Importing a laptop from UK

I

infrared

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Hey guys,

So recently I bought a Dell laptop from dell UK website for around R12000 and had it shipped to my uncle's house in UK. Now the issue is getting it to South Africa. Shipping alone for carriers like DHL is like R2000 and FedEx is quoting me £220 for shipping. I don't mind paying around R2000 for shipping but then comes the issue of custom duties. I know on Laptops it's only VAT or unless there's other charges which I'm not aware of. But it's still going to be almost R2000 in VAT and I'm gonna end up paying almost R16 to R17K for a laptop.

The only other option I have is that some of my family is currently in UK and they will be returning to India and from India I know someone that stays in South Africa that is currently in India that is going to be coming back here. So I can probably tell that person to bring it for me. But from what I know they are very strict with laptops at customs coming in. What can the person that's bringing in the laptop do to avoid customs/VAT? Or is there something I can do to get it shipped directly here in a way that will not attract customs/VAT?

Thanks.
 
infrared said:
Hey guys,

So recently I bought a Dell laptop from dell UK website for around R12000 and had it shipped to my uncle's house in UK. Now the issue is getting it to South Africa. Shipping alone for carriers like DHL is like R2000 and FedEx is quoting me £220 for shipping. I don't mind paying around R2000 for shipping but then comes the issue of custom duties. I know on Laptops it's only VAT or unless there's other charges which I'm not aware of. But it's still going to be almost R2000 in VAT and I'm gonna end up paying almost R16 to R17K for a laptop.

The only other option I have is that some of my family is currently in UK and they will be returning to India and from India I know someone that stays in South Africa that is currently in India that is going to be coming back here. So I can probably tell that person to bring it for me. But from what I know they are very strict with laptops at customs coming in. What can the person that's bringing in the laptop do to avoid customs/VAT? Or is there something I can do to get it shipped directly here in a way that will not attract customs/VAT?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Stick it in hand luggage and say it’s theirs? SA customs, in my experience, is extremely lax.

“Anything to declare?”

“Not today”

“OK thank you”
 
The Voice said:
Stick it in hand luggage and say it’s theirs? SA customs, in my experience, is extremely lax.

“Anything to declare?”

“Not today”

“OK tha
Click to expand...
Ya that's the best option for me right now. I just hope that it gets from UK to India safely. Thanks for your response.
 
Why did you buy it in the UK without first knowing how it was going to get to you?
 
What would a similar model laptop cost you here in South Africa? Will the laptop you purchased have an international warranty and will it be honoured locally?
 
Magandroid said:
What would a similar model laptop cost you here in South Africa? Will the laptop you purchased have an international warranty and will it be honoured locally?
Click to expand...
sorry for replying so late. It goes for about 20k here and it comes with 1 year international warranty
 
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