What to buy in the States

Officer Giggles

I'm going to Orlando and New Jersey/New York next month and want to get some new toys over there.

I have an iPhone 4 so was thinking of picking up an iPad and Apple Tv so I can take advantage of Airplay. Is there anything else I should have a look at.

Also the apple.com site says the ATV is $99, is that the price I pay instore or do they add tax.

jack presley

Tax to be added

Senecio

You'll probably have to stay with USB powered/charged devices so that may rule out the Apple TV.

Officer Giggles

jack presley wrote: »

Tax to be added

Someone mentioned to me that there's no sales tax in Orlando, is that the tax that gets added

Officer Giggles

Senecio wrote: »

You'll probably have to stay with USB powered/charged devices so that may rule out the Apple TV.

I believe I just need to change the power cord as apple make all their products to take both 110 and 220v

jack presley

Officer Giggles wrote: »

Someone mentioned to me that there's no sales tax in Orlando, is that the tax that gets added

Sales tax in Orlando is around 6-7% if my memory serves me right. 2011 was the last time I was there

jack presley

Officer Giggles wrote: »

I believe I just need to change the power cord as apple make all their products to take both 110 and 220v

To be honest, by the time you buy an adaptor, are the savings on a $99 device worth the hassle?

Officer Giggles

jack presley wrote: »

To be honest, by the time you buy an adaptor, are the savings on a $99 device worth the hassle?

I won't be going out of my way to buy it really, I was going to get an iPad so was just going to get the ATV at the same time.

Creamy Goodness

the apple tv takes a standard figure 8 power cord, you can buy them here for like 3 quid or less.

the savings on an appleTV are worth it if you're near an apple store.

jack presley

Officer Giggles wrote: »

I won't be going out of my way to buy it really, I was going to get an iPad so was just going to get the ATV at the same time.

Just bear in mind that your allowance for bringing in stuff from outside the EU is €430 (on the very rare chance that you get stopped at customs on your way back) so you don't want the Apple TV pushing you over the limit when you can get it here for just a couple of quid dearer.

coylemj

Officer Giggles wrote: »

I believe I just need to change the power cord as apple make all their products to take both 110 and 220v

Correct, that 'figure of 8' cord was typically used on appliances that were double-insulated and didn't need an earth such as old VCRs and some modern TVs also use them if the cord is not hard wired into the back of the set, there's a good chance that you already have a spare one lying around the house somewhere.

guil

jack presley wrote: »

Just bear in mind that your allowance for bringing in stuff from outside the EU is €430 (on the very rare chance that you get stopped at customs on your way back) so you don't want the Apple TV pushing you over the limit when you can get it here for just a couple of quid dearer.

Nothing to stop him saying he brought the iPad with him

Officer Giggles

jack presley wrote: »

Just bear in mind that your allowance for bringing in stuff from outside the EU is €430 (on the very rare chance that you get stopped at customs on your way back) so you don't want the Apple TV pushing you over the limit when you can get it here for just a couple of quid dearer.

Would it be right to say That if I have the iPad unopened in my luggage and get stopped, produce my receipt showing it cost less than €430, I don't have to pay VAT/import duties

whiterebel

Officer Giggles wrote: »

Would it be right to say That if I have the iPad unopened in my luggage and get stopped, produce my receipt showing it cost less than €430, I don't have to pay VAT/import duties

€430 is the total for everything you bring in from outside in one visit, not per item.

Officer Giggles

whiterebel wrote: »

€430 is the total for everything you bring in from outside in one visit, not per item.

But once the total of the items is less than €430 I wouldn't have to pay a cent to bring them home, is that right

jack presley

Officer Giggles wrote: »

But once the total of the items is less than €430 I wouldn't have to pay a cent to bring them home, is that right

Yeah, that's correct. And it's per person too so if you're travelling with someone, they get €430 allowance too (€215 for kids).

From the Revenue's website:

(i) General

You are allowed to bring in goods (including gifts, souvenirs, perfume and clothing) free of duty, the combined value of which does not exceed:

€430 in the case of an individual aged 15 years or over
€215 in the case of an individual aged under 15 years
It is important to be aware that the above monetary allowances do not apply to any individual item the value of which exceeds the relevant limits. If you bring in something worth more than the relevant limit of €430 or €215, you must pay import charges on the full value.

If you are bringing back any duty-free goods you bought when you travelled out from Ireland, these count as part of your allowance.

In addition, you are allowed to bring in goods free of duty in the categories shown below subject to the upper limits indicated.

Officer Giggles

jack presley wrote: »

Yeah, that's correct. And it's per person too so if you're travelling with someone, they get €430 allowance too (€215 for kids).

From the Revenue's website:

(i) General

You are allowed to bring in goods (including gifts, souvenirs, perfume and clothing) free of duty, the combined value of which does not exceed:

€430 in the case of an individual aged 15 years or over
€215 in the case of an individual aged under 15 years
It is important to be aware that the above monetary allowances do not apply to any individual item the value of which exceeds the relevant limits. If you bring in something worth more than the relevant limit of €430 or €215, you must pay import charges on the full value.

If you are bringing back any duty-free goods you bought when you travelled out from Ireland, these count as part of your allowance.

In addition, you are allowed to bring in goods free of duty in the categories shown below subject to the upper limits indicated.

Ah that's great cheers, greatly appreciated

flyguy

Wonder if customs/revenue use the price you paid or the retail price in IRL as reference, I always thought the latter... Basic 16gb wifi only iPad4 retails @€;509. Just in case...

jack presley

flyguy wrote: »

Wonder if customs/revenue use the price you paid or the retail price in IRL as reference, I always thought the latter... Basic 16gb wifi only iPad4 retails @€;509. Just in case...

That's a good question. If say it's the price you paid as not everything is available in Ireland so how could they put the Irish retail price on those items?

Officer Giggles

flyguy wrote: »

Wonder if customs/revenue use the price you paid or the retail price in IRL as reference, I always thought the latter... Basic 16gb wifi only iPad4 retails @€;509. Just in case...

That is a good one, I'd say if you have a receipt saying it cost $499 then they would be doing well to try and tell someone to stump up vat and import charges, although would you be surprised

flyguy

Have to correct myself -from what I can find through google and boards search- revenue use the price you paid as value not what it costs in IRL.

Officer Giggles

flyguy wrote: »

Have to correct myself -from what I can find through google and boards search- revenue use the price you paid as value not what it costs in IRL.

I think it's if you don't have the receipt to prove how much you paid then they use their own valuation system which will obviously be how much the item would cost locally