Help Buying Online(overseas)

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zykis

11 posts

Geek

#92180 28-Oct-2011 08:17

Hey Geekzone,

I'm interested in purchasing a laptop online from http://gentechpc.com but I'm kinda confused because I heard that by buying from overseas, I'll have to pay customs duties and taxes and what not + I've never bought anything on the internet before, so purchasing a laptop ( over $1000) is quite worrisome for me.

I was wondering if someone here has experience buying goods online from overseas?
Do I pay for the customs duties/gst to gentech first? or do I have to pay it to NZ customs? If the latter...how?

Yeah, I'm just really lost and I want to get this laptop from overseas to my doorstep with ease because it took me quite awhile to save this much money and I don't want to regret doing or not doing anything.

Behodar

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#538495 28-Oct-2011 08:20

Usually the courier company will collect GST on Customs' behalf, when the item is received in NZ. You can pay it by credit card over the phone (I'm not sure what other options are available).

You may also have to sent the laptop overseas if you have any warranty issues.

johnr

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#538496 28-Oct-2011 08:21

That site looks like a scam!

zykis

11 posts

Geek

#538501 28-Oct-2011 08:30

@johnr: I've done some research and gentech should be a legitimate business (unless I've missed something).

@Behodar: Yeah I'm fine with the warranty part. So, when the item arrives in NZ, the courier company will contact me?

Behodar

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#538502 28-Oct-2011 08:32

Yup, usually the courier will contact you. Once I got a letter directly from Customs but in either case you just wait for them to contact you.

zykis

11 posts

Geek

#538505 28-Oct-2011 08:36

Ah sweet thanks! :)

wmoore

510 posts

Ultimate Geek

#538515 28-Oct-2011 08:59

From the website

GenTech ships internationally with different terms of payment method by country:
Credit Cards: Canada
PayPal: Canada and United Kingdom (with confirmed address by PayPal, orders with unconfirmed address payments will not be process)
Wire Transfer: All countries outside of Canada and United Kingdom.

So why can't you use a credit card or PayPal to pay for the goods.

seems strange to me ?

A lot of hassle if you ask me.

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-- Abraham lincoln

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timmmay

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#538540 28-Oct-2011 09:39

They have a 10/10 rating on reseller ratings... that's almost suspicious in itself. Only accepting wire transfer is a fraud protection thing for them, but makes it very risky for you - you have no comeback if something goes wrong.

You will pay GST (15%) plus a customs fee of $20-$50, as well as shipping.

Their Asus G74SX-DH71 costs US$1745, plus US$129 shipping. That's NZ$2300 or so. Add on GST and customs charges that comes to NZ$2685, maybe a bit more. It costs $2999 in NZ, based on a quick google search, you may be able to do a bit better. So you make warranty service difficult (unless it's an international warranty) for about $300.

Personally there's no way in h3ll i'd do this. The savings aren't worth the risk, given the red flags of international transfer and a too perfect record on reseller ratings.

I just got a new Lenovo laptop for my Mum, it came directly from a factory in China, it was DOA. They fixed it in a few days for me though.