Buying in one country, selling in another?
Aug 17, 2015, 4:09 am
#16
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: UA 1P, AA, Hilton Honors
Posts: 1,160
I work less than I used to, but still work for a large retail chain. Up until about a year or 2 ago, Europeans from countries like Germany and the UK would purchase brands like Levis, Polo, Lacoste, Boss... in the US. They claimed the items were about 50% more in their countries. Exchange rates have changed and I am not certain this is still true.
Aug 17, 2015, 4:34 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: DUS
Posts: 199
But keep in mind that clothing and other stuff are not free of duty if you exceed 430 € (~ 475 US-$) purchase price. Also you won't get the retail price of German/European stores because as private saler you propably can't offer warranty and things would be nonreturnable. If you have to pay fees (i.e. for ebay) your profit is gone.
It looks good on first sight but if you do the math...
Mar 11, 2016, 11:11 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Programs: AA, DL, AK, UN, CN
Posts: 967
I used to bring my "old" iPhone's iPads to Indonesia and unload them for at least 50% more than what I could sell them for in the USA.
Unfortunately, the Indonesian currency has fallen about 50% since then and people can't really afford to pay more than they used to. So that dried up. OTOH, the currency drop has made it cheaper there for my U$D's.
The other funny thing in Indonesia is if you don't have the box, you lose about 20% of the value of what you're selling. Why they want the box that is never used is beyond me (ok, sure it looks cool at your desk or whatever). So making boxes to sell over there might be more lucrative than selling the gear!
Unfortunately, the Indonesian currency has fallen about 50% since then and people can't really afford to pay more than they used to. So that dried up. OTOH, the currency drop has made it cheaper there for my U$D's.
The other funny thing in Indonesia is if you don't have the box, you lose about 20% of the value of what you're selling. Why they want the box that is never used is beyond me (ok, sure it looks cool at your desk or whatever). So making boxes to sell over there might be more lucrative than selling the gear!
Apr 12, 2016, 1:13 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SIN/BRU
Programs: A3 Silver, BA BLUE, IHG Gold, Hertz President's circle, AY plat
Posts: 233
On a trip to Japan last June, I bought an Apple Watch for around 280 EUR in Tokyo, and sold it in Belgium for more than double the price.
At that time, Apple Watches were still not launched in Belgium, and some people were willing to pay significantly more to have one before the launch date.
My flight ticket was almost double recovered with that one watch
At that time, Apple Watches were still not launched in Belgium, and some people were willing to pay significantly more to have one before the launch date.
My flight ticket was almost double recovered with that one watch
Apr 12, 2016, 8:40 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,322
On a trip to Japan last June, I bought an Apple Watch for around 280 EUR in Tokyo, and sold it in Belgium for more than double the price.
At that time, Apple Watches were still not launched in Belgium, and some people were willing to pay significantly more to have one before the launch date.
My flight ticket was almost double recovered with that one watch
At that time, Apple Watches were still not launched in Belgium, and some people were willing to pay significantly more to have one before the launch date.
My flight ticket was almost double recovered with that one watch
Apr 12, 2016, 10:30 pm
#22
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
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Apr 13, 2016, 9:10 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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Apr 13, 2016, 9:30 am
#25
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Apr 13, 2016, 11:20 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Putting aside the snark, there is no reasonable debate that importing goods for resale is for personal use, which is what duty exemptions typically allow.
And yes, I'm quite aware of the EU duty free allowance, which is limited to "goods having no commercial character."
And yes, I'm quite aware of the EU duty free allowance, which is limited to "goods having no commercial character."
Apr 13, 2016, 1:04 pm
#28
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Putting aside the snark, there is no reasonable debate that importing goods for resale is for personal use, which is what duty exemptions typically allow.
And yes, I'm quite aware of the EU duty free allowance, which is limited to "goods having no commercial character."
And yes, I'm quite aware of the EU duty free allowance, which is limited to "goods having no commercial character."
Even my heavily used suitcase is a good that may have a commercial character under some circumstances. My importing it into the EU to dump it on the local equivalent of craigslist sales or eBay isn't going to result in "import and resale duties" even if I tried again.
Apr 13, 2016, 1:16 pm
#29
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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Posts: 7,322
Importing a singular item and then trying to sell it isn't a form of personal use of an imported good? Is that a good for impersonal use?
Even my heavily used suitcase is a good that may have a commercial character under some circumstances. My importing it into the EU to dump it on the local equivalent of craigslist sales or eBay isn't going to result in "import and resale duties" even if I tried again.
Even my heavily used suitcase is a good that may have a commercial character under some circumstances. My importing it into the EU to dump it on the local equivalent of craigslist sales or eBay isn't going to result in "import and resale duties" even if I tried again.
It is strange that would use the term "dump" on the local market, as that is classic verbiage to describe activity that is generally subject to duties.