Laptop Computers

[Cowpie]

I live work in the USA and work with someone from Argentina. He's told me laptop prices are very high in Argentina $2,000US compared to the USA. Because he has a work visa he's not willing to try and buy a laptop in the USA and bring it back to Argentina in fear of it being confiscated at customs. He told me Americans visiting Aregentina could bring in probably 2 laptops, one for work the other for personal use. On previous work related visits I brougt my PC.

Is it true a basic laptop for $750US costs over $2,000US (about $6,000 ars) I'm planning a trip to BA in the next month or so, if anyone knows someone who wants a $750 laptop let me know and we can make a deal, not looking to make a killing just cover some expenses.

[Thomaso276]

Customs here will impose a 50% duty on everything over $300 if they determine your laptop is new. Bringing in one out of the box should not be a problem, loading up several laptops still in packaging will definitely get their attention.

[Monger514]

Customs here will impose a 50% duty on everything over $300 if they determine your laptop is new. Bringing in one out of the box should not be a problem, loading up several laptops still in packaging will definitely get their attention.This is to protect the Argentine laptop industry, which, as everyone knows, is thriving and well known throughout the world for its high quality. Ditto Brazil.

[Daddy Rulz]

Customs here will impose a 50% duty on everything over $300 if they determine your laptop is new. Bringing in one out of the box should not be a problem, loading up several laptops still in packaging will definitely get their attention.Thomaso is right, if it's new in the box your fucked. However if you take it out, get some dust on it you could probably take it through without a problem. If you buy a laptop carrier and put two new ones out of the box no problem at all. A buddy of mine works for microsoft and has done this several times. You could probably pack the boxes in your luggage but I can't see the need.

You could also load up on pen drives and small mp3 players and sell them through mercado libre. Those you could put in your pockets.

[Out for Flesh]

Customs here will impose a 50% duty on everything over $300 if they determine your laptop is new. Bringing in one out of the box should not be a problem, loading up several laptops still in packaging will definitely get their attention.The customs behavior might be different depending where one comes from, but I've been to arg. Three times (always with a laptop, once from Spain and twice from Chile) and I've never been asked to open my backpack to show it. Well, it is true that I was only carrying one.

[Cowpie]

Thomaso is right, if it's new in the box your fucked. However if you take it out, get some dust on it you could probably take it through without a problem. If you buy a laptop carrier and put two new ones out of the box no problem at all. A buddy of mine works for microsoft and has done this several times. You could probably pack the boxes in your luggage but I can't see the need.

You could also load up on pen drives and small mp3 players and sell them through mercado libre. Those you could put in your pockets.Thanks Daddy.

What you described is my exact plan. I'm brining in two HP Mobile AMD Sempron Processor 3000+ with high speed wireless router, 15" display, 512 MB memory, 60GB hard drive and DVD RW / CD-RW double layer drive. They retail for about 1,000 each. I'll also provide a carrier with the computer.

You mention mercado libre. What is this?

I'm looking to sell them for around 1,500 each.

Let know if anyone's interested.

[El Aleman]

Cowpie,

Mercado libre = ebay Argentina.

One laptop these days is considered by more or less every customs officer in the world as personal stuff, used for your work or just to take home the 5378 pictures you take as a tourist with your digital camera.

2 computers might make the guy suspicious. So, one way would be, take one (the one you want to give / sell / whatever) use it during your stay, and at the end copy your personal files onto a CD, clean the disk and leave it.

50% import duty is just one of the many actions the Argentine government, in it's infinite wisdom, took to prevent their economy from booming. Btw. With great success.

El Alemán

[AllIWantIsLove]

This discussion about laptops has me concerned as I will likely have two laptops with me, one for work and one for personal things. But if I explain that one is for work might I then be asked if I have a work visa? I don't know about Argentina, but many countries require a visa if you are going to be working there. Note that I would be working remotely for my office in the US, but I don't know if that would make a difference.

Thanks,

Bob

[Daddy Rulz]

This discussion about laptops has me concerned as I will likely have two laptops with me, one for work and one for personal things. But if I explain that one is for work might I then be asked if I have a work visa? I don't know about Argentina, but many countries require a visa if you are going to be working there. Note that I would be working remotely for my office in the US, but I don't know if that would make a difference.

Thanks, BobYour on vacation but your asshole of a boss makes you take it with you so you can get shit done. Different from having a job in BsAs

[El Aleman]

I never thought about that one, but it should work. It might however require you to explain these circumstances to some bored customs officer, and it's the question if he beleives it.

And I would just hate to carry around 2 computers!

And, don't put anything into your checked luggage in and out of Argentina you cannot afford to loose! I learned the hard way, and now some baggage handler makes very nices pictures of his novia with what used to be MY camera.

Don't bother with "work viasas". On your 90 days stay, you are perfectly legal to do business, yours or your foreign employer's. You just are not allowed to get a job in Argentina or to set up a business there.

El Alemán

[Sportsman]

This discussion about laptops has me concerned as I will likely have two laptops with me, one for work and one for personal things. But if I explain that one is for work might I then be asked if I have a work visa? I don't know about Argentina, but many countries require a visa if you are going to be working there. Note that I would be working remotely for my office in the US, but I don't know if that would make a difference.

Thanks,

BobBob,

I'm not a labor/immigration lawyer, but I play one on TV ;) I'd tell them your are on vacation but you need the "work" computer to stay in touch with your job back at home. You need the second laptop since your company strictly forbid the use company asset for personal use.

[Amber Wrath]

What you described is my exact plan. I'm brining in two HP Mobile AMD Sempron Processor 3000+ with high speed wireless router, 15" display, 512 MB memory, 60GB hard drive and DVD RW / CD-RW double layer drive. They retail for about 1,000 each. I'll also provide a carrier with the computer.

You mention mercado libre. What is this?

I'm looking to sell them for around 1,500 each.

Let know if anyone's interested.[/QUOTE]Ask Jackson for his network repair guys name / number. There is a card in his apartment in Recoleta. He was interested in buying a laptop and such n such business.

[Jaimito Cartero]

I'd have an empty laptop bag in my luggage somewhere, and then have both laptops in one carrier. I carry a bunch of extra stuff in my laptop bag, and there could have easily been 2 or 3 laptops in there. I've never been searched going in or out of BA.

Mercado Libre is basically eBay. It's active in many latin countries. I think eBay even owns a slice of it. I'd say you'd be much better off to sell them through personal contacts. It might take awhile to have the listings go through and such.

[Monger514]

If you really have to take 2 computers for work it certainly wouldn't hurt to havey our employer write an official looking "To whom it may concern" letter explaining that. If you do get hit with some kind of customs duty, clearly it is your employer's duty to reimburse for that, if he required you to take 2 laptops.

Are you making this up? I never heard of anyone having to lug 2 laptops around the world to get work done.:)

[Sportsman]

I never heard of anyone having to lug 2 laptops around the world to get work done.:)Most companies have rule about using company asset for personal use. Even though as we know most of them do not and can not enforce it to the tee. But how is the custom officer to know for sure. You may also want to mention you intend to visit many, many porn sites :D which is strictly forbidden to do using compamy asset.

I recommend staying away from having a document from your company to show you need the laptop for work. That tends to appear you are in BA for work, which is not the case. You're on vacation.

[AllIWantIsLove]

I never heard of anyone having to lug 2 laptops around the world to get work done.:)I assure you I am not making it up. I work for a major computer software / hardware manufacturer. It makes sense doesn't it. The company does not want the laptop they provide me to be used for personal use. (Less risk of viruses is just one reason. And the company does not want software which they provide me so that I can do my job (e. G. Spreadsheet software) put on my personal PC for licensing reasons.

The business laptop has software on it which monitors installed software and usage. The VPN software which I have to use to connect to the company network probably reports some identifying info from the PC it is calling in from.

I don't see any solution other than carring both laptops.

Bob

[Monger514]

I believe you. I work for myself, so it all goes on one laptop.

I still think a letter from employer is not a bad idea.

[Locos and Man]

Has anyone succeeded in following through with this plan?

I have 2 concerns:

Payment from the buyer. The only way I can see with my limited knowledge is meeting the customer in person and accepting cash. Has anyone accepted payment by other means?

The other is if you take the notebook comp out of the box wouldn't be harder to sell? You could claim that it's new but not boxed, but this has me a little unsure. Also there's the off chance that you maybe asked at customs to turn on your computer and if it's brand new it will fire up a start up screen so I would opt to start the computer up and go through the windows instillation. Then the manufacturer's warrenty, how does that follow through?

As it turns out the concerns go on and on, but if anyone has a report on going through everything please feel free to report.

Sincerely,

LM