How to buy a customized thinkpad in US legally & export

[zgibek]

Dear guys,
My problem is that in Poland (as in rest of Europe I think) there is NO posibilitty to buy a new T61 with integrated video card, SXGA+ and some other stuff.
I have contacted the Lenovo Poland (through both international and local site) and they cannot tell me anything more that maybe in the next two months they will know more. But anyway, there is NO posibility to customize the order. Most of the options are impossible to order, unfortunatelly

So, I found that I can buy directly via web excactly what I want (a customized 8889 model). The problem are:
1. They sell ONLY to the address stated on the credit card
2. They sell only inside the US
3. I cannot pay my credit card, because it is not issued in US

So, the only way (if I am wrong please correct me) is to have a person, who lives in US, which will buy a notebook and then sent it to me.

But, as far as I want to buy it in a legal way I need the invoice issued to a poland company. Then I will can pay tax and put it in my tax registry.
The possiblity are:
1. Lenovo will sent it inside the US, but the invoice is issued on other (poland) company (I don't think it's possible )
2. Some guy will sell it to me (well, export it outside US) - is it legal?

Has anyone tried to buy a notebook this way? Or maybe there are better ways to get the most advanced thinkpad in Europe?
I have found a lot of post how to bring a computer to Europe, but only not in a legal way. I want to use it in a company, it have to be my work tool, so I want to buy and register it in tax book.

Hope somebody will help me.

[Esben]

When I bought my T42, I wire transferred some money to the family of one of my friends, who were going to the US of A. The family bought it online from NewEgg, following a guide I wrote, and the visitors brought it back to Denmark, free of charge.

I think it will be quite difficult for you to get it exported from a company/person in the US. With the extra tax, duty, profit from company/person, it will be more expensive to buy it to your business, than as a private individual, on a vacation in the US.

[zgibek]

When I bought my T42, I wire transferred some money to the family of one of my friends, who were going to the US of A. The family bought it online from NewEgg, following a guide I wrote, and the visitors brought it back to Denmark, free of charge.

I think it will be quite difficult for you to get it exported from a company/person in the US. With the extra tax, duty, profit from company/person, it will be more expensive to buy it to your business, than as a private individual, on a vacation in the US.

Thanks Ebsen,
but the problem is I don't want just to made "private import". I am a sofware developer on my own business and I want to buy it (well, import it), pay the extra customer tax (which is 0 for notebooks) and additional 22% VAT.
The reason is I can register this tax as well as the whole costs as a normal purchase and subtract it in my accounting books.

I know that most of the people just brings the computers in their luggage because they don't want to pay an extra 22% of VAT. But this is because they (as a private persons) cannot subtract the tax from the whole. I can do that just because I want to buy it as a company, not as a private person.

best regards, zbyszek

[Terrahawk]

Can your business not reimburse you personally for business expenses paid for out of your own pocket?

[zgibek]

Can your business not reimburse you personally for business expenses paid for out of your own pocket?

The business is my business, so I can get money from the left pocket and put it back into the right one
But, even if it's not - the business also should have an invoice to confirm the purchase, pay the tax on the border (at customer office) and then properly register it in Poland.
--
best regards, zbyszek

[RealBlackStuff]

Try Lenovo in Germany or other (older EU-)countries nearby. Maybe you can order there, drive over, import it and pay taxes at the Polish border on your way back.

[Terrahawk]

Try Lenovo in Germany or other (older EU-)countries nearby. Maybe you can order there, drive over, import it and pay taxes at the Polish border on your way back.

This is the sort of thing I was thinking - you pay for it yourself, get the invoice, the business reimburses you and keeps the invoice as proof. Along with paying the appropriate taxes, of course.

[zgibek]

Try Lenovo in Germany or other (older EU-)countries nearby. Maybe you can order there, drive over, import it and pay taxes at the Polish border on your way back.

If you are talking about choosing it from the web store, it's impossible - for now. I tried it with Germany, as well as in UK. (Anyway, the guy from Lenovo Poland said that whole Europe should have the same offer)
The plus is that they add new models, with 4:3 1400x1050, but with NVidia.
I need laptop for software developing, not waching movies or playing games.
The performance, light weight, and battery time is important for me, so I prefer the integrated graphics. The customization on US web site is also nice...

The true is that I prefer to buy it in Europe, preferably in Poland, but... there is no posibility. But... as I can see the new models, maybe very soon there will be those ones with integrated graphics? Maybe somebody knows what are the Lenovo plans for European market? The guy in Poland didn't know that
--
best regards, zbyszek

[zgibek]

This is the sort of thing I was thinking - you pay for it yourself, get the invoice, the business reimburses you and keeps the invoice as proof. Along with paying the appropriate taxes, of course.

It should be ok if I can get the invoice for the polish company. That implies I couldn't buy it from Lenovo web site. Maybe I am wrong, but I tried to fill the form on checkout but the billing information can be filled only by US companies.
I wrote to the lenovo web shop master (websales@ca.lenovo.com) and asked, but with no answer yet (too early).
Taking an personal invoice isn't enough for me, because I should then sell it to the company. The company cannot register documents issued not for the company .

Anyway, thanks for the answer, I will talk to my accounting if something like you are talking about is possible.

[Fusion]

The only way I can imagine is the T61 going through a reseller. That's the only person that can invoice exactly to your name or company and VAT number, so that you can subtract it from your business expenses.

I do import to the Czech Republic and if I were to import a notebook, I would have to pay customs (http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds/pl/tarhome.htm), which is about 10% for electronics from the US, plus 19% sales tax - that I pay if I have it sent to me for my own use, or I don't pay it if its for my company.

Your biggest problem is probably the price, because (atleast in the Czech Rep.) invoices MUST be issued to the company name and VAT id number only if the price is higher than 10,000CZK (cca 330€).

[Fusion]

Btw: some companies do ban export from the US. I heard that Apple has this policy on some products, I hope IBM doesn't.
I have a very tough opinion on lots of Apple's policies, but this export ban totally goes against international free trade agreements etc.

[Puppy]

The same problem if you want English (US) configuration - preloaded OS. I absolutely can't stand localized software. Unfortunately Lenovo does not provide an option to select English or "localized" version at first boot (HP does, Acer does ...).

Few years ago I was told by IBM Czech that the only possibility would be to order more boxes (approximately at least 100) to deliver different configuration than those offered locally. That's called globalization

[zgibek]

The same problem if you want English (US) configuration - preloaded OS. I absolutely can't stand localized software. Unfortunately Lenovo does not provide an option to select English or "localized" version at first boot (HP does, Acer does ...).

That's not a problem for me. I am using linux day by day, so the MS Windows OS i am using only through vmware, and I don't need the polish version. The true is that I prefrer the english one
--
best regards, zgibek

[zgibek]

Btw: some companies do ban export from the US. I heard that Apple has this policy on some products, I hope IBM doesn't.

I hope Lenovo does NOT. But, as I wrote earlier, I cannot see the posibility to enter another address then inside the US only. Let's see if (if ever) websales of Lenovo will answer my letter.
--
best regards, zgibek

[ryengineer]

snip........But, as I wrote earlier, I cannot see the posibility to enter another address then inside the US only...... snip.......

That is because Lenovo US does not ship internationally.

[zgibek]

The only way I can imagine is the T61 going through a reseller.

I prefer that way, and I tried to do that for the first two weeks...

That's the only person that can invoice exactly to your name or company and VAT number, so that you can subtract it from your business expenses.

If my company is registrated in US there is no problem at all (when you buy via web page there is a place to enter the billing information). The problem is I want the invoice to be issued to company outside US.

I do import to the Czech Republic and if I were to import a notebook, I would have to pay customs (http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds/pl/tarhome.htm), which is about 10% for electronics from the US, plus 19% sales tax - that I pay if I have it sent to me for my own use, or I don't pay it if its for my company.

Where have you found the 10%? I cannot find it, and from my google investigation the custom tax for laptops is = 0%...

Your biggest problem is probably the price, because (atleast in the Czech Rep.) invoices MUST be issued to the company name and VAT id number only if the price is higher than 10,000CZK (cca 330€).

Well, the new ThinkPad costs much more then 330 euro...
I need the invoice just because I want to register it in my accounting books. And I prefer to live the legal way
--
best regards, zgibek

[zgibek]

That is because Lenovo US does not ship internationally.

That's the biggest problem, I think
I will try to discover some method to get it...
zgibek

[Johan]

@ zgibek:

There are in fact quite a few ThinkPad resellers in the USA who ship international (and who accept international credit cards such as Mastercard), e.g. Euclid Computers. You may ask forum.thinkpads.com user Deo.G (who is in The Netherland) what his experience in trading with them is - he very recently bought a T60p there. Also, search this forum for "Euclid" and see what comes up!

Alternatively, try contact forum.thinkpads.com user scosgt1 (see e.g. here) who sells quite a few ThinkPads via Marketplace.

Watch out for whether the T61 you buy in the USA is covered by international warranty (check if it is eligble for IWS - here). It may most likely be cheaper to extend the default three-year warranty to a five-year at the time of purchase, and doing this in the USA... much cheaper than if extending the warranty in Europe. Check the post of Wed Jul 04, 2007 here.

UPDATE: I just ran across this thread: T61 with IWS on the T6x forum - be sure to check it out carefully!

Good luck with your purchase!

Best regards,

Johan

[zgibek]

There are in fact quite a few ThinkPad resellers in the USA who ship international (and who accept international credit cards such as Mastercard), e.g. Euclid Computers. (...)

Thanks Johan, I will try these options.

Watch out for whether the T61 you buy in the USA is covered by international warranty(...)
I just ran across this thread: T61 with IWS on the T6x forum - be sure to check it out carefully! (...)

Thanks Johan for this point. I have checked it earlier and the model I like (based on 8889) states it HAS IWS. Even in the thread you gave (thanks!) people says that the customized models has no IWS, but... some of the last posts states that a user bought this model (8889CTO) and it came with IWS.
Thanks again and best regards,
zgibek

[JaneL]

Alternatively, try contact forum.thinkpads.com user scosgt1 (see e.g. here) who sells quite a few ThinkPads via Marketplace.

That would be a waste of time. Bruce won't ship outside the US. Even the ad you linked to above clearly says:

US sales only. PayPal purchases shipped to confirmed US address only, no exceptions.

[Johan]

That would be a waste of time. Bruce won't ship outside the US. Even the ad you linked to above clearly says:

US sales only. PayPal purchases shipped to confirmed US address only, no exceptions.

Oops, silly me - I admit that I had overlooked this; thanks for pointing it out. I better desist from raising the question of why he completely refuses to consider doing business with the huge amount of nice, rich and easy overseas customers (some explanation about this is found in a Marketplace thread).

Thanks, Nonny - and sorry again... I'll have to be more careful for the future, trying to avoid giving such useless hints! How embarrassing...

Johan

[Melvyn]

Dude, I'm sure your case is not the mine, but solution may be more or less the same.

I live at Dominican Republic. We can buy everything here, but a laptop like a T61 cost over US$3,000 here, more then double the price.

Well, there're companies here that open you a P. O. Box as well as a physical addres at Miami, they call them self "courier". I (as customer) give my Miami Address and they receive my packages and mail there. Then import here and I can pay them here. Also, I can pay with credit card or paypal and they only request the transportation and importation tax fee.

I'm pretty sure that Poland must have companies doing that, because my courier can receive packages for me in Poland. I mean: I have physical addres in USA, UK, Germany, Spain, Japan, Poland, and more, for a single rate of US$10 per month.

I can give my Poland address and any letter or package mailed to Poland and will be received by this company and it's received here.

So, you can research about that.

Good luck.

[zgibek]

(...)
Well, there're companies here that open you a P. O. Box as well as a physical addres at Miami, they call them self "courier". I (as customer) give my Miami Address and they receive my packages and mail there. Then import here and I can pay them here. Also, I can pay with credit card or paypal and they only request the transportation and importation tax fee.
(...)

Thanks Melvyn,
That's something like "virtual address" as I can see
Very nice, but there are some problems (if you want to buy from Lenovo):
1. they don't sent to P.O. Box (got from the Lenovo webshop site)
2. I cannot pay Lenovo via credit card, because the address on the card is in Poland, not in the USA. Lenovo webshop says that they will send package only if the post address is the same as on the credit card (because of frauds).
3. How about the invoice? Will this magic company buy it, get the invoice, and then sell it (well, export it) to me with new invoice?

Anyway, maybe not with shopping in Lenovo, but this is interesting answer. I have to look about something like this. (Well, I know there is similar company in Poland and USA, named "POLAMER", so I will check them first).
thanks and best regards,
zgibek

[Melvyn]

Some countries uses "local credit cards", that is: credit card only for that country. If your credit card is accepted out of your country, you can go to your bank and set another address, as many as you want.

I'm concerned about P. O. Box and this is not an issue. My P. O. Box is only used to documents, not sign required. A physical address with a people which sign the receipt is provided.

Also, you can request to your bank a debit card. At my country I only need US$1.50 to get a plastic in the bank. That the cost for issuing the card. (I must have at least a saving account, which need US$20 to open). Then I can deposit money there and use it like a credit card and set which address I like. It have the Visa logo. Almost all banks here have some similar way.

The invoice is another matter. With theese companies, I can there and watch the printed catalogs of PC Mall, J&R, Circuit City, and so. Then I select a product, sign a form and wait. They bring me the product and I pay the product plus tax and shipping cost. I can, also (and this is what I do) shop from whatever with my credit card and receive them, paying the shipping cost from Miami to here.

Anyways, you can research if the bank receipt can be used as invoice.

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

Did you already tried Euclid Computers? scosgt1 isn't in his one when it's about being from the Netherlands and buying at Euclid. I know more people on this forum did, included me.

[zgibek]

That is because Lenovo US does not ship internationally.

The new thing comes to my mind right now. Is the Lenovo webshop the only place I can order customized laptop? Maybe the solution is to have a friend that will go to local reseller, buy the laptop (customized, of course) and got the invoice for me. Then - sent it with the invoice for customs.

The state I am mostly interested in is Texas. Does somebody know if any reseller can (and want to) do that?

[zgibek]

Did you already tried Euclid Computers? scosgt1 isn't in his one when it's about being from the Netherlands and buying at Euclid. I know more people on this forum did, included me.

Yes, I have tried already.
Euclid answered that they sell only preconfigured computers.
They also have not necessary the newest models, so they have nothing interested for me nowadays.

Anyway, just for sure, I've asked them if there is no possibility to order one customized thinkPad, even if I have to pay right now... Waiting for answer.

[ryengineer]

snip.....The new thing comes to my mind right now. Is the Lenovo webshop the only place I can order customized laptop? Maybe the solution is to have a friend that will go to local reseller..........snip

CTO models can only be ordered directly from lenovo.

[zgibek]

CTO models can only be ordered directly from lenovo.

Well, and if some reseller or other company order the CTO model?
The idea was that some company can and want to order model directly for customer.
Of course, if it is not forbiden by law or agreement between Lenovo and reseller...
--
best regards, zgibek

[ryengineer]

Well, and if some reseller or other company order the CTO model?The idea was that some company can and want to order model dirctly for customer............snip

The thing is, lenovo business partners have to order systems in bulk and the models they would carry will mostly be easily available all-in-one top sellers configuration which nearly-almost fulfills most user's needs. For another reason they don't sell CTO models is because of it's variable specifications which might please some but would not other customers.

I am not sure whether or not these resellers can specially order CTO model and ship it to an oversea customer.