Yeah. I bought a camera in Orchard road and the guy threw in an extra battery to clinch the deal.....turns out the battery was faulty but it was too late and I was on my way back to SA. Tip make sure everything is sealed then you have some idea that its new.
I was told to post the manuals back to SA and bring the Cam in as if I took it out of SA....me thinks this is illegal though.
Incidently, the camera was about 40% cheaper than SA. The Cam was R20 000 here.
Custom guys are not stupid. You have to declare all expensive items bearing serial numbers before departure. If you don't have that slip of paper (they keep a copy) they can charge you VAT on 110% of the value. Making up a value will only work if its realistic and the guy is sympathetic towards you
or lazy, otherwise they go on the WEB and plug in the make and model number
of your item into Google and determine the price that way.
I just go bolloxed by customs (in the mail) for a lousy USD 8 cup, (800Yen)
for R35. They charged me an inspection fee, the b-tards.
SA is probably the only country in the world where they will charge you an inspection
fee on an item whose value is way below what one pays duty for.