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Digital camera: buy in the states or in Korea?

 
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SOOHWA101



Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Location: Makin moves...trying to find 24pyung

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:57 pm    Post subject: Digital camera: buy in the states or in Korea? Reply with quote

Which would be cheaper?

Also, should I bring my own blender, iron, etc. I would have thought that electronics would be cheap in Korea, seeing as how that's where they are made, but I get a feeling they are expensive there.

What appliances and electronics would you have brought knowing what you know now?
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:10 pm    Post subject: Re: Digital camera: buy in the states or in Korea? Reply with quote

SOOHWA101 wrote:
Which would be cheaper?

Also, should I bring my own blender, iron, etc. I would have thought that electronics would be cheap in Korea, seeing as how that's where they are made, but I get a feeling they are expensive there.

What appliances and electronics would you have brought knowing what you know now?


Leave your appliances at home. They don't like the electricity here.

In the states your power is 110-120v@60Hz. In Korea it is 220-240v @ 50-60Hz.

You will need step-down transformers for anything/everything that is NOT dual voltage (like a laptop or perhaps a travel shaver).

You can buy an iron for $15, a blender for $25, and other appliances are similarly priced. Basic microwave oven for $70. Toaster for $20.

The 2nd drawback is the weight when you bring them. You gotta pack all that stuff around from pillar to post. Not worth the trouble.
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SOOHWA101



Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Location: Makin moves...trying to find 24pyung

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:32 pm    Post subject: Re: Digital camera: buy in the states or in Korea? Reply with quote

ttompatz wrote:


Leave your appliances at home. They don't like the electricity here.

In the states your power is 110-120v@60Hz. In Korea it is 220-240v @ 50-60Hz.

You will need step-down transformers for anything/everything that is NOT dual voltage (like a laptop or perhaps a travel shaver).

You can buy an iron for $15, a blender for $25, and other appliances are similarly priced. Basic microwave oven for $70. Toaster for $20.

The 2nd drawback is the weight when you bring them. You gotta pack all that stuff around from pillar to post. Not worth the trouble.


Thanks for the info! Those sound like prices I would find at say, a Target. Not Walmart deals, but not bad either.

So what is all this crap about people complaining about ovens costing an arm and a leg. I also saw someone trying to sell a blender for $80 USD on pusanweb. Are they just not shopping around or what?

Converters here are dirt cheap, but I would rather skip the hassle if this stuff is that cheap. Also, is there a Fry's there? I saw a posting in the FAQ.
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:25 pm    Post subject: Re: Digital camera: buy in the states or in Korea? Reply with quote

SOOHWA101 wrote:
ttompatz wrote:


Leave your appliances at home. They don't like the electricity here.

In the states your power is 110-120v@60Hz. In Korea it is 220-240v @ 50-60Hz.

You will need step-down transformers for anything/everything that is NOT dual voltage (like a laptop or perhaps a travel shaver).

You can buy an iron for $15, a blender for $25, and other appliances are similarly priced. Basic microwave oven for $70. Toaster for $20.

The 2nd drawback is the weight when you bring them. You gotta pack all that stuff around from pillar to post. Not worth the trouble.


Thanks for the info! Those sound like prices I would find at say, a Target. Not Walmart deals, but not bad either.

So what is all this crap about people complaining about ovens costing an arm and a leg. I also saw someone trying to sell a blender for $80 USD on pusanweb. Are they just not shopping around or what?

Converters here are dirt cheap, but I would rather skip the hassle if this stuff is that cheap. Also, is there a Fry's there? I saw a posting in the FAQ.


Kitchen ranges here are simply a 2 burner gas stove and they do not have an oven so ovens are an extra "luxury" item for most households.

Most of the time they are mostly just overgrown versions of a toaster oven. For most campers (foreign teachers) who are only here for a year, then get a cheap microwave at homeplus or lottemart if you don't have one in your apartment already. For the single person, eating out is usually cheaper than eating in anyway unless you prefer places like Outback and TGIF or someplace similar.

If you are in a reasonably large center then you can find most appliances in places like Home plus, E-mart, Wallmart or Lottemart /department store at prices, quality and brandnames that are similar to those at home.

You can get even better prices at the open markets and smaller shops after you learn to get around.

Don't know about a Fry's here. Never seen one.
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mindmetoo



Joined: 02 Feb 2004

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Digital cameras aren't cheap in Korea. Most digital cameras are Japanese imports and there's a huge import duty. There are some places where you can buy smuggled electronic goods but that's pretty advanced shopping. Get your camera at Best Buy.
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SOOHWA101



Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Location: Makin moves...trying to find 24pyung

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mindmetoo wrote:
Digital cameras aren't cheap in Korea. Most digital cameras are Japanese imports and there's a huge import duty. There are some places where you can buy smuggled electronic goods but that's pretty advanced shopping. Get your camera at Best Buy.


lol. Thats exactly where my family instructed me to purchase my camera. Out of all the places....
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OiGirl



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun

PostPosted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I usually check out Circuit City and Best Buy, and then buy the camera I want on sale at Target. That is, ever since the Sony outlet store closed...
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SirFink



Joined: 05 Mar 2006

PostPosted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The company that hired me provided a furnished apartment that included a microwave oven, a space heater, a vacuum cleaner and even a brand-new iron and ironing board. It couldn't hurt to ask your employer if they'll provide these for you. You never know.
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