Three questions: American amazon/laptop

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  1. Dmon1Unlimited's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
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    Three questions: American amazon/laptop
    1)Is it possible to purchase products from the American amazon website? Are there any extra actions to do so? Will the same price (converted into British pounds) be deducted from my bank account?

    2) is it possible to get insurance/warranty from a laptop bought from amazon?
    Generally a laptop will have at least 1 years warranty. If I bought a laptop from the american amazon site and it breaks down within this year, what is the procedure to take in order to fix/replace it?

    3) is purchasing through this site (amazon in general) normal/recommended?
  2. Intriguing Alias's Avatar
    • TSR Idol
    • Location: Yorkshire
    Re: Three questions: American amazon/laptop
    (Original post by Dmon1Unlimited)
    1)Is it possible to purchase products from the American amazon website? Are there any extra actions to do so? Will the same price (converted into British pounds) be deducted from my bank account?

    2) is it possible to get insurance/warranty from a laptop bought from amazon?
    Generally a laptop will have at least 1 years warranty. If I bought a laptop from the american amazon site and it breaks down within this year, what is the procedure to take in order to fix/replace it?

    3) is purchasing through this site (amazon in general) normal/recommended?
    You can use Amazon Currency converter (just tick it at some point in your account settings or during checkout - can't remember) so they charge you GBP. Your bank will probably charge a fixed fee - typically about a pound - for currency conversion, if you decide to just buy in dollars. You'd need to ask them directly to make sure they don't employ a percentage-based charge.

    I don't think warranty works worldwide but I'm not sure.

    I know a fair few people who buy some stuff from Amazon US but usually items that aren't too expensive/requiring warranties. If it helps I'd suggest Amazon.de because some of their prices are cheaper and warranty is definitely transferable.

    EDIT: Oh yes and tax - which is obviously included in the de pricing.
    Last edited by Intriguing Alias; 19-06-2012 at 00:33.
  3. Wookie42's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 2,279
    Re: Three questions: American amazon/laptop
    (Original post by Dmon1Unlimited)
    1)Is it possible to purchase products from the American amazon website? Are there any extra actions to do so? Will the same price (converted into British pounds) be deducted from my bank account?

    2) is it possible to get insurance/warranty from a laptop bought from amazon?
    Generally a laptop will have at least 1 years warranty. If I bought a laptop from the american amazon site and it breaks down within this year, what is the procedure to take in order to fix/replace it?

    3) is purchasing through this site (amazon in general) normal/recommended?
    Yeah, but watch out for tax.

    As said above, this will be a product specific thing - you might have to purchase an extra warranty for somethings

    People do it, but often with the cost of shipping and stuff it doesn't always end up cost effective

    If you are buying a laptop from the US you should note that you'll get a US keyboard. If you're ok with that then go for it
  4. RyJ's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Location: Glasgow
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    Re: Three questions: American amazon/laptop
    (Original post by hassi94)
    You can use Amazon Currency converter (just tick it at some point in your account settings or during checkout - can't remember) so they charge you GBP. Your bank will probably charge a fixed fee - typically about a pound - for currency conversion, if you decide to just buy in dollars. You'd need to ask them directly to make sure they don't employ a percentage-based charge.

    I don't think warranty works worldwide but I'm not sure.

    I know a fair few people who buy some stuff from Amazon US but usually items that aren't too expensive/requiring warranties. If it helps I'd suggest Amazon.de because some of their prices are cheaper and warranty is definitely transferable.

    This. Despite the fact that the exchange rate from £ to € is lesser to that of £ to $, you'll still get a discount that's nothing to be sniffed at. Plus, the warranty would probably still be acceptable for a UK citizen, since you're still in the EU and most repair centres (well, from what I've seen for computers anyway) are centrally based in the EU. For example, Microsoft's one is in Frankfurt (I believe).


    (Original post by Wookie42)
    Yeah, but watch out for tax.
    This is also a very important point that I forgot to mention, it can be quite hefty...
    Last edited by RyJ; 19-06-2012 at 00:31.
  5. Dmon1Unlimited's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Posts: 6,674
    Re: Three questions: American amazon/laptop
    (Original post by RyJ)
    This. Despite the fact that the exchange rate from £ to € is lesser to that of £ to $, you'll still get a discount that's nothing to be sniffed at. Plus, the warranty would probably still be acceptable for a UK citizen, since you're still in the EU and most repair centres (well, from what I've seen for computers anyway) are centrally based in the EU. For example, Microsoft's one is in Frankfurt (I believe).




    This is also a very important point that I forgot to mention, it can be quite hefty...
    Would tax simply be shown near the end, added to the final cost of the product?
    E.g.
    Laptop - $600
    Tax - $x
    Total - $(600+x)

    Meaning I'd be well aware of the full price before purchase?
    Last edited by Dmon1Unlimited; 19-06-2012 at 00:57.
  6. Dmon1Unlimited's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Posts: 6,674
    Re: Three questions: American amazon/laptop
    (Original post by Wookie42)
    Yeah, but watch out for tax.

    As said above, this will be a product specific thing - you might have to purchase an extra warranty for somethings

    People do it, but often with the cost of shipping and stuff it doesn't always end up cost effective

    If you are buying a laptop from the US you should note that you'll get a US keyboard. If you're ok with that then go for it
    Do the US not use the same qwerty layout? I thought the key layout was a worldwide de facto standard?
  7. RyJ's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Location: Glasgow
    • Posts: 799
    Re: Three questions: American amazon/laptop
    (Original post by Dmon1Unlimited)
    Would tax simply be shown near the end, added to the final cost of the product?
    E.g.
    Laptop - $600
    Tax - $x
    Total - $(600+x)

    Meaning I'd be well aware of the full price before purchase?
    I'd assume it would tell you somewhere, as they can hardly take more money from your bank account than what they originally mentioned.
  8. ttoby's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
    • Posts: 3,692
    Re: Three questions: American amazon/laptop
    (Original post by Dmon1Unlimited)
    Do the US not use the same qwerty layout? I thought the key layout was a worldwide de facto standard?
    Some symbols are different, e.g. the @ sign has moved to shift+2. Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboar...#United_States for what it looks like.
  9. Intriguing Alias's Avatar
    • TSR Idol
    • Location: Yorkshire
    Re: Three questions: American amazon/laptop
    (Original post by Dmon1Unlimited)
    Would tax simply be shown near the end, added to the final cost of the product?
    E.g.
    Laptop - $600
    Tax - $x
    Total - $(600+x)

    Meaning I'd be well aware of the full price before purchase?
    Check this out: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custo...6184&#restrict

    Some stuff won't even be available to ship internationally (one example is the TF300).

    No I don't think so. I believe tax is charged after sales in the US i.e. "Tax Collectors"

    You will be charged 20% Tax by the UK when it arrives in the country (or you don't get to have your product ). If the value of the product is over £135 you may have to pay import duty depending on the item.
  10. unruly1986's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Posts: 217
    Re: Three questions: American amazon/laptop
    Be aware that depending on the delivery company, there may be issues ordering anything with a lithium battery. USPS (Amazon.com preferred courier) will not deliver anything with a lithium battery internationally.

    http://blog.sellerengine.com/2012/05...ium-batteries/
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