|
||||||||
Importing an ipod from America (re: volume limit) |
![]() |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 265
|
Importing an ipod from America (re: volume limit)
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. |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: London, U.K.
Posts: 1,560
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Scotland
Posts: 15,714
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 735
|
Quote:
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.
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,096
|
Quote:
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.
My Iphone 3GS on the otherhand is not limited and is plenty loud enough. |
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Bristol (BBC1 West)
Posts: 15,143
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Yr Hendy
Posts: 3,098
|
Sorry for the ignorance but would some sort of noise cancelling head phones help?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,467
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 265
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 464
|
Quote:
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. 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. |
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
|
Quote:
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. 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! |
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,096
|
Quote:
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 25
|
Just do a search for "Gopod" and see if your iPod is supported. This program lets you remove (or add) the volume limit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,096
|
Quote:
Just do a search for "Gopod" and see if your iPod is supported. This program lets you remove (or add) the volume limit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,228
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
#18 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
|
Quote:
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.
I've had my iPod for less than 6 months (bought it from John Lewis) and it lets me do it with no problem. |
|
|
|
|
|
#19 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 265
|
Quote:
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.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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#20 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
|
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). |
|
|
|
|
|
#21 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 265
|
Quote:
Did you manage to change the maximum volume level by the way?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#22 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,096
|
Quote:
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
#23 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,609
|
Quote:
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 ![]() 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...
|
|
|
|
|
|
#24 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: South Wales/Gran Canaria
Posts: 8,297
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
#25 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: I live in the woods
Posts: 5,061
|
Quote:
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. Although I don't listen to music loud, I don't like a body deciding things for me in that respect. |
|
|
|
![]() |
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 16:33.




Try following