Xbox 360 Elite question

choddo · Post by **choddo** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:11 pm 0

Kamineko wrote:
WiredWorm wrote:And wouldn't you also have some fun getting it back through Customs & Excise?

You're only allowed to bring goods to a certain value back into the UK and it's unlikely that you could succesfully convince them that you'd actually taken it out of the Country with you........

I seem to recall the limit for gifts and other items is around the Â£160 mark - so the 360 would be over that limit. Of course you could risk it - but if you get caught and they beleive you bought it over there then it's likely they'd seize it........

(of course it's a different case if you're buying a digicam or something like that because that's something you would legitimately take with you.....)
What the hell is this?

Madness I think. As far as I know, the limit is more like Â£145, and even then you'd only be asked to cough up duty & VAT on it. They wouldn't seize it but might bless you with a rubber glove job for wasting their time.

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:13 pm 0

Well, unless you try to walk through the green channel with it, in which case a Â£1000+ fine is probably in order...

choddo · Post by **choddo** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:13 pm 0

Dio wrote:Well, unless you try to walk through the green channel with it, in which case a Â£1000+ fine is probably in order...

Oof. Really? That's harsh.

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPort ... e=document

it's 145 (although I thought it had been increased when I started writing the post above, maybe that's for post imports)

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:14 pm 0

Well, you've just committed a criminal offence by lying and saying you didn't have anything on you. The red channel's there for a reason you know...

Sir_LANs-a-lot · Post by **Sir_LANs-a-lot** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:16 pm 0

Important note: If you're moving over to an Elite console you'll have to connect to Xbox Live to access any of your licensed content, which includes Xbox Live Arcade games at Video Marketplaced downloads (we're guessing you won't have any of those yet). If it's important that you be able to access any of this whilst offline, you might want to reconsider your Elite purchase.

From:
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/ar ... ?id=170178

WiredWorm · Post by **WiredWorm** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:17 pm 0

Thanks for the link Choddo - I was searching high and low but since the restructure it seems finding information on the HMC&E website is utter crap!!

Glad to see that I wasn't going mad - I only recollect this because i've been to the USA a few times and have always been careful what i've bought.......

choddo · Post by **choddo** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:22 pm 0

Just remembered that a mate of mine was busted sneaking back a set of golf clubs. Cost him a fortune and his card is marked for future trips.

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:22 pm 0

choddo wrote:it's 145 (although I thought it had been increased when I started writing the post above, maybe that's for post imports)

The government is looking at raising it to around the Â£500 mark, standardised across Europe.

Postal imports the limit is Â£18, IIRC.

Post by **RiK** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:18 pm 0

HGFB wrote:It's official.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=81644

ooh, that's interesting. Makes that Littlewoods price look less tempting.

Perhaps I'll just go for a noodle into Bristol on Friday then and see if I can pick one up.

teamonkey · Post by **teamonkey** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:40 pm 0

Game, Play etc. are selling the Elite for Â£299 but the Premium for Â£275 which is a bit naughty.

flookster · Post by **flookster** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:08 pm 0

choddo wrote:
Dio wrote:Well, unless you try to walk through the green channel with it, in which case a Â£1000+ fine is probably in order...
Oof. Really? That's harsh.

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPort ... e=document

it's 145 (although I thought it had been increased when I started writing the post above, maybe that's for post imports)

Really? Guess I got lucky wandering through the green channel with bag full of DSs and other tech a few years back.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:12 pm 0

flookster wrote:

Really? Guess I got lucky wandering through the green channel with bag full of DSs and other tech a few years back.

A DS is easy as are cameras, mp3 players etc. It's portable tech so can justifiably be bought as something you needed to use on the trip. Just make sure it looks like it's been out of the box.

With a console, say you were on a conference and got bored so bought it to use in the hotel to keep you occupied. Can work if you don't have a couple of screaming kids with you.

To be honest, I don't remember the last time I went through customs and saw anybody on the green channel...

teamonkey · Post by **teamonkey** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:24 pm 0

Here's a question: When I get my 360 I'm planning on connecting it to a VGA (not DVI) LCD monitor, at least to start with. Can I/should I buy the VGA cable or use a HDMI->DVI cable with a DVI->VGA converter on the end? Is there likely to be any difference?

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:30 pm 0

teamonkey wrote:Here's a question: When I get my 360 I'm planning on connecting it to a VGA (not DVI) LCD monitor, at least to start with. Can I/should I buy the VGA cable or use a HDMI->DVI cable with a DVI->VGA converter on the end? Is there likely to be any difference?

Erm the latter won't work. HDMI doesn't carry the analogue signals like DVI does (well, technically DVI-D doesn't or something, but most DVI ports on computers do, whereas most monitor DVI inputs are digital only) so you'll get a big fat nothing. If you want VGA output you'll have to get a VGA output lead (official or unofficial) and use that. Bare in mind the official lead comes with the required gender benders and things to plug in to any monitor / TV regardless of existing cables (works with displays that have fixed VGA cables like old monitors, or new LCD TVs with a vga socket on the back).

If your monitor had a DVI input you could go from HDMI -> DVI with an adapter though

Cheers

Bubba

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:33 pm 0

Bubba wrote:
teamonkey wrote:Here's a question: When I get my 360 I'm planning on connecting it to a VGA (not DVI) LCD monitor, at least to start with. Can I/should I buy the VGA cable or use a HDMI->DVI cable with a DVI->VGA converter on the end? Is there likely to be any difference?
Erm the latter won't work. HDMI doesn't carry the analogue signals like DVI does (well, technically DVI-D doesn't or something, but most DVI ports on computers do, whereas most monitor DVI inputs are digital only) so you'll get a big fat nothing. If you want VGA output you'll have to get a VGA output lead (official or unofficial) and use that. Bare in mind the official lead comes with the required gender benders and things to plug in to any monitor / TV regardless of existing cables (works with displays that have fixed VGA cables like old monitors, or new LCD TVs with a vga socket on the back).

If your monitor had a DVI input you could go from HDMI -> DVI with an adapter though

Cheers

Bubba

I was just typing the same when I saw a thread reply email come in.

Saved me trying to explain it. Thanks.