customs and the states

wheres me jumpa

not sure if this is the place for it but ive seen similar converstations here...

im going to new york in july. im thinking of buying a laptop or upgrades for my pc over there, e.g. processor, mobo etc.

im just wondering how customs uncover items to be declared. they dont search everybody? how much will i be charged and also if i buy a laptop and and case and carry it on board how do they know if i bought it and its not a laptop i bring everywhere with me?

also i have found several websites similar to komplett and the likes where i can find cheap parts for my pc. but im only going to be there for a week and staying in a hotel (dodgy one at that). so does anyone know any stores i could pop into to buy this sort of thing? im not looking for exact addresses but who are the companies that operate in the states similar to compustore, pcworld etc.

bombidol

CompUSA do a google for it.

bombidol

http://www.compusa.com/

Mike_Hunt

you could also try http://www.bestbuy.com

Akula

I've never seen or heard of them searching anybody really. You should be fine. Compusa and bestbuy are great, so is circuit city, if you are in the city though I don't know if they have branches there, they are more out of town style places. Bound to be some good options around though.

Enjoy the trip.

Nuttzz

i've been the the states a couple of times this year, Mrs Nuttzz went a bit psyco on the credit card, we were not stopped by customers, in fact we left with one suitcase and came home with 3. You should be ok imo.

wheres me jumpa

thanks for the replies.

i was looking at compusa before. so would their stores carry what they have on the site?

now where can i find a cheap suitcase?!

bombidol

yeah compusa is huge

Larianne

[QUOTE=wheres me jumpa
now where can i find a cheap suitcase?![/QUOTE]

marshalls or TJMaxx or Target

Zapp Brannigan

hmm will that work with bringing a guitar back though?

bombidol

yup. done it last month

wheres me jumpa

just wrap it in newspaper, they will never guess what it is!

what happens if they do find something?i.e. is it just a case of paying the duty or are there further consequences?

Zapp Brannigan

bombidol wrote:

yup. done it last month

cool hopefully gonna pick up a USA jackson when i head over there

dingding

www.radioshack.com

Stephen

There's a huge CompUSA on 5th avenue, and there's another place called Data Vision across the street which isn't half bad either.

astec123

"now where can i find a cheap suitcase?!"

Get one over there, it will be easier and cheaper.

Gone West

no. Bring over 2 suitcases. Fill one with old clothes. Then dump them when you get to the us. you can fill it with stuff, and the customs guys dont care, anyways. You came to america with 2 bags and left with 2 bags. As long as you arent carrying a weapon(or something that looks like one on the xray), they won't open your bags, in my experience.

Akula

ummm that makes no sense, customs dont count the number of bags u leave the country with.

Gone West

Actually, this idea was given to me by someone who works at Phoenix Intl Airport. They said that customs have a numebr of bags and the weight of the bags on their computer. And If anyone seems to be bringing back way more stuff than they brought in, they will get searched. So im told

therecklessone

FuzzyLogic wrote:

Actually, this idea was given to me by someone who works at Phoenix Intl Airport. They said that customs have a numebr of bags and the weight of the bags on their computer. And If anyone seems to be bringing back way more stuff than they brought in, they will get searched. So im told

In a world of professional (or hungry bas*ard, its your choice...) customs maybe.

I on the other hand managed to get €1500 worth of electronics. vinyl, CDs, books and alcohol through Dublin from LA on Thursday because there was nobody on duty at Customs!

I've direct experience of seeing them in action. In fairness, most of their interceptions are based on intelligence they receive from other sources, they'remore interested in finding drugs or smuggled cigarettes. Just don't rub it in their faces and you should be fine.

Akula

Actually, this idea was given to me by someone who works at Phoenix Intl Airport.

Ok assuming they can get that info from the airlines (which I actually somehow doubt they could do here for privacy reasons... its customs not security)... how do they know who each individual walking through the customs gate is on their computer.

Don't bother

Orionetheus

Haha foolish irish (Kidding)

Frys Electronics is the way to go. Best electronics store ever. Problem is they don't exist in New York yet.