Hi,
Im wondering If i could pickup a deal over in the states-seeing as theyre from there- (a relative is going on thursday) on a 17" G4 powerbook?

Has anyone purchased one over there, particularly in los angeles?

Ive been searching around on the net, trying to find comparitive price sites for LA, found a few, but havnt had much luck with the pricing, most arnt worth it.

If anyone has any information, i would really apprieciate it !
quickly now

Thanks alot-

I'm 100% sure, but don't you have to pay a tax on goods over a certain price when you bring them back through customs.

My advice if you are considering buying an Powerbook overseas is that you sit down and do the maths and figure out all the costs and whether or not you will be making a saving.

The Apple.com website will give you a good idea of what you are expecting to pay. But I am almost certain that those prices do not include tax and that the tax varies from state to state (I could be wrong).

Also remember that the U.S. uses a different power plug, so you are also going to have to buy an Australian compatible plug.

Step one - visit Apple's website and find AppleStore locations around Los Angeles - a map of LA with names of suburbs would be useful!

Step two - work out which ones your relative can easily visit (largely depends whether a car is available, otherwise it's public buses).

Step three - the Apple site also gives directions to stores - print these maps out.

Step four - when your relative arrives in LA, get them to ring each AppleStore (around opening time) and try to find out if they have "refreshed" PowerBooks in store. Don't use the word "refurbished"!

Step five - if a store has the PowerBook model you want at the right price, get out there immediately and check it out. If you don't find any, try again in a day or two.

Step six - insist on seeing the refreshed PowerBook power on so you can check the screen for dead pixels.

Step seven - if happy with the PowerBook, then buy it. If you can afford it, also buy AppleCare - it's cheaper to buy in USA and is global in coverage.

Step eight - it's up to you whether to declare the laptop at customs. You have more chance of convincing it's your work/travel laptop if you have it in your carry-on luggage, separate from the PowerBook box/packaging in your checked-in luggage.

Good luck!

I bought by 12" Powerbook from America, the power plug is no problem, i just use a chunky us --> aus power adapter but otherwise everything is fine

In July '04 I bought my 14" iBook at the Glendale Galleria Apple Store in LA. They add on 8.25% Sales Tax which added about US$125.00 to the total but I also got .Mac for US$60 ($78) instead of US$90 & Final Cut Express 2 for $99! instead of US$299 ($393). Picked up an "incase" notebook bag for US$50 and as I had time ordered a Gig of RAM thru newegg.com to max it out. Saved heaps on the RAM it was about half what it cost in AU & saved about AU$ 150 on the iBook even after the taxes. The greater the purchase the bigger the savings.

Coming back thru Customs I just carried the thing as if I'd always had it - they didn't even ask about it. Just forgo bringing the packaging back, it's a bit of a giveaway

The only thing I find annoying is the power brick didn't have the Aussie adapter - but I'm not about to shell out 59 mylars to get the whole world travel adapter kit. Clipsal has a decent one for under 10.

Ordered 2GB of Samsung RAM for the G5 last night from the US for US$273 including Fedex Int'l Priority Shipping - should have it Tuesday or Wednesday

macdonald

I have a 17" PB with 2 GB RAM, a 12" PB 1 GB RAM and a G5 Dual 2.5 with 4 GB RAM and 1/2 TB HD and a 30" Display - all cost me less than the G5 and Display here - even after paying $750 AUD customs (I kept the boxes) - brought it all in as used gear - so much cheaper duty that way. And the customs agents were actually trying to figure out how I could even pay less - made sure I declared all of for my personal use or for gifts for my family members... instead of business.

Bought it all in Hawaii at a place called MacMadeEasy in Honolulu - but also know that the Apple Store at the Galleria in San Fernando Valley (just of the I-5 - over the hill) and the Apple Store in the Newport Beach Mall (Orange County) are pretty good. All very helpful and supportive. You can also get any sales tax you pay back as you are leaving the country if you are willing to fill out the forms. (That is for any purchases where you pay sales tax, BTW). Also, no Apple Store in the US is allowed to ship overseas - so you have ot handle shipping - if you are going to go that way.

Is it worth it? Yep - In fact, had I been thinking, I would have bought my second 30" while I was there... would have been so much easier.

And, YES, buy the Apple Care.

My gold coins worth...
h34r: