It makes me SICK to think how much cheaper the US is getting these products than we are. Why the hell should I have to pay £1,500 for the macbook pro I want where my burger eating comrade in america is paying £1163 a massive saving of over £300! Is there anyway at all I could possibly get around this and get myself a macbook at that price?
Anyway to beat rip off uk? When buying a Macbook Pro?
- Thread starter Vegeta
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Associate
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Higher education discount?
How much am I likely to get if using a university?
Soldato
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Why does it make you sick? What makes you think you are entitled to a certain product at any price other than what the seller is willing to sell at?
I have a fantastic idea of how you could protest - you could not buy it at all.
Just accept the fact that we pay a higher rate of VAT and businesses here pay higher business rates, or leave the country.
Soldato
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17%.
and it isn't £300 less, the total price would be around £1400 inc Import Tax on entry to the UK.
Your options are:
A. Look for a 2nd hand bargain with warranty and add applecare yourself (I paid £1100 for a 3 month old 2010 15" with 3 years applecare already - bargain.)
B. Find a way of getting the HE discount.
C. Suck it up and pay.
and it isn't £300 less, the total price would be around £1400 inc Import Tax on entry to the UK.
Your options are:
A. Look for a 2nd hand bargain with warranty and add applecare yourself (I paid £1100 for a 3 month old 2010 15" with 3 years applecare already - bargain.)
B. Find a way of getting the HE discount.
C. Suck it up and pay.
Hmm if it means a little effort to save money i'll do it. Go do your rant somewhere else please to someone who cares this thread isn't for your moral standpoint and getting your opinion across. Thanks now bye.
Soldato
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Don't forget American prices don't show any tax, so you have to add that to the price you see.
Sound's like a plan thanks mate. You say you got added applecare onto the Macbook Pro you bought? Does it not ship with one years applecare anyways (therefore giving you a remaining 9 months). I would probably be happy with the year i've never broken any tech, or is there a reason you suggest the 3 years applecare?
HE discount will be easy enough I have enough friends going to uni.
What if I know someone going to the US or I decide to go on holiday there and buy the product over there, would I or the person be required to pay any import duty on the product (probably a no and i'm making myself sound stupid here lol).
Ohh really? So if an american bought a item for say $1,199 they would have to add tax ontop of that? And pay the going VAT in america (or whatever they call it) to the product? So how much more would they pay?
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I think its 17% so around £250 discount. Thats roughly the discount I got when I bought my 2010 15" MBP with the HE discount. You also get 3 year applecare for £50, although some people say its free, I paid £50 and had that free ipod touch when the deal was going. So its a pretty good saving all around.
So they're available in the UK airports and you don't even have to go to the US? Lol I might just goto barcelona for a day cheaply have a nice day out and get one.
Soldato
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Now that is a plan! Just make sure you keep an eye on your bag with your new shiney shiney in it. Especially in barcelona
Soldato
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Correct, and the amount of tax they pay varies from State to State hence they quote the price without tax.
Soldato
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do what i did and get one from new york
only difference is my @ and " are wrong way round.
That's the way all Apple products are.
Soldato
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You always get someone sticking there unwanted stupid opinions in. I would feel the exact same if I were in your shoes. The VAT in this country is ridiculous. MP's claiming for two homes, one of which is their mothers.
No wonder you feel sick. Huge savings to be made in America. If I was spending over a grand on a laptop, I wouldn't want a second hand one. I'd pay the extra to have it brand new. Second hand is alright if your saving a fortune, but for a margin like that, pfft.
It's cheaper! No it's not! Yes it is!
In reality it's not that difficult to work out. Let's look at the same unit in the UK and say the US.
2.4Ghz 13" base model:
Retail for that is GBP999 right? That includes sales tax (VAT) and all import duties. To compare to the US you'd need to remove the local sales tax.
Now let's look at the same model in the US:
Let's pretend we're buying that in downtown New York so you need to add in state/city sales tax which if memory serves is 8.875%. So, total price to you at the Apple Store is US1305.41.
This is about GBP819.78 depending on what day/exchange rate you use.
Ok - cheaper you think! Firstly, consider that the rate in conversion is a bank conversion rate - the 'real' rate you'd pay would likely be slightly higher.
Here's the thing though - to import legally you have to cover off import duty & VAT. Apply the duty/VAT you get this:
So you'll pay GBP963.42 to get the same laptop. Not including shipping or transport of course.
You'll save 36 quid.
Your other option is to try and evade VAT of course, saving you some more - but then you're not really comparing prices as you're breaking the law
I also *think* you may be able to reclaim some of the sales tax when you leave the US? That shows understanding of sales tax though and if you then land and try and evade UK VAT then they're likely to go to town on you on evasion. If you pay US sales tax, don't bother reclaiming and try and evade you may be let through on the assumption of ignorance (you'd have to pay VAT of course).
It is slightly cheaper to buy a lot of electronic gear in the US - but the gap is nothing like the direct $ to GBP price comparison - there's different structures in pricing and duties in the US for start.
Do a correct, legal, comparison and you'll find that that gap isn't that big.
It only really comes into it's own if you want to evade the UK taxes.
In reality it's not that difficult to work out. Let's look at the same unit in the UK and say the US.
2.4Ghz 13" base model:
Retail for that is GBP999 right? That includes sales tax (VAT) and all import duties. To compare to the US you'd need to remove the local sales tax.
Now let's look at the same model in the US:
Let's pretend we're buying that in downtown New York so you need to add in state/city sales tax which if memory serves is 8.875%. So, total price to you at the Apple Store is US1305.41.
This is about GBP819.78 depending on what day/exchange rate you use.
Ok - cheaper you think! Firstly, consider that the rate in conversion is a bank conversion rate - the 'real' rate you'd pay would likely be slightly higher.
Here's the thing though - to import legally you have to cover off import duty & VAT. Apply the duty/VAT you get this:
So you'll pay GBP963.42 to get the same laptop. Not including shipping or transport of course.
You'll save 36 quid.
Your other option is to try and evade VAT of course, saving you some more - but then you're not really comparing prices as you're breaking the law
I also *think* you may be able to reclaim some of the sales tax when you leave the US? That shows understanding of sales tax though and if you then land and try and evade UK VAT then they're likely to go to town on you on evasion. If you pay US sales tax, don't bother reclaiming and try and evade you may be let through on the assumption of ignorance (you'd have to pay VAT of course).
It is slightly cheaper to buy a lot of electronic gear in the US - but the gap is nothing like the direct $ to GBP price comparison - there's different structures in pricing and duties in the US for start.
Do a correct, legal, comparison and you'll find that that gap isn't that big.
It only really comes into it's own if you want to evade the UK taxes.
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Ridiculous compared to what? If you compare our VAT rate to that of our European partners it's not as bad as you'd imagine:
The idea of VAT is a valid one when it's applied to luxury or optional items that you don't have to buy to live. Of course that's a whole argument right there as to what should or shouldn't fall into the VAT piece
An essential to one person can be a luxury to another.Ref the second homes thing I'm not sure how that's related to VAT? You're right though (well, if I understand your point) that MPs ripping us off is bloody annoying.
Here's the thing though, if you advocate evading local VAT/Import duties aren't you doing pretty much what they're doing