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wanderingsalsero
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
Location: Houston, TX.
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 Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:41 am Post subject: For Mac users.....any reason not to buy in Korea? |
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I'm thinking about buying an iMac. I know they're available in Korea but is there any reason not to buy one here but rather buy it in US and have it shipped over here?
Espcially the prices. Are they much different here than in the US?
thanks,
Art |
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ppcg4
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:44 am Post subject: |
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Apple stuff is a bit more expensive here than back home. OF course, having it shipped from back home will get you an English keyboard, which will allow you a better resale price later on, should you decide to sell it.
You may get hit with import taxes if you have it shipped from home though... |
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crescent
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 3:23 am Post subject: |
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| ppcg4 wrote: |
Apple stuff is a bit more expensive here than back home. OF course, having it shipped from back home will get you an English keyboard, which will allow you a better resale price later on, should you decide to sell it.
You may get hit with import taxes if you have it shipped from home though... |
I bought a mac here in Korea. They have English keyboards with Hangeul secondary on the keys. I don't see how that affects resale, especially since one could sell it here before leaving.
Import taxes are guaranteed if the computer is in original packaging, or if you claim a certain amount for it's value when you insure it during transit.
In short, purchase price is reason enough to buy at home. |
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bangbayed
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 7:20 am Post subject: |
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| crescent wrote: |
| ppcg4 wrote: |
Apple stuff is a bit more expensive here than back home. OF course, having it shipped from back home will get you an English keyboard, which will allow you a better resale price later on, should you decide to sell it.
You may get hit with import taxes if you have it shipped from home though... |
I bought a mac here in Korea. They have English keyboards with Hangeul secondary on the keys. I don't see how that affects resale, especially since one could sell it here before leaving.
Import taxes are guaranteed if the computer is in original packaging, or if you claim a certain amount for it's value when you insure it during transit.
In short, purchase price is reason enough to buy at home. |
It depends on your taxes, and this would depend on where home is. In Vancouver, sales tax totals 13%, so although the list price is cheaper back home, it actually ends up being slightly better here after you factor in the sales tax you'd be paying in Vancouver. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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These days, I can get a 10% discount on the price in Canada due to being a teacher. While the actual taxes might be slightly higher than Korean taxes, that discount on an already cheaper price adds up.
I wish I was going back to Canada this year, I really want to buy a mac mini. At 850k won for the cheapest option in Korea (minus an educational discount) I might get it for 780k or around there. In Canada the same model is 649.00, minus my 10% discount it would be $585 plus 13% tax. So 661.00 or thereabouts. It is still cheaper to buy that product in Canada.
Considering that that mac has 10% VAT added in Korea, the prices are quite similar.
If you can get your tax back either leaving Canada or Korea, then whichever country you can do that in would be where it is cheaper. Unfortunately in Korea I think my F2 makes it so I can't get tax back. As a Canadian citizen I can't get tax back when I leave Canada, nor can my wife as a perm. resident.
The things we do to save 50-100 bucks huh?  |
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crescent
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| bangbayed wrote: |
| crescent wrote: |
| ppcg4 wrote: |
Apple stuff is a bit more expensive here than back home. OF course, having it shipped from back home will get you an English keyboard, which will allow you a better resale price later on, should you decide to sell it.
You may get hit with import taxes if you have it shipped from home though... |
I bought a mac here in Korea. They have English keyboards with Hangeul secondary on the keys. I don't see how that affects resale, especially since one could sell it here before leaving.
Import taxes are guaranteed if the computer is in original packaging, or if you claim a certain amount for it's value when you insure it during transit.
In short, purchase price is reason enough to buy at home. |
It depends on your taxes, and this would depend on where home is. In Vancouver, sales tax totals 13%, so although the list price is cheaper back home, it actually ends up being slightly better here after you factor in the sales tax you'd be paying in Vancouver. |
Vancouver: Macbook Pro. $1299 + 13% = $1467.87 = 1,604,971won
Korea:1,750,000won -5% teachers discount = 1,662,581won
Still not better here, even with the discount. Anyone can get the small 5% teachers discount here, if you order by phone BTW. |
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richardlang
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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I would think very hard about having a brand new unit shipped over here from the U.S. or another country. I've had a lot of my packages opened recently -- novels mostly. Even if the package's contents are marked 'personal', the item will look suspiciously brand new and I don't think Korean customs are that dumb. :/
Be careful. The best way would be to purchase the computer in your home country for a cheaper price and then bring it back here on your flight. No worries then.. |
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bangbayed
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| crescent wrote: |
| bangbayed wrote: |
| crescent wrote: |
| ppcg4 wrote: |
Apple stuff is a bit more expensive here than back home. OF course, having it shipped from back home will get you an English keyboard, which will allow you a better resale price later on, should you decide to sell it.
You may get hit with import taxes if you have it shipped from home though... |
I bought a mac here in Korea. They have English keyboards with Hangeul secondary on the keys. I don't see how that affects resale, especially since one could sell it here before leaving.
Import taxes are guaranteed if the computer is in original packaging, or if you claim a certain amount for it's value when you insure it during transit.
In short, purchase price is reason enough to buy at home. |
It depends on your taxes, and this would depend on where home is. In Vancouver, sales tax totals 13%, so although the list price is cheaper back home, it actually ends up being slightly better here after you factor in the sales tax you'd be paying in Vancouver. |
Vancouver: Macbook Pro. $1299 + 13% = $1467.87 = 1,604,971won
Korea:1,750,000won -5% teachers discount = 1,662,581won
Still not better here, even with the discount. Anyone can get the small 5% teachers discount here, if you order by phone BTW. |
Hmm, I was checking out iPod Touch prices before, and it worked out differently.
About the teachers discount, can you get that in Canada even if you're teaching here? I heard that it has to be a registered institution in the country that you're purchasing from. |
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crescent
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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Right, only teachers registered back home in Loonieville can get the educator's discount. Here, they offer a smaller 'educator's' discount without question.
Also, I forgot, in the interest of comparing prices, Korea also adds a 10%vat to Apple products. |
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Hamlet
Joined: 18 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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I bought my imac in Yongsan. I got a huge discount, I think nearly 200,000 Won, for paying in cash.
As I've said in other threads, though, I think having a Mac in Korea is stupid. Using a Mac, you cannot...
use online banking
check you pension (or use any other government site)
shop on Gmarket (or any other online retailer)
reserve movie tickets
sign up for events (I'm a runner and I can't sign up for the events)
This is because everything here uses Active X and Internet Explorer
Of course, you could load Windows on your Mac, but if you're going to do that you might as well just by a Windows machine. You'll get more computing power for less money.
People who want to have a Mac vs Windows debate have at it. I'm not really into that...just letting the OP know that having a Mac in Korea isn't the same as having one back home. There are far more limitations. |
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crescent
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Hamlet wrote: |
| Of course, you could load Windows on your Mac, but if you're going to do that you might as well just by a Windows machine. You'll get more computing power for less money. |
Not quite. It cost nothing to install Windoze7 on my Mac, and I still get all the Mac benefits that Windows doesn't provide. As for more computing power for less money, that would depend on how you use your computer.
I'm considering taking Windows7 OFF my mac because it is quite a pig, needs more maintenance than I'm used to, and I rarely use it. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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I thought that Korea gave 10% student discount. With only 5% discounted, Canada is forsure why cheaper for me.
I have an Ontario College of Teacher's membership card. With that I can get the discount. |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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| crescent wrote: |
Right, only teachers registered back home in Loonieville can get the educator's discount. Here, they offer a smaller 'educator's' discount without question.
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Wrong, or at least at the store where I got mine. I told them I was a teacher in Korea, they took down my passport number (I don't have a license) and then I got the discount. |
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wanderingsalsero
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
Location: Houston, TX.
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:19 pm Post subject: Sounds to me like price isn't a big deal either way.. |
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It sounds to me like the price differential either way isn't enough to really care about. As for any functionality sacrificed on a Mac.......I don't know. Maybe.
But I don't think I do any of those things online that the one poster mentioned. I'm really primarily concerned with having a maching that not as prone to quirks and malfunctions as all my Windows machines have been.
Yeah, I play games too. But only Command and Conquer. I know I can get that for Mac or I can get the Windows software for the Mac and play the game on that.
I'd probably get a mid range power iMac. Just enough to play Command and Comquor, do my blogging and run some of my internet marketing operations.
Are there multiple places to buy Mac's in Korea? I live near Daegu now but I also go to Seoul maybe once a month. And yeah....I know where Yongsan is.
Regards,
Art |
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Hamlet
Joined: 18 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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There are two new Mac dealers in Myoungdong. There is another one in Jongno 3- ga. There is a store in Coex mall. One more in Yeongdongpo shopping center. I think there is one at Sinsa station.
The one that gave me the discount for paying cash is near Yongsan, but not in the main ipark building. It's on the other side of the big parking lot. |
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