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The U.K. iPhone 4 Thread

The difference between sales tax and VAT is that we (the UK) have to pay sales tax on any exports from USA, because it's a sales tax, but they (the US) don't have to pay VAT on exports from the UK, because it's not a sales tax.

So buy a job lot of iPhones in the States, ship them over here and then sell them back to the Americans VAT free. And if you think I'm kidding, that's exactly the business plan my wife operates with designer jeans.
 
Fuzzy14 said:
The difference between sales tax and VAT is that we (the UK) have to pay sales tax on any exports from USA, because it's a sales tax, but they (the US) don't have to pay VAT on exports from the UK, because it's not a sales tax.

So buy a job lot of iPhones in the States, ship them over here and then sell them back to the Americans VAT free. And if you think I'm kidding, that's exactly the business plan my wife operates with designer jeans.
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That's incorrect. In many individual US states there is a sales or use tax due on goods/services bought by residents of the state from sellers in-state AND out of state. That includes good bought in other US states and from abroad.

Typically the burden has been on the purchaser to self-report these purchases and pay the tax of their own accord. However, with many states sufferring from reduced tax income due to either depressed economies or ideological grandstanding, many of them are now turning agressive on generating tax from any statures on the books. This is for example why many states are hounding Amazon.com to start charging and collecting sales tax on goods it sells to their residents. Amazon has resisted successfully so far, which means that these state governments will probably start pursuing their residents.

In short, if you are in the UK selling items to Americans you are not on the hook to collect and pay VAT on the sale......but actually your customers over there are . And the way the wind is blowing its likely that these laws will be enforced on them more strictly in the near future.
 
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We get ripped off when it comes to pretty much most electronics, this thought became apparent recently with the Playstaion Vita being $249 yet in the UK it's being priced at £229.
 
OMGitsShan said:
Boy, we are really getting shafted with the unlock instore prices now that the US has them unlocked.

32GB US -> $749 (£457) -> UK £612 ($1,003)
16GB US -> $649 (£395) -> UK £510 ($826)

Those are just ridiculous price differences. I understand if there is a small difference, but even after VAT its a huge difference. Good thing I have a trip to the US planned early next year. Will be able to get the iPhone 4S/5 for way cheaper.
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Remember we have 20% VAT, they have sales tax that varies, but is usually only around 5%. Having said that the iPhone is one of the few Apple products where it is better to be in the UK. The price for the phone may be higher here, but the US contracts are much higher than in the UK.

Work out the cost of running an iPhone 4 for 2 years on an average plan and I'm sure that will cheer you up. Then you can look at Mac prices and get angry again! :D
 
Yeah that's true, the one off cost for the iPhone here may be higher, but when it comes to getting the phone on a contract you're laughing, I literally LOL at when I see how much people in the USA are paying, I mean here in the UK iPhone contracts are by far the most expensive of all the phones but when you compare them to the USA... ;)
 
While in this thread I might as well ask, when the iPhone 4 was released how many did the Apple store have? I mean was it possible to just go in on the release day and get one without reserving one or what?
 
Certinfy said:
While in this thread I might as well ask, when the iPhone 4 was released how many did the Apple store have? I mean was it possible to just go in on the release day and get one without reserving one or what?
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Couldn't you be bothered to trawl through the 17,681 posts in this thread to find your answer? Tut tut! :D ;)

Seriously though, they sold out on the first day as I recall, and were in short supply for some time if I remember correctly (but it seems so long ago now). :)
 
CD3660 said:
Couldn't you be bothered to trawl through the 17,681 posts in this thread to find your answer? Tut tut! :D ;)

Seriously though, they sold out on the first day as I recall, and were in short supply for some time if I remember correctly (but it seems so long ago now). :)
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As stupid as this sounds, I've been reading back the last half an hour trying to find an answer :D

Oh okay, will make sure I definitely go on release day of the next iPhone to get it. And yeah it feels like ages, I remember the only reason I didn't go on release to get one last year was because I was going to Wimbledon that day, really regret it, haha.
 
iWoz said:
Looks like o2 have stock in the midlands still for the iPhone 4 32gb, I'll think I'll wait for the white though.
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I must say though, looking back they are some gems in this thread. I mean I wonder how long this guy waited until he finally got his white iPhone 4. lol :D
 
Going through tis very long thread

O2 is a truly complete s....t shambles

Even after being the first company to having iPhone exclusivity...

They really didn't deserve it-after their crap customer service


Things like making people wait for hours in the sun then telling them their are no iPhones.

They could have told them earlier instead of making them wait...

O2 never learn even after the 4th launch last year
 
Iphone3gs said:
Going through tis very long thread

O2 is a truly complete s....t shambles

Even after being the first company to having iPhone exclusivity...

They really didn't deserve it-after their crap customer service


Things like making people wait for hours in the sun then telling them their are no iPhones.

They could have told them earlier instead of making them wait...

O2 never learn even after the 4th launch last year
Click to expand...

Stop going on about it. Talk about something else. :rolleyes:
 
just got a call from Voda - they have received mine in store (I ordered the delivery to them) and can pick it up at 8am in the morning without having to queue :)
 
Fact 1-I'm paying £25 per mth for my sim only 30 day rolling contract on 3 and I've got an Android phone worth £30 2nd hand.
Fact 2-An iphone 4 on 3 is £29 per mth and £29 cash upfront.
Fact 3-I'm getting an iphone 4 tomorrow!:)
 
I just don't like starting threads for trivial things and just hadto get that off my chest on here. I didn't get one btw but probably will tomorrow. I just don't like contracts but as I'm probably going to be paying £25 per mth for my All-you-can-eat data One Plan 'cause I need a wifi hotspot then for the sake of an extra £4 I might as well treat myself to an iphone.

Some sites and it's members are dead touchy about reving old threads aren't they? Not sure if that's the case with you 2 guys but y'know...there's worse things in life than a bumped thread!:)
 
succumed to temptaion and got an iphone 4. It's only costing me £4 extra per month but it's a 2 yrs. contract which from what I've read on line they could actually put up plus despite being told the cost per month they've told me I'm paying inc. V.A.T I'll not believe it until I actually see it. My main worries are a-that I'll lose it or it'll get damaged or stolen although I'm taking steps to get insurance and b-that my benefits will be stopped* and I'll have to use some of my £800 savings to pay for it which if I've gone and lost or broke it or had it stole will be a total annoyance the blame for which I'll pin squarely on 3 for offering such tempting deals! :) A/w there's all kinds of little scenarios that could play out before the end of the contract inc. that I won't be paying more than I expect and it won't get lost, broke or stolen and I'll have hours and hours and hours of satisfaction and pleasure out of it in a myriad no. of ways!! There can't have been many consumer products that have made so many people as happy as the iphone has but it's the apps that have made it the phenomeon that it is.

*If my health improves this won't be a problem 'cause as soon as my health improves sufficently for me to be able to hold down a job I'll get one even if it's licking peoples toilets clean
 
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