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Buying from the US

  • 01-12-2013 4:09pm
    #1
    FatRat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I'm not sure if this topic has been discussed a lot around these parts but I need information about buying laptops from the US. Atm I'm looking to buy a new laptop. I'm looking at ultrabooks and obviously they are much cheaper to buy from the US. A new refurbished version of the laptop I am looking at is about half the price on Ebay. My question is what can I expect to be different about the laptop if I do buy it from the US? Does it make any difference regarding software etc. if its from across the waters? Also what can I expect from import tax? On ebay it says the import tax will be $115, which is fine but Id imagine this figure isn't spot on?

    Thanks in advance


Comments

  • #2
    Overheal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Answered before

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=56018661&postcount=8

    customs and taxation is not necessarily accurate or up to date info. Also, laptops aren't necessarily built for rugged travel these days, but porting around the house too. Consider build quality while shopping.

    And actually, some retailers like Best Buy are authorized resellers meaning you can go through them or the manufacturer for support, in many circumstances. Couple things out of date there.

    But no, no comparability issues with software or power


  • #3
    FatRat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭FatRat


    Overheal wrote: »
    Answered before

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=56018661&postcount=8

    customs and taxation is not necessarily accurate or up to date info. Also, laptops aren't necessarily built for rugged travel these days, but porting around the house too. Consider build quality while shopping.

    And actually, some retailers like Best Buy are authorized resellers meaning you can go through them or the manufacturer for support, in many circumstances. Couple things out of date there.

    But no, no comparability issues with software or power

    I'm reading up on it on ebay and it will be sent through a thing called the Global Postage Programme... Apparently with this postage programme you pay the customs charges before the item is even sent. Its quoting me $120 that's payable upon checkout. After that there is no extra charges when it arrives in Ireland. Are you aware of this? And is it reliable? I imagine it is if Ebay endorse it....


  • #4
    Overheal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Im not familiar, having never made an overseas purchase like that.


  • #5
    ProudDUB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,569 ✭✭✭✭ProudDUB


    FatRat wrote: »
    Hi,

    I'm not sure if this topic has been discussed a lot around these parts but I need information about buying laptops from the US. Atm I'm looking to buy a new laptop. I'm looking at ultrabooks and obviously they are much cheaper to buy from the US. A new refurbished version of the laptop I am looking at is about half the price on Ebay. My question is what can I expect to be different about the laptop if I do buy it from the US? Does it make any difference regarding software etc. if its from across the waters? Also what can I expect from import tax? On ebay it says the import tax will be $115, which is fine but Id imagine this figure isn't spot on?

    Thanks in advance

    Both of my laptops (a Dell and a Toshiba) were bought in the US and there is not much difference from Irish ones in how they operate. There will be a few differences in the keyboard. You won't have a euro symbol. You'll have a $ symbol and instead of Delete tab, there will be a Backspace one. There are a couple of others that I can't think off of the top of my head, but they aren't hard to get used to.

    You also won't be able to type letters with fada's in them, if the aul cupla focail is important to you. There is supposed to some sort of combination of control, shift, alt, XYZ jiggerypokery that you can type in to bring up characters for non English letters, but I've never been able to get it to work on either of mine. I dunno if Irish is just not one of the languages that American manufacturers pre program their computers to recognise, or I'm just stupid. I've a feeling it's them, as I have no trouble pulling up the German umlaut thingy or the French accent grave, but the fada is no where to be found.


  • #6
    ED E
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,170 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    FatRat wrote: »
    I'm reading up on it on ebay and it will be sent through a thing called the Global Postage Programme... Apparently with this postage programme you pay the customs charges before the item is even sent. Its quoting me $120 that's payable upon checkout. After that there is no extra charges when it arrives in Ireland. Are you aware of this? And is it reliable? I imagine it is if Ebay endorse it....

    Ebay were "forced" into it as they were the source of a load of untaxed shipments. The estimations have been close from what Ive seen.

    If the laptop is about 600$ then its on the mark. Tax + Duty is usually 25% or very close to that, on the total order So if you pay 500 + 80 for shipping the tax is on 580.


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