| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
TRH
Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Posts: 340
Location: Hawaii
|
 Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 1:37 am Post subject: Bring my Sony TV |
 |
|
I plan to come to HCMC in July/August and was wondering if I should bring my LCD TV. It is 120V, 60Hz, 210W. I am fully aware that Vietnam uses 220/240V and I would need a voltage converter. But are there other differences that would make it not work properly? My general observation is that electronics are about 10-20% higher in Vietnam than the US (probably due to duties) and I can bring the TV there for $150 as excess baggage.
If anyone has any experience with this I would appreciate hearing it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ExpatLuke
Joined: 11 Feb 2012
Posts: 744
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 4:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Ehm... why are you bringing your TV? How long will you be staying? Most apartments/furnished houses come with TVs already, but I haven't even turned mine on in months. I watch most of my television on my laptop now. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cb400
Joined: 27 Sep 2010
Posts: 274
Location: Vientiane, Laos
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 5:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
last time I flew the extra baggage charges were crazy. Might be worth selling and buying one here, if you need it.
Cheers |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LettersAthruZ
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Posts: 466
Location: North Viet Nam
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 10:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
Errmmm....you ARE aware that you can pick up a bare-bones 32-inch BRAND NEW flat LCD television at Metro or Big C for, like, less than 5 million VND ($245USD), right??
WHY bother with the headache of lugging around some big-ass TV over the course of 4,000-14,000 Kilometres and THEN have fun trying to explain it to Viet Nam customs?
ONCE, on a trip back to my home nation, I lugged back a flat 24" computer monitor that a friend gave me for free....but ONLY because computers and computer monitors are (for some reason) artificially over-priced here (TVs are NOT)!
Save yourself the headache (as well as the worry of WHAT EXACTLY might happen to your TV at the one or two plane changes before you actually get to Tan Son Nhat!) and just buy one here....more likely than not, you could prolly get a good deal on a USED one (unless you expect to live here for a good long while). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TRH
Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Posts: 340
Location: Hawaii
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 10:58 am Post subject: More background info |
|
|
| ExpatLuke wrote: |
| How long will you be staying? |
I did not detail it but I am getting married and plan to stay a minimum of two years. My fiancee has found us a 2 bedroom house to rent in GoVap but it is unfurnished.
| cb400 wrote: |
| last time I flew the extra baggage charges were crazy. Might be worth selling and buying one here, if you need it. |
That was my plan until I found that Philippine Airlines allows 70 lbs and a flat $150 per unit additional baggage, but only from Hawaii to points in Asia. Since I bought the TV one year ago for $900, moving it for $150 seems like a good deal as long as it will work in Vietnam. Resale value in Hawaii would be about $300. Nguyen Kim has a similar model (Sony KDL-46C) for 18.9M VND so if I sold my unit for $300 in Hawaii, I would still need $600 more for a new one in HCMC.
I am assuming I can get a used TV through customs as personal property same way you can bring in a used computer. Anyone have contrary experience?
I think the economics are OK but I still need tech knowledge if the unit will work properly with a voltage converter. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lou_la
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Posts: 140
Location: Bristol
|
| Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 8:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Ooh, the customs thing is a good point. Is it okay to bring used electronic-y things in the boxes, even if they're used? My boyfriend got charged 2 million VND tax when his 4 year old laptop got sent (in the post) to Vietnam, which seemed stupid. Mine was fine in my carry on. This time I want to bring my sewing machine, but it will be in a box in my suitcase. Any ideas if I'll have to pay tax on it?
Sorry for hijacking a bit 
Lou |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
8balldeluxe
Joined: 03 Jun 2009
Posts: 64
Location: vietnam
|
| Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 6:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I think it is a really really bad idea to bring your expensive thing(s) here. It will be like a rotating beacon in customs, and make you look like a wealthy and not average foreigner. Ones who live here any length of time get discouraged to order things from abroad at all, because of the tariffs.
You may have to pay according to the newly purchased price of the TV. Do you have the receipt? Can you prove it is for your own personal use? and who knows what the law is or whether it will be applied correctly? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TRH
Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Posts: 340
Location: Hawaii
|
| Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 6:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| 8balldeluxe wrote: |
I think it is a really really bad idea to bring your expensive thing(s) here. It will be like a rotating beacon in customs, and make you look like a wealthy and not average foreigner. Ones who live here any length of time get discouraged to order things from abroad at all, because of the tariffs.
You may have to pay according to the newly purchased price of the TV. Do you have the receipt? Can you prove it is for your own personal use? and who knows what the law is or whether it will be applied correctly? |
I am afraid the application of the law, as I have observed it, is $20US tucked into the passport when you pass customs but I am not going that route. I think I am convinced to sell my TV and buy one in Vietnam. My landlady has made me a good offer so that helped me make up my mind.
Thanks to all for this discussion. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
