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I am not an economy specialist and my question may sound stupid. But WHY in the world do people have to pay 50 % to 90 % more for a laptop in Costa Rica (where people have a lower income) than in the U.S. ? I guess they are all made somewhere in low-wage countries (China, India……..) so why can´t they order them directly from there instead of the U.S.A. where the price already includes U.S. import tax and the retail stores profit ? Same for Cel.phones and other electronic stuff.
this is going to make you even more upset…dell is here in costa rica and so is intel….
I am told the best computers to buy that can be repaired here are toshiba or dell. If you want to get one at the price in the states have someone bring one back or go back and buy one that is what we had to do. the costa rican government want their money for anything imported…not much helpI’m pretty sure that many of the consumer electronics sold in the U.S. are imported under international trade agreements that provide for little or nothing in the way of import duties. That’s not true for those same products imported to Costa Rica.
What’s more, anything imported through formal channels is also subject to Costa Rica’s thirteen percent national sales tax. When you buy something from an online retailer in the U.S., you often pay no state sales tax whatsoever.
And it’s my guess that, on principle, Costa Rica’s government regards consumer electronics as luxuries which are bought mostly by those who can afford to pay what is tacitly a luxury tax.
Our solution to this problem….My wife and I have been using the duty free import law. Each year that we return to our home in Guancaste, for the last three years, we each carry a new Toshiba Qosmio laptop, tablet, unlocked cell phones, and a flat screen TV. The Costa Rican customs officials at the Liberia airport, are accustomed to our electronic load, and do not even bother to look anymore.
Yeah, every time we return from the States, we bring a load of expensive things back with us in our luggage. We never declare anything on the Customs form and we go through Customs’ “Nothing to Declare” line. As long as everything’s intended for personal use, there should be no problems bringing in things like electronics.
We brought a small flat screen through SJO last month. Customs pulled my husband aside & stamped his passport for the value. It is the first time that has been done in the last 7 years of bringing in things, so not a bad record!
Jessica
I know that there is a Dell Dealer in Costa Rica but they do not MAKE the computers. I asked them a few questions about guarantee etc. and a “sales person” answered my e-mail, not answering my questions at all but telling me that when I order a computer online through them (no store to look at models etc.) they order it in the U.S. and it will be delivered to my door (??), to their price off course.
Import tax on computers in C.R. is only a 13 %.
I have been comparing laptops for the last 2 weeks, C.R. vs. U.S. Not only that many models in C.R. are more “primitive” (Windows 7 home basic, made for 3rd world countries 👿 ) but they still cost a hell more.
I have been investigating on the internet and I found a statement that said “the smaller the market, the higher the prices” . Don´t they think that a small market could grow by paying lower prices ? The average Tico buys most of his stuff on credit (Gollo etc.) and at the end he pays twice the cash price (or four times compared to the U.S. Prices). So maybe, if the price was lower at the beginning, those people would have the chance to save money and pay cash, and this way buy better computers and other stuff more often ? Plus have money left to not only eat rice and beans …
End of the Story, I ordered a Laptop with a friend in the U.S. and he will bring it next week 🙂 not without a test run in the U.S. to make sure it is not dead or crashing (blue screen…) the very first day (had that happen before).
[quote=”elindermuller”]I know that there is a Dell Dealer in Costa Rica but they do not MAKE the computers. I asked them a few questions about guarantee etc. and a “sales person” answered my e-mail, not answering my questions at all but telling me that when I order a computer online through them (no store to look at models etc.) they order it in the U.S. and it will be delivered to my door (??), to their price off course.
Import tax on computers in C.R. is only a 13 %.
I have been comparing laptops for the last 2 weeks, C.R. vs. U.S. Not only that many models in C.R. are more “primitive” (Windows 7 home basic, made for 3rd world countries 👿 ) but they still cost a hell more.
I have been investigating on the internet and I found a statement that said “the smaller the market, the higher the prices” . Don´t they think that a small market could grow by paying lower prices ? The average Tico buys most of his stuff on credit (Gollo etc.) and at the end he pays twice the cash price (or four times compared to the U.S. Prices). So maybe, if the price was lower at the beginning, those people would have the chance to save money and pay cash, and this way buy better computers and other stuff more often ? Plus have money left to not only eat rice and beans …
End of the Story, I ordered a Laptop with a friend in the U.S. and he will bring it next week 🙂 not without a test run in the U.S. to make sure it is not dead or crashing (blue screen…) the very first day (had that happen before).
[/quote]
Have your friend bring 2 laptops. One on top of the other, no boxes, manuals in another suitcase. Sell one at a profit, but cheaper than at a C.R.store!To Elisabeth’s initial point –
I think the customs tariffs on electronics (as well as cars and other goods that businesses and individuals need) in CR are outrageous and are absolutely stifling economic growth here.
Imagine yourself a Costa Rican trying to start a small business. Your start-up income / funds are probably scarce, and financing almost impossible to get, yet you will for sure need up-to-date computers, cell phones, printers, and possibly transportation etc. in order to get rolling, among the other items, depending on your business.
Right off the bat, you’re handicapped by daunting start-up costs to buy essentials that are largely going to be imported.
Where is the sense in burdening these already high costs with ridiculously high tariffs?
It’s not a “luxury” to be able to conduct business with a smart-phone any longer – it’s clearly a necessity.
Ms. Chinchilla needs a SERIOUS wake-up call on this issue.
Again, to Elizabeth’s point . . . Indeed, the import cost for a computer is 13% according to Aerocasillas’ chart. That’s the national sales tax rate and nothing more. Whether you buy a computer at retail here or order it in the States and import it formally (via Aerocasillas or the like), either way the sales tax is in the price.
Elizabeth, if you buy a Dell online, you have the same opportunity to see it in the flesh as if you buy it here, also online. What’s the difference?
And, by the way, the last Dell I bought (online, but while I was in the States) was sold to me by a Costa Rican woman who was sitting in a Dell call center in San Jose. So the experience either way probably wouldn’t be too much different.
[quote=”sstarkey”]To Elisabeth’s initial point –
I think the customs tariffs on electronics (as well as cars and other goods that businesses and individuals need) in CR are outrageous and are absolutely stifling economic growth here…. Ms. Chinchilla needs a SERIOUS wake-up call on this issue.
[/quote]I came to Costa Rica from the Cayman Islands in 1999 where the cost of living and the import taxes were far higher than we have here and certainly “outrageous.”
I spent about $400-500 per month on water (because it’s all desalinated) and about the same for electricity and about the same for my cellphone…
So yeah! I LOVE living in Costa Rica but you’re right!
The government has to be more cautious in implementing new taxes and raising the cost of living further as this will NOT help attract more FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and will encourage existing companies – who have “outsourced” their operations to Costa Rica in part to save money – to search for new, more economical alternatives.
I am in the middle of a new article on this exact topic and hopefully should have it ready by next week. ..
Scott
PS. Politicians never hear or see the “wake-up calls” so I wouldn’t wait for that here…
[quote=”johnnyh”]
Have your friend bring 2 laptops. One on top of the other, no boxes, manuals in another suitcase. Sell one at a profit, but cheaper than at a C.R.store![/quote]Well, what about guarantee ? If I sell a brandnew laptop, the buyer will want guarantee, that´s the problem. I know that I do not have guarantee on my laptop coming from the U.S., unless I fly it back to the U.S. or am I wrong ?
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Again, to Elizabeth’s point . . . Indeed, the import cost for a computer is 13% according to Aerocasillas’ chart. That’s the national sales tax rate and nothing more. Whether you buy a computer at retail here or order it in the States and import it formally (via Aerocasillas or the like), either way the sales tax is in the price.
Elizabeth, if you buy a Dell online, you have the same opportunity to see it in the flesh as if you buy it here, also online. What’s the difference?
And, by the way, the last Dell I bought (online, but while I was in the States) was sold to me by a Costa Rican woman who was sitting in a Dell call center in San Jose. So the experience either way probably wouldn’t be too much different.
[/quote]Well, you know, women like to go shopping, and when I say GO I mean GO. And I would like to see the computer in the store, turned on and working. I had one bad experience, bought a Laptop online, friend brought it to C.R. didn´t even have to pay tax, computer had a blue screen after one hour, he took it back and got the money back, it was quite annoying.
But, if even the stores in C.R., upon my order, buy it online and have it shipped to my place (I doubt they would bring it to Tilaran) then I am really better off to order it online myself and do not have to pay for their profit. This time my friend will do a test run before his trip to C.R., if it does not work they will send it back instead of bringing it to C.R.
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