Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hagwonnewbie]

I bought my laptop in the US two years ago when the exchange rate was still favoring the won. Now that it has shifted to favor the dollar, it seems like computers are priced more similarly in both countries.

I'm going home next month with the intention of returning to Korea. Should I buy another laptop when I'm home? Will I get a much better deal at Circuit City in the US than I would at Yongsan?

I know ipods are cheaper in the US? What other electronic products are clearly better purchased in the US.

[oskinny1]

Electronics are all much cheaper in the US. Also, if you are getting a PC, it may be difficult to get Windows in English (I do not know if it is easier to change languages with Windows 7).

Circuit City is no longer a physical store, they went out of business but came back as an online store.

[bassexpander]

I was back in the USA in July. I'd still buy back home, in the case of a laptop.

The lower-priced laptops are far cheaper there. The middle-priced laptops are more similar, but still a better deal back home. High-end laptops are usually insanely priced here. Especially anything with a higher-end laptop graphics card or blu-ray.

If you do buy here, go with HP, because an authorized store worth their salt can set up your computer in English at purchase. That, or you can just re-do it all yourself.

[Bloopity Bloop]

Electronics are ridiculously cheap in the States. Just use a website like http://www.slickdeals.net

Move your mouse over forums and select Hot Deals.

In the Hot Deals section, you can also filter by category at the bottom of the page for electronics or just do a search.

[eamo]

Definitely buy in the US.

Much cheaper and you'll have the OS and all your pre-loaded software in English.

Just check with the vendor in the US that the warranty is international. It should be. If not, it's up to you. Take your chances.

[jsk]

If given the choice I'd buy everything in the U.S., even Korean-branded products like Samsung. Everything I've looked at here in Yongsan or Gmarket is cheaper in the U.S. through Amazon or Newegg, even with the currency conversion.

Plus, you don't have to deal with the occasional shady tactic or gray-market product in Yongsan. I bought a Canon camera last weekend in Yongsan and the guy switched out the OEM battery with a knockoff. I brought it back a few minutes later and he was upset and embarrassed, and gave me my money back instead of giving me the original battery.

[bassexpander]