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Buy Laptop Shanghai or US?

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singha

Newbie

Joined: Mar 17, 2008
Posts: 3

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 17, 2008 - 09:48 AM
Post subject: Buy Laptop Shanghai or US?

Hi, First posting after reading forum for a while and learning a lot. I live in US but visit Shanghai periodically. On my next visit Chinese GF there wants me to help her buy a laptop. Is it cheaper/smarter to buy when I get to Shanghai or buy here in US and bring with me? I'm thinking about something like a Lenovo (which I use and love), HP, etc. Not a Mac. On one level seems crazy to buy Chinese-made computer in US and bring to China but what makes sense in terms of value? Also, any issues in adapting US purchased laptop to China use, with both English and Chinese characters? Thanks in advance for your help.

yu888
Board Deity

Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18044
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH

Posted: Mar 17, 2008 - 10:04 AM

Buy in US. It's cheaper because although they may be assembled here, many of the parts are imported, thus they are done so in EXPORT ONLY factories and import-tax exempted. The products sold here often have higher prices because of import duties on their parts.
Software can fairly easily be converted to multi -language (though a MAC would be simplest of all as its truly an international OS.) Only issue is warranty as US sold computers often carry US-only warranties.

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computersolutions

FooJay

Joined: July 02, 2006
Posts: 1785
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 17, 2008 - 10:15 AM

On one hand, good luck buying a computer in the USA thats *not* made in China.
If you find one, please let us know.

On the other, Laptop prices here are getting closer to US prices. For warranty, I'd probably lean towards getting it in China though. Prices aren't that much more, unlike a few years ago. The only difference would be Apple, which is overpriced by 30-40% here over HK or the US. If you counter in AppleCare, then its worth it to buy overseas.

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bleucheese
Veejay
Veejay

Joined: Aug 01, 2003
Posts: 1993
Location: this side of the tracks

Posted: Mar 17, 2008 - 01:01 PM

in my experience if you compare two of the same on-the shelf, full retail-priced products, the prices are about 10-20% higher here on computers. peripherals are much more. best buy in china sells thumb drives, memory, mice etc. for more than double of what they are going for (online/on sale) in the states.

you definitely wont find the ubiquitous deep discount deals they have stateside.

i use http://bensbargains.net/ quite a bit and pickup whatever i order on a subsequent trip back: just ordered a pair of seagate freeagent 500GB hard drives for $110 each. free shipping (to my place in the us).
newegg in china, probably your best bet here, sells the same drive for about double the price.

bjandmegsabroad

Raver

Joined: Mar 17, 2006
Posts: 464

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 17, 2008 - 01:56 PM

I don't know, we got our dells for much cheaper than we could have back home, because we got the full 3 year warranty, so if anything happens at all, they'll come and take care of it in 24 hours. That was way more expensive in Canada. The same model, with all the same kit and guarantee was about 200 bucks more expensive in Canada.

warz

Raver

Joined: Apr 27, 2007
Posts: 456

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 19, 2008 - 02:23 AM

you live in the US and you have a Chinese GF there in Shanghai?

oh, time to get myself a GF on mars.

singha

Newbie

Joined: Mar 17, 2008
Posts: 3

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 19, 2008 - 01:04 PM

Thanks for the help.

computersolutions: Maybe I should consider getting a MacBook. Do you sell them there? Any issues involved if I bring a US-purchased one for use in China with Chinese?

computersolutions

FooJay

Joined: July 02, 2006
Posts: 1785
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 19, 2008 - 10:08 PM

Yes, I do.
PM me for pricing.

No issues if you bring a US one, although if you did that I highly recommend buying Applecare also.

Apple is easy to change into chinese, it has built in support for lots of languages- the whole UI can change at the click of a button to the language you need.

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singha

Newbie

Joined: Mar 17, 2008
Posts: 3

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 20, 2008 - 05:28 AM

CS, You have a pm.

kasei

Reacher

Joined: May 28, 2005
Posts: 334
Location: Hongkou, Shanghai, China
Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 20, 2008 - 04:05 PM
Post subject: Re: Buy Laptop Shanghai or US?

singha wrote:

Hi,

What's your GF going to be using the computer for? If she isn't going to use it for something important (ie. work) or something heavy-duty (like MMOPG games) you could pick up a used one on Baoshan Rd. I bought a used Fujitsu Dynabook there a couple of weeks ago for 1,500元 and have not had any problems with it at all.

Stay away from the flash sticks though, I got one with a virus downloader in the autorun program!

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waingro

Reacher

Joined: Nov 06, 2006
Posts: 218
Location: Downtown, People's Square
Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 22, 2008 - 11:52 AM

Seriously, what is up with electronics prices here? We all know the USA is a bargain-basement budget destination now, but why can I get a name-brand laptop with decent specs on sale in the US every other month for US$399(2700rmb) when a similar computer with same specs costs at least 4200rmb($610). It's all made in China, so what's up with the >50% premium when you don't have to ship it 5000 miles?

Geeks: stick to the topic and don't flame about the quality/specs of a $399 laptop.

PS. for the cheapest electronics in China, all the locals are using www.360buy.com now. Have a local friend help you buy, or use it as a reference when bargaining in the shops here.

Scojay

Raver

Joined: Oct 21, 2006
Posts: 383
Location: is inconsequential....
Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 22, 2008 - 12:09 PM

Just a side note: I bought an HP Photosmart all in 1 printer. Great product ONLY if you use it in China or India. Seems that HP makes their refill cartridges exclusive by region. You can't use an HP refill cartridge from the US or EU in an HP printer bought in China. My C4188 should accept HP 86 and 92 refills; the fit is identical but the chip in the refill will not work. You must use refill 851 and 854. HP refused to give me the access code that would adjust the printer to accept Western cartridges. Buyer beware.

RussianBear

Ranter

Joined: June 25, 2008
Posts: 536

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 22, 2008 - 12:54 PM

Used IBM T40 - like new - priced here for 2200 yuans ($320). That price/value can't be beaten.

catur

Talker

Joined: Feb 16, 2005
Posts: 109

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 22, 2008 - 02:44 PM

Everyone on this old post missed the point completely. He should have gone with the cheapest laptop (US) and forget the warranty. Are they even together now?
Used would make sense for a rational guy, but for a Shanghainese? It's new or nothing (you'll get nothing). For future reference, match the warranty of the laptop with the warranty of the relationship.