• Lobby

  • Need help importing a laptop

Hello there fellow forumers, long time lurker, first post:

I need help before making the decision to buy a laptop from XOTICPC.com (Sager NP8250)

My main concerns are Shipping and Duties:

XOTICPC does import to Lebanon, but I'm afraid it's too expensive (more than $250)
I heard about aramex shipping, is it cheaper? How do I get them to import it?
How much more would I have to pay to get this through the port?

Thanks in advance.
okay aramex has this service called Shopandship.com
basically you pay $45 one time fee and you will have mailing addresses in 6 Countries, USA, UK, UAE, INDIA, CHINA, and TURKEY
they have a link on shipping packages, but to sum it up they charge by every half a kilo, (From USA, UK, China) first half is 11, then every other half kilo is 8.6
http://www.shopandship.com/ship/countries-rates.aspx they have a calculator on board


Kindly note, that this does not include VAT OR CUSTOMS FEES (جمارك) which would be added on the price. Most (if not all) BOOKS dont have this
I had very bad experience with shop&ship at KSA. Staff there was awful.
Now using Borderlinx.com , check it too.
Borderlinx uses DHL. Charges $60 for 5kg, so around $12 per kg ($6 per half kg). This ends up cheaper than Aramex especially if you ship multiple items / heavy items / both.

However, you need to watch out for wrong item types. Sometimes Borderlinx mess things up, so you need to make sure of item type before you ship anything. Once I shipped a motherboard and it was considered an "auto part". It was probably the reason we had to pay 15% customs + 10% VAT on top of shipping fees, which made us pay a lot especially as the shipment had a large number of other items.

If the laptop is over $2500, according to Aramex (and DHL too I believe, you might want to check), you will have to pay a "Bayan", which is $150 I believe.

Therefore, if the laptop is less than $2500, make sure Borderlinx values the item correctly as well. DHL know that Borderlinx messes up sometimes and they ask for invoices so that they can confirm the item value(s) themselves, but it pays to fix the item value(s) from the source so that you won't have to worry much.
So lets say i am looking to get a laptop in the range of 1200-1300.
What kind of costs am i looking at? i have an idea about shipping but i am also interested in customs and vat and all this stuff.
could someone provide a rough estimate for a 1200 laptop?

Thanks
yasamoka wroteBorderlinx uses DHL. Charges $60 for 5kg, so around $12 per kg ($6 per half kg). This ends up cheaper than Aramex especially if you ship multiple items / heavy items / both.

However, you need to watch out for wrong item types. Sometimes Borderlinx mess things up, so you need to make sure of item type before you ship anything. Once I shipped a motherboard and it was considered an "auto part". It was probably the reason we had to pay 15% customs + 10% VAT on top of shipping fees, which made us pay a lot especially as the shipment had a large number of other items.

If the laptop is over $2500, according to Aramex (and DHL too I believe, you might want to check), you will have to pay a "Bayan", which is $150 I believe.

Therefore, if the laptop is less than $2500, make sure Borderlinx values the item correctly as well. DHL know that Borderlinx messes up sometimes and they ask for invoices so that they can confirm the item value(s) themselves, but it pays to fix the item value(s) from the source so that you won't have to worry much.
What do you mean by "you need to make sure of item type"?
I never shipped anything from abroad before but considering the price differences i'm beginning to consider it.
I don't know what are the steps while dealing with borderlinx or the aramex shipment service. I'm guessing you get to see all the details that are going to be shipped from the P.O. box and allow u to confirm things before shipment, is that case? if not, then what is the procedure and how do you avoid the mixing of item type?

Also wondering the same as Gamer, which do you recommend aramex or borderlinx? what are the pro's and con's for each if anyone is kind enough to list them.

thank you.
I just opened an account with Aramex a couple of weeks ago
ordered books on Amazon online since i couldn't find the books here in Lebanon, the total weight from amazon was 15.05 lb (approx 6.8 kg) paid $122.8 shipping cost (excluding Customs, though there was no customs on books)
they arrived on Saturday from Amazon to Aramex but not confirmed till Monday, The books were sent on Monday and Arrived on Friday to Lebanon. I received the books on Saturday in my office. (Note: one of the books were open, I'm guessing customs and the box from amazon seemed like it was used as a punching bag)

There is an App on itunes for shopandship that helped me track my package