I am planning on bringing a 37" lcd tv to Argentina with me and was wondering what I should expect at customs and if anyone has tips on packaging the tv properly. (I don't have the original box). Last time I brought a lot of electronics, I was taken behind the plastic drops next to Banco Nación to an area that was under construction and asked for a "tax" on my electronics while my luggage sat by their x-ray machine and other travelers were just walking by like nothing was going on, and the man even pointed up at a camera when I went to pull my wallet out in front of the bank and said "no, aca no".... I showed the man I only had 100 pesos in my wallet at the time and he took it... (2005, he had claimed I had 900 dollars in taxes at first but settled for 100 pesos, go figure)
I haven't brought anything into Bs As since so I don't know what to expect. I will be flying into EZE at the end of this month and wanted to know if there were any changes to the usual way they conduct business there or if I should worry about having to pay an outrageous amount of money if confronted. The tv is one of my own, and although it's a couple of years old, you can see it's used, wondering if that matters... Also, is there a difference if I say I am taking it back with me if they want too much money to bring it in?
On another note, I decided against bringing a dehumidifier with me, I will buy one there. A friend convinced me it's better to get one there.
And lastly, I am traveling with Aerolíneas, yes, I know... But there is something so wonderful about traveling in those planes, it must be my first travels aboard their 747 Jumbo that got me hooked. I grinded through several days of strike in September of 05 also but I don't care, I hope my ticket money helps the company a little bit more.
Anyways, I arrive at 7:50pm Bs As time and will be traveling directly to Villa Gesell with some friends, anything I should worry about or are we ok to travel at night? Should I stay in Bs As until morning?..
mccomb
Nov 10, 10, 4:00 am
I brought a 46" with me last time I came and the process is pretty straight-forward. You pay 50% tax on the value above U$S 300. With a new product, I brought the receipt, but I'm not sure how they will handle a used product. I assume they know the value, but you may want to bring an old receipt if you have it. You could also "make" an HTML receipt, but your mileage may vary with that approach. (My experiences are here: http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/bringing-flat-screen-tv-lcd-led-to-argentina )
I'd suggest taking it to a packing store and having them pack it. You'll need to make sure it has some pretty significant internal packaging. Also, I was told by a former baggage handler to write "TOP LOAD" on the box rather than "FRAGILE." This supposedly means it will be placed on the top rather than crushed.
HIDDY
Nov 10, 10, 5:01 am
Better check that your TV will work here.....mine didn't.
How much of a saving are you going to make by bringing one in? TV prices here are starting to come down so it might be worth checking the saving you'll make against the chances of being pulled up at customs and being asked to pay duty?
Personally, I couldn't be bothered with the hassle or the risk.
SoFlyOn
Nov 10, 10, 7:01 am
Unless you will be subscribing to Cablevision or Direct TV, your TV will not work in Argentina, which uses PAL-N for OTA broadcasts.
I would expect your chances of repeating you 2005 performance are now essentially zero. There were prosecutions earlier in the year of airport aduana employees giving expedited service to Argentines (arranged in advance). The whole area is now under video surveillance, and the employees can be tracked throughout the immigration and customs areas. If you tell them you don't have the money, they will most probably impound the TV until you can come up with the money (and they charge daily storage fees).
I arrived at EZE yesterday morning from the US with a new 23" LED HDTV/monitor, 110-240V, 50-60Hz). It was in it's original box, and packed inside a large soft-sided suitcase surrounded with foam and plywood sheets front and back. Soft-sided luggage is always top-loaded in the aircraft hold. I declared the TV on the AFIP form, along with a DVD player (dual voltage etc., PAL/NTSC, upconverting, HDMI output, region hackable), with a total value of just less then US$300. Because my bags went through the X-ray machine, the screener called out "monitor", but I was allowed to proceed without even opening my bag since I had declared the contents (I had nothing else packed with the TV except a short HDMI cable). I had the original receipts from Amazon and the delivery documents with me to prove the cost if necessary.
Returning Argentines bring back a lot of electronics, particularly from the US. The aduana agents have a very good idea of how much everything costs in the US since they see them all day long. If you don't declare anything and they find new or an excessive amounts of "used" electronics you can expect trouble.
If your TV doesn't work on 110-240v, 50-60 Hz, I don't think it's worth bringing, considering you would have to purchase a transformer (assuming the TV can work on 50 Hz - most newer TVs, particularly LEDs seem to be dual voltage/frequency these days - but the only way to check is to look on the back of your TV - the instruction manual will not necessarily be correct). You would also have to calculate the cost of the special packing and the oversize baggage fees.
John
mccomb
Nov 10, 10, 7:45 am
I'm not sure I would bring a used TV either, especially with the voltage issues.
Still, bringing the 46" Samsung saved me U$S 2000 over buying it here, even with all the extra charges and it works great with Cablevision HD.
fedechat
Nov 10, 10, 2:01 pm
I brought a Sharp 37" on Dec 2008 on BrandsmartUSA for 600+taxes and a Sony 32" 1080p on my last trip (July 2010, paid 500). I had to pay oversize baggage fees for the 37" (150 with AA) but I didn't paid a penny for the 32" since the box size was 67" (5" over the limit), you may have to paid some oversize baggage fees with AR. I always use the plastic protector, that's all :D
If you declare 450, you will pay 50% on the value above 300, 450-300=u$s150, 50% tax=u$s75, probably they will let you go because $75 is nothing and they have to do some paperwork. Don worry about the 220/110v voltage converter, you can buy it for u$s25.
Send me a pm with your email, I will send you my receipt, I had a copy (PDF file) that I got from BrandsmartUSA in 2008, is the same format as the original receipt, I can remove my name and put yours ;), I can change the amount of u$s. Then you can print the Weekly Ad from Brands Mart USA and you can show them (in case you need to), they had a Panasonic 37" LCD for u$s444.96+tax.