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This goes for many products and services, because of different tax and import rates. From Europe it is often still cheaper to fly to a different country to buy
by LeonM 6y ago
This goes for many products and services, because of different tax and import rates.
From Europe it is often still cheaper to fly to a different country to buy clothes, electronics, etc. Problem is that you still have to pay the import tax once you cross the border back into your own country.
Hence why many airline crew ran (run?) side hustles of buying and selling luxury goods, since they were (are?) rarely checked at the border of their home country.
- cptthrowaway 6y agoCan't you just buy some electronics, throw away all receipts and such and simply claim to customs that you had it already for a while? For example, when I bought my Audio Technica ATH-M50X in the US for about $100 (while in my country they were about twice as expensive) I just had it around my neck as I was listening music through it. No one asked a thing. In all fairness, I went to the US for fun and got a chance to use them at a demo and was immediately sold.
- frutiger 6y ago> simply claim to customs that you had it already for a while? You can also simply hold a knife to a stranger and ask them to empty their wallet. Both happen to be illegal, however.
- smabie 6y agoillegal doesn't mean very much when customs is about shaking you down, stealing your stuff, and making you pay bribes. Every time I've traveled to Africa for example, I've had to give customs officers some stuff and money. It got so bad that I was buying Bluetooth speakers and duty free gin just for them.
- frutiger 6y agoWhat’s the lesson here? That when the rule of law is weak we should all steal what we can?
- smabie 6y agoUnless you are willing to get arrested or beat up, or worse, for your beliefs, then yes. If you are not willing to play the game, you will not just be systematically disadvantaged, you will be crushed. In such a situation, you play the game. You play it because you have no choice. I've been kidnapped by the police, I've bribed perhaps dozens or even hundreds of people. I've paid off government officials, I've gotten offers to kill my enemies (haven't crossed that line fortunately), etc etc. When the inmates run the asylum, you have no choice in becoming crazy.
- frutiger 6y agoYou are very woke. Carry on.
- vladvasiliu 6y agoThere's often a legal exemption for personal belongings. Of course, if you claim the 50 iphones in your bag are "for personal use" it might not work as well.
- frutiger 6y agoThat’s right but GGP was suggesting lying presumably to exceed such exemptions.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- thechao 6y agoA buddy of mine funded a 6 month pan-European tour in the late 90s with a suitcase filled with US jeans.