Buying iPhone 15 at Sydney airport Duty Free

[SYD]

Nah

iPhone 15 pro 250GB at Apple store = $2049
less GST = $1862

Cheaper than duty free by $88
And I can get a rebate by trading in the old iPhone at the Apple store. An iPhone X trade in is worth $190, iPhone 11 Pro worth $380

AirPods, AirTags, Pencil and iPad can get free engraving with free online delivery as well

Not to mention paying with discounted Apple vouchers (eg NRMA) and the occasional AMEX $100 cash back.

 

[Quickstatus]

Not to mention paying with discounted Apple vouchers

Last week, I did NRMA gift vouchers, traded in an older iPhone, free engraving for replacement AirPods, GST via ABN, free delivery but did not get the Amex special . Did not need to go instore....

 

[SYD]

Last week, I did NRMA gift vouchers, traded in an older iPhone, free engraving for replacement AirPods, GST via ABN, free delivery but did not get the Amex special .

As mentioned up thread, SYD+1 did similar earlier this year NRMA, my cashback, tradin and TRS. I’m waiting for Boxing Day and maybe some sort of discount (or fingers crossed another AMEX offer) and then either TRS or BAS refund (spoilt for choice).

 

[Quickstatus]

The NRMA 4% + GST 10% plus my iPhone X trade in gave me a discount of $458 on the iPhone 15 Pro.
The AirPods - discount was $52 plus free engraving

Total discount was $510 plus free engraving on a retail price of $2448 (21% discount + whatever free engraving is worth to me)
Compared with duty free price of $2313 (5% discount off retail)

Duty free Apple and likely other merchandise is really for the impulsive buyer or someone who needs something at the last minute.

 

[p--and--t]

A month ago I bought my new iPhone 15 Pro at Apple store. Invoiced full price.

Traded in my previous phone next day and received a separate “unrelated” credit.

Set up my phone and had it all travel fit before I left

Claimed new “full value” phone on the way out through TRS. Was told to make sure I declared on way back.

Came back travelling with another adult, no questions whatsoever from BF.

As I see it, the phone is second hand after a month and if I tried to sell my phone second hand I would be lucky to get circa $1,800 for it.

 

[vorthos]

Just leaving the prices at Sydney Airport here just in case anyone may want to know the Apple prices at the airport for their future travels...

Thank you also for everyone's prior responses

what's the store name?

 

[jpp42]

what's the store name?

At Sydney Airport it would be Heinemann Duty Free, they operate every duty-free storefront.

 

[SYD]

At Sydney Airport it would be Heinemann Duty Free, they operate every duty-free storefront.

There are other non-Heinemann DF shops, but yes I believe the Apple section (just near the escalators up to the QF lounges) is part of the larger Heinemann maze.

The speciality shops are seperate.

Sydney Airport | Retail - Shop

www.sydneyairport.com.au

 

[encryptededdy]

I usually travel solo and have often TRSed various electronics ranging from $1000~3000. I always declare it on the way back if it's over $900, and they always waive me through anyway since the amount to pay back is too low for them to bother with.

 

[SYD]

I usually travel solo and have often TRSed various electronics ranging from $1000~3000. I always declare it on the way back if it's over $900, and they always waive me through anyway since the amount to pay back is too low for them to bother with.

Handy to know. That used to be the rule with booze but then they cracked down on it…and started charging duty on the total . But I guess booze is usually unopened which is different to used electronics.

I would imagine they’d make the effort if a new phone was still in shrink wrap?

 

[encryptededdy]

Handy to know. That used to be the rule with booze but then they cracked down on it…and started charging duty on the total . But I guess booze is usually unopened which is different to used electronics.

I would imagine they’d make the effort if a new phone was still in shrink wrap?

Not sure to be honest, I've never had to show them the item. The interaction usually goes like this

Them: What are you declaring?
Me: A camera that I bought duty free when leaving Australia
Them: What's the value of it?
Me: It was $2600
Them: OK that's fine, just go down Lane X (whatever the lane is to just exit)

In one instance they got a supervisor since they didn't know what to do, and their supervisor just waived me through.

Multiple times I've seen people lined up at the duty collection counter whilst being waived through, so I don't know what triggers them to actually collect the duty. I do know sometimes people claim very expensive jewellery / watches etc. at the TRS counter, so maybe it's for that.

I suppose even if I paid duty, I'd still save ~$81 in GST since the first $900 should still be duty-free.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Not sure to be honest, I've never had to show them the item. The interaction usually goes like this

Them: What are you declaring?
Me: A camera that I bought duty free when leaving Australia
Them: What's the value of it?
Me: It was $2600
Them: OK that's fine, just go down Lane X (whatever the lane is to just exit)

In one instance they got a supervisor since they didn't know what to do, and their supervisor just waived me through.

Multiple times I've seen people lined up at the duty collection counter whilst being waived through, so I don't know what triggers them to actually collect the duty. I do know sometimes people claim very expensive jewellery / watches etc. at the TRS counter, so maybe it's for that.

I suppose even if I paid duty, I'd still save ~$81 in GST since the first $900 should still be duty-free.

Sometimes too, they don't say that the lane they point down to, is the green lane, which is "nothing to declare", or the lane where the guy or girl just scan reads your IPC, and takes off the new fangled flimsy mug shot receipt off you.
They just point that way, down the metal and fabric rope lead, and they don't say anything, gruff as some of them are, ...
Left, right, left, right, turn here, turn down that corner, and then, find out where the point you or me to, in this case, is the "green" lane.
I don't buy duty free, and try not to interact with the poor sales girls trying to earn a commission, but still, I have no need for the drinks/knick knacks/other items, but always go down the way with tripidation.
Most of the time, coming out of the int security processing zone at MEL, am pleasantly surprised!
Green lane, whoopee.

 

[SYD]

The NRMA 4% + GST 10% plus my iPhone X trade in gave me a discount of $458 on the iPhone 15 Pro.
The AirPods - discount was $52 plus free engraving

Total discount was $510 plus free engraving on a retail price of $2448 (21% discount + whatever free engraving is worth to me)
Compared with duty free price of $2313 (5% discount off retail)

Duty free Apple and likely other merchandise is really for the impulsive buyer or someone who needs something at the last minute.

Slightly OT, but a PSA for anyone using Apple vouchers and a trade in to buy a new phone. Technically, if the trade in value is more than any cash difference paid, they’re supposed refund pro-rata cash and new voucher.

I just bought a new iPhone and case with $1,500 of vouchers (4% discount) and received a $405 trade in. The cash difference was much less than the trade in value but when I went back today their system was misbehaving so they processed the full amount back to my CC (phew!).

 

[Quickstatus]

they’re supposed refund pro-rata cash and new voucher.

No they don't give a new voucher. The voucher is exchanged for equivalent amount in Apple account which can then be spent on Apple products with no expiry date. And refund or trade in value in a transaction Spain for by Apple accountiney goes back into Apple account

 

[SYD]

No they don't give a new voucher. The voucher is exchanged for equivalent amount in Apple account which can then be spent on Apple products with no expiry date. And refund or trade in value in a transaction Spain for by Apple accountiney goes back into Apple account

Useful to know but basically the equivalent of an Apple voucher except it’s already in your Apple account. So I guess you can buy a shed load of apps and songs or another iPhone in due course.

Quite happy that mine has gone back to my CC.

 

[Quickstatus]

t of an Apple voucher except it’s already in your Apple account

It's money in an account - a lot safer than a voucher with no expiry date. Buy accessories. Easy to use up

Compared with a Woolies gift card where the money stays in the gift card. Lost the barcode and it's gone forever

 

[SYD]

It's money in an account - a lot safer than a voucher with no expiry date. Buy accessories. Easy to use up

Compared with a Woolies gift card where the money stays in the gift card. Lost the barcode and it's gone forever

Yes, I don’t disagree in principle but cash back on your CC that you bought Apple gift vouchers is better.

 

[vvn_ngn]

The NRMA 4% + GST 10% plus my iPhone X trade in gave me a discount of $458 on the iPhone 15 Pro.
The AirPods - discount was $52 plus free engraving

Total discount was $510 plus free engraving on a retail price of $2448 (21% discount + whatever free engraving is worth to me)
Compared with duty free price of $2313 (5% discount off retail)

Duty free Apple and likely other merchandise is really for the impulsive buyer or someone who needs something at the last minute.

Hi Quickstatus,
Just wondering how long did it take for u to receive Apple gift card via NRMA member benefit purchase? It processed my payment but then NRMA app stated error shortly after. I'm not sure whether merchants or App have problems. The payment already deducted
No Egift card issued out to me either. Its now more than 4 hours.

 

[SYD]

Hi Quickstatus,
Just wondering how long did it take for u to receive Apple gift card via NRMA member benefit purchase? It processed my payment but then NRMA app stated error shortly after. I'm not sure whether merchants or App have problems. The payment already deducted
No Egift card issued out to me either. Its now more than 4 hours.

I had a similar issue but I received a call back from NRMA shortly after placing the order to confirm details and it was processed immediately.

 

[Quickstatus]

how long did it take for u to receive Apple gift card via NRMA member benefit purchase

30 min after I placed the order, someone called me to confirm the order
30 min after that it appear in the email.