Korean Job Discussion Forums

Ed Provencher · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

Hey all,

I bought a new computer and had my mother mail it to me using USPS. It arrived in Korea on February 14. It's been in Foreign Customs since then, 3 weeks.

Has anyone ever had to go and get their package from the customs place?

Where is it?

~Ed Provencher

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

I haven't been there, but make sure you tell them it's for educational purposes, or they'll tax you something like 30%.

Ed Provencher · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

Why will they tax me?

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Ed Provencher · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

How did you pay the tax? Where did you have to go to pay it? What was the high value item?

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

It's no biggie. Think up some BS about how your mom sent it because you need a computer that only displays English.

pdx · Joined: 19 Jan 2007

This happened to my friend, but she got the computer within a week.

You should have gotten the form in the mail about your computer being held in customs. It's all in Korea, therefore, unless you're fluent in Korean you need a Korean friend to help you.

My friend was told to fill out the information (i think it's like name, place of residence, what the item is, how much it cost, etc.) and then fax it to the customs office. After faxing, you are supposed to call and let them know that you faxed it.

They told my friend it would be 3-4 weeks before she got her computer, and that she would have to pay the money and come pick it up.

However, she faxed the form on Tuesday, and the postal man came on Saturday, took her customs money, she signed a paper, and she got her computer.

End of story.

Ed Provencher · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

The computer is going to my work address. Unless they pass the form onto me, I won't see it. USPS said they would help me after Korea has had the computer for 30 days.

Where is the customs office located? I'll just go in there myself.

huck · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

When I had my new laptop sent over, it was held in the customs area of the nearest major post office. I went there, and they looked up on the internet how much it cost, and then they charged me 200,000 won or so.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Ed Provencher · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

My school's kick butt secretary just helped me out. She went to the Korean post office webpage, typed in my tracking number, called three post offices, and helped me to fill out a form that they faxed to her right then. She faxed it back and told me they would look at the form and check the Dell website to verify my claim of 2.1 million won as the cost of the compter. I assume they will charge me tax as has been suggested here already.

If it costs too much, I'm tempted to have them send it back to the US, since I'll be heading that way in 3 weeks for a short vacation. The other option they gave me was to have the package thrown in the trash. lol

Dawn · Joined: 06 Mar 2004

Beware that if you have it sent back, they will (1) return it via the slowest method possible (surface mail can take easily take three months to reach it's destination) and (2) charge you for the cost of return shipping.

Ed Provencher · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

Not yet knowing what the charge is going to be, this seems to be a tough thing to decide on. My parents are visiting me here in September. I could have them bring me the computer then, but that would mean I paid for a computer and waited 7 months to use it.

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

I realise this may be a stupid question...but why didn't you just shop on Dell Korea's website? I did that for my desktop 2 years ago and it was no problem. They have everything in English and no stupid customs issue.

Oh well, at least you know next time.

KPRROK

europe2seoul · Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Location: Seoul, Korea