Taking a GPU on a plane

[GeorgeHillier]

Dude I don't see a problem and many people did it before. Stick it to the hand luggage, make sure the box will be factory sealed and you will have a receipt, that's all mate

From what I've heard and researched so far it seems as if it's fine to take, hopefully BA will confirm it so that I can get my shiny new graphics cards a lot cheaper!

 

[Wozza63]

I just don't think its worth all the hassle to be honest. I've found R9 290s for about £260 in the UK, making the difference pretty much negligible. Plus depending on the manufacturer, they may not offer warranty support in the UK, for a US serial number. I had that issue with a tablet from ASUS before.

 

[GeorgeHillier]

I just don't think its worth all the hassle to be honest. I've found R9 290s for about £260 in the UK, making the difference pretty much negligible. Plus depending on the manufacturer, they may not offer warranty support in the UK, for a US serial number. I had that issue with a tablet from ASUS before.

The 290 is about £300 in the UK at the moment for a decent model. The cheapest one is an XFX model for £258, which apparently has pretty bad cooling. Where as in the US I can get the Vapour-X for £260, which is one of the best models available.

If It turns out I can't take it then I'll just buy it in the UK, but If I can save money then I will.

I'll also have to think about the warranty!

 

[Spuff]

Hmm, do you know what tax I would have to pay? I can get the GPU for £305 in the UK or £233 in the US.
!

As far as I can tell you would just pay VAT, taking the total cost of the GPU up to £279.60. If you were to pay delivery on this it would take it up to the UK price, and that's how things from the USA usually work out.
It does seem worth the saving if you can bring it with you.

 

[GeorgeHillier]

As far as I can tell you would just pay VAT, taking the total cost of the GPU up to £279.60. If you were to pay delivery on this it would take it up to the UK price, and that's how things from the USA usually work out.
It does seem worth the saving if you can bring it with you.

I don't believe I have to pay VAT unless I go over the £390 limit. Plus if I open it then they can't charge any duties or taxes as it's "used" I guess. Or would I be wrong in thinking so?

 

[PokerFace]

I don't believe I have to pay VAT unless I go over the £390 limit. Plus if I open it then they can't charge any duties or taxes as it's "used" I guess. Or would I be wrong in thinking so?

Quote:
"You can bring in other goods worth up to £390 without having to pay tax and/or duty.

If you arrive by private plane or private boat for pleasure purposes, you can only bring in other goods worth up to £270 tax and duty free.

If you bring in any single item worth more than your allowance, you must pay duty and/or tax on the full item value, not just the value above the allowance. You also cannot group individual allowances together to bring in an item worth more than the limit."

Source: HMRC

Have a nice trip!

 

[GeorgeHillier]

Quote:
"You can bring in other goods worth up to £390 without having to pay tax and/or duty.

If you arrive by private plane or private boat for pleasure purposes, you can only bring in other goods worth up to £270 tax and duty free.

If you bring in any single item worth more than your allowance, you must pay duty and/or tax on the full item value, not just the value above the allowance. You also cannot group individual allowances together to bring in an item worth more than the limit."

Source: HMRC

Have a nice trip!

Well I'm not on a private plane, but wish I was!!!

I've read the whole page now and no VAT, Tax etc will be added as long as it's under £390 (which it is). So unless I decide to get a private jet there then I should be fine!

I'll post what BA say when they respond.

 

[Wozza63]

Could always say it was a gift from a friend? Then they wouldn't know if that person paid the tax on it because they were probably 'merican

 

[GeorgeHillier]

Could always say it was a gift from a friend? Then they wouldn't know if that person paid the tax on it because they were probably 'merican

I shouldn't have to come up with an excuse as it's within the limit If I do go over the limit then I'll just open the box as that way I can say it was used and cannot be charged duties/tax if I am thinking correctly.

 

[mdwh]

Plenty of us use music players that aren't Apple (it'd be like saying no one uses anything but Windows, or anything but Samsung phones). I don't see how that gets round the rule though. It's always been the case that they might ask you to turn on a device to prove it's real - it's unclear to me what the recent announcement was about, possibly a reminder, or that they'd be enforcing it more often or more strictly. (Though I hope they won't be checking everything - I can just see the massive queues whilst everyone has to turn on their 10 devices...)

I agree that taking some electronics that can't be "switched on" might cause some hassle... though surely there must be some consideration, a more common example might be someone taking portable hard drives.

 

[GeorgeHillier]

Plenty of us use music players that aren't Apple (it'd be like saying no one uses anything but Windows, or anything but Samsung phones). I don't see how that gets round the rule though. It's always been the case that they might ask you to turn on a device to prove it's real - it's unclear to me what the recent announcement was about, possibly a reminder, or that they'd be enforcing it more often or more strictly. (Though I hope they won't be checking everything - I can just see the massive queues whilst everyone has to turn on their 10 devices...)

I agree that taking some electronics that can't be "switched on" might cause some hassle... though surely there must be some consideration, a more common example might be someone taking portable hard drives.

No, the new legislation is only applicable for devices with batteries, not electronic parts or devices which need to be plugged in.

 

[steaky360]

No, the new legislation is only applicable for devices with batteries, not electronic parts or devices which need to be plugged in.

So if I have a broken laptop that needs to be plugged in to work..........

 

[Rakk]

So if I have a broken laptop that needs to be plugged in to work..........

Or if you've been on holiday and lost/forgotten/broken your phone/mp3/etc charger and its run out of power ....

 

[GeorgeHillier]

So if I have a broken laptop that needs to be plugged in to work..........

If it has a battery then it needs to turn on or you can plug it in and turn it on (I think).

The thing is someone there will probably ask my to turn it on or something stupid because they don't know what it is!

 

[tom_gr7]

Thats a risk id probably avoid tbh. Wouldnt suprise me if some moron in customs expects you to prove its in working order. Also it coukd get damaged/stolen in your luggage. But also if its faulty in say 6months you may have to return thr card for rma in the states.

Edit, sorry if ive repeated anything thts been said before, im in spain using europes most unreliable wifi connection.

 

[GeorgeHillier]

Thats a risk id probably avoid tbh. Wouldnt suprise me if some moron in customs expects you to prove its in working order. Also it coukd get damaged/stolen in your luggage. But also if its faulty in say 6months you may have to return thr card for rma in the states.

Edit, sorry if ive repeated anything thts been said before, im in spain using europes most unreliable wifi connection.

Yeah, if someone asks to proves it's working then I'll just explain what it is I guess.

And I won't be putting the gpu in my luggage, i'll take it in my hand luggage so I know it won't get smashed by someone throwing it around.

 

[bigben]

Sorry to necro / hijack this thread, but this was nearly discussed..

I want to buy a motorcycle jacket from here as it's an awful lot cheaper than anywhere in the UK. However, I'd like to know if I'm going to get a letter or something through from the taxman saying that I need to pay the VAT on it (which would bring it up to about the same price as in the UK.

I had a quick look but couldn't find the answer so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Edit: and do you actually pay VAT on that anyway? I know that ppe for work doesn't get charged vat, would biking safety gear be the same?

 

[keynes]

Sorry to necro / hijack this thread, but this was nearly discussed..

I want to buy a motorcycle jacket from here as it's an awful lot cheaper than anywhere in the UK. However, I'd like to know if I'm going to get a letter or something through from the taxman saying that I need to pay the VAT on it (which would bring it up to about the same price as in the UK.

I had a quick look but couldn't find the answer so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

If they are located within the EU I don't think you would.

 

[bigben]

Thanks

Edit: found this:

All other goods
If you're ordering or sending purchased goods (other than alcohol and tobacco) to the UK from another EU country then it's just like shopping in the UK:
there is no Customs Duty payable
there is no import VAT payable, unless you're ordering or sending purchased goods from one of the EU 'Special Territories' and if the value of the goods is £15 or more, however from 1 April 2012 all merchandise sent to the UK from the Channel Islands is subject to VAT - see below
there is no Excise Duty to pay

So unless I'm misunderstanding something, looks like I will get a bargain

 

[mantadog]

if you pay VAT in once place in the EU you don't pay it in another. So say you order it from Germany, you pay German VAT and not British.

I know this is an absolute fact because I collect silver coins, in the UK you pay full rate VAT on silver but some countries have a discount rate of 5% until recently. Germany being one of them. So yeah, grab it if its cheap, I never had any letters asking for VAT from the tax man.