Anyone imported a laptop from USA before? Great prices atm

[Marcos]

This Sony starts at £999 over here, but can be had for £700 + P&P from the US

http://laptopsinc.com/Merchant2/merc...ry_Code=SONYSR

with a better spec too, so im very tempted to get it, other than trying to avoid customs tax, any other iissues you can think of?

[Will404]

Warrenty????? would it still be valid here????

Charger will be a US plug wont it??????

[staffsMike]

You'll get shafted by customs.. which you have mentioned. How much is the P&P?

Will makes good points although a sony warranty isn't worth much in the UK either lol

[GoNz0]

yeh £700, plus about £50 postage, then import duty and VAT at 17.5%

usually ends up costing more unless your going over there to bring it back

as for plugs, buy a uk power lead as all PSU's are multivoltage, warranty has to be checked at time of purchase you can often buy the worldwide warranty if it doesnt have one.

[Will404]

You'll get shafted by customs.. which you have mentioned.

Will makes good points although a sony warranty isn't worth much in the UK either lol

Yer but VAIO laptops last well. At least they did in 98, I still have one running fine (except the battey, and when I murdered the HDD, running the battery out and the head got stuck or sommin???, put a new one in, and it works to this day

[Lanky123]

IIRC, some US sites wont take credit cards registered in the UK. Usually the only workable way of doing this is to buy one while on holiday or get a friend/relative over there to buy it and bring it over if they are visiting the UK.

[Marcos]

Warrenty????? would it still be valid here????

Charger will be a US plug wont it??????

the US plug wouldnt be a problem, all laptops come with a worldwide adaptor, i'd just have to use a uk lead

but i have emailed them about warranty to see if it would be valid

[staffsMike]

The sonys are built well. Mine is 4 years old and apart from the HDD which has died is still in working order.

The problem comes when you have to take them to pieces just to change the frickin HDD. It's days like that you wish you had bought a dell.

Also if I were going to buy of of the new centrino 2 laptops, it would have to be the vaio Z

[Marcos]

IIRC, some US sites wont take credit cards registered in the UK. Usually the only workable way of doing this is to buy one while on holiday or get a friend/relative over there to buy it and bring it over if they are visiting the UK.

i think i have that option, so lets say i can get someone to bring it over, avoiding customs and P&P. I then only have to worry about warranty right?

[staffsMike]

i think i have that option, so lets say i can get someone to bring it over, avoiding customs and P&P. I then only have to worry about warranty right?

yep but you could buy extended warranties here for it I think.. you would have to check though.

Can they get me a Z

So expensive but so kool
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...VGNZ11MN/B.CEK)

[Will404]

the US plug wouldnt be a problem, all laptops come with a worldwide adaptor, i'd just have to use a uk lead

but i have emailed them about warranty to see if it would be valid

Good point, I ddnt think of that.

[Marcos]

The sonys are built well. Mine is 4 years old and apart from the HDD which has died is still in working order.

The problem comes when you have to take them to pieces just to change the frickin HDD. It's days like that you wish you had bought a dell.

Also if I were going to buy of of the new centrino 2 laptops, it would have to be the vaio Z

Yeah i come from a background of Vaios, i love them! always the most impressive laptops. I've seen the Z, normally i'd go for the top of the range like that but...it costs twice as much and i wouldnt use the extra features gained. 13.3" is right for me I have the S series before too and love that, so this is a straight replacement

[Marcos]

yep but you could buy extended warranties here for it I think.. you would have to check though.

Can they get me a Z

time to call sony centre!

dont know about them bringing 2 laptops back with them

[peterb]

i think i have that option, so lets say i can get someone to bring it over, avoiding customs and P&P. I then only have to worry about warranty right?

No - they should still derclare it at customs - who may or may not charge VAT on it (dpends on the mood of the customs officer - if it is for private use, you may be Ok. Bringing two back... I doubt it.

Or they could just smuggle it through and hope they don't get randomly stopped - if they do they will be charged the VAT, maybe a penalty, or have it confiscated. You might choose to do that - would you ask anyone else to take the risk?

If you were to do that, you stand a better chance if you have it in a laptop case, discard all the original packing, and make sure it some some data on so it looks used, bringing it back as carry-on luggage. (It could still be traced back by the serial no, but I doubt that anyone would bother.

[Marcos]

No - they should still derclare it at customs - who may or may not charge VAT on it (dpends on the mood of the customs officer - if it is for private use, you may be Ok. Bringing two back... I doubt it.

Or they could just smuggle it through and hope they don't get randomly stopped - if they do they will be charged the VAT, maybe a penalty, or have it confiscated. You might choose to do that - would you ask anyone else to take the risk?

If you were to do that, you stand a better chance if you have it in a laptop case, discard all the original packing, and make sure it some some data on so it looks used, bringing it back as carry-on luggage. (It could still be traced back by the serial no, but I doubt that anyone would bother.

Yeah the box etc would definitely be dumped etc

[Saracen]

I haven't looked at he site quoted, but it's typical for most US stores to quote prices excluding sales tax because, at least in theory, even ordering out-of-state you should (or it used to be the case that you should, unless it's changed) pay local sales tax. In any event, make sure that that price quoted is the final price, and you aren't going to get sales tax (about 6% is common) added on top.


Also, re: the warranty, make sure it's a legit US product, not a grey import to the US. Certainly with many photographic products, big stores import from non-US sources, and offer their own store warranty. If they're doing that, you'd not only have to get it back to the US for warranty, but to that store ....assuming they're still trading.

Given the price, it's tempting I know. But personally, it's not worth the risk or the potential hassle. Instead, wait a few months for the price to drop and buy it here.

Or go self-employed, register for VAT and then claim the VAT back.