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binderman278
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
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 Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 7:16 am Post subject: Laptop: purchase in Korea or US (have it sent to me)? |
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| I need to buy a new laptop. I can't decide whether it is smarter to purchase one here in Korea or purchase one online from a US website and then have it sent to my parents and then have them send it to me here in Korean. I was wondering if anyone knew how the prices of laptops here in Korea compare to back in the US? And also if they know if I could find a laptop with a American power supply/AC cord and an English operating system? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. |
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StMichael
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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Hi binderman278,
My best guess is that if you're in Korea, you're better off buying a computer here. I believe all laptops have a transformer in the power cord that allows for 100-240 volts (Koreans call it "free voltage"), so all you need when you go back home is a plug adapter.
Try Technomart in Gangbyeong Station in Seoul (line 2). They have a couple of floors of computer sales kiosks all competing for your business. I recommend finding a Korean friend who can go with you to help you haggle. You can also ask them to instal an English version of Windows for you (and give you the disk for future needs).
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264328
If they don't have what you're looking for, try Yongsan.
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/SH_EN_7_3_5_1.jsp
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carleverson
Joined: 04 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Buy it at home and have it sent here. I'm not sure about computers, but the markup on laptops is ridiculous here. Also, the selection of laptops here is limited, so you end up paying up the nose for a laptop without the features you want. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| carleverson wrote: |
| Buy it at home and have it sent here. I'm not sure about computers, but the markup on laptops is ridiculous here. Also, the selection of laptops here is limited, so you end up paying up the nose for a laptop without the features you want. |
This is just not true (unless you are doing your computer shopping at hi-mart).
Prices are comparable and competitive (model on model) with home.
Most (mainstream) models you can find at home will be available here as well.
As a direct example, the Lenovo g460 was priced (at Yongsan) within 10k won of the identical model/features on-line (from a us e-tailer).
The cost of insurance and the shipping of the laptop from the states will cost you far more than you will pay in price differences.
ALL laptops are dual voltage (110-250 VAC) so they can go back and forth between here and the states when you return home. It is a simple matter to change the plug end when you go home.
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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^
Really? Maybe its a bad example, but when I looked into Dell Korea, the same model as the US had lower specs AND cost an extra 100-250k in korea. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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carleverson
Joined: 04 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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Tom, maybe he/she doesn't want to buy a Lenovo laptop?
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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| carleverson wrote: |
Tom, maybe he/she doesn't want to buy a Lenovo laptop?
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That was just one recent example.
The same is true of most major (non-US) brands including (but not limited to): IBM (made in China), Lenovo, Sony, Fujitsu, Toshiba, ASUS, Samsung (SENS), ACER, Packard-Bell, Panasonic and others.
The market is global and most (non-US) business travelers travel often enough to different countries so if the prices in one place are too out of touch then they buy it elsewhere. Prices tend to equalize.
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Italy37612
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
Location: Somewhere
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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I had my laptop shipped here. It was a Gateway gaming model that was on sale at a store in the US. Would have cost me about 700 bucks more to buy in Korea.
If you do have it shipped here make sure to get the insurance. Insuring the laptop (which was valued around 2,000 USD cost me around 100 USD through USPS.
I had it shipped to my parents first. They took it out of the original box and put it in other unmarked box. This was to avoid the customs tax that surely would have been slapped on it when it came to Korea. They still declared the full value but it was marked as "used". Had no problem getting it here in about two weeks. Saved myself about 500 Dollars overall. |
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Morticae
Joined: 06 May 2010
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:04 am Post subject: |
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I have a gaming laptop. Waaaaay cheaper, and much better, to buy from America.
I had it worked out so the seller did the following:
1. Marked package as warranty repair
2. Valued package at $500 (or $400, I forgot)
3. Shipped it to my school (if it matters), and he taped the address in Korean onto the package (if it matters).
Never had to pay a cent in customs. Shipping was maybe $150. Money well spent. Couldn't even get the same model in Korea, it doesn't exist yet... they are slow here when it comes to the cutting edge hardware it seems. |
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kraggy
Joined: 06 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:19 am Post subject: |
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Hi folks,
Just wondering about buying a laptop in Seoul.
What about the OS language in English? Can you buy a laptop that has English as its OS language and other software as well?
Also, what about the keyboard? Is it in English? |
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