Korean Job Discussion Forums

Masan_Man · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Location: Masan City

So I bought a sweet ass laptop back home in the states on Ebay and I really want to have it shipped to me. Will I have to pay a duty on it when it gets here? Is there a place to check that out? It's at my Mothers, so I could have her repackage it to make it look not so new... is that necessary?

Can someone please give me some advice!!!!!

Thanks!!

- Andrew

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Have your mother repackage it, put a scratch or two on it, so it looks like it's been used. Then have your mother send it to you and mark it as personal effects.

It should be OK.

Oh.. make sure there's no price on it - not anywhere inside or out.

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

this is kind of tricky, because you obviously want insurance on it. But if you insure it for more than about 100 bucks, customs will pick it up. So, I would insure it for nothing, but pay a lot for FEDEX or DHL toget it here fast. They will be much mor reliable than the post office. Good luck!
and make sure that you make it look used and beat up

Callan · Joined: 04 Jan 2006

There is a better way...

Talk with the shipping agency you are dealing with and explain that it is a personal computer, but you need it for work. They will probably direct you to copy some documents (your visa, passport info) and send them with a confirmation of your employment in Korea. If everything goes well then it will just go through customs and you won't pay a thing.

I just did this a few months ago.

seoul101 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: Seoul

I just got a $3500 camera sent to me from the UK. I got someone to send the body with no accessories and battery in an old looking box, then had the rest sent seperately. It was insured, and customs did open it, but I guess they couldn't be bothered working out how much a camera body with no accessories is worth!

Thankfully I avoided a few hundred dollars of tax, hope you have the same luck...

here_for-_now · Joined: 06 Dec 2005

I'm having the same dilemma right now..had a camera and lense shipped to my mother's and planning to have her ship it to me next week from Canada.
I already told her to repackage it (so it seems older).
Question is what value does she put on the box? I'm worried if she marks it too low, it might not be handled with much care...but if she puts a higher value..then it will surely be picked up by immigration..
The actual value is a little over 1000$...what do you suggest?