HOW TO BUY GADGETS FROM THE US

It’s true that we here in the UK have access to plenty of cool smartphones, tablets, and gadgets. Sometimes, though, US companies make the odd decision to release new products but withhold them from our shores. Frankly, that just isn’t cricket. Thankfully, it isn’t too hard, in this global digital world in which we live, to have the items shipped directly to you. The question is how do you do it? Or more importantly, should you? In this feature we’ll examine the pros and cons of shopping across the Atlantic, and the hidden costs that can be involved.

Why buy from the US?

With many of the biggest tech-related companies based in America, it’s not uncommon for certain devices to only be released in that territory, or at least appear there months before they do in the UK. If, say, you want the new Samsung Note5, Amazon Echo, or the high-end 1TB version of the new Microsoft Surface Pro 4, then you won’t see them in UK stores any time soon. Then, of course, there is the exchange rate, which can make prices seem a lot more tempting thanks to the strong value of Sterling against the Dollar. There are, however, a few things to bear in mind. checkout. These vary from state to state, so research is needed before you click on the Buy button. And that isn’t the only tax you need to consider. Any tech item with a value of over £15 that comes into the UK from non-EU countries is liable for VAT, which will be applied when the device reaches Customs.

That adds a rather significant 20 percent to the total cost, which for an expensive item will be a hefty chunk. For example, we