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MBP English Power Cord?

Dr McKay

Dr McKay

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Aug 11, 2010
3,931
1,874
Kirkland
Im thinking about picking up a Macbook Pro in New York when I go on holiday there, because of the vast cheapness in comparison.

Will there be anywhere I can pick up a British plug for the MBP when I get back? Will the Apple Stores in the UK have one?

Also will I be charged import fees when taking it back with me?


(Also what are the odds on me being able to bag Military Discount in the US? Ive been to America once before, and was offered it in a restaurant when I dropped my wallet and my Royal Air Force ID slipped out and was picked up by a waitress)
 
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... or just get one of these.

Dump the packaging, sling the MBP (and bits) in your backpack, walk through customs and pretend you travelled with your laptop. That should take care of the duties.
 
Just buy one of these and use your standard US power cable. That is what I use with my MBP bought from the US and used in Europe :).

About customs and duties... I didn't have any problems carrying it through customs. Though I carried it in my backpack, not in the original retail box. The box was disassembled and put in my luggage :D. But anyway I just walked on the "Nothing to declare" line.
 
to OP, when are you heading out there? im going next week. wondering what the stock availabilty is going to be like.
 
Benjy91 said:
Im thinking about picking up a Macbook Pro in New York when I go on holiday there, because of the vast cheapness in comparison.

Will there be anywhere I can pick up a British plug for the MBP when I get back? Will the Apple Stores in the UK have one?

Also will I be charged import fees when taking it back with me?
Click to expand...
http://www.diybasics.co.uk/WiringAPlug.html

Edit:
Also will I be charged import fees when taking it back with me?
Click to expand...
Since the price of the MBP will be over the £390 personal allowance you legally have to declare the MBP and pay VAT. (20%)
 
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robbieduncan said:
I was about to ask for a source as I didn't think this was true. It seems you are partially correct. As from this page there is no import duty on laptops. But VAT is chargeable at rate S (the standard rate).
Click to expand...
This is only if you order them on the internet and they get delivered to the UK. Nobody is going to VAT your laptop if it's carried outside of the original retail box...
 
DivineEvil said:
This is only if you order them on the internet and they get delivered to the UK. Nobody is going to VAT your laptop if it's carried outside of the original retail box...
Click to expand...
People doing this should be aware that it is legally considered smuggling and tax evasion.
 
bluespaceoddity said:
People doing this should be aware that it is legally considered smuggling and tax evasion.
Click to expand...
Lol?! By buying it in the US I have payed all the taxes there... Sales tax and the price. This is neither smuggling (it is not intendend to be sold afterwards) nor tax evasion (already payed the US taxes)...
 
DivineEvil said:
Lol?! By buying it in the US I have payed all the taxes there... Sales tax and the price. This is neither smuggling (it is not intendend to be sold afterwards) nor tax evasion (already payed the US taxes)...
Click to expand...
H.M. Revenue and Customs has a different idea about that and the OP or people with a similar plan and question should be aware of it. Rather than trust a poster on an forum he/she can verify with the telephone number the HMRC provides just for that reason rather than possibly face arrest and a fine during a random inspection of the "Nothing to declare" line.
 
DivineEvil said:
About customs and duties... I didn't have any problems carrying it through customs. Though I carried it in my backpack, not in the original retail box. The box was disassembled and put in my luggage :D. But anyway I just walked on the "Nothing to declare" line.
and
.... Nobody is going to VAT your laptop if it's carried outside of the original retail box...
Click to expand...
Why did you feel the need to take this "precaution"? Would you have carried the MBP in the original packaging if you had not "suspected" there "might" be some taxes involved in bringing a new MBP into the UK?

Why did a previous poster also mention "Dump the packaging, sling the MBP (and bits) in your backpack, walk through customs and pretend you travelled with your laptop. That should take care of the duties."?
 
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So apart from the power cord and the £ sign are there any other differences between US and UK models.

Just done the math and US prices are +20% cheaper in the US. WOW!
 
macbrighton said:
So apart from the power cord and the £ sign are there any other differences between US and UK models.

Just done the math and US prices are +20% cheaper in the US. WOW!
Click to expand...

Keyboard differences - The shape of the return key is different, shift key different length on the right side too. So if you are going to get a Moshi keyboard cover for instance, the ones sold in the UK would not be compatible.

I would buy from the US if I had the chance. Hope you get there after the MBP's are updated.
 
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