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Worth it to broker iPod Minis overseas?
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fizzlemynizzle
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Mar 25, 2004, 01:52 PM
 
People overseas have been paying over retail for the Mini since it launched in North America. With today's news of the mini's overseas launch being pushed back to July, it smacks of opportunity. Would it be worth it to purchase 10 or 20 Minis and sell them via ebay UK, DE, and AU? I've never exported merchandise before, but I can't imagine it's that tough considering the number of people that ship worldwide via ebay. I have enough cash on hand to buy a very steady stream of Minis.. the strength of the Euro and weakness of the dollar combined with high demand and no supply overseas seems to be a perfect combination of circumstances.. or is the hassle not even worth the margin?
     
Eug Wanker
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Mar 25, 2004, 01:56 PM
 
     
The Placid Casual
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Mar 25, 2004, 02:08 PM
 
It would be *very* worth it.

iPod Minis are changing hand for �180-�200+ on eBay UK... That is $330-350+!

You could easily make nearly $100 on each one!

I imagine that prices will continue to be stable, or go up now people know they are not coming to the UK anytime soon...
     
sandsl
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Mar 25, 2004, 02:14 PM
 
I'd be willing to pay �150 (~$281) if anyones interested
Luke
     
gorickey
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Mar 25, 2004, 02:22 PM
 
I say go for it...however, would you be paying "retail" for the iPod mini's you would buy? Or can you get a discount somewhere to make the margin even greater?
     
fizzlemynizzle  (op)
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Mar 25, 2004, 02:36 PM
 
I can get them for under retail. It'll take a couple of weeks to get them, though. And my local Apple stores are out of stock.
     
gorickey
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Mar 25, 2004, 02:37 PM
 
Originally posted by fizzlemynizzle:
I can get them for under retail.
How much under?
     
d4nth3m4n
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Mar 25, 2004, 02:38 PM
 
what kind of duties would there be on this? anyone know? would this fall under "grey market"?

what are the legal challenges facing this? there must be something....

im done now.
     
fizzlemynizzle  (op)
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Mar 25, 2004, 02:49 PM
 
Originally posted by gorickey:
How much under?
10%
     
Powaqqatsi
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Mar 25, 2004, 02:52 PM
 
Originally posted by fizzlemynizzle:
10%
Do it, if you can get past customs without declaring them.
     
fizzlemynizzle  (op)
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Mar 25, 2004, 03:17 PM
 
I don't want the IRS, customs or the mob visiting me. It just seems like there's an opportunity here to make a good profit by leveraging supply/demand.. yet still not gouge people thanks to the favorable exchange rates. How often does that happen? But if there are customs/legal hassles then "meh".. I think I'll buy a couple of minis and see how it goes.

On another note, this would be an awesome social experiment:

If I buy them from Apple I can get them engraved. If I had all of them engraved with "I love George W. Bush" and they were the only minis available at a decent price in Europe.. what would happen?
     
BoomStick
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Mar 25, 2004, 03:19 PM
 
It can be declared as a gift with 0 value and not be taxed.

I was sending copies of OSX to the UK before it was available there.

However I don't think it would put the extra "U" in all of the words.
     
The Placid Casual
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Mar 25, 2004, 03:30 PM
 
Originally posted by d4nth3m4n:
what kind of duties would there be on this? anyone know? would this fall under "grey market"?

what are the legal challenges facing this? there must be something....

im done now.
Buyer has to pay 17.5% import duty unless it is marked as a gift... Seller pays nothing.
     
talisker
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Mar 25, 2004, 04:23 PM
 
Originally posted by fizzlemynizzle:

If I had all of them engraved with "I love George W. Bush" and they were the only minis available at a decent price in Europe.. what would happen?
Europeans would buy them because they understand sarcasm.
     
   
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