Buying tech from America.

Skeptic · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:19

Hi guys,

I am off to America tomorrow. I have a number of things that I always buy from there (bad food, mostly!), but am in the mood for some tech this time. Was thinking perhaps an iPad, but I'm not entirely sure that it's worth it.

So, the purpose of this thread is three-fold;

1) Can anybody tell me if it's actually worth buying anything tech-related from there, and if there will be any associated problem.

2) What other things should I buy? I mostly buy food, but am looking for recommendations as to other foods, drinks, restaurants etc to try!

3) Any things that I should do out there that I may have missed?

I'm off to Orlando, Florida, so I'm sure a lot of you will have been there!

Many thanks.

Efour · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:21

sex with dolphins

TBirdUK · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:27

any chance you could get me an Parrot AR Drone?

They are yet to be released here (2 weeks!!) and are $300 as apposed to £300 (UK ripoff again!)

bsoltan · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:36

If you buy items and bring them back they should be declared so you can pay the tax on them.

Glaucus · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:38

Just check that anything you buy has 110/230v on the plug socket

POB · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:38

bsoltan said:
If you buy items and bring them back they should be declared so you can pay the tax on them.

You still have a £390 personal allowance before this happens, provided no single item is over £390 you are only charged on the excess.

iPad is a decent saving over the UK.

soundb0y · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:45

Lucky Charms!

Westyfield2 · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:48

POB said:
iPad is a decent saving over the UK.

Aye.
Got my 3G 64GB there before they were out here

.

Also got my MacBook Pro there a few years ago, back when it was $2:£1 :cool:

.

Main thing to check is whether the warranty on anything you buy is international

.

TrUz · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:48

soundb0y said:
Lucky Charms!

+1 for Lucky Charms!

TrUz

Temi_D · 10 Aug 2010 at 13:09

bsoltan said:
If you buy items and bring them back they should be declared so you can pay the tax on them.

How will they know if you bought it in US?

ginger_pat · 10 Aug 2010 at 13:13

Remember that you will have to pay state tax on top of each item, i bought a MBP and it was more than i thought.
When you come back to England or wherever just have your items in your hand luggage and don't say anything about where you bought it (not that someone will ask really).

Westyfield2 · 10 Aug 2010 at 13:23

ginger_pat said:
Remember that you will have to pay state tax on top of each item, i bought a MBP and it was more than i thought.
When you come back to England or wherever just have your items in your hand luggage and don't say anything about where you bought it (not that someone will ask really).

Item in hand luggage. Box in hold luggage (or bin if you're particularly paranoid). Receipt in pocket of clothes in hold luggage.

Green 'nothing to declare' door. That's what I've always done

.

POB · 10 Aug 2010 at 13:23

Temi_D said:
How will they know if you bought it in US?

I think serial numbers on expensive items are a possibility, same with a US keyboard.

imb4tman · 10 Aug 2010 at 13:33

If you're into photography digital cameras are always a good buy in the US. The duty starts at 0% too.

Westyfield2 · 10 Aug 2010 at 13:38

imb4tman said:
If you're into photography digital cameras are always a good buy in the US. The duty starts at 0% too.

Got some SLR lenses from the 'states too

.