Buying off apple.com, shipping to ireland?

Egon

Hey everyone, I'm looking to buy a Macbook Pro and it looks so much cheaper (~€500 at least IIRC) to buy it off apple.com & get it shipped to Ireland. Just wondering if anyone here's done this?

I checked back through the posts and saw people mention it, but no mention of the final outcome. Would I need to get someone in America to buy it themselves & send it over, or can i buy it myself & send it to a friends house who can then send it to me? Thanks in advance!

Dont be at yourself

The billing address must be in the US, as far as I know.

tywy

you have to buy off apple.ie in Ireland afaik

Urban Weigl

The main reasons why it's cheaper in the US is that we have 21% VAT, whereas the prices published on apple.com are excluding sales tax.

uncle_sam_ie

I bought my MBP in the US in July, but I had to go over and get it. You could get a cheap fight to New York or Boston. The money you save would nearly pay for the flight.

DadaKopf

The MBPs are still 500 cheaper including sales tax in the US. I'm getting one there soon. That's for one bought in Maine. But if you hop across to New Hampshire, you don't have to pay sales tax.

I'm going to buy one in America, but am lucky enough to be able to ship it to a US address, I've arranged someone to bring it over.

Otherwise, I'm afraid you're stuck with outrageous Irish prices.

Uncle_Sam: I assume you didn't go to America JUST to get a cheaper MBP!?

Sam Vimes

there are websites that provide a US address for websites that don't ship abroad. when it arrives at their place they forward it on to you. can't think of any off hand though

uncle_sam_ie

DadaKopf wrote:

The MBPs are still 500 cheaper including sales tax in the US. I'm getting one there soon. That's for one bought in Maine. But if you hop across to New Hampshire, you don't have to pay sales tax.

I'm going to buy one in America, but am lucky enough to be able to ship it to a US address, I've arranged someone to bring it over.

Otherwise, I'm afraid you're stuck with outrageous Irish prices.

Uncle_Sam: I assume you didn't go to America JUST to get a cheaper MBP!?

No, I went over for my bothers wedding.
Just so you know, to buy anything online at the US Apple store you need to have a credit card that has a US billing address.

DadaKopf

Thanks for that Sam. I'll get my pops to buy it then I'll 'wire' him the money. I sound like Al Swearengen.

sofireland

was thinking of doing the same thing, i know someone in Florida who could ship it to me.

Was working it out, (looking at mac mini) even including approx $100 shipping to Ireland, i still would save the guts of €200.

xebec

sofireland wrote:

Was working it out, (looking at mac mini) even including approx $100 shipping to Ireland, i still would save the guts of €200.

Until someone from the revenue commissioners open the box and hits you with a bill for a few hundred euro plus VAT!

pauln

Hi,
My sister just started college in the states last month and I bought her a macbook from Apple US from here. They won't ship outside the US though, she was already there and I had it shipped to her.

What you have to do is use the telesales option (US +1800 6927753, dunno if your can ring that from any old landline but I used skype out as it was free that way). Place your order and say you'll pay by wire transfer, they give you a web/telesales order number.
Go to your bank (or online in my case) and send a US Dollar wire transfer in the amount that is owed referencing the order number, 2-3 days later the order is confirmed. Apple US Wire Transfer Details.

sofireland

xebec wrote:

Until someone from the revenue commissioners open the box and hits you with a bill for a few hundred euro plus VAT!

Yeah that would put a dampener on things wouldn't it! ha !

Wire transfer, hmmm... then get it shipped to a buddy of mine...

Maybe i'll just pick up a second hand mac mini for my initiation to the world of mac

selekta

I bought my macbook off amazon US, had it shipped to my family in California (no sales tax, free shipping) and 2 months later got a $100 mail-in rebate. My mom flew it with her to Europe, as according to an international convention, you're entitled to carry with you a tax free computer and a camera on a plane.
I am now a little puzzled.. I'm not sure where I should register from (US or ROI). Probably the US, that should allow me to buy their cheaper applecare ($209 @amazon). I will prolly need it soon, random shutdowns have started calling me already.

The difference is, US models have a slightly altered keyboard layout (ie. no L shaped enter key)

I guess a good place to buy is the US apple refurb store

colm_c

If you know anyone who is a student, you can register it in their name, and Apple Ireland will give you the VAT refund which usually makes it cheaper (and less hassle) than going via the states, plus the laptop keyboards won't have the @ symbol in the wrong place!!

xebec

colm_c wrote:

If you know anyone who is a student, you can register it in their name, and Apple Ireland will give you the VAT refund which usually makes it cheaper (and less hassle) than going via the states

Explain a bit more! Do you mean a student in the States? Irish students certainly don't get a VAT refund, the standard discount is 6% but it can go up to 10%, this still doesn't make it cheaper than the States where at the moment they are about 20% cheaper or more. Please clarify!