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Some iMac and Apple advice please :)

James Craner said:
XIII has been honest enough to say that he is 13 years old. While I know that these forums are to help people, but not sure we should be making suggestions on how he can commit fraud, and I am not talking about if he qualifies for student discount or not, but on VAT and excise duty importing to the UK.

Also for what it's worth XIII, I think you would have a hard time explaining to a customs officer why you usually take a desktop computer when going to the States if you get stopped ( while the iMac is thin, it is not that thin with the stand).

Also you may have a problem with warranty if it breaks down, I think but not sure that laptops have international warranty on them, but I don't think desktops do. This is a pretty important deal for an Apple, as you can't just pop into PC World and pick up a new motherboard (say), if the hard disk fails you can replace this cheaply, but specialist Apple components are very expensive to replace.

Apple UK do educational deals (but I think you have to be in college or University to qualify - But I would check it out - I could be wrong)

Please don't take offense I am only trying to give you advice so you don't land in trouble or end up with a broken computer that you can't fix cheaply.
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No offence taken. I hadn't considered your points, and their all vaild and good points. I always thought it was a worldwide warentee on it... Is AppleCare worldwide? If I got applecare, and then took it over to the UK, would that still be ok? About getting past customs - I have no idea about how much they would charge me for bringing something like an iMac back, but if it is reasonable, then I will pay it. Its only in the case that it is literally the amount that I saved getting it from the US (£200 - £300) that I would then just bite the bullet and get it from here. Also, a reason for getting it from the US is that, yes, despite me attending a school, in the UK I believe I do not qualify for the edu discount. My auntie may be able to get that in the US as she works in a Uni, a teacher I believe. I know I contradicted what I said earlier in the thread, about trying to not get charged customs, but if I run the risk of losing my iMac, I'll pay 'em.

Thanks guys 😉

If anyone could answer my question about applecare that would be good, as I understand that stuff going is not good if its not covered.
 
Thats £135.09. Plus 17.5% of whatever sales tax is over there. Total price = £907.04 plus all the sales taxes... Thats for the superdrive 17inch... This is not gonna work...

BTW: When do I cease to be a newbie...?
 
XIII said:
BTW: When do I cease to be a newbie...?
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According to macrumors, one becomes a "member" at 50 posts. As for when someone actually stops being a newbie, well... that's a little more difficult to tell sometimes. 😉
 
emw said:
According to macrumors, one becomes a "member" at 50 posts.
Click to expand...

Actually, you become a member at 30 posts.

MacRumors FAQ said:
Newbie = 0 - 29 posts
Member => 30 posts
Regular => 100 posts
6502 => 500 posts
65816 => 1000 posts
65832 => 1500 posts
68000 => 1505 posts
68010 => 2000 posts
68020 => 2005 posts
68030 => 2500 posts
Click to expand...

You can use an avatar when you reach 500 posts.
 
Apple won't accept U.K. student status(at least the Soho shop wouldn't a few weeks ago).If you dump the packaging and fit the imac inside a bag or case the chances of being stopped are minimal.If you are stopped they will just charge you the 17.5% Vat.I would check the guarantee very closely as far as I'm aware only Powerbooks and iBooks have worldwide cover.If your traveling around U.S. some states have no sales tax.New Hampshire is one and I think Oregan another.All in all I don't think buying a iMac in states and importing it is worth the hassle.
 
If you do end up getting an iMac in the UK and are just buying a stock model, I suggest you buy from John Lewis if you have one near you. They are the same price as the Apple Store, but you get two extra benefits a 28 day no quibble exchange policy, and an extra free years warranty, which might mean you can dispense with Applecare, especially if you plan to upgrade within 2 years. The only downside with John Lewis is at the moment they don't do custom orders.
 
John Lewis wont do me a student discount, or anything else, will they? Well, not strictly me, but my dad is a head teacher and could no doubt get an edu discount... He might be able to get a bigger than normal one too, I think the IT guy is into Macs, and Apple aparently go down a LOT on their prices when a school is buying some...

It seems america is not the option for me, but thanks for all your replies guys, that was helpful in making me realise that getting it from the States is probably not the best idea...

And, how do you know how many posts I have made? As in when I will not be a newbie?

EDIT: HEY!! It says now I'm a member 🙂 😉 COOL!
 
Is you dad is a teacher then he will definitely qualify for educational discount. If you look at the UK Apple Store Page there is a button to take you to the education store. If you enter the name of the school that your father teaches it so can see the education prices. When I suggested John Lewis that was on the basis that you could net get edu discount which you clearly can in the UK. You just need to convince Dad that you need a Mac... (If you haven't already).
 
BTW congrats on becoming a Member, next stop "regular" at 100 posts. If you click on Quick Links and choose "My Profile" you can see how many posts you have made.

You just need to get that Mac now....
 
need to get the Mac AND convince him I need a Mac... Not sure where to start on that one 😛 Thanks for your help.
 
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