Bringing in a New Printer at EZE??
 

I would like to bring in a printer for a friend. I would like bring it through customs at EZE as well. There is a great Laser Printer on sale for less than $100 here in Los Angeles. If I brought it in via air as baggage ( I have 3 pc allowance on UA ) and declared it ( on some form I guess as I will have a receipt). Will I have a hassle? Forms to fill out or lines to wait in? I normally just get Xrayed and walk ( very fast ) Is the Duty Free Exemption $300 USD?? For USA Residents. Kindly advise...

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I suggest you just get in the customs line... If they ask just tell them the cost and show the paperwork.. You should be fine.

Alex, I believe the exemption is still US$300 (US$150 if less than 16).

I've brought in a couple of printers without a problem. I never declare specifically anything on the form if the total is less than $300. I just indicate that I have less than the exemption.

I always have the receipts handy though ... a few times I've had an attempted shake down, but I've always stood my ground (and can prove everything with receipts).

When the shake down starts, I speak in English to make it difficult for them to indicate what they want :D but I always indicate I'm in no hurry and will stand my ground - and point out that I can read both the English and castellano on the forms that specifically detail the exemption. If they persist, I switch from my pleasant persona ;) to a more business like tone that the other passengers now being held up can overhear. That seems to discourage any further harassment.

John

Flying Machine - will the printer work on 220V/50 Hz? I have an HP DeskJet that is internally autosensing (some HPs also have 120/220 dual voltage bricks).

John

Good Point, I did not know there is a difference in voltage, as the plug types looked the same? I never took notice before and plugged something in from the States. Can you advise on this point any further? I would appeciate that help. Its actually a Brother HL Series I was thinking about buying, I will need to verify on my side too. Thanks for the tip. May have started an Asado with a bad flavor profile.. :)

Just saw this:
http://www.adaptelec.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=251
Guess I would need a convertor and step down transformer?

I would not worry about voltage... even if the printer is only 120VAC, your friend will be able to buy a reliable and inexpensive AC transformer... these are widely available in Buenos Aires and will include a "female" port that will accomodate the US style plug.

Yes.... sorry, it is US$300, I was mistaken (confirmed this with a TA friend).

Does someone have a link to an Argentine Customs website where the details of the allowance are explained..???

If so... please post here !!!! Thanks.

From www.aa2000.com.ar

Which are the taxes charged by Customs?

In the case of international and regional flights, you can enter the country:

Without paying any fee:
- Clothes, and personal objects already used.
- Books, newspapers, and brochures for non-commercial purposes.
- Brand-new products for an amount of up to US $300 (US $150 for minors under 16).
- Additional benefit of US $300 (US $150 for minors under 16) for goods purchased at the Duty Free-Shops upon arriving.

Paying the Duty:
- Any goods exceeding US $300 (US $150 for minors under 16), with non-commercial purposes.
For more information, please contact
The National Customs Department (Dirección General de Aduanas):
0810-999-2347

I can't find the Form, but the exemption is 300u$s, FYI most printers/laptops/digital camera chargers are 110-240v compatible, but you need to buy a plug adapter like this (just 3 pesos/1 dollar)

http://www.trianglelaptops.com/image...medium/480.jpg

EDIT: here is the form (PDF) :)

http://www.afip.gov.ar/genericos/for...f/f2087_G1.pdf

Here's also the AFIP customs regulations for tourists (in English):
http://www.afip.gov.ar/english/touristInformation.asp

John

Thanks John.... just what I needed... ^ ^

Fede.... please note the above image is of the old electric norm in Argentina.... while outlets with that norm will still exist in older construction/buildings and may still be available at some hotels... Argentina's newly adopted electrical norm has the three (3) prong/leg system... and they are flat rather than round connectors.

Im sure John or some other of the local residents will dig up a picture and post it.

Yes I know but IMO the old adapter still the best option, the new electrical outlet are compatible with the old electric norm

Electric plug adapter (new norm)

http://www.brilliantstore.com/pimage...l-cpa-1337.jpg

or

http://image.magellans.com/mitcus/Im...ea23meg_dt.jpg

New electrical outlet (not all are compatible)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/...ae695db68b.jpg

Although there used to be a huge price differential between printer prices in the US and Argentina, the prices at the low end are now more comparable. If you have to buy a step down transformer, I don't think it's worth it. The Brother HL series is only 110V in the US, and would require a real 1000W step-down transformer (not a voltage-clipping cheapy), and one that has a three prong (grounded earth) plug.

For example, you can buy an HP P1005 laser printer in Argentina for 514 pesos (~US134), which lists for US$100 is the US (excluding tax, but you would be able to find store discounts).

http://www.fravega.com.ar/productos/13

Fedechat, although many small electronics are dual voltage in the US, that is not the case for printers, which have a high current draw. The US market is so big, and very competitive, that products destined for the US (and that of course have to be specifically approved), and are not designed for travel, are normally only 110V (cheaper to manufacture).

Often you will see identical products around the world that come localized with a country-specific wall wart transformers. Dual voltage transformers are more expensive, and many countries now have mandatory energy efficiency requirements for step-down transformers.

John

In my experience if you are foreign the customs people don't really want to know.

A few weeks ago my usual trick of acting like a foreign idiot worked a treat. ^

You have to act? :D:D

So your wife makes you the mule to carry in the contrabando? ^^

John

Don't need to act all that hard to tell the truth. :p

Only made the mistake of allowing the wife to do the talking to the customs people once......never again and have always sailed through. ^

Not that we've ever brought in much right enough - just can't be bothered lifting the cases on and off.

Are you sure? I have in my office HP, Xerox, Lexmark and Canon printers (laser, inkjet, AIO, Prof. photo printers etc) all are 100-240V. Most Brother's printers are 100-120V but I'm sure Flying Machine will buy HP or Epson :D, otherwise he will need to buy a lot of cartridges.

Update and Question
 

Actually had my eye on the Brother HL-2140 ( I have one already and works like a gem ) for $49 USD with a free handheld label printer ( special at Office Depot this week ) Its a laser and the Cartridge that comes with will last over 4 Packages of paper. Thats over 2000 pages. Additional cartridges are $20 from the refillers..

So Fly.. Thanks for all the tech advice. So what is the cheapest and best transformer my friend can buy in Argentina.. Otherwise the HP link is somewhat interesting. Thanks to all whom have taken the time to reply.

I had no problems bringing in multtiple latops all kinds of foreign equipment and two pairs of skis. The only question from customs after xray was were I'm from and that was it. Maybe the Lufthansa PA standing next to it was helping by giving me some authority, no idea.

Using that scheme I even managed to get six 5 litre barrels of beer into Malaysia :)

Fedechat, if you are in Argentina ... then the products you are seeing are manufactured for the "international" market.

Products sold in the US have to meet US Federal (and some State) requirements for safety and energy efficiency (and have to carry the appropriate certification). Because the market is so large, it's more cost efficient to produce products specifically for this market.

The only computer products that I have that are 110/240V, are a couple of laptops and a desktop computer. All the rest are 120V only - sometimes with a wall wart (which could of course be changed to 240V) - but the external hard drives, DVD drives, laser printers, routers, etc. are all 120V only. The same goes for stereo equipment and TVs. The only notable exception appears to be flat panel monitors. Mostly the products are the same internally as sold elsewhere in the world, but the internal step-down transformer is only for 120V.

John

It's probably cheaper to replace the whole printer when the cartridge runs out :D

I'm in the US at the moment, so I can't tell you the price of a step-down transformer. The place to buy them in BsAs is: Alamtec - La casa del Transformador
http://www.alamtec.com.ar/home.htm

John

Well I live in Miami and I work in the technology department, all our laptops/netbook/desktop/tablet pc (HP, DELL, Compaq and Toshiba) and macbooks are 110/240V, on desktop you have the voltage switch on the back (usually is pink/magenta). Remember, I said most Laptops/Pc and Digital Cameras, I didn't say small electronics :rolleyes:

Flying Machine a real 750w step-down transformer will cost you around 25 u$s, 45 for 1000w. Check on MercadoLibre.com.ar and look for "transformador PS3", must be at least 750w

Technical Details for HL-2140

# Power source: AC 120 V, 50/60 Hz
# Energy Star compliant: Yes
# Power consumption: 5 W (sleep), 80 W (standby), 460 W (peak)

Alamtec is one of the top places.... Im a happy customer... ^

LOL :D

Data point. I checked my Dell 1110 for the heck of it (only paid C$50 for it on sale - refill costs C$80 from Dell :eek: ). Only takes 110-127V.

Because is a Dell !!! you can't bring one of those to Arg, you will not find any cartridge and Dell printers are garbage.

If you live in US, buy a decent HP, Canon, Epson, Xerox, Lexmark or Brother (HP cartridges are expensive) but if you live in Argentina buy a HP or Epson (Epson cartridges are cheaper).

If you need to buy a digital camera, you will buy a Canon, Nikon or
Sony, you will not buy Polaroid, Samsung or Kodak right?

I happened to be in an Office Depot in northern California this morning, so I checked out the power requirements for the printers on sale.

All the laserprinters (including AIOs) - 12x HP, 10x Brother, and 3x Lexmark were 120V only.

As I'd mentioned upthread the HP inkjets (including AIOs) have a dual voltage wall wart. The Lexmark inkjets had a dual voltage transformer plugged into the back of the machine.

The 6x Epson, 2x Canon, 4x Brother inkjets (including AIOs) were 120V only.

John

Original HP toner is very expensive here in Buenos Aires... I wish I could buy mine at US prices... :(

Okay I just purchased the HL-2140 for $49.99 with a free spiff of a handheld label maker.. I will be in BA for one half day before I go to MDZ to bring the printer to my friend as a gift. Are the step down transformers readily available in MDZ or should I go to the Mercado Libre site? PS3 750W correct??

They are a great spot - saved me when my cordless phone adapters got fried from a forgetful moment of plugging them in directly to 220V.

To avoid: the place across the street (not sure of name) which tried simply to tear off the label showing voltage/current ratings and then to convince me that it would work fine since the pin coming out was the same size as my original... :rolleyes:

Wirelessly posted (Nokia N97 / Palm TX: Mozilla/5.0 (SymbianOS/9.4; Series60/5.0 NokiaN97-3/10.2.012; Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1; en-us) AppleWebKit/525 (KHTML, like Gecko) WicKed/7.1.12344)

Mendoza will have plenty of hardware stores with transformers.... they are common 'appliances' in Argentina.

I thought that I would give back a little here. Thanks to all that have replied and I forgot to post an update. I did bring down the HL-2140 and it arrived at EZE in good shape and came out quickly with a UA Priorty Tag. I filled out my declaration form, had my receipt handy, and was waiting for the Customs Blue Coats to interogate me. Well, they were all standing around doing nothing but chatting with each other, I walked passed them looking at them hoping they would wave me down, no luck, no X ray, no nothing.. The transfromadora information that fedechat provided from mercardo libre was spot on. Sent the link to my hotel owner in BsAs and he got it for me for 90 ARG ( very nice of him to do so.. ). 750 W and it worked like a charm.. No issues and I will bring down a refilled lazer cartridge that costs about $25 USD next time I am down. These are good for 2000 pages or more. Way to go FT'ers and thanks for all of your tips