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Checking bags with electronics to resell
04-26-2011, 07:31 PM
Is anyone on this shit? Living in Colombia you could obviously make a killing importing a buncha digital cameras or whatnot and reselling them well under Colombian value, well over American value.
What're the chances of having a checked bag full of this shit searched though? I mean, usually the whole process of getting into the country occurs before you have collected your checked baggage, then when you get to that conveyer belt you're pretty much home free.
But it can't just be that easy...
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Checking bags with electronics to resell
04-27-2011, 09:39 PM
You need to already have a buyer and a price negotiated prior to do this arbitrage. I use to run plasma from Cali to Philippines for a healthy profit. Might work for cell phones.
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Checking bags with electronics to resell
04-28-2011, 08:25 AM
Sonsowey,
"But it can't just be that easy..."
It never is.
For instance, who are you going to sell them to?
How? On the street?
To a friend? How many is he going to buy? One?
Are you going to sell them to a small time electronics store? When you arrive, are they going to negotiate the hell out of you? Heist you?
Small time smuggling operations are high risk, low reward.
Manila -
"I use to run plasma from Cali to Philippines for a healthy profit. "
Cali, Colombia? or California?
Blood plasma? Or Plasma TV's?
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Checking bags with electronics to resell
04-28-2011, 06:31 PM
gmanifesto,
As per topic, i meant plasma screen tvs. I had a friend working for best buy in California who had employee discount. The price in the Philippines for hot electronic items when I did this arbitrage two years ago was 40% more. New technologies are always more expensive there especially when distributors aren't set up yet; however, in time the prices equalize.
Another old arbitrage I knew from Philippines to California was cell phones, which was strongest before the dawn of the smart phones. Some filipinos still run this game. Droid most probably now.
Best practices include being friends with stewardesses and pilots to have a healthy flow of goods to target country.
Should work for Colombia.
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Checking bags with electronics to resell
04-29-2011, 01:50 PM
If you set up a few regular contacts you could take some pre-orders before you come here, I could definitely be in the market for some electronics. Maybe if guys just post that they're heading to Colombia and anyone who is interested could contact them and work out a deal beforehand.
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Checking bags with electronics to resell
04-29-2011, 02:52 PM
I am absolutely doing this. I've got a contact in Medellin right now who I'm pretty confident can set up the presale. If you can just hedge some sales against cost of the trip, I'd be happy just to come close to paying for a quarter of my expenses.
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Checking bags with electronics to resell
04-30-2011, 12:37 PM
So I looked up a few sites and one of them says you can bring a value of up to 1500usd in personal effects and the rest is taxed at %15. Apparently they have "books" that show the various values. It even uses the example of if you were to bring a 2000usd computer you would have to pay 15% on 500usd.
That said this is assuming you get chosen to be searched which does seem unlikely oddswise.
Other things of note; With the various fees and taxes it seems that electronics are marked up from FOB at a rate between %80-%120. If you have what might be considered a high value item, I would venture to guess that minimum you would make and %80 profit. I'm thinking of bringing and Ipad, Iphone, and a Ipod (maybe 2) for the first time. 1500 x .8 = 1200 Not a bad deal just to go to Colombia.
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Checking bags with electronics to resell
04-30-2011, 04:10 PM
So you are going to buy the items in the US then transport them to columbia where you will sell them to someone?
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Checking bags with electronics to resell
05-02-2011, 11:44 AM
Here´s a tip for you hustlers. I don´t know how it is in Colombia but in Brazil and other places the shifts are lighter in the mornings, so if you´re concerned about them doing bag checks, make sure your connecting flights and big city landings are before 10 am when they are unlikely to have the extra staff to scan baggage.
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Checking bags with electronics to resell
06-12-2011, 12:07 AM
So one of the best things to re sell is womens clothing . There is good money in it because they dont get many of the trendy clothing from the US in Colombia and it is a great way to meet chicks as well. Just hit up all the spring and summer clearence sales in the US and you could pretty much double the price of the goods . Pack 1 big bag of clothing and your all set .
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Checking bags with electronics to resell
06-12-2011, 04:44 PM
You should also consider the possibility of your electronics not being in your bag anymore by the time it's on the carousal. Don't know what the situation is like in SA, but in Africa and the Caribean you should never even consider packing anything valueable or easily converted into cash in your checked luggage. Theft by baggage handlers is endemic. Maybe you could consider a couple of the latest smartphones that have been recently released in the US, but aren't available in Colombia yet, and stick a few (without all the packaging) in your carry on luggage.
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Checking bags with electronics to resell
06-12-2011, 07:24 PM
isn't it easier to ship them through fedex, ups, or some other service like that ?