[Peabo]

I think it's incredible that if I were to buy a stock dual 2ghz G5 from America at the current exchange rate, I would pick it up for $3000 wich is around �1600 (UK). However if I bought it from the Apple Store UK, it would cost a whopping �2300, or the equivalent to $4350. I should just buy 1000 of them and sell them on ebay...

[Mr. Blur]

this has been done to death. while there still is a difference in the total it is not as much as you indicate as you are comparing usa *before* taxes with UK *after* VAT.

[jld]

Even though apple is based in the US, all the products apple sells are produced elsewhere. So when the dollar falls compared to world currencies, apple still has to charge foreign customers the same amount, since effectively the parts that made your computer became more expensive to apple.

[phantomac]

Even if you add the UK VAT, the total would still only amount to 1872 GBP. (Sorry, I have no idea, where to find your currency symbol on this PC)

Add s&h to this and some form of customs and you'd be at about 2000 GBP.

That's still cheaper.

So it's not really a VAT problem.

[Peabo]

Originally posted by Mr. Blur:
this has been done to death. while there still is a difference in the total it is not as much as you indicate as you are comparing usa *before* taxes with UK *after* VAT.

How much is US taxes? Last time I was there it was 8% which means that the G5 would cost �1700 ($3240) compared to �2300 in the UK after VAT.

[all2ofme]

Buy the machine in the US online (or have a friend do it if that's easier) at a dealer who won't charge sales tax to where you're having it shipped to (it'll need to be out of state).

Fly to the US, have a holiday and bring it back yourself. Tell Customs in the UK that you have it when you arrive and they'll charge you VAT only (if you're VAT registered you'll get that back, too).

Important things to remember:
- There's no duty on most computer equipment in the UK.
- You will need to pay VAT (at least up front to start with)
- You will probably (don't know this for sure, but imagine it to be the case) only have to pay customs charges here if you have it sent to the UK and it gets picked up along the way. Even so, they won't charge you duty since these items are exempt.
- If you have it shipped to the right places within the US first you'll avoid US sales tax too.

You'll still save money, and you'll have a holiday at the same time

[chris.p]

the tax rate actually works in the uk favour- the tax rate for new york (the most accessable place from the England) is around 6%, on a cheaper machine- while in the UK, we pay 17.5% on a more expensive machine- more tax on a more expensive machine. Given the current exchange rates ($1.845- �0�51) its adamned good deal. For instance, I intend to fly to New York later this month, buy a powerbook, stay for the weekend, (in a hotel) and return- and save myself 1-200 quid. Thats not bad at all.