Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crsandus]

paying crazy customs or tax? Ideally I'd have someone I trust bring it over to me but I don't know anyone coming to Korea anytime soon. Normally I'd wait things out and buy it later or buy an equivalent in Korea but my current laptop is dying and the laptop I want in the US is currently a really good deal. Do I just have my family ship it to me and make sure to list it on the customs sheet and pay the tax? Or is there some obscurely legal way to get it here without paying up the yingyang?

HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition customizable Notebook PC

NZ599AV


�Espresso Black
�Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
�Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-720QM Processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 1333MHz FSB) w/Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz
�$100 OFF! 8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
�500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
�1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 230M
�15.6" diagonal High Definition LED HP Brightview Widescreen Display (1366x768)
�LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
�Webcam + Fingerprint Reader
�Wireless-G Card
�No TV Tuner w/remote control
�HP Color Matching Keyboard
�6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
�No Modem
�System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
�Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
�HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
Estimated build date: January 25, 2010

All for <$1000 before tax. Heck, just trying to buy 8GB of DDR3 ram is at least $370 from newegg and that doesn't count the fact that the processor is a i7.

[darkjedidave]

I hope someone can answer this as well. I want to buy an Alienware m15x from the States. The 1300US model costs 2.5 mil here! What a joke

[tatertot]

I think I read that laptops aren't subject to customs but they are subject to a 10% VAT. I am not sure whether this is true or not. Customs is really inconsistent here. I had a friend buy a $2500 Macbook Pro on eBay and she only had to pay 60,000 won for it. I have had some stuff shipped to an APO address and I didn't have to pay customs on any of it, but I'm not sure if it's always that way or I just got lucky. Your best bet is having it shipped to an APO address, if possible.

[kinerry]

[darkjedidave]

I ended up buying an Alienware m15x on ebay for about 2.5k (I know theyre overpriced, but Ive always wanted one) the seller is declaring as $400, so custom fees should be low or none. However, this is a risk becuase if destroyed by the postal service, I would only get $400 a refund.
Ask the seller to lower the declare value and it should help lower custom fees

[broken76]

If you send it as used and list it for a low a low amount it won't be taxed and there won't be fees but then as stated before the shipping insurance will only cover what is stated.

[pkang0202]

The insurance is moot. If the US seller gets shipping insurance, it only covers the package until it hits Korean borders. Once it arrives in Incheon, its no longer covered.

At least, that's what I read in the fine print.

[Xuanzang]

Get it sent to your folks or trusted person. Have them unwrap it, label it used/personal items then pack it with some old clothes or personal items. Hope for the best with Korean customs.

[crossmr]

You don't know anyone at all traveling back and forth? got a friend out renewing their contract? (it's getting close to that time of year)