Why the US price has me doing a double-take
It’s February 2026, and I’m still scratching my head over why we in the UK are paying so much more for the Apple Vision Pro. When I looked at the US Apple Store price and did a quick currency conversion, I realized I could save hundreds of pounds—even after accounting for the flight across the Atlantic. But since I’d rather stay on my sofa than deal with Heathrow, I decided to find a way to make the tech come to me.
See more about shipping to United Kingdom
The price disparity isn't just a few quid; it’s a significant gap that makes international shipping from the States a very attractive option. I wanted the spatial computing experience without the "tax" of living in London. My mission was simple: get the US version delivered to my door with as little effort as possible.
My secret weapon for international shipping
I realized early on that Apple doesn't just ship boxes to random addresses in the UK. I needed a reliable freight forwarder to act as my middleman. I’ve been using comGateway for a while now because they provide a tax-free us address in Oregon. This means I don't pay US sales tax, which is a massive win for a high-ticket item like this.
To make sure I wasn't in for a nasty surprise, I used their shipping calculator to see what the damage would be. Being able to estimate shipping cost beforehand is the cornerstone of my lazy method; I hate surprises, especially the expensive kind. Their international shipping service is straightforward, which suits my desire to do as little paperwork as humanly possible.
Why Apple hates my UK credit card (and how I fixed it)
Here is where things usually get messy. I tried to buy the Vision Pro myself, but big US retailers like Apple, Nike, and Sephora are notoriously picky. They often block international credit cards or cancel orders that they suspect are headed to a freight forwarder. It’s a total buzzkill when you’re trying to save money.
I bypassed this entirely using the BuyForMe service. This is basically a proxy shopping dream. I just told comGateway what I wanted, and they used a US domestic credit card to buy it on my behalf. Because the transaction looks like a local purchase to Apple, it doesn't get flagged or cancelled. It is easily the safest way to guarantee that my order actually goes through without me having to argue with a customer service bot. If you've ever had an order cancelled at 3 AM, you know why I swear by this buy for me usa approach.
Doing the math on international shipping rates and import tax
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: the import tax. When the Vision Pro hits the UK border, HMRC is going to want their cut of VAT and duties. I factored this into my budget from day one. Even with the international shipping rates and the customs fees, the total cost was still significantly lower than the UK retail price.
I checked the shipping fees for various carriers like DHL international shipping and FedEx international shipping through the comGateway portal. I usually opt for the faster options for electronics because I’m impatient, and I like the robust tracking. You can find more details on how these costs are structured in their FAQ section.
Staying out of trouble with prohibited items
Before I clicked 'buy', I did a quick double-check of the prohibited items list. The last thing I wanted was my shiny new headset being seized because of battery restrictions or some obscure regulation. It’s always worth a peek at the restricted goods guide just to be safe. Check our guide on shipping electronics if you're worried about lithium battery limits.
Once I knew everything was above board, I let the experts handle the logistics. My package arrived in London perfectly intact, and I didn't have to fill out a single complex customs form myself. If you’re looking for the path of least resistance to get US tech, this is it. If you have more questions, the help center is surprisingly useful for edge cases.
My 2026 tech setup is now complete, and my bank account is much happier than it would have been if I’d shopped locally. Sometimes, being a bit 'lazy' and letting a proxy shopping service do the heavy lifting is just smart business.
