Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

I've probably asked this in the past but I can't remember exactly. I'm thinking about purchasing something on eBay (shipping from Japan). The item will cost $500 and have $140 in shipping charges. The shipping charges seem a bit much to me, but it's a sort of large musical instrument.

So, what should I expect the Korean government to bleed me for? The same item sells on various Korean auction sites for 6x that price so I'm a bit leery.

Also, is it right that they include shipping fees in calculation of customs charges? I could've sworn in the past that they did.

I hope this makes sense. I haven't had my coffee yet.

[Xuanzang]

I think it probably depends on who processes your mail. I`ve never been charged before but then I never ordered something for 500 bucks and beyond. $140 sounds about right if it`s an oversized package and using airmail. It`s all about the weight and each gram puts it into a different category.

[Ukon]

You can always have it sent home then mailed back to you if it's not too heavy.

I've had online packages shipped here from sellers online and no extra feee.....

I heard you should ask them to put "Used gift on the package"....you can also ask them to forgo the receipt or not include. I recently sold some DJ equipment to a guy in Uraguay.....the laundry list of things he asked me to do for shipping was like mailing drugs to get around customs...

[chaz47]

[FMPJ]

[Xuanzang]

[chaz47]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[keetrainchild]

This is sort of off-topic, but I remember friends who lived in a third-world country telling me about how they always told people who shipped them things to write the value as being some ridiculously low amount so that the customs officers wouldn't 1. charge them the actual price of the item or 2. keep it for themselves.

I know Korea isn't a third-world country, but the mentality I'm accustomed to is to basically say anything shipped through the mail is worthless.

[keetrainchild]

This is sort of off-topic, but I remember friends who lived in a third-world country telling me about how they always told people who shipped them things to write the value as being some ridiculously low amount so that the customs officers wouldn't 1. charge them the actual price of the item or 2. keep it for themselves.

I know Korea isn't a third-world country, but the mentality I'm accustomed to is basically to say anything shipped through the mail is worthless.

[Xuanzang]

Well if you write it too low and they open it up and see...a brand spanking new laptop. The jig is up. The key is to underwrite it to a tolerable/reasonable amount of the true cost of the item.