You're allowed to import an X amount of EUR from a non-EU country. I think X amount differs per country. In NL it is 430 EUR. FWIW, Nokia N900 is worth more than 430 EUR.

In NL, for receiving packages outside of EU anything under 22 EUR is free to go, anything between 22 EUR and 150 EUR is VAT (+ clearance fee), anything over 150 EUR is VAT and customs tax (+ clearance fee). For other EU countries it most certainly differs, but expect similar constructions. It adds up rather quickly.

Your friend will receive item and either pays duties or not depending on State where he receives package. In your case you take it with you, and if you pay in cash that seems reasonably secure. Except somewhere some 500 USD were spend by you in cash.

If you weren't physically visiting he'd sent it to perhaps as 'gift' (which it actually isn't), and sends it insured or not. Without is risk. Either way, additional costs.

However, in both of these cases the product is sealed and new, and when it was bought by whom can be easily traced. It is bought in USA, and in one way or another you paid for it hence it was not a gift.

You're probably low profile but realize what you are doing in this case is commiting fraud, and publicly admitting a crime isn't the most wise move.

You also still have the problem of warranty, and the WLAN chip does not allow Ch 12 & 13.

So there's the added hassle factor involved in importing (to Ireland).

Might have to just go for the UK version so.

In some countries the value limit of an item you bring yourself (having been out of the country more than 24 hours) is considerably higher than the price of the N900 though.

The thing with the EU is... the customs agents can stop you on the street and demand proof of payed duty.

Also someone mentionde 19% duty.. that's only VAT... Duty is completly separate from that.

So yes to import into EU it is: price+shipping+duty+VAT

If you can get an exemption for duty for a to low price then great.

I'll just buy it at the local nokia store.

Very helpful all - looks like it is in fact better to order from your locality!

This negates the 'compatibilty with European networks' factor too.

(As an aside, would the wifi channel difference really mean a whole lot , aren't most wifi channels around 6 or 7? )

Well, the VAT is usualy way more than the duty. The duty I've paid for electronic imported from the US must be very low indeed, because I didn't notice it on the customs papers. VAT though.. that's a pain.

As for customs officers stopping you on the streets.. nah. I don't buy into that. I know that if you cross the border with a car it's legal for a customs officer to stop you down the road a bit, but they can't just ask for "papers please!" in the street.

i guess i was in the wrong here.
thought the amazon prices are including tax, like in germany.

that's still over 20% of the whole price.
for me that is still a big difference.

thanks for the link. so it's not as bad as it seemed to me.
guess i was in a bad mood, too.

Online retailers rarely include tax in the USA unless their warehouse or place of business is located there. E.g. Newegg has warehouses in CA and PA so they charge sales tax for any packages shipped to people inside those states. But they don't charge sales tax to say MD. This is becaause there are way to many variations in sales tax across states so until the Federal government steps in or states really push like NY did. Though even in the state example what online retailers just do is not charge sales tax and tell whoever is buying it in that state to buy the sales tax. Which rarely the buyer will ever do.

do i get this right? if you buy something from an onlineshop in the us, it tells you to pay the tax but it won't be checked by the state you're living in? (i'm still learning english, so there are missunderstandings once in a while)

Yes, you understand correctly (so long as the company you buy from does not have a "presence" -- like a warehouse or office -- in your state).