Buying hardware from USA?

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Got a close friend who is going to USA for a week and offered to bring me back anything I might need. I was thinking of doing the full on PCI upgrade for my AGP system sometime in the near future(CPU, Ram, Mobo, Graphics card) and I am wondering if it might be worth taking my friend up on the offer.

Things that spring to mind are, customs/duty, waranty/replacement etc. I am thinking it might even out if I buy from UK/OCUK later in the new year as prices always seems to drop and at least I will have support for hardware if there is a problem/fault...

Have I just answered my own question?

What say you? Just stick with a pair of Levi 501s for now? :D

Cheers

Marc
 
1st thing, deffo get the levis they're under 20quid:)
secondly he could bring parts back, but make sure they are safe bets (IE a cpu, I wouldnt get ram or gfx as they are common to break) as returning them will be such a hassle. TBH I wouldnt get much more than the cpu, so unless you are getting the super extreme edition or something it isnt worth it. Get your mate to get you a ps3/DS/kswiss/levis instead:p
 
Whatever is brought back better look like it's personal stuff, and used! Even jeans that are brand new with paper labels will attract the attention of customs.
An old trick is to post the packaging home so get your m8 to pickup a DS, and post the packaging to your house. At least that way he gets to play the DS on the flight home...
 
Thanks guys! Was just comparing prices for an Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient SLACR 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail, and it seems that it's only about 30 quid cheaper out in good old USA...Don't really think it's worth the risk to my friend being spread-eagled naked on floor by customs squat team. :)

"MOVE AWAY FROM THE LEVIS!"

Cheers

S!ap
 
Hi,

I read a magazine article in this week's "Micro Mart" titled "Rip Off Britain" where they compared some hardware and software prices in UK, USA, Germany and Australia. Between the USA and UK things were not too bad in terms of price differential for hardware but software is a very different story. In the UK we are fleeced when we buy many software products.

PS Branded sunglasses were much, much cheaper out there than in the UK last time I checked.
 
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pENdr4gON said:
Whatever is brought back better look like it's personal stuff, and used! Even jeans that are brand new with paper labels will attract the attention of customs.
An old trick is to post the packaging home so get your m8 to pickup a DS, and post the packaging to your house. At least that way he gets to play the DS on the flight home...
Click to expand...

that wont work as Customs will be informed by the mail company when it arrives in britain. It will then be held until you pay the DUTY/import tax on its value.

Only way to get stuff back is in your luggage
 
Everytime my wife and I go to the states, we each take two empty suitcases so that we can load up. we've never been stopped by customs. you're allowed £300 worth of stuff anyways. clothes and such; take all the labels off. throw the receipts away as well. Computer stuff; get rid of the boxes, and just hide the receipts well in your wallet. Good luck and enjoy the bargains. and when in the states, visit Fry's Electronics....it's cheaper than dirt.
 
i meant posting products home. Only way to get hardware back is to risk taking it onboard with you.

They opened package at the mail depo when we had stuff delivered from the US. Sent me a bill for the item then they resealed it and despatched it.
 
Munky1080 said:
Everytime my wife and I go to the states, we each take two empty suitcases so that we can load up. we've never been stopped by customs. you're allowed £300 worth of stuff anyways. clothes and such; take all the labels off. throw the receipts away as well. Computer stuff; get rid of the boxes, and just hide the receipts well in your wallet. Good luck and enjoy the bargains. and when in the states, visit Fry's Electronics....it's cheaper than dirt.
Click to expand...



according to Customs you can only bring in £145 of goods

you can bring the following into the UK for your own use without paying UK tax or duty:

200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250g of tobacco
60cc of perfume
2 litres of still table wine
250cc of eau de toilette
1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22 per cent volume; or 2 litres of fortified wine*, sparkling wine or other liqueurs *such as port or sherry and
£145 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs.
 
Depends what you bring back, I've come through customs with a new laptop, loads of computer stuff and even a petrol strimmer before. It's all down to how you pack them. As stated I normally went out with almost empty cases and came back with full cases.
 
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