Shipping internationally

So, I guess Dell won't ship internationally...

I want to buy the new m17xr3 but I am rarely in the states these days. I work in China 80% of the year. I was waiting and waiting for it to be re-released and when it was, the EDD wasn't in time for me to get.

So, I'm thinking of having it shipped to my parents and then let them ship it to me in China. Anyone have any experience with this? Will it have problems getting through to customs? Will I have to pay some sort of taxes on it? Any help is appreciated as I've never done anything like this before.

On a side note, how well does Wi-Di work? I know the m17xr3 review that was posted a few weeks ago said it had the new chip but I don't see that mentioned anywhere in the current specs. This is something I'm very interested in. Does this model come with the receiver like they mentioned in the review?

 

I have several friends from Asia, both China and Vietnam, and they seem to consistently suggest (though not with great conviction) that shipping a high-end product into Asia from the US is risky. It wasn't always clear to me if in Asian culture, the expected reverence to family, culture, and country was keeping them from speaking their minds explicitly, but I ultimately asked a few pointed questions about shipping computers in, and I was told things like "I wouldn't do it because the taxes you will have to pay make it very not-worth-it." Someone here on NBR a while back also posted similar thoughts, and I think he was from Taiwan.

However, a friend of mine with family still in Vietnam told me that while shipping it unattended can be risky, if you bring it in person, hand-carried, unboxed in your luggage (so it doesn't look like you are trying to sell it as a new item at a profit), you will be fine. This is all I know, but the sources were reliable people from Asia, with family still there.

 

I just bought an R3 from the US (actually i bought 2, one for a friend as well), and will havei t shipped to family in the US,and from there have it shipped to Australia.

Ive done my reseach, and it seems to be a well trodded path to do that from the US to Aust. The biggest pain is the wait though customs, but overall its well worth it.

You must remember to add on the cost of shipping and import taxes to you calculations when buying, so you get the total "cost"

 

Yea, the more I think about it, the more I feel I just have to wait another 2-3 months before I'm back in the US. Thanks for the info though!

And the worst part is... that it seems like if I ordered it the day it came out, I most likely would have had it in time before I went back to China. sadface!

 

May I ask which company you used to send it to Australia? I'm looking at an R3 but it seems like it would be better value to purchase it from the US.

 

Defnt better value, for me the saving is likely to be around 20% after shipping and import taxes, others have had higher depending on your config and haggling.

I havnt decided on the company yet, but i think USPS will b the cheapest, at around $150. The whole dam box is around 21pds, which is the killer.