Buying Electronics overseas

Forums › Off topic › Buying Electronics overseas

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79298 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#631364 28-May-2012 11:01

Some things will look used straight away. They are not dumb people after all. I travel with two or three smartphones, a laptop and never had problems.

zhuyan

177 posts

Master Geek

#631388 28-May-2012 11:49

Well back to your original question:

1) If this is your first trip to China and HK, I would suggest you buy your electronics including digital cameras, phones or laptops in HK, mainly from two chain stores: either the Fortress or the Broadway; these are the two most popular electronics store widely spread all over HK; it's actually difficult to miss either of them while you walk along the main street of HK

2) As for China, unless you have local friends to take you to the correct places, I suggest you leave that unless you are adventurous enough; one tip though: most big electronics chain stores in major cities in China, you could bargain with them on prices; never pay the tag prices as they are only for reference. If they say they don't bargain, you walk away.

3) Most young people in China these days buy from an online shopping community called Taobao.com; again unless you have close friends who are local, stay away from this too.

4) Talking about prices, they used to be a lot cheaper than those in NZ however the gap is narrowing down to between 10-20% these days; that said, the variety you find in HK is still unbeatable. Do your homework before you go as to what to look for, you won't be disappointed in HK. Remember when you are talking the latest release of IT products, HK wouldn't disappoint you both on availability and pricing

5) Have a nice trip:)

P.S. If two of you are travelling then the duty-free quota goes up to NZ$1500 in total; that would be handy too:)

zhuyan

177 posts

Master Geek

#631391 28-May-2012 11:53

One other observation re customs duty though: for people who are interested in fashion/clothing rather than electronics, HK would also be a nice place to shop, although one could easily exceed the $750 line by purchasing one nice jersey or even a leather wallet from those fancy shops in Central HK

networkn

Networkn
32355 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#631394 28-May-2012 11:54

Clothing and personal jewellery is excluded.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#631707 28-May-2012 22:15

khull:
freitasm: If you tick the box "Nothing to declare" and they pick you finding lots of items with a total over $700 then you have to pay GST on everything, plus an instant fine.

I've always wondered about this, I have 2 smart phones (work and personal), iPad and a Macbook when I travel - justifying that I bought them locally upon returning from an overseas trip may not be possible.

If you are worried, there is a form that you can fill in listing the items in question, so that Customs can verify that you took them out with you and are bringing them back in - and you don't have to pay duty on these.

The reality is that they are highly unlikely to question a cellphone - esp if you de-box it, put an NZ Sim in and load your contacts etc. However, you do still have to fill in a false declaration. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it or risk it myself. The saving is small (price - $700)x15%, and it it really worth risking the heavy penalties for a false declaration and committing customs fraud to get it? Plus, they will likely single you out for the full treatment on every future occasion you travel.

networkn

Networkn
32355 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#631709 28-May-2012 22:18

freitasm: Some things will look used straight away. They are not dumb people after all. I travel with two or three smartphones, a laptop and never had problems.

Do you declare everything each time?

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79298 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#631714 28-May-2012 22:24

I don't bring anything bought overseas in excess of the allowance, so what should I declare? I have the original boxes and invoices for my mobile phones at home, so that would settle anything quickly.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

wanghou168

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#632551 30-May-2012 12:30

I can pretty much assure you the goods & electronics are much more cheaper in HK & China by 20-30 % at least.
A couple of friends bought Macbook Pro in HK for approx. NZD1300 instead of paying NZD 2000 here.
But Apple products have global warranties, so there is no problem getting these from an official store overseas.
So it is cheaper, but there are risks for getting fakes and electronics which only lasts up to a year or two.
To honest I cant be bothered to buy or ship electronics when I travel to HK & China, I don't mind paying a bit more in NZ so I can get local warranties and avoid all possibilities of buying fakes.

MOBILE: Huawei P30
OTHER: Thinkpad E14 + Asus Vivobook + Intel NUC5i3 + A family of Raspberry Pi x 9 + Amazon Echo

lorenzo

91 posts

Master Geek

#633644 31-May-2012 19:37

...Macbook Pro in HK for approx. NZD1300 instead of paying NZD 2000 here...

That's interesting I always thought Apple had a strictly enforced global pricing scheme that with exception of vagaries of FX variations sell pretty much the same in any country.. Is this no longer the case?

zhuyan

177 posts

Master Geek

#633650 31-May-2012 19:56

lorenzo:
...Macbook Pro in HK for approx. NZD1300 instead of paying NZD 2000 here...

That's interesting I always thought Apple had a strictly enforced global pricing scheme that with exception of vagaries of FX variations sell pretty much the same in any country.. Is this no longer the case?

You are right here about Apple's global pricing scheme; however the volatility of NZD sometimes causes a bigger variance. If you look at the current pricing of the cheapest Macbook Pro, which sells in HK for HK$9088; using the current mid rate of 5.865 (NZD/HKD), that gives you about NZD1,550, as compared with the NZ apple retail price of NZ$1999 for the same model. Obviously you would have been even better off when the NZD was much stronger earlier on.

Personally given the speed at which electronics get upgraded these days, warranty doesn't really worry me too much as in one year's time you would be looking at different products anyway. That's also why I never require the so called extended warranty when I buy electronics in NZ.

The key here is to buy at decent shops in HK and you won't have to worry about product quality. The 4th Generation iPod I bought in Broadway HK back in 2004 is still working fine, if I choose to turn it on at times.

wanghou168

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#633668 31-May-2012 20:10

zhuyan:
lorenzo:
...Macbook Pro in HK for approx. NZD1300 instead of paying NZD 2000 here...

That's interesting I always thought Apple had a strictly enforced global pricing scheme that with exception of vagaries of FX variations sell pretty much the same in any country.. Is this no longer the case?

You are right here about Apple's global pricing scheme; however the volatility of NZD sometimes causes a bigger variance. If you look at the current pricing of the cheapest Macbook Pro, which sells in HK for HK$9088; using the current mid rate of 5.865 (NZD/HKD), that gives you about NZD1,550, as compared with the NZ apple retail price of NZ$1999 for the same model. Obviously you would have been even better off when the NZD was much stronger earlier on.

Personally given the speed at which electronics get upgraded these days, warranty doesn't really worry me too much as in one year's time you would be looking at different products anyway. That's also why I never require the so called extended warranty when I buy electronics in NZ.

The key here is to buy at decent shops in HK and you won't have to worry about product quality. The 4th Generation iPod I bought in Broadway HK back in 2004 is still working fine, if I choose to turn it on at times.

quite true
the price i quoted 1300nzd was the quote I received mid last year, when the exchange rate was still at its peak approx 0.82 or something

MOBILE: Huawei P30
OTHER: Thinkpad E14 + Asus Vivobook + Intel NUC5i3 + A family of Raspberry Pi x 9 + Amazon Echo

lorenzo

91 posts

Master Geek

#633675 31-May-2012 20:22

...That's also why I never require the so called extended warranty when I buy electronics in NZ....

Snakes Alive !!! you are a reckless fellow ! ;-) as Consumer Org keep reminding us - one of the biggest orchestrated ripoffs on the NZ public given our CGA and consumer protection..

I guess I had registered the strengthening NZ dollar - but I guess my observations were based on the affordability of beer - in foreign shores, obviously more time in the Electronic Stores and less time in the Pubs might have paid bigger dividends. Probably not as much fun though.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4