Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shostahoosier]

I'm thinking of buying a digital camera and an MP3/video player but I'm not sure if they're cheaper to buy in Korea or the US.

Any advice?

I'm leaning towards just getting an iPod touch, however I'm annoyed that they'll probably release the newest generation of the Touch while I'm overseas.

[hanguker]

I'm kind of curious about this too.

Are there any "must buy" electronics items when I go back to Canada this summer?

I've noticed the digital cameras seem a lot cheaper back home.
Also, some of you have mentioned PC graphics cards.

Anything else?

[dazzed]

Actually certain cameras in korea are cheaper. The prob with those kind of camera don't have warranties. I think that's why they are cheaper. My friend bought this canon before here he left and lost in a week. Than found the same model back home and was 2 hundred more in canada.

I'd suggest you check danawa.com to see what general prices you find of the model first and check some western sites back home and compare. don't forget the exchange rate.

After that go check at yongsan. Haggle. I was at the shop for an hour haggling and brought it down 100 bucks and free case and memory card.

[jsk]

My experience is that almost all electronics you find for the cheapest price in Korea (at Yongsan or Gmarket) can be bought cheaper back home in the U.S. through Amazon or Newegg. At one point I was considering buying a new P&S camera, an iPod touch, or a netbook, but prices here were 20-30% higher. Not a deal breaker if you really need them, but not worth buying here if you don't.

[crossmr]

If you want to save money on a wii.. I think they're 220,000W so with exchange they're under $200. Get it modded before you go and you can play north american games on it just fine.

This is korean made: http://www.gp2xwiz.com/ its an open source portable gaming device. You can get them from import shops but their stock is hit and miss.

[moosehead]

the ONLY reason any camera or other electronic product would be cheaper here is because it's an outdated model - which are plentiful here.

newer products are cheaper in the u.s. due to trade agreements. same in Jpn - the days of cheaper in Asia are long gone - tho China does have some bargains if you know where to look.

in Jpn you can find products not yet released in the U.S. and for comparable prices but beware it might not have an E version; otherwise buy it back home.

HongKong is good for reasonable prices and good products but again, be careful where you shop. I bought a great Olympus digital at the airport in 2006 and am still happy with it.

[crossmr]

[Demophobe]

I appreciate the way this country works: it's small enough that RMAs are almost same-day, and Yongsan or technomart are close enough that I can buy it in the morning and if there is a problem, I can return it in person, no questions asked.

As far as outdated models, maybe. Though I have never had that problem with MP3 players, cameras, computer parts or...anything actually. Besides, only idiots buy the absolute latest gear.

Buying back home means long wait times for delivery and if something is wrong, by-the-letter warranty hassles and long waits for returns.

I can order online here (and get a great deal; better than the store) and get it the same or next day. I bought my MP3 player, digital camera, oven and washing machine this way.

[pkang0202]

[crossmr]

[sigmund]

It is hard to beat U.S. prices on electronics, or just about anything for that matter. Mainly it is because the U.S. businesses have adapted extremely lean distribution practices. Items sold in the U.S. exchange hands far, far less than in Korea and usually in most of the world. The U.S. also has one of the cheapest trainsportation systems in terms of extensive highways/rail lines and cheap fuel.

The best deals are in Yongsan or online, but you really do have to search them out. I think that memory is one of the better deals in Korea. Not exactly a big ticket item, but nice none the less.

Fake electronics are common and their main market is Asia. Any electronics that you buy at a suspicious cheap price check out very carefully. I have seen a Chinese made iPhone that was very convincing. On close inspection the fit and finish wasn't as nice and the menu was REALLY close but lower resolution. If you had never seen a real iPhone in person you would totally buy it as the real deal. It didn't have all of the features of the iPhone but I think that it was only like 190,000.

Check out this Korean made media player and its Chinese counter fit.
http://www.tvix.co.kr/ENG/Faketvix.PDF

[crossmr]

The ipods sold at the duty free shop would come through incheon port likely. The ipods sold in the US still have to be shipped to the US before they're distributed there. Retailers still run about a 30% markup on goods.
You have a pretty hard time convincing me that its the american retailers that are so lean and not the duty free shops gouging on price.

I've already pointed out that the price was less at a legitimate (non-yongsan) apple reseller in seoul than the duty free even just taking away standard tax and not even including duty.

my point was duty free electronics are a myth and there are legitimate shops selling stuff for less than the duty free when you actually look at it.
People seem to get great deals on cosmetics but you're getting ripped off on electronics.

[eamo]

My opinions on electronics shopping here in Korea are well known around the tech forum.

It sucks. It's rubbish. Rip-off prices, even on home-produced items, and limited selection, even in Yongsan, the self-declared largest electronics mall in Asia.

[crossmr]

[eamo]

^ No doubt you can find reasonably priced stuff in Korea.

The PC soundcard I bought a few months ago was cheaper than Newegg.......and the Zalman CPU coolers I buy are cheaper than Newegg......but they're exceptions. I get a little buzz when I see something in Korea that's actually cheaper than the online price in N.A.

The worst is probably graphics cards. For My next upgrade, I would dearly love a 4870x2......$400 or less on Newegg..........800,000 plus in Korea!!!

Actually, a Sapphire 4870X2 (with a free game) is $359 on Newegg.....460,000won.......mail in the $20 rebate and that makes it $339=434,000won.......

One solitary 4870X2 is listed on Danawa for over 1,000,000 won. Another solitary one on Enuri for over 800,000. 5 models are for sale on Newegg.

It's been this way since before the big currency change. For some reason, high-end computer stuff is horribly overpriced here.....or just not available.