Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bondjimbond]

My time in Korea is coming closer to an end, and I'm planning to travel a bit before I finally fly home. The problem is this laptop - I don't want to carry it around Thailand with me, for fear of theft and because it's a waste of weight and space. So the question - how should one go about shipping home one's laptop?

Has anyone done this before? I know on international packages you've got to put on the label what you're sending and its monetary value. What happens if I send this thing to Canada with a realistic value marked... will I get my arse taxed off? Is there insurance on shipping, and how much? Any other tips?

Thanks much for any advice.

[ttompatz]

[polonius]

You will encounter a little bit of a problem if you declare what it is you are sending in the box. Recently, I had a teacher try to send his laptop home through the Korean post. They refused to send it when they saw on the shipping invoice that it was a computer. I am assuming that they didn't want to be held responsible if it was damaged.

He simply went to another Post office and said that it was a "gift" rather than a computer. Mind you, he was sending it back for repairs cause it didn't work.

So, just be aware that the Korean post might not allow you to send electronics.

Are you backpacking through Thailand, or is it a beach vacation. If it is a beach vacation, I wouldn't be all that worried if you stay at decent hotels. I brought my laptop to Thailand 3 times and had no problems. You can bring the laptop on with you on the plane as well as one piece of carry on. I know it is a drag to carry, but, I would rather have my laptop with me.

Also, if you bought the computer in Canada, you cannot be taxed on it again. This only applies to items that were purchased out of country. If you bought it in Korea, then, as stated above, you have a certain allowance to bring with you.

[bondjimbond]

I'll be backpacking a bit, stopping off in different countries, for at least six weeks and probably eight, so I won't want to be carrying the computer around.

Thanks for the CBSA link. How do they know that I'm exempt from the duties, though, when I send it? What my concern is, is that they'll slap on a duty when it arrives in the country and I'll have no option to get out of it. Is there an option on the packaging slip? And do they do shipping insurance here?

[stuey11]

i sent my laptop home to the UK with fed ex.....no mention of tax when it arrived...just mark the box 'For repair only'

[bondjimbond]