Import vs. Local

J

jmulder01

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I have a friend who is currently in the States and will be returning shortly.
I am interested in a new motherboard an graphics card , so I decided to do a price comparison.
Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe Wifi motherboard cost incl. from supplier R2300.
Online retailer - USD converted to ZAR R1400.
XFX 9800 GX2 supplier local Price incl. R7900 versus R4600 (US retailer).
XFX 9800 GTX supplier local price incl. R3880 versus R2570 ( US retailer).
Now there is of course shipping cost , import duties and insurance that the supplier must take into consideration. Does this justify the 50% to 75% increase of the product? Are they boosting the prices to get rid of the old technology in their warehouse’s or what?
I can get an SLI setup for a few bucks more if I get it from the USA.
Ok I did not take customs duties into consideration. If I buy from a local PC store they will take their cut as well ending up paying 100% more. The warranty is an issue of course but I can get it replaced at the cost of R800 and have it back within 21 days.
 
GIGABYTE nVidia GeForce 9800GX2 1GB 2DVI/HDMI PCI-Express Video
Specification Mfr Part Number: GV-NX98X1GHI-B Chipset: GeForce 9800GX2 Engine Clock: 600 MHz Video Memory: 1GB DDR3 Memory Clock: 2 GHz Memory...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125093&Tpk=GV-NX98X1GHI-B

$599 - no direct shipping to SA.

http://techawave.jitbid.com/techawave/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=519043

$658 - ship to SA

Available Shipping Methods Rates (to South Africa)
United States Postal Service (Global Express Guaranteed (1 - 3 days)) $184.00
United States Postal Service (Express Mail International (EMS) (8 days)) $64.50
United States Postal Service (Priority Mail International (6 - 10 days)) $50.50

Add 14% VAT plus clearance fee plus R114 DHL fee.

Fry's

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/5536480
$599 - ship to SA

Charges - ?

Dunno, is it worth it???
 
Last edited:
Won't be shipping as my friend will be the buyer/courier.
14% VAT +-R140 clearing fee per item.
 
jmulder01 said:
Won't be shipping as my friend will be the buyer/courier.
14% VAT +-R140 clearing fee per item.
Click to expand...

I don't think a seperate clearance fee applies for customs at airports.
He may even slip by, by using the Green Lane.
 
It's worth it if you willing to go without the warranty. The fact is the suppliers here are screwing us over with their pricing so if you can make use of your friend and get some nice hardware.:)
 
I buy 90% of my stuff from the USA/UK these days

We have a company branch in the US that I have the stuff sent to, and they then forward it here.
They have a corporate DHL and UPS account, so the costs are low.
Corporate cost for express 2 day service from DHL is the same/less than most shops charge for post office delivery.

DHL and UPS only charge a clearing fee per shipment, not item.
UPS is R100, DHl R65
UPS clears everything before its in the country ( they fax through the details to SA office )

VAT is paid on 110% of the value of the goods as per tax regulations.
Some items have import duties

You need to register with SARS as a importer, but thats just 2 forms to fill in once and thats it.


I refuse to pay the unbelievable prices of many local things anymore




Just take the last thing I bought, Arthritis medicine for my one old dog
R500 per 1 month supply from local cheap VET, Average price in JHB, R580
Price including shipping from manufacturer in UK, R295 per box
 
If we guys can import all our hardware from the US at low cost it would be great:D! But it looks like that aint about to happen.:(
 
StillOnSent said:
DHL and UPS only charge a clearing fee per shipment, not item.
UPS is R100, DHl R65
UPS clears everything before its in the country ( they fax through the details to SA office )
Click to expand...

Clearance fee has been R100 plus VAT = R114 from DHL and UPS for more than 2 years now.
(Maybe they charge you less for corporate, although I would think that huge shops like B&H and Amazon can
negotiate very attractive courier deals because of the large volume they deal in.)
 
Last edited:
StillOnSent said:
I buy 90% of my stuff from the USA/UK these days

We have a company branch in the US that I have the stuff sent to, and they then forward it here.
They have a corporate DHL and UPS account, so the costs are low.
Corporate cost for express 2 day service from DHL is the same/less than most shops charge for post office delivery.

DHL and UPS only charge a clearing fee per shipment, not item.
UPS is R100, DHl R65
UPS clears everything before its in the country ( they fax through the details to SA office )

VAT is paid on 110% of the value of the goods as per tax regulations.
Some items have import duties

You need to register with SARS as a importer, but thats just 2 forms to fill in once and thats it.


I refuse to pay the unbelievable prices of many local things anymore




Just take the last thing I bought, Arthritis medicine for my one old dog
R500 per 1 month supply from local cheap VET, Average price in JHB, R580
Price including shipping from manufacturer in UK, R295 per box
Click to expand...

I don't know about corporate rates but for us private individuals NOT AS LUCKY AS YOU DHL/FedEX/UPS/TNT rates are much higher, 4 GB of MacPro RAM cost me $57 by DHL from California. The actual RAM cost like $158,
so thats a 25% markup.

You don't need to register as an importer for personal imports. I already tried and based on my application they said it wasn't necessary. I've been receiving imports since 1999 at the rate of one per week for that period - sometimes even more. I often go to Capemail Customs to pick up my stuff.

As for importing medicine, good luck with that. Medications (and food - sure I import some Pocky occasionally) need to come from a certified source and need to be stored properly (right temperature, mainly). If your parcel sat at some FedEx consolidation warehouse or more likely outside at some site in blistering mid-west heat - your arthritis doggy medicine is not only not
going to be effective, it may actually become darn harmful of its own.

If there is one thing you shouldn't import, unless you're importing from professional sources (ie you're a doctor/pharmacist), it's medication.
The rest is probably fine.
 
I've been buying most of my hardware from the online store Newegg in the US for some years now. I have friends I've made on US tech forums who order for me and ship it on when it arrives at their home in the US.

Generally I can get it landed here at half price including VAT when I buy it from the US as opposed to here. Although I can RMA the item if it packs up, the cost is inhibitive, so I try get the item from the US at around 50% cheaper. That way if it packs up I'm prepared to put up with the loss.

So far I have only had a 7900 graphics card fail on me. The rest of the stuff is still working hundreds. I would say if you can get the stuff from overseas and your friend is willing to bring it in for you it's going to be a bargain!
 
PeterCH said:
You don't need to register as an importer for personal imports. I already tried and based on my application they said it wasn't necessary. I've been receiving imports since 1999 at the rate of one per week for that period - sometimes even more. I often go to Capemail Customs to pick up my stuff.
Click to expand...

Everyone I know that has started importing were told they have to get registered if they bring more than 2 thing in per year.
DHL and UPS refused to clear things unless they registered

But its easy and free anyway.

Post office doesnt care
 
PeterCH said:
Clearance fee has been R100 plus VAT = R114 from DHL and UPS for more than 2 years now.
Click to expand...

Asked 2 friends that get DHL imports privately, and they also said DHL only charges them R65 + VAT.
UPS is R100


DHL have a better tracking readout on the web. (it gives more detail)

UPS has better pre-clearance
 
PeterCH said:
As for importing medicine, good luck with that. Medications (and food - sure I import some Pocky occasionally) need to come from a certified source and need to be stored properly (right temperature, mainly). If your parcel sat at some FedEx consolidation warehouse or more likely outside at some site in blistering mid-west heat - your arthritis doggy medicine is not only not
going to be effective, it may actually become darn harmful of its own.
Click to expand...

Agree with your general statements
One has to be carefull

Thats why I cleared it all with the manufacturer.


It comes straight from the manufacturer, so is certified.

Its certified to be stored in temperatures up tp 85'C and is shipped sealed in a heat and air protective packaging.

It comes from the UK and is picked up by DHL from the manufacturer at 1pm, leaves Heathrow by plane that night, and is usually delivered to me the next afternoon.

Manufacturer cleared all shipping and storage methods used
 
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