TVs and Other Electronicals........

[DesertSpider]

So like a dumb dumb I waited until I moved here to figure out that I should have bought a TV in the U.S. before coming.

Been looking at the selection at the big yellow place in Neihu near Costco, and have been doing some research online.

Here's the stupid question of the day, is it impractical to buy a TV in the U.S. (better model, cheaper, English menus, etc.) and have it shipped here ???

Seems like tech here is way overpriced and if and when I rotate back to the West, I'd like to just have U.S. appliances anyway.

DS

[Deuce Dropper]

So like a dumb dumb I waited until I moved here to figure out that I should have bought a TV in the U.S. before coming.

Been looking at the selection at the big yellow place in Neihu near Costco, and have been doing some research online.

Here's the stupid question of the day, is it impractical to buy a TV in the U.S. (better model, cheaper, English menus, etc.) and have it shipped here ???

Seems like tech here is way overpriced and if and when I rotate back to the West, I'd like to just have U.S. appliances anyway.

DS

Not sure about that. I tried to have one of my customers in the US go to Costco and buy me a 65" that was on sale (cheap as fuck compared to TW prices) but there was a 27% import tax (that number might be slightly off) bringing it into this country. Add that to the cost of shipping and it isn't really worth it.

[DesertSpider]

Yeah, that's not awesome...

So are we essentially hostages to local versions of products and their accompanying inflated price structure ??

[Satellite TV]

Yeah, that's not awesome... So are we essentially hostages to local versions of products and their accompanying inflated price structure ??

No but there are issues with importation. You may or may not get slugged for a lot of taxes. None if its your personal item you owned for 12 months.

But locally made TV's do have English menus in them. You just need to go to the menu and language setting.

[DesertSpider]

So, in addition to the huge yellow place in Neihu - where can I go see the best (widest) selections ?

I'm used to places like Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's Electronics, etc. in the U.S. that stock a billion tvs of all form factors and features in one place.

DS

[Satellite TV]

So, in addition to the huge yellow place in Neihu - where can I go see the best (widest) selections ?

I'm used to places like Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's Electronics, etc. in the U.S. that stock a billion tvs of all form factors and features in one place.

DS

Wow a billion TV's all in once place.

[mabagal]

Carrefour if you are looking for something somewhat resembling say Walmart. If the big yellow store is labeled 3C that's the closest you're going to get to say Bestbuy. Note that I call that place Worstbuy among my American friends.

If you are looking for super-Frys then go to the corner of Xinsheng and Bade where there is a place called Guanghua Digital Plaza. It's like Fry's spread across a city block and which features also features a showcase located in one large multi-story building.

If you are looking for a specific brand you might know from the US, you can go to a retailer specific for the brand you want. Sony, Samsung and LG all have stores that showcase the entire range of their stuff from phones to TVs. You can find these throughout town. They have a few bigger locations in Xinyi in and around the 101 mall.

If it helps, just imagine that you're in Hawaii (I realize it's a huge stretch) and think about what they pay there for stuff, then multiply it by a little bit then you have here.

[Icon]

So, in addition to the huge yellow place in Neihu - where can I go see the best (widest) selections ?

I'm used to places like Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's Electronics, etc. in the U.S. that stock a billion tvs of all form factors and features in one place.

DS

Actually, I'd reccomend doing your research first, settle on a model/feautures and work backwards. Just remember models here have different numbers. I would also reccommend going to this place: http://www.elifemall.com.tw/ red logo. It is smaller and doe snot have a lot of TVs on display but you can order with them whatever you want and their service is far more reliable than the yellow one. Trust me, the yellow one is a headache in terms of quality and after sales service. Remember return policies here are... not the same as US. Another choice would be Costco, but models are not that updated and getting a hand from the floor clerks if you have questions is difficult. But their return/service policies resemble most those abroad.

BTW, aren't all those -Best Buy, CC, etc- on their way out due to Internet competition? At least last time I read, dunno, haven't been Stateside in a while. Pity if it is. Ah, shopping paradises like Target and CVS, I hear you man.

[mabagal]

Yes, big box electronics retail is dying and it's only a matter of time. Bestbuy basically killed themselves. Amazon didn't even really try to kill them directly. Circuit City has been kaput for a number of years now.

So in a way, looking for a TV or other big box electronics stuff is going to soon resemble this same experience shopping in Taiwan. The good thing is there is Amazon and all the vertical search engines to consolidate it for you.

Discounters and other "overgrown grocery stores" like Walmart and "Tar-ghay" will still be around since you still need to get stuff for 10minutes from now rather than for the day after tomorrow.

[PapaAzucar]

Has anyone ever ordered expensive electronics from Amazon and have it shipped to Taiwan?
When I say expensive, I mean like over 1000US or 30,000NT?
Does Amazon handle the customs, import tax, etc.?