MikeB said:
I didnt buy it from apple, I got it from eBay brand new for $1000.
In which case it is up to you to declare the import duty and VAT, the sender isn't the one breaking the law unless they are a UK supplier (like Apple for example) who have signed agreements with customs to collect the duty and tax.
Also keep in mind that you legally have no warranty on direct purchases from eBay, if the seller is a reputable dealer then you may have a limited warranty (usually anything up to 90 days to return faulty goods) but if they send it as a "gift" or as I've encountered before "replacement goods" then you can forget any warranty!
It might sound like a big saving and maybe you won't get caught but if you do then think very big fine or if they think you've made a habit of it or you have a record you can say goodbye to a few months of liberty.
neye:
The odds are pretty much in your favour though, only about 5% of incoming packages with dodgy looking declarations are tracked to the destination, although if yours is one of them and the declaration is false then you may also have to pay a fine (which is to offset the cost of tracking the packages).
eBay should have a huge banner across each page saying "Buyer Beware" with a link to an english description of the pitfalls waiting to snare you.
For example another one is that it is actually illegal to connect any device to a UK power outlet that does not meet certain british standards, similarly for car equipment, safety equipment and a whole host of other things. Accreditation and certification of devices cost money so some of the savings you may make by buying direct from foreign suppliers may be due to the goods not having been certified to BSs (even though they may meet them!).
So what you say? Well insurers have nice little clauses that state that they are not liable in a case where any non-BS equipment is installed or in use so you could be invalidating your household, car, boat etc insurance.
Amen-Moses