Buying an iPhone in Orlando

[jackieleanne]

I'm going to Orlando at the end of September my current 4s Contract expires in May.

To buy the new iPhone new in the US is around £500 cheaper than they are to buy in the UK direct from Apple.

If I buy the 5s direct from an Apple store in Orlando will a UK Sim work in the phone once I am back home as I know that the apple store does say Unlocked worldwide but just wanted to see if anyone has experience of buying iPhone's / iPad's etc in Florida or the US.

Thanks

 

[DCLMan]

I'm going to Orlando at the end of September my current 4s Contract expires in May.

To buy the new iPhone new in the US is around £500 cheaper than they are to buy in the UK direct from Apple.

If I buy the 5s direct from an Apple store in Orlando will a UK Sim work in the phone once I am back home as I know that the apple store does say Unlocked worldwide but just wanted to see if anyone has experience of buying iPhone's / iPad's etc in Florida or the US.

Thanks

I think you have your maths wrong.

A US sim free iPhone 5s is $649.

A UK sim free iPhone 5s is £549.

 

[jackieleanne]

Yes just looked at that again I think I'd been looking at the prices originally for those on contracts.

On a 64gb though still £200 cheaper than what Apple UK are asking.

 

[chmurf]

I will add that, buying such a device in the US will exceed your customs allowance.

you have 2 choices.
- Declare it when you land in the UK and pay the duties. (along with any other item you've purchased in Florida, since your allowance would be exceeded)

- Do not declare it, and face the possibility of getting caught. in which case you'll have to pay the duties AND a hefty fine.

chances you get caught ? ... no psychics on the DIS, sorry

 

[DCLMan]

Yes just looked at that again I think I'd been looking at the prices originally for those on contracts.

On a 64gb though still £200 cheaper than what Apple UK are asking.

It may be cheaper but it is over your duty free allowance of £390.

The price you see on the US Apple store doesn't included sales tax of 6% which on $849 is $50.91.

So the total price converted into pounds is £562.44 (at $1.60 to the £).

 

[flortlebap]

I will add that, buying such a device in the US will exceed your customs allowance.

you have 2 choices.
- Declare it when you land in the UK and pay the duties. (along with any other item you've purchased in Florida, since your allowance would be exceeded)

- Do not declare it, and face the possibility of getting caught. in which case you'll have to pay the duties AND a hefty fine.

chances you get caught ? ... no psychics on the DIS, sorry

You can pretty much eliminate this risk by throwing the box away and carrying it through on hand luggage, though.

 

[chmurf]

You can pretty much eliminate this risk by throwing the box away and carrying it through on hand luggage, though.

yes you can, but at this rate you can also throw away the AC power supply which will have a US plug.

But never forget that if Customs run the serial number through a database, they'll know it's a US phone.

Also remember that the Law requires that you be able to prove that an item belongs to you, and that it was purchased prior to your visit.
Technically you are required to travel with the original receipts of your electronic devices.
Failure to produce original receipts (for items that look brand new) and you may even have to pay duties for something that's rightfully yours and bought in the UK

of course, this only happens when HM Revenue & Customs decide to conduct an inspection.
Being singled out for such an inspection can range from utter randomness (or bad luck) to the mere fact of looking nervous.

There are many tricks to evade customs and inspections, but Customs officers have many tricks to tell who's got something to hide


Giving advice as how to evade/avoid an inspection only works as long as the passenger does not get caught
we tell to throw the box to avoid the risk, they pay the fine if they get caught. Russian Roulette ?

 

[DCLMan]

You can pretty much eliminate this risk by throwing the box away and carrying it through on hand luggage, though.

No you cannot eliminate the risk by throwing the box away.

 

[flortlebap]

yes you can, but at this rate you can also throw away the AC power supply which will have a US plug.

But never forget that if Customs run the serial number through a database, they'll know it's a US phone.

Also remember that the Law requires that you be able to prove that an item belongs to you, and that it was purchased prior to your visit.
Technically you are required to travel with the original receipts of your electronic devices.
Failure to produce original receipts (for items that look brand new) and you may even have to pay duties for something that's rightfully yours and bought in the UK

of course, this only happens when HM Revenue & Customs decide to conduct an inspection.
Being singled out for such an inspection can range from utter randomness (or bad luck) to the mere fact of looking nervous.

There are many tricks to evade customs and inspections, but Customs officers have many tricks to tell who's got something to hide


Giving advice as how to evade/avoid an inspection only works as long as the passenger does not get caught
we tell to throw the box to avoid the risk, they pay the fine if they get caught. Russian Roulette ?

That's pretty much why we didn't buy an ipad last time, was scared I would look guilty lol!

It is Russian roulette though, you're right - but I think you'd be very unlucky to get challenged

 

[Elise79]

No you cannot eliminate the risk by throwing the box away.

This is spot on - Apple give a slightly different model number to phones sold in different countries and HM Customs officers know this. The ones sold in the US have a different model number to the ones sold here.

 

[ABZDisneyFan]

This is spot on - Apple give a slightly different model number to phones sold in different countries and HM Customs officers know this. The ones sold in the US have a different model number to the ones sold here.

You'd have to be very very unlucky to get done by customs for an iPhone, I think they have slightly more serious issues to deal with at the moment like drug smuggling.

 

[Vixster]

I bought an iPad back in 2012 ad was fine I did keep my box just put it in the case but if you are worried then get rid of it you are allowed a certain amount to spend to bring back and if its just one then I think you should be fine and just put it in pocket or hand luggage

 

[BudgieMama]

I spoke to my uncle, who works for HMRC trying to catch stuff like this, and he says yes, they'd want to catch you doing that. His words were "it's all illegal, so it all needs stopping and dealing with appropriately".

Personally, I wouldn't risk it. In fact, it's why we didn't buy my DH a new laptop when we were in New York last summer.

 

[jackieleanne]

Thanks for all your help, it certainly explains why everyone doesn't do it.

Looking at the risk it isn't worth it for the cheaper discount. Damn UK taxes.

I will however probably buy a US sim for use while there, buying direct over here is still cheaper than most contracts especially with the cheap pay as you go sims that do great deals on data.

 

[pascalstongue]

You'd have to be very very unlucky to get done by customs for an iPhone, I think they have slightly more serious issues to deal with at the moment like drug smuggling.

That's like saying the police are too busy dealing with robbers and burglars . Yes they are, but they could still nick you if you stole £10 worth of groceries from Asda.

I don't understand why some people think that some crimes, such as dodging importation tax are acceptable??