Hardware Would it be illegal?

raystriker · Jun 3, 2016

Hey guys, I really don't know where to post this but here it goes-
The Nvidia GTX 1080 founders edition cards cost around Rs 65,000 in India ie approx $980 which is an absolute overkill.
Suppose I asked one of my good tempers to buy one from the US and just parcel it to me, would it be illegal? And how much would it cost em?

linuxares · Jun 3, 2016

Illegal? I would hard to see how it's illegal if your country doesn't have any kind of restrictions on importing.

mashers · Jun 3, 2016

No that would not be illegal at all. The cost would depend on the weight of the parcel, the insurance rate and any customs charges.

FAST6191 · Jun 3, 2016

That is not a good title.

Anyway why would it be illegal? You might have to pay import taxes/duty but http://www.dutycalculator.com/country-guides/Import-duty-taxes-when-importing-into-India/ reckons there is none for electronics in India. Companies may whine about grey markets but in the end global trade laws tend to win out, especially for private use.
You might have a harder time claiming warranty repairs or something but still does not make it illegal.

I am not sure what buyer services there are in the US right now -- we used to see it quite a lot in Japan. Prices for such things vary though and I am sure you could find someone in a state with no/low sales tax, have it shipped to them but pay using your card or something and then have them chuck it in the post.

G0R3Z · Jun 3, 2016

It isn't illegal to do that. There would be extra charges and taxes etc, but certainly not illegal.

raystriker · Jun 3, 2016

But what if someone sent it as a gift?

Would i be still charged for imports etc? (sorry, dunno much about this stuff)
--
I just want to be able to get a GTX 1080 as close to the MSRP in the States.
Is there a way one could go about it? And will THAT be illegal?

Pleng · Jun 3, 2016

If you're deliberately avoiding paying taxes then, yes, it would be illegal (despite what everyone else is saying...)

Having said that, people do it all the time.

mashers · Jun 3, 2016

Marking it as a gift in order to try to trick customs into not charging import duty would be illegal. But declaring the value of the goods and hoping they don't charge anything is fine. Just be prepared for the package to beheld by customs until you pay and charges which are due as they won't let you have it until you pay.

raystriker · Jun 3, 2016

But what if you and I became good friends and you sent me a GTX 1080 'out of love' (but i paid for it, secretly->they don't need to know that

)
Still illegal?

mashers · Jun 3, 2016

Yes it would be illegal. A gift means you didn't pay for it so would not be liable to pay tax. Ergo if you paid for it, it's not a gift, so to declare it as such would be fraud. Customs could dispute that it was a gift and demand to see evidence that you have a relationship with the sender to substantiate your claim that they sent the item as a gift. It's unlikely they would do so for an item like that, but you never know, and it would still be illegal whether you get caught or not.

raystriker · Jun 3, 2016

I see, thanks

Tomy Sakazaki · Jun 3, 2016

Simplest way, try finding a electronics entushiasts forum from India. Ask them if they are regularly taxed when importing electronic goods to India, if they say that they were never taxed, you are good, if they say that they are taxed all the time, ask if with taxes it's still cheaper than buying at local market.
It's unlikely that you'll get jail time for trying to import licit goods through mail, the worst that may happen is you losing money if you're taxed and you don't pay it to receive your goods.

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