Hello, Can anyone help with this question? I want to send a laptop computer to my fiance in Dumaguete, however, I am am worried it will not work if the electricity is configured differently there than here in the states. Can anyone give me some insight? Thanks, Brian
No worries briansok1 The laptops work world wide. Mine came from America never had a problem if you look on the charger it well say 110-240 which means it will be fine in the Philippines.
You'd be better off just having her buy a local unit. If customs opens the box you're sending, they'll charge her duty on it and it'll be quite a bit.
Also you need to consider that the most common available connections are still by modem. Have you considered having her use the many chat rooms that are available. Most of them only charge 25-35 pesos per hour and come with lots of chat/IM softwear and web cams.
get one from US, you'll get a higher spec for much less, normally if you stick a birthday card in there, wishing many happy returns and express ur un=dying love it'll pass with no excise duty, as for dial up connection? is that true?? i got adsl and it's getting more and more popular.
I can believe it is more available in an Expat house but have serious doubts you will find ADSL many dumagueteno house. I am just recommending the cheapest method if he plans on having her join him eventually. By the way what is ADSL costing you a month? Is it good at streaming movies from the many websites and television affliates that support that?
go for it, it will be much apriciated I am sure, I get the impression that what comes from abroad is often more valued (although it hardly makes sense since everything is likely cheaper in the Fillipines as in the west and almost everything is availble). I am considering next time to do shopping in Manila before meeting the family, put it all in a big boxes and pretend we carried it all over the globe as a bunch of carabau. Maybe just bring some foreign wrapping with me.
I'm going to say this one more time..... If you mail or Fed-ex a new laptop over from the US, they will open the box at Philippine customs, evaluate the cost of the unit, and than will send a piece of paper to the consignee telling them they owe import duty on their package. The person you're sending it to will than have to pay probably 30 to 50% of the cost of the unit up front to receive the package. If they can't pay it, that won't get the package. Local Chinese laptops are inexpensive and pretty good, just send the $$ and have your friend buy one in Dumaguete and save yourself a big headache.
I have sent 70+ laptops from the US VIA balakbayan box service, and have never paid a centavo for duty. However, you are correct, if sent by courier, such as Fedex, UPS, LBC, etc,. up to 100% duty can be expected. Larry
