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Purchasing iPhone 4s in bulk? Not 50, but 500+?
- Thread starter shinypenny
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You would be liable the fraud committed by not declaring the items for export
shinypenny said:
You would be liable the fraud committed by not declaring the items for export
It is not $5 min if you wrote in another post $3 - $5, which means it's $3 min, $5 max. Learn the basics then come back and see how big of a scam this is. I'd make sure whatever you get will cover the retainer for a lawyer when you get hosed for trying to bypass customs. Oh that's right, the buyer is and you're in no way fallible. Free market? Get a job ... a real job.
This thread has epic potential.
First off, I'm shocked to hear that you're older than 15. As a business student myself, it makes me feel great to know that I am graduating and competing for jobs with people such as yourself...
You're potentially making $1500 - $2500 in exchange for the opportunity of spending some time in jail and making it so no REAL business wants to hire you in the future due to serious ethical and criminal activities. Does that logically seem like a worthwhile investment?
Without even getting into the logistics of the 'proposed' operation, or the financial aspect of it all, I ask one question:
If he is buying these off people on craigslist, picking them up etc, why doesn't this guy simply source out 500 iPhone's himself? What does he need you for ?
If you want to get your feet wet in international business, do some research or get organized in something legitimate and worthwhile.
This sounds like a GIANT scam, if you continue to pursue this, I have some magic beans I would like to sell you
P.s. If he had some amazing way to bypass customs and smuggle in and out of the country, he would be doing it high profit margin goods
(ie: blow), not some stupid phones that he paid retail for.
First off, I'm shocked to hear that you're older than 15. As a business student myself, it makes me feel great to know that I am graduating and competing for jobs with people such as yourself...
You're potentially making $1500 - $2500 in exchange for the opportunity of spending some time in jail and making it so no REAL business wants to hire you in the future due to serious ethical and criminal activities. Does that logically seem like a worthwhile investment?
Without even getting into the logistics of the 'proposed' operation, or the financial aspect of it all, I ask one question:
If he is buying these off people on craigslist, picking them up etc, why doesn't this guy simply source out 500 iPhone's himself? What does he need you for ?
If you want to get your feet wet in international business, do some research or get organized in something legitimate and worthwhile.
This sounds like a GIANT scam, if you continue to pursue this, I have some magic beans I would like to sell you
P.s. If he had some amazing way to bypass customs and smuggle in and out of the country, he would be doing it high profit margin goods
(ie: blow), not some stupid phones that he paid retail for.
This story reminds me of Miss iPhone Piggy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYBFY98lWcU
are you for real TS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYBFY98lWcU
are you for real TS
Why are you guys assuming the OP is responsible for getting them through Customs? He said it's his boss's responsibility.
To the OP, don't bother going to the Apple Store. You need to go through corporate sales. Try AT & T Corporate sales or business sales.
I don't think they need to see proof that you are a real company. They will send you an invoice, your boss pays it, and the phones are delivered to an address of your choice.
If they need a valid corporate number, you can always set up a company as needed.
Do you need to purchase the phones in the USA? In the UK there's several different phone shop chains that sell iPhones, and will happily sell you 500 through their business sales depts.
Buying PAYG phones to sell abroad is called box-breaking. There's a lot of it in the UK, and the phone companies don't like it much as it hurts their activation rates, but it's legal (if declared at customs).
http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/News/news.aspx?id=65165
I would advise you to work on the assumption that you will have to declare these phones at customs. Find out the charges and notify your boss. It becomes his responsibility.
Buying with the intent to ship abroad is legal. Companies ship in bulk across the world all the time. Buying with the knowledge that customs duty will be evaded places you in a very sticky situation. I do not know US law, but you need to be careful not to be caught up in this.
(Due to the EU, boxbreaking and shipping across the EU is easier).
To the OP, don't bother going to the Apple Store. You need to go through corporate sales. Try AT & T Corporate sales or business sales.
I don't think they need to see proof that you are a real company. They will send you an invoice, your boss pays it, and the phones are delivered to an address of your choice.
If they need a valid corporate number, you can always set up a company as needed.
Do you need to purchase the phones in the USA? In the UK there's several different phone shop chains that sell iPhones, and will happily sell you 500 through their business sales depts.
Buying PAYG phones to sell abroad is called box-breaking. There's a lot of it in the UK, and the phone companies don't like it much as it hurts their activation rates, but it's legal (if declared at customs).
http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/News/news.aspx?id=65165
I would advise you to work on the assumption that you will have to declare these phones at customs. Find out the charges and notify your boss. It becomes his responsibility.
Buying with the intent to ship abroad is legal. Companies ship in bulk across the world all the time. Buying with the knowledge that customs duty will be evaded places you in a very sticky situation. I do not know US law, but you need to be careful not to be caught up in this.
(Due to the EU, boxbreaking and shipping across the EU is easier).
This story reminds me of Miss iPhone Piggy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYBFY98lWcU
are you for real TS
Omg......... im feeling bad for her....
Personnally i wouldnt walk around with 60-100k cash in my hands showing it to everybody especially if i am a weak fat woman.....
dang this is ****ing stupid. The 1 per customer rule is a classic......
________
Los angeles dispensaries
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I appreciate your concern but I have no liabilities... All I do is try to find suppliers, hook them up with my buyer, and get paid. As for all the customs and other legal stuff, it has nothing to do with me. I have no money invested and by no way am I committing anything illegal.
Well he buys nearly everything - iPhones are more difficult to deal with so I'll try to buy iPads instead since there shouldn't be a limit. Going to authorized resellers as a source might work... And it's legal.
You might want to do more research about the law...
Accessory To Fraud
The term accessory to fraud is one that is charged to an individual who has the knowledge or participates in the crime of fraud but is not the principal individual committing the crime. The criminal charge of fraud is a general term used to refer to the intentional misrepresentation of materials or facts from one person to other. The person making the statements or claims knows that they are false. Fraud also may include inducing the other person to act by making specific statements or claims. As an accessory to fraud, this individual has added in the actually crime in some way, such as providing information or resources, hiding information, or hiding a criminal after they have committed the crime, or in any other way aiding a criminal.
I appreciate your concern but I have no liabilities... All I do is try to find suppliers, hook them up with my buyer, and get paid. As for all the customs and other legal stuff, it has nothing to do with me. I have no money invested and by no way am I committing anything illegal.
Well he buys nearly everything - iPhones are more difficult to deal with so I'll try to buy iPads instead since there shouldn't be a limit. Going to authorized resellers as a source might work... And it's legal.
that may be the case, however you have openly admitted within this thread (which i have screenprinted) that you are aware that they do not declare them to customs, and i am pretty sure there is a law regarding that.
This begs the question, what exactly is the crime? Since you're so well-versed in the law would you mind pulling up some different regulations on customs and explaining why this is illegal? I won't deny the possibility, but I'd rather have something to back up what I believe. Lastly, I know quite well what an accessory to a crime is... just like you, I'm a fan of cop shows.
This begs the question, what exactly is the crime? Since you're so well-versed in the law would you mind pulling up some different regulations on customs and explaining why this is illegal? I won't deny the possibility, but I'd rather have something to back up what I believe. Lastly, I know quite well what an accessory to a crime is... just like you, I'm a fan of cop shows.
Seriously? What's the crime? Accessory to helping a company commit customs fraud:
A company commits customs fraud by submitting a false statement to reduce the amount of payment owed to the government on imports. The two most common ways are:
misclassifying or undervaluing products subject to import duties, and
misstating the country of origin in order to avoid anti dumping duties
Just got off of the phone with an authorized reseller. 1) They don't sell Apple products in bulk without Apple's approval and after confirming that they aren't going overseas. 2) The prices are non-negotiable which defeats the purpose of buying in bulk or just buying any in the first place.
I guess this is all good for Apple. Makes me even happier that I own stock in the company. As for the original problem of finding these electronics, I guess it remains unresolved.
I guess this is all good for Apple. Makes me even happier that I own stock in the company.
As for the original problem of finding these electronics, I guess it remains unresolved.
1) All you have to do is say yeah you won't take them overseas. That condition is them trying to stop box-breaking. You pay for the phone (payg I presume), you do with it whatever you want (as long as it's legal).
Suppose they discover you've shipped them overseas after purchase, what are they gonna do? Typically, they refuse to sell you any more, but that's not gonna concern you.
2) Yes I thought you knew Apple gear discounts are generally non-negotiable. I didn't think you were looking for a discount - it's not you paying for them after all - you just want to buy as many in one go as you could to save time buying them one by one.
Get on the phone to some other resellers and get some quotes. 500 is still a small order by corporate standards. Order a thousand or 5,000 for your boss's company. Keep it short. Hi, I'm in IT purchasing for xxx, I've been asked to get a quote for 5000 PAYG iphones. Great, email it please to me at xx@xx.com. (not a yahoo or gmail or common free email address).
The most serious issue, as has been pointed out above, many times, is that you shouldn't be facilitating customs fraud. I had a quick look for USA customs export charges: it seems customs rarely charge for EXPORT. Many things are charged duty for IMPORT but rarely for EXPORT.
Give US Customs a ring, say you want to ship a box of mobiles abroad. If they say you don't have to pay a fee to export mobile phones, you've done your duty. Whatever happens on the Chinese end is up to your boss.
Suppose they discover you've shipped them overseas after purchase, what are they gonna do? Typically, they refuse to sell you any more, but that's not gonna concern you.
2) Yes I thought you knew Apple gear discounts are generally non-negotiable. I didn't think you were looking for a discount - it's not you paying for them after all - you just want to buy as many in one go as you could to save time buying them one by one.
Get on the phone to some other resellers and get some quotes. 500 is still a small order by corporate standards. Order a thousand or 5,000 for your boss's company. Keep it short. Hi, I'm in IT purchasing for xxx, I've been asked to get a quote for 5000 PAYG iphones. Great, email it please to me at xx@xx.com. (not a yahoo or gmail or common free email address).
The most serious issue, as has been pointed out above, many times, is that you shouldn't be facilitating customs fraud. I had a quick look for USA customs export charges: it seems customs rarely charge for EXPORT. Many things are charged duty for IMPORT but rarely for EXPORT.
Give US Customs a ring, say you want to ship a box of mobiles abroad. If they say you don't have to pay a fee to export mobile phones, you've done your duty. Whatever happens on the Chinese end is up to your boss.
I'm really unsure of all the legal stuff you'd be facing if you got caught doing this, but just so you know, Apple track everything. Serial numbers of all the phones would be under your name. Even if you're not the person who takes the phones overseas, you'd still be responsible for being a part of this activity, therefor you'd face serious charges. Again, I'm not sure exactly what would happen to you. I don't get how it's worth it to you, but if you wanna do it, go for it. Just saying though, it doesn't take a genius to see that you're being scammed, and also Apple have people tracking this stuff everyday. Do you really think that Apple won't notice that you just bought 500 iPhones? Even if you do it overtime, they have your credit card and name on file, they could easily see your purchase history. No one other store would be stupid enough to sell you iPhones in such high quantity. Just let this go, it's really not worth it, unless you wanna end up on the news tomorrow.
Yes, that's exactly the thing. A lot of people are worried that this is customs fraud, but I think the U.S. really doesn't care what leaves the country - just the stuff coming in. The customs fees and other charges would be from the Chinese side and probably the importer in China will be paying for them.
I'll see if I can contact customs anyway. It's not really my responsibility, but like you said, I should be careful and not be liable for some customs fraud thing.
Which in turn f**ks up supply in that country as more and more of these people rip into supplies.