How to buy Apple Macbook Air / Pro in the USA and ship it to an international destination (like Russia)

What US stores sell Apple Macbook Air / Pro and ship it to international destinations

• Apple Online Store USA claims that it doesn't ship to freight forwarders (parcel forwarding companies). Many customers got their orders canceled and received the following message after trying to buy a Macbook, iPad or iPhone:

  Thank you for your recent order with the Apple Online Store. We appreciate your business. We are unable to complete your order. We do not ship to freight forwarder addresses. Therefore your order has been canceled. For Apple's Online Store Sales Policy please visit: apple.com/legal/sales_policies/ To locate an Apple Authorized Reseller in your area: apple.com/buy/ If you wish to reorder, please visit apple.com/store or call 1-877-422-5368. We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, The Apple Online Store

  At the same time many customers did manage to purchase Macbook Air, Macbook Pro notebooks, iPhones and iPads from the US Apple Store. Some of them even used an international credit or debit card (virtual USA was address used for billing). And successful purchases happen not only when using a new freight forwarder or a new warehouse of an old freight forwarder. The reason why Apple cancels some orders while shipping other ones to freight forwarders remains unknown.
• Amazon USA offers Macbook Air and Macbook Pro notebooks. And sometimes prices are even lower than at the Apple Store. Amazon purchases can be shipped to freight forwarders like Shipito.
  
  Although Amazon offers international shipping of electronics to select international destinations, I wasn't able to ship even the cheapest models of Macbook Air like Apple MacBook Air MD711LL/A 11.6-Inch Laptop directly to Russia. I got the following error when trying to ship to my Russian address:

  Important Message Apple MacBook Air MD711LL/A 11.6-Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION) cannot be shipped to the selected address.

  It seems like the only way to Macbooks it to an international destination is via a freight forwarder (package forwarding company).
  
  Note that Amazon is also a marketplace where lots of sellers beside Amazon are present. It is very important to check the seller rating when ordering expensive electronics from the sellers besides Amazon. Also sellers may have their own shipping policy.
• Adorama - a very popular shop selling electronics. It is well known for selling photo and video equipment. But it sells Macbook Air and Macbook Pro notebooks as well.
  
  Adorama ships to many international destinations, but it doesn't ship to Russia at all.
  
  You may get special offers and pricing by registering in the Adorama VIP Membership program. Currently it is free.
• B&H Photo Video - a very popular shop selling photo and video equipment. It also offers Macbook Air and Macbook Pro notebooks.
  
  The shop doesn't offer international shipping of Apple Macbook notebooks. But you may ship Macbooks to a freight forwarder like Shipito and then get it delivered to your international destination.
• Rakuten (former Buy.com) - one of the largest marketplaces with many sellers. Some sellers offer Macbook Air and Macbook Pro notebooks. Make sure to use a seller with high rating only.
• eBay - the world's largest online marketplace. Not only companies sell via eBay, but also regular people. Make sure to buy a Macbook from a Top-rated seller. Also make sure you know what the terms used, refurbished and open box mean.
• MacMall - leading Apple Direct Reseller. It has great offers on Macbooks from time to time. But currently its web-site is not even accessible from some countries (including Russia), unless you use a US IP address (you may get it via ZenMate for Chromer, AnonymoX for Firefox, Tor,....)

Besides getting getting a new Apple Macbook, you may also get a refurbished one. Apple Store has the Mac special offers section where you may find Refurbished Certified notebooks:

 

Note that there are manufacturer refurbished and seller refurbished notebooks. You may also want to wait for the Black Friday offers. Although Apple Store itself doesn't offer the best prices during such sales, you may find great offers from other online retailers including Amazon.

Shipping Macbook Air / Pro internationally from a virtual USA address

Many freight forwarders (parcel forwarders) like Shipito offer virtual USA addresses. Although some American stores do not ship to freight forwarding companies or do not accept international debit and credit cards, You may use such an address for shipping your purchases from many US online stores.

After your purchases are delivered to the warehouse of your freight forwarder, you may ship them to an international destination. It may be cheaper to consolidate your packages into a bigger box rather then sending several parcels.

Some freight forwarders have their warehouse in no sales locations (For example, you may use the Oregon warehouse of Shipito). In other states you will need to pay sales tax from many online purchases. And it can be significant. Thus you will pay about $100 in sales taxes for a $1000 notebook in California.

Before using a freight forwarder, make sure to learn about customs fees and duties in your country.

Waranty

Apple offers international warranty, so you shouldn't have any problem repairing your Macbook at a local Apple Authorised Service Provider. But make sure to keep invoices; and save you online transaction into a PDF file as well.

Does Apple Store Hong Kong ship to Shipito freight forwarder?

Shipito has a warehouse in Hong Kong:

Rm 402A Hing Wah Industrial Building, 18 Hi Yip Street, Yuen Long, NT.

Some customers have managed to buy Apple iPhones, iPads, Macbooks and ship it to the Shipito HK warehouse.

Store	Ships?	Date	Comment
Apple HK	NO	May 04, 2012	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
Apple HK	NO	April 24, 2012	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
Apple HK	NO	April 03, 2012	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
Apple HK	YES	March 30, 2012	Apple Ipad2, SmartCover, iPhone 4s. One consolidated package to Russia. Fuf! I did it!
Apple HK	YES	March 17, 2012	Time Capsule
Apple HK	NO	March 14, 2012	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
applestore	YES	March 10, 2012	Купил Iphone 4s, первый раз покупал через калифорнию - отказали. Второй раз купил в HK - покупка прошла успешно.
Apple HK	YES	March 08, 2012	Macbook Pro delivered from education store with SIN credit card.
apple hk	NO	March 04, 2012	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
Apple HK	NO	February 15, 2012	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
Apple HK	NO	January 31, 2012	IPad 2,We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder. Therefore your order has been cancelled
Apple HK	NO	January 26, 2012	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
Apple HK	YES	January 19, 2012	iPhone 4
Apple HK	NO	January 11, 2012	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
Apple HK	NO	December 20, 2011	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
Apple HK	YES	December 14, 2011	Seems to be a "hit or miss". My iPod nano arrived fine. Norwegian pre paid visa.
Apple HK	NO	November 07, 2011	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
Apple HK	YES	November 05, 2011	Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, Magic Trackpad
Apple HK	YES	November 02, 2011	iPad 2 + smart cover: OK
Apple HK	NO	October 27, 2011	iPod nano. We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder. Therefore your order has been cancelled.
Apple HK	YES	September 21, 2011	MacBook Air 13" OK
Apple HK	NO	August 23, 2011	MacBook Air 13 We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
Apple HK	YES	August 23, 2011	iPhone 4 всё ок!
Apple HK	NO	August 16, 2011	Заказал MacBook Air 13. Деньги списали, потом заказ отменили и написали, что посредникам не отправляют.
Apple HK	YES	August 03, 2011	Заказывал мышь Magic Mouse, уже получил.
Apple HK	YES	July 30, 2011	Ipad 2 personalised with accessories
Apple HK	YES	July 28, 2011	Apple Time Capsule. Carmen Chung as shipping contact
Apple HK	YES	July 28, 2011	Заказал Mac mini. Списание денег, доставка без проблем.
Apple store	NO	July 14, 2011	Заказывал iphone 4, списали 20000р, через неделю пришло письмо что не отправляют посредникам. Деньги вернули только через 2 месяца.
Apple HK	YES	July 14, 2011	Заказываю второй раз iphone 4 все отлично, быстро и качественно.
Apple HK	YES	July 05, 2011	3 iPhone 4 and 1 dock station for iPhone 4
Apple HK	YES	June 28, 2011	iPhone 4. June 15
Apple HK	NO	June 22, 2011	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder.
Apple HK	NO	June 21, 2011	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder. Therefore your order has been cancelled.
Apple HK	YES	June 09, 2011	iPhone4 with some problems (i send scan of bank statement and accept my order by the phone call)
Apple HK	YES	May 23, 2011	Fast shipment without problems (iPhone 4 + Bumper)
Apple HK	YES	May 04, 2011	fast shipment without problem.
Apple HK	YES	April 05, 2011	Fast shipment (iPad, some other stuff)
Apple HK	YES	March 31, 2011	It was everything ok on 15-th of March
Apple HK	NO	March 25, 2011	We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder. Therefore your order has been cancelled.
Apple HK	YES	March 23, 2011	Bought the iPOD, headphones. Delivered without any problems.
Apple HK	NO	February 11, 2011	"We are unable to complete your order as we do not ship to freight forwarder. Therefore your order has been cancelled."
Apple HK	YES	December 23, 2010	macbook air 11
Apple HK	YES	December 03, 2010	iPhone,iPad
Apple HK	YES	November 25, 2010	iPhone4 16gb
Apple HK	YES	November 22, 2010	Ipod nano
Apple HK	YES	November 04, 2010	iPad

What about your experience? Have you managed to buy Apple products online from a foreign Apple Store?

How to buy unlocked Apple iPhone 4S from US Apple Store if you're outside the USA

Apple Store USA started selling the unlocked version of Apple iPhone 4S. This time Apple started selling the unlocked version of iPhone very soon after its launch. Many international fans will be able to buy the latest version of iPhone in the USA.



Current price of Apple iPhone 4S in the Apple Store USA:

• iPhone 4S 16GB - $649.00


• iPhone 4S 32GB - $749.00


• iPhone 4S 64GB - $849.00

You can buy the unlocked version of Apple iPhone in the Apple Store USA, but there are 2 problems to address:

1. Apple Store USA ships within the USA only. So you need to get a virtual USA address from package forwarding company like Shipito.
   

    

   
   
2. Apple Store USA allows to pay with a US or Canada debit/credit card only:
   

   When an order is placed using a credit card as payment, the Apple Store will perform an automated check to confirm that the address information matches what is on file with the card-issuing bank. It is less likely that an automated response will be received from an international bank than from a U.S. bank. If a response is received and indicates that some of the information does not match, we must contact the bank for verification. If the card-issuing bank is outside the U.S., the secondary verification is not possible, and we cannot proceed with the order. For this reason, Apple strongly recommends that you use only credit cards issued within the U.S. or Canada.

   
   
   If you don't have any credit cards issued within the USA or Canada, you may use Assisted Purchases services from companies like Shipito.
   
   
   

Bottom line: For purchasing Apple iPhone 4S, use a package forwarder (freight forwarding company) like Shipito for both a virtual USA address and paying for the purchase in the Apple Store USA.