We are no longer surprised when goods appear on marketplaces that came to us not from Russia, but from other countries. This used to be easier than it is now because in most cases there was no need to pay customs duties.
However, the world has changed, and in this article I want to share my experience of buying a Playstation 5 game console from the Japanese region on Yandex Market.
I’ll say right away that it didn’t go as smoothly as I would have liked. But first things first.
Why did I even bother buying from abroad?
Exorbitant price, next day delivery.
A friend asked me a question: “Why do you need this? Come to the store and buy!“To which I silently showed him a screenshot with the price tag of the console in our stores. Judge for yourself, it’s a little higher.
The price of the console, which will be brought from abroad from sellers on Yandex Market, is significantly lower – almost twice. However, there are nuances: it will take an average of two weeks and it will take some time to complete customs documents.
The price tag is adequate, but suffered.
The first thing you can ask for when placing an order is a warning that goods worth more than 200 euros may be subject to duties. This information will be provided to you at customs.
To order this item you will need:
✔️ When placing an order, please provide current passport information.
✔️ At the very bottom of the page, indicate your Taxpayer Identification Number (you can find it in your personal account on the Federal Tax Service website)
And the nuances don’t end there
After placing your order, all you have to do is wait patiently for the goods to arrive at Russian customs. It will not be tracked to customs. Once the goods arrive at customs, you will receive an SMS message.
After receiving the SMS you must:
✔️ Follow the link to the customs broker’s website.
✔️ Log in using your phone number and SMS code (the code will change every session).
✔️ In the “orders” tab, find yours and in the “status history” line, click the “Pay” button.
In my case, customs duty 4244 rubles. As a result, the console cost me 44 thousand and kopecks.
Did you pay? Now we wait customs clearance. It will last a couple of days on average.
Then the order will be transferred to the courier service and shipped to you or to the pickup point. You can track the status in your customs broker’s personal account.
Is it worth it?
There’s an addition to my console collection. Welcome, Japanese curling iron.
The decision to buy a console abroad was made out of a desire to save money. As a result, the price turned out to be lower, even taking into account the payment of duties. The console lasted exactly 11 days.
However, upon arrival, unpleasant surprises awaited us.
FirstlyThe console came with a Japanese plug, but I have a spare cable.
Secondly, the box was damaged. This not only spoiled the purchasing experience, but also caused a deterioration in the quality of transportation.
The most important thing is that the box was opened and opened. There were no signs of tampering, no seals, no tape. Of course, there is no damage to the console or gamepad itself, but the very fact of opening it is unpleasant.
And the last thing: The console warranty is only 14 days, and not a year, as usual. This constitutes an import.
Otherwise it is a fully working product, albeit with a few minor operational difficulties. It was an interesting experience, but I repeat it only in case of urgent need and price difference.
If you have already ordered something from abroad, share your experience in the comments. Yes, my story was useful. Have a nice weekend!
Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
