Buying Apple gear in the USA - Tax $$$

[StonehamPark]

Anyone know the most cost-affective way of buying Apple gear (new iPhone in September) in the US?

I'll be in California in September and assume the new iPhone will come out whilst I'm over there.

Anyone have any experience of Apple shopping in the US?

Cheers.




- Anticipate Tax-Evasion or Android Vs Apple binfest.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

You can buy it from vending machines, which is a novelty.

 

[beorhthelm]

i am reliably informed by americaphiles that the trick is to simply unbox, de bag and take it through customs as if its your own laptop/phone. they aint going to know or check where you bought it. bugger if its a gift.

 

[easynow]

 

[StonehamPark]

i am reliably informed by americaphiles that the trick is to simply unbox, de bag and take it through customs as if its your own laptop/phone. they aint going to know or check where you bought it. bugger if its a gift.

I'm guessing you still pay the state sales tax right?

 

[Superphil]

i am reliably informed by americaphiles that the trick is to simply unbox, de bag and take it through customs as if its your own laptop/phone. they aint going to know or check where you bought it. bugger if its a gift.

And Just before you leave, buy a Jiffy bag and post the manual/box/cables/warranty/etc to yourself at home.

 

[Superphil]

View attachment 66815

Ooh, wallpaper on your phone. Now I'm sure you can do that on an iPhone too, not that it makes any difference to how the equipment works.

 

[Jim Van Winkle]

I'm guessing you still pay the state sales tax right?

When in California if you are close to Oregon they have no sales tax.

 

[easynow]

Ooh, wallpaper on your phone. Now I'm sure you can do that on an iPhone too, not that it makes any difference to how the equipment works.

I have both the iphone 5 and HTC one m9. Both are great phones in different ways, but android (using high-end phones) give you more freedom. Torrent downloading, Streaming TV, illegal MP3 downloading apps etc. I'm just being a prick, i know lol

 

[Superphil]

I have both the iphone 5 and HTC one m9. Both are great phones in different ways, but android (high-end phones) give you more freedom. Torrent downloading, Streaming TV, illegal MP3 downloading apps etc. I'm just being a prick, i know lol

Not sure what torent downloading is, but streaming tv works fine on my phone, iPlayer, C4OD ITVPlayer, C5, SkyGo as well as numerous tv streaming apps such as TVCatchup that are free to download from the App Store, etc. And I'm happy to pay for mp3s.

 

[Lethargic]

Brought mine in the USA no problem check state sales tax for the best bargain as some states have zero tax and ask in store to check it has a UK adaptor not US they threw one in for me. Wasn't even questioned at the airport and although opened in hand luggage it still in the box.

 

[beorhthelm]

I'm guessing you still pay the state sales tax right?

not mentioned. i suppose thats unavoidable, though if its like VAT in UK and Europe, where if you are foreign and taking out of the eurozone its discounted, you might be in luck.

 

[StonehamPark]

Brought mine in the USA no problem check state sales tax for the best bargain as some states have zero tax and ask in store to check it has a UK adaptor not US they threw one in for me. Wasn't even questioned at the airport and although opened in hand luggage it still in the box.

Might be a dumb question but do the US bought iPhone's work just as the UK ones would (assuming a sim-free iPhone was purchased).

 

[severnside gull]

If it helps I bought my 6+ in Hong Kong and simply walked through customs with it in my pocket. Lots cheaper - open for using overseas SIMs (I have a Dutch payg as well as my UK contract one) and power cover. Never occurred to me to worry about being stopped tbh

If you can get the power case in the U.S. Then grab one - extended battery life so useful with iPhones!

 

[Lethargic]

Might be a dumb question but do the US bought iPhone's work just as the UK ones would (assuming a sim-free iPhone was purchased).

I only got the wifi iPad which is identical to UK spec and I believe the iPhone is also a single global spec so no issues if sim free.

 

[matski_98]

Might be a dumb question but do the US bought iPhone's work just as the UK ones would (assuming a sim-free iPhone was purchased).

Yeah, they're all the same. Just put a sim in it and you're good to go

The only difference is that you'd get a US USB charger plug rather than a UK one.

 

[Bozza]

A few points...

1. No, there is NOT a single version of an iPhone. This is because of the different versions of 4G that have been deployed. Details here: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/iphone/iphone-faq/differences-between-iphone-6-models.html That's not to say the next iPhone (the 6S presumably) won't be universal, but there's never been a universal one to date.

2. No one knows exactly when the next iPhone will be out. That said it is highly likely it will be out in mid-late September as that is the cycle that Apple seem to be in. iPhone 6 and 6 Plus hit the shops on September 19th last year.

3. In the US, iPhones have never been sold SIM-free at launch before meaning, if you bought one at launch, you had to subscribe and pay for a 2-year plan. The iPhone 6 was only available SIM free in January this year: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/06/apple-sim-free-iphone6/ - nearly 4 months after launch.

Other than the above - good luck.

 

[desprateseagull]

I have read somewhere that courier firms are offering a USA postal address, for forwarding mail.. no idea if legit, mind..

 

[StonehamPark]

3. In the US, iPhones have never been sold SIM-free at launch before meaning, if you bought one at launch, you had to subscribe and pay for a 2-year plan. The iPhone 6 was only available SIM free in January this year: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/06/apple-sim-free-iphone6/ - nearly 4 months after launch.

Thanks, I didn't realise this.
I'll just see what happens whilst I'm out there but if they don't initially launch sim-free in the US, I'll consider buying one from the UK.

 

[severnside gull]

I have read somewhere that courier firms are offering a USA postal address, for forwarding mail.. no idea if legit, mind..

We've used one for years to access US online purchasing where overseas delivery is either not available or is prohibitively costly
Totally legit and works a treat although not sure I would set it up for a one-off buy