Team-BHP - The Online Shopping Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by condor (Post 3821026)

What would the customs duty be for an item worth 13000 INR ?
Item is a watch, shipping from HK

The below link should give you a basic idea on how to calculate the customs duty -

http://dateyvs.com/tax/customs-law-p...-calculations/

Below link will calculate it for you -

http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-im...ils/195645147/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lij (Post 3821042)

Below link will calculate it for you -

http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-im...ils/195645147/

Thanks ! The second link was very helpful.

Why is there so much disparity in the currency conversion of amazon.COM and the prevaling exchange rates shown by xe.com and other conversion websites?

xe.com says 64.XX and amazon says 69.XX!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sagarpadaki (Post 3821584)

Why is there so much disparity in the currency conversion of amazon.COM and the prevaling exchange rates shown by xe.com and other conversion websites?

I don't know the reason, but I've seen this consistently - its cheaper to pay in USD and let the conversion happen at the credit card, than paying in INR on Amazon.com.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunphilip (Post 3821591)

I don't know the reason, but I've seen this consistently - its easier to pay in USD and let the conversion happen at the credit card, than paying in INR on Amazon.com.

Even the banks (who issued the credit card) use similar exchange rates. Also they add 'Foreign Currency Markup Fee'. HDFC claims they are the lowest at 2%.
Overall you have to pay 4-5 rupees extra per dollar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunphilip (Post 3821591)

s cheaper to pay in USD and let the conversion happen at the credit card, than paying in INR on Amazon.com.

Yes Amazon is more expensive than the bank conversion rate on a USD Credit card transaction. I too always pay in USD itself rather than accepting amazons INR rate.

This morning I had been to the St Thomas mount post office to send a speed post. They had probably just received a batch of parcel from Amazon. Each one was scanned and then thrown to different locations for further sorting. I doubt if these employees understand the damage they could cause to the packages inside. Though Amazon does a good job of packing, I dont think, delicate packages would survive!! Not sure why the Indian postal services are being used by Amazon, since they still have air of the govt employees.

Quote:

Originally Posted by raghu.t.k (Post 3821701)

TThough Amazon does a good job of packing, I dont think, delicate packages would survive!! Not sure why the Indian postal services are being used by Amazon, since they still have air of the govt employees.

Quote:

Originally Posted by condor (Post 3821732)

that is pretty much the norm even with courier companies. Here or where ever else there is manual sorting / handling.

Here's an interesting article about the same situation - also depends on the mood of the various handlers :)
http://www.cracked.com/personal-expe...ng-at-ups.html

Note that cracked.com is a pop-culture site, so I won't treat everything it says as pure and unvarnished truth!

Quote:

Originally Posted by condor (Post 3821796)

Any link to find out the reason why the article got destroyed ? The particular story is not there :D

Does this count as a condoring? :) URL fixed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunphilip (Post 3821778)

Here's an interesting article about the same situation - also depends on the mood of the various handlers :)
http://www.cracked.com/personal-expe...s-get-destroye d-learned-working-at-ups.html

Any link to find out the reason why the article got destroyed ?

The particular story is not there :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by condor (Post 3821732)

@Raghu, that is pretty much the norm even with courier companies. Here or where ever else there is manual sorting / handling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunphilip (Post 3821778)

Here's an interesting article about the same situation - also depends on the mood of the various handlers :)
....

I felt bad because, many a time I have ordered electronic components and other sensitive items from amazon, flipkart, tower hobbies etc.

For them its their day to day job, and have no clue of what each box contains, and what it means to the buyer. If its a DOA then they buyer has to go through the hassle of returning it back and awaiting a new one, and some times he might get a refurbished one depending on the item and seller.

I hope all the sellers incorporates an insurance in such a way that makes the life of the buyer trouble free!!

Insurance will not make up for the damage due to the shock the item goes through.

This way handling is the reason why I do not order items like Harddisks / lenses etc online.

On a related note, I have read about such "horror stories" even by courier companies in the US. Hence I am not surprised with this behavior here.