V-Flyer

Hi,

I'm going to the USA in July and am seriously considering buying a Mac Mini - they're £450 over here but with the current exchange rate £350 over there.

First of all would it be ok to run a USA Mac Mini over here? Would the power and stuff be ok?

Secondly will I need to pay any taxes when I come back to the UK, will I have any issues at US Immigration? Will it need to come out of it's box? Can I put it in my checked luggage?

Thanks!

If you wish to avoid breaking the law you'll need to declare it in the red channel as it exceeds the £145 allowance As found here. I am not an expert but I believe you'll be asked to pay VAT at 17.5% and import duty at 7.5% leaving you with a total saving of about £8. Having said that you SHOULD be able to reclaim the State Tax on leaving the US so you might save more.

The voltage on the device should be OK but you might want to check the guarantee.

Ohh I'd be saving £8 sounds tempting! How do I reclaim State Tax? At the Apple Store by showing my passport or at the Airport in Orlando?

I'll have a look at the guarantee online and decide if I'd rather get one now or wait a while!

Thanks for your help!

Just one thing to note (someone correct me if im wrong)but if something should go wrong with it you are going to have a heck of a time with the warranty.Depending on which state you are going to your only going to be saving $30-$40 total,may not be worth the trouble.

Rules on reclaiming vary from State to State. Frequently it is at the airport.

Thanks very much for your replies guys, sounds like I'd be getting myself into more trouble just to save under £50 I think I'll save the extra bit and buy it over here!

I thought you could buy an extended worldwide warranty from Apple. Still I have had my mac for years and never had a problem with it. Unlike my Samsonite case which despite being world proof I have had so many problems getting it fixed!

Paul

Originally posted by flyingtomyego
Hi,

I'm going to the USA in July and am seriously considering buying a Mac Mini - they're £450 over here but with the current exchange rate £350 over there.

That would be closer to £250 with the current exchange rate.

Paul

Edit. Sorry actually just read your post PROPERLY, my mistake. They appear to start at $599 which as you correct state is around £350. I got all excited for a minute

I have a slight feeling that running the Mac Mini in England won't work. I know they have power adapters for other countries, but I'm not sure if they are designed for what you want.

From California, it's impossible to claim back the state sales tax. (Just not the done thing - several US government websites on it) I'm not sure if the same applies from FL...?

Lest anyone feel "let he who is without sin cast the first stone-ish" here - the same site that warns of the import allowances also warns that importing counterfeit goods is actually illegal so snide DVDs and fake Ralph Lauren leaves one in the same boat.

The Mac Mini Tech specs show a voltage range of 110-250 I think...

Originally posted by VS-EWR
I have a slight feeling that running the Mac Mini in England won't work. I know they have power adapters for other countries, but I'm not sure if they are designed for what you want.

It'll work worldwide. If you check out the full specifications, you'll see the internal power rating is for 100-240V AC. The only thing you'd have to do is use either a US>UK plug adapter, or buy an interchangeable nib that are standard to all Apple PSU's (I have several for US/UK/EU sat on my desk)

Originally posted by preiffer

Originally posted by VS-EWR
I have a slight feeling that running the Mac Mini in England won't work. I know they have power adapters for other countries, but I'm not sure if they are designed for what you want.

It'll work worldwide. If you check out the full specifications, you'll see the internal power rating is for 100-240V AC. The only thing you'd have to do is use either a US>UK plug adapter, or buy an interchangeable nib that are standard to all Apple PSU's (I have several for US/UK/EU sat on my desk)

I was looking at those when I was making my post but the apple ones say they only work for those power adapters supplied with iBooks, Powerbooks, and iPods. No mention of any desktop.

Originally posted by VS-EWR
I have a slight feeling that running the Mac Mini in England won't work. I know they have power adapters for other countries, but I'm not sure if they are designed for what you want.

I have a Mac mini (rev A, PPC, etc.) bought in Boston a little over a year ago, brought back, unpacked in my case to the UK since, frankly, I don't consider my personal shopping to be any of the customs man's business. I bought a replacement power cable (that is, the cable which runs from the wall to the brick - the brick itself is quite global) down TCR for a few quid, and it's been running very happily since.
In fact, it's now running very happily in Hong Kong, where it moved last year, again packed away in a suitcase. The idea of having a machine portable enough to just chuck in a suitcase was part of the attraction of buying the thing in the first place...

Shame Customs don't agree with you . But let me hasten to add we simply point out what the law is, what an individual does about it is down to them. It would just be unseemly if someone posted "I'm thinking of doing this" and we posted "yeah go ahead" and they were then fined a large amount and came back here and said "Why didn't you warn me?!".

So peeps, when does and item stop being classed as new. Say I go to the US for 3 months. To save on luggage on the way out (as I fly Excel say) I only take a few clothes. Whilst there I buy some more clothes to wear and a case as I need to bring them back. I wear each item at least once. Can I bring them back without paying VAT and duty? Also what about the Powerbook I bought whilst I was away which I used everyday since buying it?

Paul