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Import duty on M550

post #1 of 11
10/21/06 at 2:54pm
Thread Starter 
Hello there. After looking for an affordable M550 I had settled on a plan. I decided to buy one in America in my name and get it sent to my friend. This worked out about £600 cheaper than getting it from the UK. A flaw which I did not realise is import duty which could see me paying large amounts thus making it not worthwhile. Does anyone know what the cost is likely to be or how to get it here in the cheapest (and safest!) way possible? I would also like to know if a US system will work over here in the UK. (Excuse my ignorance!)

Thanks
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post #2 of 11
10/21/06 at 3:05pm
I think if you declare it as a gift you pay the smallest duty on it.

Also, america runs on 110 volts, you guys run on 220. I dont know how the laptop switches if at all.
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post #3 of 11
10/21/06 at 3:09pm
I'd strongly suggest not buying it from the US. Import Duty and VAT could add something like 35-40% on top of the price (including shipping charges). I bought some clothes a few years back from a US site (cost about £100) and ended up paying something like £50+ in import duties/tax. I'm not so sure on the power issue either, the standard voltage in the UK is 240V, where as I think it's something like 110V in the US. I think that could be a problem, not sure.
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post #4 of 11
10/21/06 at 3:19pm
Thread Starter 
Someone I spoke to mentioned something about a transformer? Dam it my plan may not work after all! Can someone who knows what they are talking about say for definite either way?
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post #5 of 11
10/21/06 at 6:53pm
he said "duty" .......hahahaha
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post #6 of 11
10/21/06 at 7:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by archalien
he said "duty" .......hahahaha

Great... Do you have anything useful to add? I came on here looking for answers.
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post #7 of 11
10/21/06 at 7:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hypochondriac
Hello there. After looking for an affordable M550 I had settled on a plan. I decided to buy one in America in my name and get it sent to my friend. This worked out about £600 cheaper than getting it from the UK. A flaw which I did not realise is import duty which could see me paying large amounts thus making it not worthwhile. Does anyone know what the cost is likely to be or how to get it here in the cheapest (and safest!) way possible?
cheapest and safest shipping is via USPS with insurance ($80 - if it is only the laptop and the box) u can declare it as a gift, and ur friend should be paying whatever on top and above, example is if u r allowed to bring in $400 duty free, everything over (invoice) then u must pay vat - import duty is only for reseller i believe so if the item costs 600$, then ur friend would pay vat on 200$
Quote:
Originally Posted by hypochondriac
I would also like to know if a US system will work over here in the UK. (Excuse my ignorance!)
most (all) laptop adapters can take input of 100-240volts, all u need is the correct power cord for the wall plug outlet cheers ...
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post #8 of 11
10/21/06 at 7:51pm
Thread Starter 
Ok I almost understood that! Basically I will be getting the laptop with a charger, extra battery, headphones, doom 3, and the alienware backpack. The total of all this will come to about 1700 dollars (after the $100 discount). What do you suggest I should do in this circumstance? And how much will I end up paying in total?
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post #9 of 11
10/21/06 at 10:29pm
The m5550 has an auto-switching AC adapter that can be connected to 110v-240v power outlets. To connect a US based system to a UK power outlet you just need a US to UK power adapter which you can find at any electronics store.
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post #10 of 11
10/22/06 at 12:58pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all the help guys. One thing though, if I buy the laptop in my name with warrenty, will I have to send it back to the US if there is a problem or will Alienware UK help me out? I mean what if someone bought a laptop in the US and then moved to the UK?
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post #11 of 11
10/24/06 at 3:31am
On the power adapter - the easiest thing to do is just buy a cord and plug for the UK that will fit your charger, and change this out with the US version that comes with the system. This is what we do for our US notebooks when in Australia.

On the warranty, I have heard of people transferring their warranties to a different country, but I don't know if this is standard practice.

Don't know how you avoid paying duty unless you have someone bring it into the UK as if it was their regular laptop (I'm not recommending this, as it would not be considered legal, and the person could get into trouble...).
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