Bringing a PS3 through US customs

ramirez · 23 Mar 2007 at 11:52

I'm in New York next week and want to pick up a US PS3.

Will I be able to bring it through customs without paying hefty charges?

If so what if I strip the box and stick it in my luggage?

platypus · 23 Mar 2007 at 11:57

They'll x-ray your stuff for sure.

Christo · 23 Mar 2007 at 12:01

platypus said:
They'll x-ray your stuff for sure.

they xray stuff for security not for customs!

The US customs arent the issue the UK customs are the ones to worry about. As you exit the airport try to look 'normal', thats all you can do! Another thing you could do is unbox the whole thing and keep it in your bag, also throwaway the receipt (or hide it VERY well) then if you are caught you can attest that you took it to NY and back again, (lame I know but better than having a boxed PS3 that is very obviously bought from the US).

Theres not much you can do really, if you are caught most likely you will pay, even if its unboxed but at any rate the chances of not being checked are strongly in your favour.

I'd risk it personally.

ps One story if you are caught would be to say that yuou are a professional gamer and took it over for a tournament!?

platypus · 23 Mar 2007 at 12:05

Chrisp7 said:
they xray stuff for security not for customs!

I was just thinking in light of all their recent security crackdowns, especially in airports, but youre probably right.

Efour · 23 Mar 2007 at 12:08

Trust me any PCB and electrical stuff thatsize is going to get pulled out if its in personal luggage. The bag might get marked THen its down to your blagging skills. I would be pretty scared blagging Customs I have tried a few times got away with it once, been owned twice :O ANd it was only for Duty free fags. lol Good luck if you do try, it'll either be easy as hell or you will get stung for VAT and that jazz

Dont they come on sale in the UK in a few days anyway???

Rotty · 23 Mar 2007 at 12:17

with it being a new product it will be obvious you are importing and will probably be taxed if they find it ( if you appear to have concealed it they could confiscate it )

Christo · 23 Mar 2007 at 12:17

Efour2 said:
Trust me any PCB and electrical stuff thatsize is going to get pulled out if its in personal luggage. The bag might get marked THen its down to your blagging skills.

Dont they come on sale in the UK in a few days anyway???

I guess he could put it in his hand luggage (the only item in there) Depends on weight of course. Or get a friend to hold it whilst checking in, then put it in the bag and go straight through.

At any rate how to they 'mark' a bag with electronic goods in it? I doubt it very much.

monkeyspank · 23 Mar 2007 at 12:18

Essentially you would be smuggling a large black box. Good luck!

aphex · 23 Mar 2007 at 12:24

I brought a PS2 over from HK in my luggage and posted all the packaging! Maybe I was lucky...good luck if you try though.

arc_of_time_ · 23 Mar 2007 at 12:33

Wont you only be able to play american dvd's/games/cd's due to it being blue ray disc reader or something or other?

platypus · 23 Mar 2007 at 12:36

Chrisp7 said:
At any rate how to they 'mark' a bag with electronic goods in it? I doubt it very much.

They put effin great stickers all over it saying 'DUTYNOTPAIDSSS!!!!!POSSIBLETERRORISTSTSLOLSAS!!!!!!!12o1ne'

Raymond Lin · 23 Mar 2007 at 12:38

Just post it back via the mail label as gift to yourself.

Johnny Girth · 23 Mar 2007 at 12:49

But then you've got to put a low insurance value otherwise you'll be taxed on the amount you've insured it for even if you put gift.

Spyhop · 23 Mar 2007 at 13:00

A gift of value above £36 gets taxed AFAIK.

Talbs13 · 23 Mar 2007 at 13:01

My brother bought 2 PS3's in New York and brought them back here no problem. He put them in his Hand Luggage and went through the X-Ray machine but it got stopped so the guy got it out and went crazy cuz it was a PS3 so they let him through and arrived in London and didnt declare and walked through everything scott free.

It can be done! I made a thread about it.

JamesT

Burned_Alive · 23 Mar 2007 at 13:09

Efour2 said:
Trust me any PCB and electrical stuff thatsize is going to get pulled out if its in personal luggage. The bag might get marked THen its down to your blagging skills. I would be pretty scared blagging Customs I have tried a few times got away with it once, been owned twice :O ANd it was only for Duty free fags. lol Good luck if you do try, it'll either be easy as hell or you will get stung for VAT and that jazz

Dont they come on sale in the UK in a few days anyway???

I had quite a lot of electrical stuff in my bags on the way back from SF and none of it got taken out. Went through customs without any problems too.

Id just have it in my luggage as normal, make sure when you buy it you get the state sales tax knocked off to make it even cheaper!

POB · 23 Mar 2007 at 13:14

Perhaps if you customise it with a few scratches and some sponge bob stickers etc they might not think its new.

ramirez · 23 Mar 2007 at 13:24

Cheers

Ok next question - is the tax on it likely to make it pointless buying one over there?

Ex-RoNiN · 23 Mar 2007 at 13:26

Chrisp7 said:
At any rate how to they 'mark' a bag with electronic goods in it? I doubt it very much.

Instead of giving it a green "nothing to declare" label, they give it a red "to declare" label?

Ex-RoNiN · 23 Mar 2007 at 13:27

ramirez said:
Cheers

Ok next question - is the tax on it likely to make it pointless buying one over there?

It's 17.5% added on top of the money you paid.