Importing Vista from the US

[mimseridge]

Vista is far cheaper in the US than in Britain. Is there anything to stop me from importing it from the States? Seeing as most settings can be configured to your region ie DVD surely its possible?
Also are there any legal issues with importing?

[EzyStvy]

Finding a Company that will Export it might not be easy or everyone would be doing it.

The EULA.txt for XP found in the Windows folder:

7. EXPORT RESTRICTIONS. You acknowledge that the SOFTWARE is subject to U.S. export jurisdiction. You agree to comply with all applicable international and national laws that apply to the products, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, as well as end -user, end-use and destination restrictions issued by U .S. and other governments. For additional information, see http://www.microsoft.com/exporting/.

All you have to do is figure out what that means

[mairving]

I think that mostly has to do with the fact that you can't export to certain companies. I think that you would have 2 problems with importing Vista. One which has been mentioned is finding someone to import from. Two is after you paid duties and taxes it would probably cost the same or more that the UK version (don't think MS hasn't thought of that). I suppose that the UK version is more because they built in the cost of lawsuits into the new version which are much greater in EU than in the US.

[rjfvillarosa]

No company is going to send it to you by post it will have to go by carrier to be exported. When I imported a specialist ISA adaptor from California to the UK, UPS wouldn't deliver the package untill I had paid the import duty and the VAT.

[mimseridge]

I have a friend who could purchase it in the US for me and post it here. I don't think British customs open every private parcel and there is a chance it could be delivered without an duties being levied (if customs don't open it). Though I am not 100% sure on this. The only surcharge would thus be postage. Maybe I should just wait until a price drop.

[glc]

Private parcels still have to have a customs form on them, contents must be declared. I can't mail anything overseas without a customs form.

[bd1886]

Has the UK joined the EU fully yet?

[rjfvillarosa]

Unfortunately the United Kingdom has been a fully paid up member of the European Union since 1973.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?...=1139991776535

[Stuey]

I checking Amazon since they usually state whether or not an item is limited from shipping outside the US. Unfortunately, it said limited to US only. Sorry.

Shipping from Amazon UK to the US is a rather simple process - I'd assume that the reverse would be true too.

I don't think you would have any issues with a US copy. What you could do is email MS and ask if an American studying abroad in England would have a different experience with the UK version vs. the US version. That way you could find out whether or not there are any issues with using a license meant for an American machine.

[mairving]

Originally Posted by Stuey What you could do is email MS and ask if an American studying abroad in England would have a different experience with the UK version vs. the US version. That way you could find out whether or not there are any issues with using a license meant for an American machine.

I don't think that it is a good idea to recommend someone lie. Why not just email them and ask them if there is a difference between versions? You can also ask them why the UK version is more costly.

[Stuey]

I don't think it's good to lie either. It's like me going into a hotel and asking whether a Nobel Prize winner gets a special rate. I only think he should suggest something along those lines so that whomever looks at the FAQ to offer an answer will search for something more appropriate to this. I dunno. But I definitely don't advocate lying - I tried to word my previous post carefully to reflect that. But I suppose I did kind of suggest subtle deception. Oh well.

[terryleaman]

I Think you will get hit by import duty and VAT! Its all done via Mount Pleasant sorting office in London where there are permanent Customs officers on duty.
I am a co-ordinator for census transcription projects and send copy CDs legally all round the world on loan, and they've tried to charge me duty & vat on CDs being returned to me. I basically told them to throw the disc away- what they wanted was ridiculous, they wanted over £8.00 sterling in duty, it costs about 50p to make.

[bd1886]

Originally Posted by bd1886 Has the UK joined the EU fully yet?

Guess the two issues are years and a channel apart! Thanks!

[dantis]

Originally Posted by mimseridge Vista is far cheaper in the US than in Britain. Is there anything to stop me from importing it from the States? Seeing as most settings can be configured to your region ie DVD surely its possible? Also are there any legal issues with importing?

If you go to www.ebuyer.com you can buy Windows Vista Premium for £67.66 inc. VAT, surely it is not worth trying to import? This is the OEM version which is identical to Retail without the packaging, you no longer need to buy any additional hardware.

[ConLog]

I don't see the point in getting Vista from North America. I just ordered Vista Home Premium for £62 which is hardly an extortionate amount.