Job Discussion Forums

Sody · Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 55

Hi, I currently reside in Japan and would like to ship a desktop that I purchased here. Just the system unit, not a monitor. I will either ship it to Korea or Canada. Can someone please advise me on how to go about doing this?

Someone recommended to me that I ship with a Japanese company called Pakmail. They do international shipping. Can anyone recommend them?

There is another company called Nihon System Service. Anyone with experience shipping with this company?

I wanted to bring the desktop on the airplane as a carry on, but it's a little too big.

Will I get taxed on the computer if I ship it to Korea or Canada?

I would really appreciate any advice or suggestions people can send my way. Thanks!

Sody

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Seems like a waste of time to me... I'd just tear out the guts and take the guts as carry-on. You can buy a new case and power supply CHEAP just about anywhere IMO.

But anyway, to answer your questions, I have zero experience with the companies you mentioned. What I CAN tell you, is that if you ship or bring your stuff to Canada, there is a very real possibility that you will get charged duty and GST on your equipment. You very well may not, but it's a crapshoot.

I know that when I used to visit the U.S. regularily, I'd stop in at the Canadian customs office at the border before I hit the U.S. side and register my electronics (and all the serial numbers) on a little green card, which proved to the Canadian authorities that I had purchased my stuff in Canada previously and wasn't trying to import anything... By the same token, I was never asked to prove the origins of my electronics -- it was only a safeguard just in case I were.

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

When I moved from Korea to Japan, I just put my computer (full sized desktop) in my luggage. There were no problems. I just put some clothes around it for padding.

The only extra cost was having to buy a power converter from 220 volts to 100 when I got to Japan. I've also transported a desktop computer around Canada via plane and VIA rail. Again, there have never been any problems.

As long as you have the luggage space, go for it!

abufletcher · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:42 am Post subject:

abufletcher · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:45 am Post subject:

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Yup... But really, as much or as little as you want. You can be minimalistic and just take the hard drives I suppose, but it depends what you have that's good.

If I were to leave Japan tomorrow, I would take the following "guts" with me (out of the desktop I currently own):

CPU chip (the processor)
video card (nVIDIA)
TV-IN card
DVD-RW
Hard drive

Not really "guts" but I would also take my external USB hard drive, my laser mouse and Wacom pad...

I would junk my motherboard and case, keyboard... And I'd try to sell my monitor (15" flat LCD)...

Now if anyone wants to learn how to assemble (or disassemble) their own PC, it's not so hard... I could probably teach ya for a 24 of beer on a free Sunday afternoon. Wink

No reason to be intimidated by it. Yeah there's things you can screw up and that can go wrong but if you're careful and have someone point those things out to you, it's pretty smooth sailing usually.

Sody · Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 55

Thanks a lot for the advice everyone. I haven't decided what to do yet but once I do and once I get more information I'll post it online for other inquiring minds. Thanks! Very Happy

Sody

Willy_In_Japan · Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 329

One caveat........it is ok to gut your computer and put your motherboard, hard drives, video card, and DVD burner etc in your carry on. Just be sure to have all of your boards in anti static bags.

However, you should ensure that your computer uses a STANDARD case and powersupply before you toss your case. You don't want to be trying to fit a proprietary computer motherboard from something like a Hewlet Packard computer into a standard case.

If it is advisable not to dump your computer case, I would take out the hard disk drives and the CD/DVD drives and put them in your carry on.......the computer case I would simply pack in my luggage and not worry about it.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

...unless of course you don't mind just having your motherboard and other "guts" sitting on your shelf.... caseless.... Smile

Sody · Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 55

Ok, here's an update as promised. I actually put the entire desktop computer (system unit only, no monitor) into my large suitcase and it arrived in perfect working condition. No problems at all. I did use a lot of clothes, towels, blankets, and padding to cushion the computer though.

Yes I was nervous as hell for the whole time but my suitcase is pretty sturdy and I packed it very well so I think it was a good gamble.

For those of you wondering about duties in Canada, you are allowed $750 of goods before having to pay duties if you have been out of the country for more than seven days. That was what was explained to me in any case. I may be wrong though so double check that if you can. My computer was never charged because I paid less than that for it. The duties applies to all items whether or not they are shipped via courier or whether you pack it yourself.

Sody