specific, you shouldn't be able to redeem it on your Canadian account. I tried to redeem a Canadian trial code on my US account until I found the Target Circle offer.
Since WWDC I was extremely intrigued by it. And since the announcement in January, I was so torn. Back and forth and couldn’t decide if I should pull the trigger. Even on the day that I had a demo/pickup scheduled. Last second I thought the heck with it, lets go. Driving back I almost had a bit of regret. Couldn’t believe I dropped the kind of money on it — not just how much of an expense it is, but also thinking about how I’m sure future iterations will make good improvements as well. I also watched so many reviews, and saw all the different concerns. But, having said all that, and taking all the concerns into account, and having had this thing for about 2 days now - I am still absolutely blown away and have ZERO regret about the purchase. Is it 100% an unnecessary toy in a sense? Absolutely. Does it also feel like a piece of technology from the future that shouldn’t be possible at the moment and its incredible to be experiencing it myself? Yes, 100%. Prior to this, my favorite Apple product has been the iPad Pro. I’ve used a 12.9” as my main device for several years (in addition to some Macs I have at home and work). But something felt magical about the iPad, touch, large display, etc. But using Vision Pro, suddenly everything else feels stale in comparison. I’m sure its just the honeymoon phase, but when I’m not using it, I can’t stop thinking about it.
Regrading redeeming a gift card or TV redemption code - its very easy to do it on the Vision Pro itself, within the App Store. Open your user profile, and choose ‘Redeem gift card or code’. When I first clicked the redeemed link in the email, it opened on my iMac that has my Canadian account and it wouldn’t let me redeem it using that, so pretty safe in a way.
Not sure re the readers unfortunately. But every pick up reservation includes a 20 minute demo. When I was there on a weekday recently it wasn’t busy at all. And they offered to try different fits, so I’m sure it could be a possibility.
Best of luck - keep us updated!
sean+mac
macrumors regular
Some step-by-step from my recent experience, just to keep things clear otherwise hidden in the forum:
- Initially setup the Vision Pro using your Canadian Apple ID. (Assumes you want your Messages, Photos and other iCloud things.) The only restrictions will be around using the App Store or accessing some subscription content. I was able to still access my purchases library in Apple TV, for example, but not Apple TV+ content.
- When finally ready to install apps and such go into Setting > Apple ID > Media & Purchases to sign out from just that section.
- Proceed to sign in using the alternative Apple ID which has the country set to the United States.
- At this point install all of the free apps you want/need
- When ready to purchase or subscribe (including free trial):
- Ensure you've redeemed a US dollar gift card onto the Apple ID. You can do this from within the Apple Vision Pro if you have a digital code.
- I purchased one on USA Amazon for this purpose and it was super easy. It allowed me to use my Canadian credit card for billing.
- Then feel free to redeem the Target deals one-by-one.
Excellent breakdown. And good tip buying US apple gift card on the American Amazon site. I was thinking of what would be simplest to obtain some US Apple Store credit when needed and that for sure will be easiest.
Correct. As well as Movie/TV purchases you have. I mean, you can sign out of one and back into the other, take a few minutes but not the end of the world.
What bugs me a bit is I have a handful of movie purchases in my Canadian account that if they were in the US one, would show up with 3D versions that would be cool to try out.
But then again, I spent $5K and am now complaining about a $5 rental to watch a 3D movie lol.