Hey, I'm considering buying an ereader from the states, delivered by United states postal services (and then china post)
I know that I'm liable to pay taxes, but I have no idea how it works, can anyone explain the process to me? (does the kunming customs office call me, or is it the local post office? do I receive a notification at my place?
do I need to go check at the customs regularly? etc?
how did it go when you received goods here?
I just want to avoid the package staying in customs forever or at the post office without me knowing, or worse, I don't know, I guess I'm just starting to grow a bit paranoid...
thanks!
Ilan
It is fairly painless. You get a notice from China Post and you have to go to the office specified. For me it has always been the International Post Office on Beijing Lu. I have never had to pay any duty or tax, in Kunming or Beijing. Last couple of tines I had to pay 3 or 5 yuan. Don't know what that was about.
If you buy/get DVDs they get held up in Chengdu until you provide some documentation.
BRING YOUR PASSPORT!
The ETA for my Kindle is 3 weeks. I suspect I will have to pay tax on it. I hear noise about people paying tax on mobile phones. Note: China tax is on the "all in" value so the cost of postage/shipping could also be taxed.
My friend got something sent to him once (I think it was a computer game or something?) and he had to pay more in taxes than what it was worth.
I would get an e-reader from www.taobao.com as its likely you will have to pay some stupid amount for import tax.
Check out taobao though, search for ereader. Looks like you can get sonys, kindles, kobos (I have one and they are pretty cheap and OK). Then, depending what country you are from, use a VPN for ordering the books. I am from NZ and use Astrill which makes it look like I am still there for my kobo purchases (they are geographically aware as each place pays different rates for books).
To get stuff from Taobao though you need to set up some stuff with your bank (according to my friend), special account or something. Talk to some Chinese friends, they will probably have an account already.
Last time I had to pay tax, got a letter from the Customs office with a phone number.
Called the number, they told me where to collect (airport this time) and how much tax.
I went to the office with may passport and money, paid the tax, got my gear.
Thank you all for the usefull advice!
@blobbles : special thanks! you actually made me change my mind... the Nook from barnes and nobles I was looking to buy is actually cheaper on taobao.com (if you include postage, about 30% off), I would get it faster and with much less trouble... (i'm ashamed to say I didn't know this website... i'm new in China)
I'm just wondering how come nooks end up on taobao (considering B&N don't ship to any countries execpt the US) could it be a fake? or just directly from the factory (it's bound to be somewhere in China...)
Be careful buying anything on Taobao as some people are fake and will take your money no qualms. To think there are people like this in the world?? My friends tell me they can usually tell by the ratings etc people get, but it isn't as reliable as e-bay and others.
Its likely that the item is out the back door of the factory yes! Though you can't be sure of the authenticity or quality of the item I would ask for real pictures (cell phone OK) and email contacts, even talking to the person and doing everything you can to make sure its real.
Cheers blobbles that's really usefull advice too for a noob like me (i'm guessing after a few months in China, checking you don't get sent a fake item becomes second nature...)
I was browsing for a kindle touch too and they had pictures of the kindle 3 (not touch) instead... shady indeed :{|
YEAH i'll be able to read the whole Discworld series in about a week (if the postman manage to overcome his fear of my french name and get himself to actually deliver the thing... unlike the last four letters/parcels...
got to love China hehe
