Korean Job Discussion Forums

ck2118 · Joined: 12 Dec 2007

Ok... So I know that this isn't necessarily the right place to post a topic like this. However, after seeing a few of these TVs on sale over the past months, I will assume that there are at least some readers who have wondered if this is even feasible.

Well, it is... I just successfully shipped my 32" LG TV as baggage to the US.

Knowing that I would never be able to get a fair deal selling my TV on this forum (paid 800k, Used Fair Value 500k, Repurchase Price in US $900), I decided to take a chance and send it overseas.

My first option was to send it on a boat through the Post Office. They notified me that that the box was too big (greater than 1.8m around), and that I would have to pay for premium shipping (on an airplane) for an extra fee. The total cost of shipping would be 400k. Obviously not worth the money lost by selling on Dave's.

However, the post office wasn't a complete waste of time... If you go to the larger post offices, they offer a service called Poh Jahng (wrapping). It's basically a person that custom packages your items for a small fee. For 30k, a very skilled (it was almost an art form to him) worker reinforced the walls of my original box with heavy-duty Styrofoam, and filled in the remaining space with padding. He then made a custom box with reinforced walls to place the original box inside of. Finally, he sealed the box with tape and industrial strength cable-ties.

Once the TV arrived at the check in counter (Korean Air), it was treated as standard baggage but was not sent through the conveyor-belt like most bags. Instead it was carted off (most likely to be x-rayed and security checked).

Fourteen hours later, my TV had arrived at my home still wrapped in the original cable-ties (highly doubtful that security opened the box), with only a tiny crease in one corner. The original box was completely undamaged, and the TV is in perfect working condition.

Total cost: 30k

Is this the right choice for everyone? Possibly not... Is the risk as high as some make it out to be? Definitely not.

Any questions, feel free to ask. I'll try my best to answer them... until I get tired of doing so... Good luck!

Join Me · Joined: 14 Jan 2008

Boxers or briefs?

Cacique · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Location: Seoul

I'm a little confused by your story. You mean the post office wanted 400K to ship it, but that was too much. So they packed it up real nice for 30K. Then Korean Air shipped it? And how much was the actual shipping charge?

ck2118 · Joined: 12 Dec 2007

Boxers...

There was no shipping cost because it was sent as baggage. I only had one bag, and they allow up to two. I'm not exactly sure how much an extra bag would cost, but I think you can find out on their website.

Let me know if I can clarify anything else...

Cacique · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Location: Seoul

A 32" TV is pretty big and heavy. That didn't put you over the weight limit per passenger? Or was it a much lighter LCD TV?

How'd you transport it from the post office to the airport?

ck2118 · Joined: 12 Dec 2007

The TV alone only weighs about 14kg. I can't remember the exact weight after packaging, but it was less than 20kg.

I took a cab to the airport... The box went in the back seat. This is one thing I forgot to mention... the cab ride was a little pricey... maybe 60k but that can be expected unless you take a bus. In this situation, the bus wasn't an option.

ck2118 · Joined: 12 Dec 2007

Oh and to your previous post about packaging it "real nice"... the guy actually had a separate table away from the clerks.... Big metal workstation. I'm not positive if it's an individual service or run by the post-office. Conventional wisdom would tell you that it's government-run but with this being korea, you can never know for sure...

To give you an idea of the cost for other items, a 2ft x 3ft box (maybe a little smaller) will cost about 10k. You take your items there unpacked (perhaps in a Costco bag) and the guy will take it out and package it for you. This size box can be shipped by boat but I don't remember the price of the shipping.

sojourner1 · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject:

What about the voltage? Is the TV dual voltage?

bulldogbill · Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Location: Seoul

I did this with a 22 inch LCD Monitor...packed it myself with foam sheets and a few towels, and then use the ICE service at the post office to post it home...cost about 55000 won, which I felt was justified...there was no inspection and no problems..it is working well...and no voltage problems coz I am Australian...same voltage as Korea

Phyphon · Joined: 02 Feb 2007

haha do you think this would work with a 42" super slim TV

ck2118 · Joined: 12 Dec 2007

LG TVs are dual voltage... not sure about Samsung or other brands, but you can find out in the back of the manual.

In regards to the 42"... It's not so much the size but the weight that's important. I have even shipped my snowboard bag to Korea that was nearly 6 ft in length. If you take it to the "wrapping" service, they will give you an estimate of the total weight after packaging. If you end up over the allowed baggage weight limit, you could always pay the extra fee to have it sent anyways...

Also, people underestimate the power of being polite to the people working the check-in counter... I've had my overweight baggage cleared several times without a fee just by being extremely polite and acting surprised that my bag exceeded the limit. Remember... SMILE and act like you don't know anything... Very Happy

It works! I promise!

Realistically... Unless its an LCD, this probably won't work. You could always sell your super-slim, take the money and buy an LCD for cheap on Dave's from someone too scared to send theirs home as baggage, package it "real nice", then send it... Sounds like a plan to me...

Phyphon · Joined: 02 Feb 2007

That is amazing information THANKS! I am going to look into it - I bought a brand new 2008 42" Xcanvas because I thought I was going to be here a couple of years.

Turns out I got accepted into school so I am goin back to Canada next year haha I was sad at the idea of leaving it here...

My girlfriend and I have been looking for a method to ship it for a... well "reasonable" price - This might just be the method we need... From what I know it is pretty light. Polite is no problem!

Thanks for a detailed easy reply! Go Daves!

Tommy · Joined: 24 Aug 2005

This is really useful info.. thanks for the write-up.

I also wanted to add, if you're going to substitute a TV for your checked baggage on the flight home, you can ship your regular baggage in the mail for real cheap. I filled the biggest box the Korean post office had, and it was only 40,000 by surface - took 2 months to get home. This is only if you want to avoid paying the extra baggage fees, which can be pricey, and if you don't need your stuff urgently.

kumoh · Joined: 05 Dec 2007

Recently I also thought about buying LCD TV from either Samsung or LG.
However, after visiting the nearest Technomart I found out that those TVs do not have menu in English, only Korean. In your case, does your TV have menu in English?

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Americans can sometimes get better deals in the USA, but this was a great post!

Didn't you get nailed with any customs charges back home? I'd have to think that if I tried to waltz through customs in Chicago or Minneapolis, they'd pull me aside if I were hauling a TV!