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an iPhone 18 in a country where it’s only $1200 while the same is $1620 in your own region considering warranty is rescinded beyond its borders?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).

  • PetteriPano@lemmy.world
    1·
    13 hours ago

    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).

      • PetteriPano@lemmy.world
        1·
        11 hours ago

        That’s the law. But you can hope they don’t look through your luggage. Or ditch the box and receipt.

          • PetteriPano@lemmy.world
            1·
            9 hours ago

            Not all laws are enforcable, and not all laws make sense.

            iPhones do have different model number per region. It used to be printed on the back, I have touched one in many years.

            I guess if your border guard is really diligent they could in theory pick up on that.

            In practice, as long as you don’t get randomly checked and you don’t have the box and receipt in your luggage then you’re probably home scot-free.