Duty Free Electronics from HKG to Australia

[Nurse]

I am coming back through HKG and considering buying an IPhone and IPad for myself.
What is the protocol re duty free and any tips to avoid DF.

 

[equus]

Tip - avoid completely.

The only way you are likely to save any money over buying in Australia is with a parallel import, which will leave you with no warranty, and may not even be a Hong Kong model. Your charge will not have the correct plug.

There is no duty in Hong Kong anyway, so buying duty free doesn't save you anything.

If you buy a new iPhone and iPad, then you are likely to have to pay GST on it when returning to Australia anyway, as they will likely be over your limit for exempt goods.

There are so many downsides - unless you are totally familiar with prices, where to get deals, and the exact equipment, then the potential pitfalls way out weigh any possible benefits.

 

[Flying Fox]

If you are traveling in a group, you can pool your Australian duty free allowance which will allow you to avoid Australian GST.

From memory its $900/adult and $450/child.

 

[Isochronous]

The Apple Store in HK is cheaper than Apple Store in Australia ATM

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The Apple Store in HK is cheaper than Apple Store in Australia ATM

It is! And I had a new ipad in my hand a couple of months ago and had just given over my card when the Apple agent said 'oh, by the way, there is no warranty outside of Hong Kong for anything with cellular'. I had to give it back

Apparently you could send the ipad back to Hong Kong to get fixed free of charge. But you'd have to cover the cost of shipping.

 

[SeatBackForward]

If you bring it in it original boxes, unopened, there may be chance you'll be asked to pay duty on it.

If you bring it opened and as if it's your device that you took out with you, why would they charge duty on it? Customs isn't going to know the difference between and Australian bought iPad and an international one if it's unsealed and not in its original packaging.

 

[opusman]

iPad 32 GB on Apple HK store is $2588 HKD or $434 AUD. On the Apple AU store it's $469. So the difference seems to be less than 10% - you may as well just buy it in Austraila and get the GST back at the airport.