What's cheaper- buy a digital camera in US, and ship to Argentina, or just buy one there?

Question

I want to buy my friend a camera and electronics are much cheaper here, but the fed-ex site said shipping would be around $130 for a 4-pound package! That's approaching double the price of the camera itself. Do electronics really cost that much more? Is there a cheaper way to ship?

Answer 1

Digital cameras in Argentina are getting cheaper and as the link below proves, you can get one for $US 170 (in Buenos Aires), shipped to your door there, at no cost.

http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar/MLA-...

Answer 2

Anything that is made in Argentina is cheaper that you can get it in the US. So if you want clothes, leather goods etc you can get some great quality deals.

For electronics it is usually more expensive to buy it in Argentina.  The exception is Buenos Aires where you can get some really good deals if you know where to go.  The thing is, that by the time you find the deal you have wasted too much time - the places for deals change often.

When sending anything by post there are a few things to consider: 1. Inconvenient to pick it up; 2. the high cost of postage; 3. everything....I mean everything is opened and although you could be fine, there is a chance that something might not be how it was when originally sent. It is a risk you take.

You can get so many great deals in the US, I suggest buying it there at a discount store or online.  It means you will have it with you when you leave the US and you don't have to worry.  In the scheme of things, is an extra $20 or $30 going to matter so much?

Answer 3

If you have to ship it, make sure you insure it.  I picked up some packages shipped by my mom from the US and the package was always opened and missing a few things.

Answer 4

Not only that, but once the camera gets to argentina, your friend will have to pick it at the international airport (Ezeiza), and pay a big fee, approx. 50% of the value.

Life sux down here, lol.

Answer 5

In that case the best option would be to buy the camera in Argentina, the prices are not that much high and on the other hand, if you ship it by FedEx, the customs would charge about U$S 100.- to release it.

Buying in the US in this case is only good if you're traveling to Argentina and you're taking the camera with you, so you wouldn't have to pay FedEx nor customs taxes.

Answer 6

Is much chipper buy in USA, here in BS As the customs impost are 50 % more. Send via Fed ex is expensive and maybe your friend must pay something more for Customs. In this case is better buy here in Argentina in some web sale, www.deremate.com.ar, www.masoportunidades.com.ar, etc

Answer 7

Yes, electronics really are that much more expensive there.

Answer 8

First of all, i'm argentinian.

I think is cheaper buy it and send it to Argentina. I checked a price with Xbox 360. In USA costs $400, in Argentina costs $850.

Answer 9

I have a good friend in Argentina and we try to visit each other every few years.  When she wants to buy some electronics she either waits for me to bring something or waits until she visits me in the US.  Last time she was here she bought 2 digital cameras and memory cards.  By the time I went there I brought some larger memory cards for her and her friends.  I look for deals on such items and save them for her.  Luckily, a neighbor was on an exchange program in her city and I was able to send some stuff with her.  That has been the best way to do it.  Unfortunately, I would never mail anything to Argentina.  Once we sent macaroni and cheese and that never made it.

Answer 10

Any electronics are cheper in the US, so buy it there.