Chile Forum

Hi,
I will be moving to Santiago in Feb 09 and am planning on purchasing a new laptop and decent camera. I am currently living in the UK and am unsure whether to buy these items in the UK and bring over or buy these in Santiago ? Are there any "big ticket" items that are cheaper in the UK or cheaper in Chile?
Thanks for your advice.
Simon

Electronics tend to be quite expensive and sometimes outdated in Chile. Of course the former is also true of the UK when compared with the US. I'd probably buy them in the UK, but beware the possibility that Chilean customs might charge 18-30% duty if they think you are bringing in a new laptop permanently.

Cheers,

James.

jehturner wrote:... but beware the possibility that Chilean customs might charge 18-30% duty if they think you are bringing in a new laptop permanently.

Cheers,

James.

Your personal experience with this?

My experience as a repeating tourist (not that it matters as Customs has never asked me about my legal status), only been questioned once when I had two laptops though another time I entered with two without a question. If it is unboxed and you claim personal use only when questioned, there will not be a problem.

every businessman that comes through Chile comes through with at least a laptop and likely a digital camera. No one is going to care.

I agree with the others, I have travelled various times between the US and Chile with both and never had a problem with being questioned or being charged import duties/VAT, etc. It traditionally has been cheaper to buy more expensive items like laptops outside of Chile, but with the recent decline in the peso, the price advantage is probably less than it was. It is true that the latest innovations take some time to get here after being launched in the US/Europe, so that is something to consider.

eeuunikkeiexpat wrote:

jehturner wrote:... but beware the possibility that Chilean customs might charge 18-30% duty if they think you are bringing in a new laptop permanently.

Your personal experience with this?

I have been questioned about my work laptop on a couple of occasions where customs in Santiago clearly seemed interested in its value. Fortunately I already had the customs sticker from the departure area so there was no problem. We were originally advised at work to register laptops when leaving the country after the customs apparently gave a colleague quite a hard time with one, demanding paperwork and the like, though I don't think they eventually charged anything if I remember correctly.

This was all a few years ago -- recently they have shown no interest in computers and seem much more preoccupied with vegetables.

The percentages I mentioned are just what customs used to charge when importing computer equipment by courier a few years ago.

James.

19% IVA + 6 % is the import duty when I import a new computer by shipping.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE BEING FORCED TO PAY TAXES ON A COMPUTER, INCLUDING DESKTOPS AT THE AIRPORT.

I have flown in with desktop in my suitcase, declared it, and been waived on without paying taxes. Last time I landed in Chile I came in with a few thousand dollars in computer parts new (in the box) and used (out of the box), plus a brand new 2 day old Dell notebook in new case, plus clothing and all kinds of other stuff that should have been taxed. I declared them all, and customs waved me on. As a permanent resident, I don't have the excuse that I am planning to take them out when my tourist visa runs out.

They at most want to see that it is used as not in the box, and that is likely overkill. Chileans fly back from Miami with like 2 or 3 laptops, sometimes even in the box, and just tell them it is used (guy in front of me had a desktop in the box with the tape cut one time). They sell them in the news papers. A notebook, in a notebook case, is not going to be messed with. Hell, every tourist these days carries a notebook. Half the back packers you see these days are caring notebooks. No one cares about them, and really really no one cares about a tourist caring a camera. Since when has any country tried to charge a tourist for caring any sort of camera in to the country?

Hi,

Thanks all for your helpful comments - it sounds like based on choice and cost, I am better off buying these items in the UK rather than in Chile.

my (recent) experience:

i arrived in santiago on december 31, 2008, laptop in my carry- on backpack. no problems or questions or taxes or fees at the airport.

the family i am living with is cramped for space in the front room and badly in need of a more modern computer, so i have been shopping for a laptop to replace the old desktop that they have. i went to five or six stores yesterday. i am not looking at high end equipment, just a basic machine for school work, document preparation, internet access, a little music, a few photos....no super fast gaming or huge hard drives for video editing.

i found a Dell laptop, (160 GB HDD, 2 GB RAM, 15 inch screen, Windows VISTA, wireless, webcam) for 400.000 CLP (about $650 US at current exchange rates). I am not a big fan of Windows Vista, so I kept looking.

I found a Toshiba laptop, same specs as above, with the option of WinXP or Vista, for 460.000 CLP, and it comes with a bag, a mouse and a lock. i will probably buy it later this week.

There is also the option of buying a laptop with FREE DOS loaded onto it...i.e.....no operating system.....if you want to load the OS yourself and save about 80.000 CLP. of course, the cost of the OS has to be considered with this option, and the time it takes to load the software.

another consideration for english speakers......if you buy a computer in chile, it will almost certainly have a spanish keyboard......and all the software will display in spanish, at least initially. there are ways around this.....you can bring an english keyboard, and you can usually switch languages on the software. also....the electrical current in chile is different than the US....the AC adapter on my laptop seems to be doing what it is supposed to do....the only problem i have is a clunky adapter for the north american 3 prong plug to connect to the south american system. it works, but it isn't pretty....

Almost every single notebook made now comes with an auto switch to detect and switch voltage. Most of the time you can just swap out the plug on your power supply as they disconnect about halfway down right after the box, or use a simple adapter on the end.

All desktop power supplies have a switch in back that you just flip from 110v to 230v, and then pick up a standard Chilean plug to plug in to the back of the tower. Bought one last week for $1,000 pesos, and they can be found at almost any computer store. Even if you buy a computer in Chile, a lot of times they will come with a U.S. plug in the box.

You can also get a power strip surge protector they sell around Chile that has a universal plug. They tend to be the more expensive ones, and the kind you should use with a computer. I have like a dozen in my office with both American and Chilean plugs stuck in them. They start at around 6,000 pesos, and include a built in breaker. Stay away from cheap power strips in Chile anyway, if you do not want to fry anything with a processor in it (everything).

Spener, you don't think I would have problems coming back into to Chile with 2 Laptops do you? My fiancee's computer is dying and I'm in the US right now and want to pick her up another one. But then I'd be coming in with 2.. from your comments it seems like I shouldnt expect much trouble...

Can anyone confirm they've gone through semi-recently with 2 laptops?