Hi there!

I've been looking into replacing my old ipod nano with an ipod classic. 8gb isn't enough, and I like the idea of the 160gb storage on the classic.

I know that there are issues with European models having a cap on the maximum volume so I've been thinking of buying one from Amazon USA.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm talking from a legal point of view. Is it perfectly legal for me to import an American version without the volume cap?
And also, if there turns out to be any kind of problem with it, can I have it repaired in the UK, or does it have to be sent back to America? If it is repaired in the UK will it be reset with the volume limit?

Any advice is appreciated,
Many thanks.

As far as I know, you may return to Britain carrying good for up to US$200 as personal gifts, without declaration. I believe a great number of people regularly carry a great deal more, but obviously, I can't recommend it and wouldn't know anything about it.

In terms usage, there is no problem as far as I am aware, except the usual issue with mains adapters and chargers. Best to use USB for charging, or to buy a travel kit that allows to charge from the UK mains. You can also buy inexpensive step-down transformers, taking 240V from a UK wall socket, and offering a 110V US wall socket.

With regards to warranty and repair, I wouldn't expect too much. Best not to have a broken unit.

Out of curiosity why do you want one that can go louder? I know my iPod goes way louder than I would ever want it.

Because volume limited iPods are impossible - yes impossible - to listen to on a bus or when moving the lawn etc.

With regards to servicing, all iPods have a worldwide warranty. You can take them into any Apple store in the UK and get service.

I imported my previous but one iPod from the US

I listen to podcasts on my restricted nano in a transit van and at motorway speed its not loud enough, I ended up buying in some CX300 in-ear earphones.

My Iphone 3GS on the otherhand is not limited and is plenty loud enough.

I don't think I'd want to help you with that.

Ambient sounds don't change the fact that you're turning the volume up to a dangerous level.

Sorry for the ignorance but would some sort of noise cancelling head phones help?

Yep, you seriously need some noise isolating headphones so you can listen at a reasonable level, trying to drown out the sound of a lawnmower isn't the way to do it.

Buying online from Amazon may subject you to import duty because anything over £18 is subject to this. Amazon are pretty official so I doubt they'll label it as a gift for you. If you got someone in the USA to buy it for you and send it to you, declaring it as a gift, then it'll be exempt from import duty. Customs do, and can, open packages to check the content.

iPods can charge up via USB cable which is universal so there's no need for a power converter/adaptor.

As for the volume limit, have you actually changed it yourself? The default limit is quite low, I agree, but you can set it higher in Settings > Volume limit.

Thank you all for the replies/advice.

The main reason I was asking is because volume-wise my (3 - 4 year old)Nano is ok, but I've heard that Apple have limited the volume even further on the more recent models.
I do have an iphone 3gs and the volume is quite a bit louder than the Nano, but I do like the idea of 160gb of storage.

I wasn't aware of the import duty thing (thanks Carmen).

I think after reading your replies, and thinking about it a little more I'll try out a UK model first, and see if I can cope with it.

Your help is much appreciated!
Many thanks.

The volume is restricted but it's easy to unrestricted it. If I turn mine up the max I can't cope with how loud it is and that's using the supplied headphones from Apple, too.

Although it'll be cheaper to get from the USA it'll take longer and once import duty is applied you'll have saved only a few £s.

Incidentally, if you have an iPhone why are you wanting to buy an iPod? After all, an iPhone is just an iPod with a phone attached to it Try following this and you'll be able to take the limit off the volume.

Thought I read on government having item sent as gift only allows the cost of item to be £36 before taxes etc paid instead of the usual £18.

I do know it is up to the person importing the item to ensure the person sending correctly declares, otherwise importer (in this case the OP) is liable to prosecution.

I don't think Amazon will ship it as a "Gift" though. On the import form you need to tick what the purpose is. Then again, I am sure Play (or maybe CDWow) used to tick "Gift" so perhaps they can do.

Amazon are pretty big so I'm sure they'd declare it correctly and with the correct value, too. Either way, if it's £36 for a gift an iPod is more than that so they'd still be duty to pay.

The reason import duty is there is to stop people buying everything from other countries for cheap. That means the money doesn't go back into the UK's economy but the product arrives here. I'd definitely import most of my stuff if there was no issues with customs and duty!

Please tell because as far as I knew the current range of Nano's could be unrestricted and havent been for a couple of years now.

Just do a search for "Gopod" and see if your iPod is supported. This program lets you remove (or add) the volume limit.

This doesnt work with Ipods and Nano's built within the last few years

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-classic-...0241207&sr=8-1

Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.

Its the same with pretty much every electronic device on Amazon USA(Amazon.com). They don't ship electronic goods, simply because most of the warranties aren't valid outside of the territory.

So it was a no goer from the very start, even if you wanted to buy one from amazon.com, you couldn't.

Settings > Playback > Volume limit

I've had my iPod for less than 6 months (bought it from John Lewis) and it lets me do it with no problem.

Thank you everyone for the advice. I went out yesterday and bought a UK model and the volume is ok for me. It's not as loud as my iphone but I have some Sony in-ear headphones that help.

Carmen - the reason I wanted the ipod classic is because of the amount of storage. My nano only has 8gb, and my iphone has 16gb, but I wanted something that I could fit my whole music collection onto. I'm having lots of fun filling it up!

Ah, makes sense.

Did you manage to change the maximum volume level by the way? I'm not sure where it is on an iPo classic, but I assume it'll be in a similar place (Settings > Volume, for example).

Hi Carmen, yes I checked as soon as I got it and it was already at maximum level. I haven't travelled around with it yet, but I think it will be ok. Thanks again.

This DOES NOT remove the EU volume limit, this is an extra limit you can put on it yourself and pin protect it, useful if you have kids.

Throwing the apple head phones in the bin and buying some better ones is always a good idea.

It is a feature of apple ear phones in that the wearer can't hear what they're listening too properly but the rest of the bus can...

The import limit is in euro's IIRC €115 about £100. Go over that (including postage costs) and you will be hit for import duty and then VAT on top of that so your £120 ends up costing £150+ instead

Dangerous according to "EU limits".

Although I don't listen to music loud, I don't like a body deciding things for me in that respect.