The thing about insured repairs or guaranteed returns or exchange (if the device is faulty or is being recalled), they’re region locked in the sense of them only being enforceable in where they’re purchased as importing them from another voids warranty or exchange. Like, is it worth purchasing an iPhone 18 in a country where it’s only $1200 while the same is $1620 in your own region considering warranty is rescinded beyond its borders?
This is the aspect overlooked when you buy electronics abroad whilst on vacation, as once they’re broken: it’s over (you can get them repaired at the expense of having to deliver it to the region where you’ve purchased it or by chance visiting that country for a second time). It applies to most electronics: iPhone, PS5, XBOX, Android, Switch, Handhelds, etc. as the warranty is only valid and entitled if you are in the country.
Put it this way: do YOU consider it practical if let’s say a German visitor buys the iPhone 18 Pro for $1,199 in NYC at the Apple Store while the same device costs 1,449€ in his own country? However, the warranty (in matters the iPhone breaks or has faults) is only valid in the US, it’s null when he returns back to Germany. Should you pay more buying it in your own country (warranty is there) or import (no warranty is guaranteed).
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Bot
Is it really cheaper in NYC? Add the 9% VAT for NY plus the import tax when you bring it back to the EU (19% for Germany).
Why would you pay import tax for an item in use. Open it and use it.
That’s the law. But you can hope they don’t look through your luggage. Or ditch the box and receipt.
He needs to pay tax for returning with a phone? Wtf
For goods over 430€, yes.
You can’t just travel in person and avoid import tax.
How they fuck they will know what it is, i mean its my phone and i am using it.
If you can afford to buy it twice, then yeah take the risk, it’ll most likely be fine. If buying a replacement device would put you in hardship, then it’s probably not worth the risk.
Instead of buying a complete replacement phone, repairing is sometimes cheap, depending on local options, or if you’ve “got a buddy”, or how much you’re willing to try yourself. I’ve replaced several screens and batteries myself; the first time was a total mess, but for ca. 15€ per screen in AliExpress it’s all worth risking some waste or ordering extra spare parts you won’t need in the end.
By going that route, you won’t need to bother with / worry about warranty to begin with.
