Expensive PC Hardware in SA

[Knyro]

Does anyone know why computer hardware and technology in general is so expensive in South Africa?

Are import duties and shipping really that high or is it just plain greed by local retailers? One of the more extreme examples I came across were these two:

Alienware M15x at newegg.com

Alienware M15x at wootware.co.za

Seriously, WTF you could almost buy two of the laptops at Newegg for the price of one at Wootware. Did I mention that the one from the USA has three times the amount of RAM, faster CPU and an HDD that's 340 gigs bigger?. I fail to see how all the costs of importing and selling of what is an clearly inferior laptop amount to over 20k seeing as how the Newegg one is $1550. If anyone has the numbers on how much retailers pay the manufacturers and how import duties are calculated please enlighten me.

Until the prices are more reasonable I think I'll stick to my grey importing ways. Screw the local retailers if they won't fix it, I'll just buy another one

 

[Pada]

There are already tonnes of threads like this, that was created within the past few weeks.

Just search for Import Duties / Import Tax in the PC Hardware Forum...

 

[Venomous]

As Pada said: Import duties & taxes....

= blame SARS

 

[Knyro]

Thanks, I'll look into it

 

[mister]

Computer hardware is duty free. You just pay vat. So shipping, markup, and vat, and after sales support....

 

[Archer]

Same reasons cars are expensive, and clothes, and just about everything else SA has to import. Lack of sufficient volume and SARS. The end.

 

[kayvee]

Yeah, compare it to cars and you will agree hardware is not as bad, relatively speaking.