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Order mac online and pay in physical store?

U

Usernaym

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 1, 2018
10
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I'm going to the U.S to visit friends soon, close to the border of New Hampshire but not in the actual state. Would like to get the 0% sales tax they have in NH on a custom order but don't know if it is possible.
Could I order a Mac online and pay for it in a N.H Apple store when I pick it up?
Or would I have to get one that they have in the store?
Other suggestions are welcome too.
 
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I don't think you can do it that way. Why not just travel to the NH store and buy the Mac when you visit your friends since you're going to be close to the border anyway? If you order it on line you will probably have to pay in whatever currency you use where you live plus any tax or VAT.
 
chscag said:
I don't think you can do it that way. Why not just travel to the NH store and buy the Mac when you visit your friends since you're going to be close to the border anyway? If you order it on line you will probably have to pay in whatever currency you use where you live plus any tax or VAT.
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I wanted to get the i7 mac mini but don't think it will be available in the store if I just go there. If I order online I could send it to their address but would have to pay their states sales tax.
[doublepost=1541142356][/doublepost]Could I go to the physical store in N.H and buy it there (so I configure it and pay in store) and then have it sent to my friends house or would they add the tax because their addresses is not in the state? If so, could I order it in store and pick it up in the same store?
 
When you get to your friend's home, call the NH store and see if they have what you want in stock and if they have it, you can go there and pick it up in the store. Why have it sent to your friend's home? It's small enough that you can carry it off yourself. That way, no sales tax. Don't make things complicated or difficult for yourself.
 
chscag said:
When you get to your friend's home, call the NH store and see if they have what you want in stock and if they have it, you can go there and pick it up in the store. Why have it sent to your friend's home? It's small enough that you can carry it off yourself. That way, no sales tax. Don't make things complicated or difficult for yourself.
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I'm just thinking what to do if they don't have it in stock.
 
Usernaym said:
I'm going to the U.S to visit friends soon, close to the border of New Hampshire but in the actual state. Would like to get the 0% sales tax they have in NH on a custom order but don't know if it is possible.
Could I order a Mac online and pay for it in a N.H Apple store when I pick it up?
Or would I have to get one that they have in the store?
Other suggestions are welcome too.
Click to expand...

Get your friend(s) to do it for you prior to arrival and repay them possibly?
 
canuckRus said:
Get your friend(s) to do it for you prior to arrival and repay them possibly?
Click to expand...

They could, but how would they be able to order it and get the N.H tax rate if it is not in stock in a physical store in N.H?
 
Usernaym said:
Could I go to the physical store in N.H and buy it there (so I configure it and pay in store) and then have it sent to my friends house or would they add the tax because their addresses is not in the state? If so, could I order it in store and pick it up in the same store?
Click to expand...
You can't do that, but you can order the computer online and have it shipped to the store of your choice.
 
Some online merchants don't charge state sales tax (outside of their physical locations in states like NJ or NY).

You can also order online for other discounts.
 
chrfr said:
You can't do that, but you can order the computer online and have it shipped to the store of your choice.
Click to expand...

If he orders on line he will have to pay whatever tax or VAT that his current location country charges. Trying to avoid sales tax and going thru all that trouble is just not worth it. Since he's traveling to the US, he can order when he gets there, pay the tax and be done with it.
 
Usernaym said:
I'm going to the U.S to visit friends soon, close to the border of New Hampshire but not in the actual state. Would like to get the 0% sales tax they have in NH on a custom order but don't know if it is possible.
Could I order a Mac online and pay for it in a N.H Apple store when I pick it up?
Or would I have to get one that they have in the store?
Other suggestions are welcome too.
Click to expand...
Yes, you can do this. Order online and have it delivered to a no sales tax state like NH or DE. It doesn't matter if your credit card is for a state with sales tax as the point of sale is the Apple store in the no sales tax state. I do this all the time with pickups in DE store with no sales tax at all charged. Obviously I file the use tax for my state come tax season ;-)
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Usernaym said:
Could I go to the physical store in N.H and buy it there (so I configure it and pay in store) and then have it sent to my friends house or would they add the tax because their addresses is not in the state? If so, could I order it in store and pick it up in the same store?
Click to expand...
To not get charged sales tax, order online for an in-store pickup in a state like NH or DE. You won't get charged sales tax for a USA credit card. Not sure about non-USA cards though. I've done this approach at least a dozen times and it's a real nice way to do it. Note that your credit card is charged when you order it not when you pick it up so when you go to the checkout page it should show no sales tax.
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Usernaym said:
I'm just thinking what to do if they don't have it in stock.
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An online order is always shipped to the store so when you order it you'll get the timeline for which it's available. I think the window for pick up is quite generous.
 
You certainly can order and pay online and pick up at the Apple Store if the item is in stock. I do it all the time. Select your 'local' store for pickup.

As for BTO and local pickup, you can do this through Apple's Education Store. Apple just paid a $3 Million fine over that recently—they were photographing student IDs at the stores when credit cards were used. This has been illegal since 1985 (I was working retail when the law was passed). Clerks can ask to look at ID but can't write down the numbers when credit/debit cards are used*. This is designed to cut down on fraud and ID theft.

*There is an exception for car rental as a drivers license is required to operate a vehicle.
 
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chscag said:
If he orders on line he will have to pay whatever tax or VAT that his current location country charges. Trying to avoid sales tax and going thru all that trouble is just not worth it. Since he's traveling to the US, he can order when he gets there, pay the tax and be done with it.
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If you order a computer in the US from Apple, and pick it up in a store located in a state where there is no sales tax, you aren’t charged sales tax by Apple. I am 100% certain of this.
As for what happens if you placed the order from another country, I have no idea what happens.
 
Right. I agree with what you posted but wanted to point out to everyone that the OP stated he was traveling to the US which means he would have had to order on line from his domicile which could charge him tax and maybe VAT. If he was in the US at the time and ordered on line you and the others would be correct.
 
Usernaym said:
@chscag Why would it matter where I am when I place the order? I would naturally order it from the US site.
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Because if you are not located in the US when you place the order from Apple, they might price it according to where you are presently located and charge you tax and whatever other VAT may be required. The reason I'm telling you this is because I have experience with Canadian friends who have attempted to order Apple products from the US store in order to avoid the higher Canadian prices and tax. However, Apple would not allow it and directed them to order from the Canadian store.

I don't know where you are located. If you are a US resident and are presently out of country, then the above does not apply to you since you would have a US address and US bank issued credit cards.
 
chscag said:
Because if you are not located in the US when you place the order from Apple, they might price it according to where you are presently located and charge you tax and whatever other VAT may be required. The reason I'm telling you this is because I have experience with Canadian friends who have attempted to order Apple products from the US store in order to avoid the higher Canadian prices and tax. However, Apple would not allow it and directed them to order from the Canadian store.

I don't know where you are located. If you are a US resident and are presently out of country, then the above does not apply to you since you would have a US address and US bank issued credit cards.
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Interesting. But if I haven't been redirected by the time I press Confirm then I should be fine I guess?

I'm not an American and the credit card is from Europe.
 
Texas and Louisiana offer sales tax rebates to foreign tourists, BTW.

Was surprised that is all. Most other countries rebate sales taxes to tourists!
 
jtara said:
Most other countries rebate sales taxes to tourists!
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Yes, that's correct. Usually they have a duty free store where tourists can buy items.
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Usernaym said:
Interesting. But if I haven't been redirected by the time I press Confirm then I should be fine I guess?

I'm not an American and the credit card is from Europe.
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Let us know how it turns out. Maybe Apple will let you place the order that way. Of course if they don't, you can always have your friend in the US order it for you and have it sent to the NH store.
 
Forgot to give you an update on how it went: I ordered it and payed online and choose to pick it up in a NH store. No problem at all. 0% tax. Thanks to the ones who answered correctly :)
 
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