Extra Charges From Buying Abroad

[BobbyBobBob]

I want to buy an iPhone 5s from the USA apple store (sim free) and have it delivered to UK. What other charges would there be besides customs and VAT? And how would I work it out?

Thanks

[woofgang]

you may fins that you have problems if you need help or if it goes wrong, check that you could return it through a UK store.

[black_cat51]

look out for chris (buenchico) I have often seen him answer similar q's with a lot of credibility

[Daffy6543]

Post office handling fee usually on top of customs and vat.

[black_cat51]

just found this which gives a summary http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Law/Question409646.html

[Buenchico]

Remember that the default keyboard will be a US one, with US spell-checking. Further, the charger will be designed for 120V, with an American plug, so you'll need to budget for a replacement charger.

The import duty on mobile phones appears (from a usually reliable website) to be nil but VAT (at 20%) is charged upon the cost of the phone, on the price of the carriage and on the insurance (if relevant). Then there's an £8 customs examination fee to be added on.

[HansUrbancka]

I have been led to believe that there is Not any advantage in buying an apple device from another country. Apple's pricing is designed to be virtually the same, worldwide. Buy the iPhone from the USA and, as indicated by Buenchico, it will require a new charger to be purchased. Furthermore, there is the issue of an American guarantee which may Not be enforcible in the UK.(Point in effect made by woofgang)

Hans.



Hans.

[HansUrbancka]

Strange that, if I make a correction in my typing, i get my signing off duplicated. Also peculiar that in the above link given by black_cat51, the £ sign is printed as �.

Hans.

[Fitzer]

Actually there are no problems using an Apple device bought in the States in the UK, my iPad 2 was US bought, they don't need a new charger per se just a way of plugging into a UK socket so either an adaptor or a replacement plug to stick the USB lead into. As the keyboards are software generated you can select UK and all works as normal. However, the USA Apple store will only accept US registered credit cards and ship to US addresses so unless you can do that then you're on a non-starter, should you be able to get over that hurdle then the charges you have mentioned already will probably take it over the UK price plus the warranty problems.