Want to buy a US laptop. How to avoid duties?

[presonance]

I'm looking to buy a US Macbook for personal use but the import duties are ridiculous (20%). Does anyone know a good way to have it shipped here while avoiding duties?

Alternatively, I'm wondering if anyone flying to Korea soon would be interested in buying and bringing one over for me. I'll offer the equivalent won amount at the current exchange rate and add 50,000 for your troubles. PM if interested.

[Duffman]

Have it shipped to a friend / family member in the States. Have them take it out of the original packaging and put it in a normal box. If you get any hassle you can just say it was yours in the first place. This was how I got my laptop here.

You might want to look into the Korea-USA FTA in depth. Maybe the import duties have been eliminated.

[vw08]

It shouldn't be a huge problem if you have it shipped to someone you know at home and they repackage it before sending it to Korea.

I had to send my computer to the US for repairs and I did not have to pay a duty when it was shipped back to me. I've also had two Kindles sent here by my parents, one still in the original Amazon packaging, without problems or questions.  When filling out the customs form, it might also help to label it as "used" as opposed to new.

One thing to watch out for is that your friends/family may not be able send your laptop via USPS since they recently enacted a ban on shipping items lithium ion batteries.  Of course this depends on what type of battery your Mac uses.  I'm a PC girl so I have no idea about the Mac side of the computing world!  You can still use FedEx, UPS or DHL and I believe all three ship to Korea.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57432323-93/usps-to-ban-overseas-shipments-on-tablets-smartphones-more/

[Damien]

Have a family ship it. I've had a few thousand in things sent as gifts and never had any additional fee.

[Wretchard]

I got my brother to buy me a guitar in Canada and send it over. The price was about $1000 for the guitar. He wrote that it was worth $1000 on the package although I asked him to write $500 (if you want something done right...).  Said it was a gift. Not sure if there was an option to claim it was used or new.

Anyway, customs took the guitar and wanted me to pay 20% duty. I told them the guitar was only worth $500 and my brother has no idea what he is talking about. Told the guy it was my old guitar I got him to send over to me.

In the end, I had to go to ebay, find the same guitar that was used, take a screen shot and email it to him so he could see the the price. Good thing there are 100's of different models of Gibson SG guitars because I found one for about $500, send the screen shot, and had to pay 20% duty on the $500.

Guitars are big. Maybe a computer won't get so much attention. My advice is lie about the value just in case you have to pay duty tax.

[Cereal]

On the same note. I have a student who is bright and cares, which is a real joy for me. She lived abroad for 3 years and is bored to tears in my G6 elementary class. We talk and she can't believe how little her fellow students know after 3 1/2 years of English. She is Korean by the way, her Dad works for an international company.

But, I digress. She loves to read mystery novels - in English - and there are none around here. The library in this school doesn't have a single English book and there is "no money" in the budget, although there is plenty for after volleyball food and liquor fests on a weekly basis.

So I took a look on Amazon and found a beginner set of Nancy Drew mysteries. A gift box set of the first 4 novels. I was a huge Hardy Boys fan at that age and I bet she would love Nancy Drew.

If I order these (I will pay) as a gift for her, will I get stuck with duties? I will have them sent to my school.

many thanks.

[nomad_kate]

On the same note. I have a student who is bright and cares, which is a real joy for me. She lived abroad for 3 years and is bored to tears in my G6 elementary class. We talk and she can't believe how little her fellow students know after 3 1/2 years of English. She is Korean by the way, her Dad works for an international company.

But, I digress. She loves to read mystery novels - in English - and there are none around here. The library in this school doesn't have a single English book and there is "no money" in the budget, although there is plenty for after volleyball food and liquor fests on a weekly basis.

So I took a look on Amazon and found a beginner set of Nancy Drew mysteries. A gift box set of the first 4 novels. I was a huge Hardy Boys fan at that age and I bet she would love Nancy Drew.

If I order these (I will pay) as a gift for her, will I get stuck with duties? I will have them sent to my school.

many thanks.

If it's under $100, you probably won't get hit with duty.  However, you can order from What the Book (www.whatthebook.com), DEFINITELY pay no duty, and get free shipping over a certain amount.  I did a quick search and they have tons of Nancy Drew books  :)

[Cereal]

On the same note. I have a student who is bright and cares, which is a real joy for me. She lived abroad for 3 years and is bored to tears in my G6 elementary class. We talk and she can't believe how little her fellow students know after 3 1/2 years of English. She is Korean by the way, her Dad works for an international company.

But, I digress. She loves to read mystery novels - in English - and there are none around here. The library in this school doesn't have a single English book and there is "no money" in the budget, although there is plenty for after volleyball food and liquor fests on a weekly basis.

So I took a look on Amazon and found a beginner set of Nancy Drew mysteries. A gift box set of the first 4 novels. I was a huge Hardy Boys fan at that age and I bet she would love Nancy Drew.

If I order these (I will pay) as a gift for her, will I get stuck with duties? I will have them sent to my school.

many thanks.

If it's under $100, you probably won't get hit with duty.  However, you can order from What the Book (www.whatthebook.com), DEFINITELY pay no duty, and get free shipping over a certain amount.  I did a quick search and they have tons of Nancy Drew books  :)

I will take a look, thank you so much!

[oskinny1]

Why not just buy the computer in Korea? The only difference is that there will be hangul characters included on the keyboard.

[climber]

Two years ago I had my new computer sent here. My friend did some work on it, so it was sent in a different package. What go them was the insurance I had on the package, so they assumed it was new. They called me and asked if it was a new computer and I said no. I told them the truth, which was that it was sent from a friend.