Importing from USA..potential problems?

[djglenn]

Importing From USA

Basically, I am considering upgrading my PC, and have noticed that PC components in the US are ALOT cheaper. However was wondering if there will be any issues running a desktop pc in the UK with US components?

The parts I was considering purchasing were:

2GB OCZ RAM
Gigabyte AM2 Motherboard
AMD X2 5200+ CPU
BFG 7600GT 256MB DDR3

I assume if I use a UK PSU the system should run as normal? Also I see within hexus people are swaying towards Intel Core 2 Duo, would a E6600 be better than the 5200 X2? (E6600 is more expensive than 5200 X2 atm)

Thanks

[s_kinton]

Unless you are for some reason attached to AMD, then C2D have a distinct performance advantage , the e6600 is popular coz its the cheapest c2d with 4mb L2 cache, the lower ones have 2mb L2 cache. All c2ds overclock very well so even the lower end ones will probably out perform the AMD 5200.

As for using a UK PSU, yes, all the components will work fine, regardless of where you buy them.

As for importing from the US, people dont generally do it because of the tax invloved when they arrive in the UK. Customs will send you a tax bill for the components you order, meaning that they arent as cheap as they appear.

Another thing with imports is they are often not covered by their warranties, the imported products are often referred to as 'grey imports'

[directhex]

add ~20% for tax, assume you have no warranty.

still cheaper?

[djglenn]

From past experience, tax’s can be avoided by the items you are receiving being ‘Gifts’ from an American contact. Fortunately for me I have a family friend residing in the US.

However the warranty being effected would concern me, especially when BFG, and OCZ usually give a ‘Lifetime’ warranty with their products….

[directhex]

"gift" rarely works these days

[mart_haj86]

You do not get charged duty on computer parts coming into the UK... only VAT

[acrobat]

You do not get charged duty on computer parts coming into the UK... only VAT

That is true. Also, the last time I researched this, it was only when spending over a certain amount. I think it was about £70 or so... So basically, when buying a PC... you have to pay VAT

When I priced up the cost of the US component and then added the VAT, it worked out at just a couple of quid cheaper, per component, compared to somewhere like Scan.co.uk.

So for convenience sake, it is MUCH better to buy from the UK.

Unless things have changed since I last researched this (only about a year ago), it is just not worth importing stuff. I priced up USA parts using newegg.com which is one of the best and cheapest places to buy from in the US. I then assumed I could get someone in America (my friend's family) to send them here. Add VAT to that (14.5%?) and the total just always came out slightly cheaper than scan.co.uk. So the couple of extra quid is WELL worth spending to not only guarantee getting your warranty, but also to let you know that if something is broken, you would only have to pay to send it back to somewhere in the UK at the very worst (often they would pay for the cost if its broken). If you imported something.. you would have to ship a component overseas if you needed to return it.

[Smudger]

Can't you claim US taxes back if you're exporting these items?

That should counterbalance the VAT you have to pay at this end (17.5%). Mind you, I think US purchase taxes are only about 10% or so...

[directhex]

You do not get charged duty on computer parts coming into the UK... only VAT

but you need to pay VAT on the hefty overseas delivery charge, and on the "handling fee" charged by the courier, so it still adds up to £toomuch

[mart_haj86]

but you need to pay VAT on the hefty overseas delivery charge, and on the "handling fee" charged by the courier, so it still adds up to £toomuch

I know , which is why I personally wouldnt bother and use scan instead

[fishboy25uk]

And nobody has mentioned the distinct possibility of all this stuff going missing over the Atlantic. I've thought about this, and yes money could be saved (especially if you get it sent to a US mate rather than paying for mail forwarding) but only if you're buying a lot, and then who wants to risk £500 worth of stuff going missing?

Buy British!! (I know the componants aren't British, but you know what I mean)

[amjedm]

I believe the limit is £18 (I checked with Customs a few months ago).

I bought some RAM from a guy in the States. He didn't mark it as a Gift so I got charged VAT on the value he put on the form as well as on the shipping charge