Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pkang0202]

Seeing how expensive various items are in Korea, I had an interesting thought.

Lets say you had $2000 in cash. Would it be better to bring $2000, or would you instead buy $2000 worth of products that are WAAAY overprices in Korea and just sell them here for more money?


I remember reading about a guy who only brought 2 bicycles to Korea. One for him, and the other to sell. He sold it here for almost double what he paid for in the US.

[DeMayonnaise]

Cash, definitely. Sounds like a pain in the butt to have to sell everything. And that's assuming you can even find buyers.

What exactly is so overpriced here that you could bring stuff over and sell it for more?

[Claytron]

[madoka]

[AsiaESLbound]

You could do both. Bring a briefcase full of US dollars in mint condition and bring me 2 large suit cases full of rare goods like frozen deer loins, frozen wild caught catfish fillets, Smuckers natural peanut butter, long grain wild rice, Wisconsin cheese, new clothing from Macy's, mens white cotton briefs, and 100 Powerbars. There's no guarantee of getting past the import ban of meats though I'll pay you gold hard cash for a nice care package like this and you'll make money. Unfortunately, caring for the transit of my care package won't leave you much room for your necessities you wished you had brought.

[crossmr]

[NYC_Gal]

iPad

Bring 2

[morakanokbs]

money

[pkang0202]

For example, laptops and netbooks are outrageously priced here. A $300 netbook sells at Yongsan for like 500,000-600,000won.

Brand name bicycles go for almost double.

Diamonds are a lot more expensive in KOrea than say Canada or the US.

Jsut a few of the goods that wouldn't be too difficult to unload.

[air76]

You could undoubtedly do the same thing any time you go from one country to another country, assuming you wanted to lie on your customs form and had a realistic method of finding buyers....the question is whether or not it's worth your time to make a few hundred bucks. You could only make REAL money if you were to sneak a large quantity of something through customs without paying duty.

You'd make a ton of money if you could illegally import 2,000 bottles of soju into the US.

The question is how much hassle is it worth to you to make $500? By the time you put in all the travel (plus shopping time at home), risk not selling something or something breaking on the trip, risk paying duty at the border (depending on what you bring and how much of it you bring)...it might be better to just work a little overtime.

[air76]

[crossmr]

[Vagabundo]

luggage restrictions and not making as huge of a profit as you think would discourage me from bringing in goods to sell. etc.

However, goods that I need or like and want to use are always acquired outside of Korea and brought in , since they'll always be cheaper, and in terms of clothes, in the sizes and fashions that I prefer.

[pkang0202]

I just remember some guy just bringing 2 cannondale bikes. No luggage, no clothes, just 2 bicycles.

Those bikes are a couple grand in the US, and he sold it in Korea for twice as much within a week of landing. We all know Koreans love buying the best sporting equipment, even if they are beginners.

The guy used the money he made from selling one of the bikes to buy his clothes and everything else he needed for his stay in Korea.

I just thought it wouldn't be a bad idea.

Compare the price of things like Tiffany's jewelry and Chanel bags from US to Korea. Hell, a pair of SILVER earrings that sell for $199 in the US sell in Korea for like 600,000w.

[alpope23]

How about a big chest of beads, mirrors, calico and hatchet heads. Then trade it for Yeouido!