Bringing a MacBook over from the States...

I have some extended family members that live in the states and travel all over the place for business/pleasure, often ending up back in WA a few times a year.

I've noticed MacBook Pros are MUCH cheaper over there. Having spoken with the extended family members, they would have no problem buying me a MacBook and bringing it over, as long as i transfer them the money.

Are there any possible problems with doing this? I assume apple australia will cover the warranty out of the box, but if not a simple case of picking up AppleCare over Ebay should sort everything out yeah?

The only other problem i can think of is the power adapter, but that can be fixed with a US -> AU socket converter.

Anything I'm missing?

 

There shouldn't be a problem, Apple has a worldwide warranty for their notebook computers. Having said that, I'm pretty sure it's the same with the Applecare extended warranty, so get that as cheap as you can.

 

Don't buy a US - AU socket converter. Buy the Apple Universal plug kit - you will then be able to use them and have no risk of losing your warranty based on a dodgy plug pack.

I'd also buy Applecare here.

 

Aren't the US prices exclusive of each state's sales tax?

Once you add however many percent each state charges for sales tax, that'd eat into the savings here.

 

You claim the sales tax back at the airport when you leave.

Its like the GST here.

 

Online sales are free from sales tax

Alrite guys, home from work now.

I gave a reseller a call, who has registered apple techs and all that jazz. The warranty is totally international, and while you are covered, any reseller with a service area HAS to honour it.

Cheap Macbook here I come!

 

Are there any US stores that will post one internationally?
I would be interested in buying one too, but you are right - the US prices are HEAPS cheaper. So if it was possible to get one sent out from the US, then that would be great.

Any ideas?

Cheers,
Chris

 

Uhh...that wasn't the case when I was living in the US.

When I ordered my iBook from the online Apple store, I was charged an extra $150 for the NYS sales tax (9.76% or something).

Or is it just because your family lives in a state where there is no sales tax?

 

I was actually incorrect. Sales tax does apply to online orders....


Basic model MacBook Pro w/ Apple Care: $2,860.43 AUD
Compared to: $3,477.99

$600 saving isn't anything to laugh at

 

Are both prices AUD? Are you sure there are no differences?

 

Yes, going at current exchange rates.

Obviously that doesn't include getting it here. Or the power converter.

 

You won't need a power converter, you'll just need an Australian power 'duck head' for the charger. You should be able to get one off eBay or a local Apple reseller for a small fee.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/APPLE-AC-Pow...OD-IPHONE_W0QQitemZ290201440276QQcmdZViewItem

 

So what retailers will send from the US to Australia? Do you know of any?

Thanks

 

Would the difference be the GST you pay at the airport? If you get your sales tax back leaving the US you will have to pay AU sales tax on the way back in.

Also check with your family members if they are students... even cheaper.

 

Or if any have EPP discounts. Gotta love those

 

Online orders are only sales tax free when its an interstate order, meaning to a state the company technically doesn't operate in, hence a lot of California residents pay sales tax on online orders because many companies have a presence there.

Transactions within a state fall under state law and nearly all states have sales tax. Transactions between states constitute interstate commerce, which is the jurisdiction of the federal government, which presently has no sales tax.

I wouldn't bother buying from the US. I can't quote Macbook prices but assumingi they're similar to the Mac pro difference, the base model is $4000 here and US$2800 there. With the exchange rate that's about $3200. It might seem like a savings but an imported laptop can't be salary sacrificed nor depreciated. Well if you do try either you might have the ATO requiring proof of purchase and then asking why no GST was paid.

Its just not worth it.

 

i used to live in hong and travel back and forth. there is a dollar limit on what u can bring in. over that and you have to pay tax. if someone from the states is bringing over a mac, they can claim it's their own, and just carrying a laptop during thier travel.