Bringing back electronics from the USA

[xxxyyyzzz]

Vaud said:

Tomo1971 said:

Take a used three pin 13a plug with you. When purchased, replace US plug with UK one - on return, if checked, you took it out with you for x,y, or z reasons......

Most just have a cord with a kettle or 'figure of 8" lead... so just take one of those.

They may not believe you though.

Perhaps this is the master-stroke that will fool all customs officers. You are right; they will never spot that will they?

Just sit back and work out what you have said.

[jdw100]

xxxyyyzzz said:

I agree that it is not likely that the customs will stop you and ask for the duty. What the OP should be prepared for though is if he is stopped he will either have to be dishonest, as suggested elsewhere in this thread or declare the item and pay the duty.

Anyone suggesting the "oh I didn't realise" routine must think that the customs staff were born yesterday. Try that and I reckon they will not be terribly amused. You never know; they may just take the item off you and trace its origin.

Taking the risk of having to pay duty on this mixer or committing a criminal offence to avoid it seems to be a daft ruse to save a few hundred notes. The guarantee will be stuffed even if you do get it into the country with no duty. The whole idea seems to be something that will give very little benefit.

Yep, if he gets caught he will either have to pay or try and get around it.

Of course the Custims staff have heard it all before - it's a dance played out many times.

He isn't going to get a criminal record - he'll just have to pay up.

As for the warranty? Really...I had my nice Bose headphones bought in the USA (£60 cheaper as I recall) repaired in the UK and no one asked for a letter from customs to say I'd paid duty.

However you have to do what you feel most comfortable with. Personally I'm happy to walk through and will deal with what happens. Some people worry about it and therefore it's best to declare the goods. Pick whichever path is best for you. Green or red...

Edited by jdw100 on Monday 25th September 03:29

[48k]

jdw100 said:

As for the warranty? Really...I had my nice Bose headphones bought in the USA (£60 cheaper as I recall) repaired in the UK and no one asked for a letter from customs to say I'd paid duty.

No one has said warranty issues are anything to do with customs duty. Simply that there can be different versions of products for different markets and you may have issues getting warranty honoured in the UK for US-market products. In the case of your headphones, it wasn't a problem. In other cases, it may be.

[Vaud]

48k said:

No one has said warranty issues are anything to do with customs duty. Simply that there can be different versions of products for different markets and you may have issues getting warranty honoured in the UK for US-market products. In the case of your headphones, it wasn't a problem. In other cases, it may be.

Exactly. Two separate issues. Warranty is based on where product is sold. Some companies are better than others.

[jdw100]

Vaud said:

Exactly. Two separate issues. Warranty is based on where product is sold. Some companies are better than others.

Had a bose sound dock battery replaced under warranty here in Bali, device from UK.

All my Apple stuff has international warranty - I'm struggling to think what else would be problem..?

As in stuff you could bring over in a suitcase, not fridges or cookers or a car!

[Vaud]

jdw100 said:

Had a bose sound dock battery replaced under warranty here in Bali, device from UK.

All my Apple stuff has international warranty - I'm struggling to think what else would be problem..?

As in stuff you could bring over in a suitcase, not fridges or cookers or a car!

Manufacturers vary. Apple and Bose are high end brands. My point is more one to just double check the warranty terms.

[jdw100]

Vaud said:

Manufacturers vary. Apple and Bose are high end brands. My point is more one to just double check the warranty terms.

Good advice - although I'm sure most stuff you would make a decent saving on by buying in USA would have a decent warranty.

[48k]

jdw100 said:

Vaud said:

Exactly. Two separate issues. Warranty is based on where product is sold. Some companies are better than others.

Had a bose sound dock battery replaced under warranty here in Bali, device from UK.

All my Apple stuff has international warranty - I'm struggling to think what else would be problem..?

As in stuff you could bring over in a suitcase, not fridges or cookers or a car!

Nikon camera bodies and lenses is one example where there can be issues getting warranty work done in the EU when the items were purchased in the US.

As I say, no one is saying this is anything to do with duty, it was simply some fiendly "from experience" advice to the OP to check the warranty situation on the DJ mixer he wanted to buy.

[anonymous-user]

xxxyyyzzz said:

Vaud said:

Tomo1971 said:

Take a used three pin 13a plug with you. When purchased, replace US plug with UK one - on return, if checked, you took it out with you for x,y, or z reasons......

Most just have a cord with a kettle or 'figure of 8" lead... so just take one of those.

They may not believe you though.

Perhaps this is the master-stroke that will fool all customs officers. You are right; they will never spot that will they?

Just sit back and work out what you have said.

[theguvernor15]

Thanks for the advise guys, i'm pretty sure it'd work on UK electrickery, although i will check.
I may not definitely buy it, i was just looking at the possibility of it as it saved me a few hundred quid!
Nearly every time i've been through an airport there's never been anybody at the 'something to declare' counter anyway!
Worse comes to it i guess i end up paying it!