Technology Price Comparisons
Jun 6th, 2008 by Don Ray
Every now and then I receive emails asking if people should bring technology to Panama or buy it here. Well, there is no perfect answer. In general, I have found prices in the US to be cheaper. If you can get the technology to Panama as $0, then that may be the better thing. However, remember if you buy new and it gets here broke, you will probably not have any warranty protection.
I did buy a HP printer in Panama City cheaper than I found it on the Internet in US stores. Obviously, there are exceptions. If you think you may sometime move to Linux from M$, then stick with HP printers. It is better supported in Linux.
I was on PriceSmart today and they had the monitor in the photo below on sale. It is unusual for PriceSmart to have monitors by themselves and not in a bundle.
You can look it up in the US and see if that is a good deal or a bad deal. They also have an Apple iMac with 2.0 Intel core duo for around $1,400 ( I think that was the price). I know you can get that in the US for less or a much faster model.
Bringing a new LCD TV may or may not be a good deal. It depends on how lucky you are. Getting something repaired in Panama is iffy. The brands that seem to be supported the best are LG and Sony, at least that is what I was told by Electronica Nacional.
What ever you do, don’t think you can order it on the Internet and have it shipped to you in Panama cheaply. Normally that type of equipment will get about a 30% duty stamped on it at customs. I don’t know if this information helps or not. Remember, that there are exceptions to everything.
That price isn’t too bad. It sells for only about $30 less, here in Taiwan. ViewSonic has an above average reputation for quality and style at a reasonable price.
If you ever spot Asus monitors, they’re worth taking a look at. They are both Taiwanese monitors manufactured in China.
I have to keep myself away from the computer stores, everything is too tempting!
Hi David. Thanks for dropping in. I thought for the price, it was a pretty good buy for Panama.
Yeah, that’s a good price. Cheapest I see in U.S. is $233.19 with free shipping.
Thanks for the input on the US price.
As Mac freaks, once we saw Apple at PriceSmart, we immediately started to drool. Until that time–just before Christmas of last year–Mac computer products were only available in Panama City.
But there are a couple of caveats.
One, if you’re bringing in technology as part of moving, then it’s worth it to get Macs (or anything else) cheaper in the US. Two, like too many other things, Panama gets the older, out-of-date stuff. The iMac available at PriceSmart is in that category and is the model that had trouble with the monitor function.
If you intend to import if here already, by the time you pay shipping and import duties, the prices are a wash and you may–I say may–have an advantage buying here because maybe you’ll get warranty service.
We have searched for 6 months for new color printers and so far haven’t been able to find ones we know are rated highly. And that just isn’t in PriceSmart.
Last year, when I was about to go on my Brasil trip, I needed a new digital camera (my other had oxidized out thanks to humidity–control functions weren’t working), I’d researched what I wanted and then went to Audiofoto, certain that they would have what I wanted. No. Nor was it wasn’t available anywhere in Panamá. Yet the model was 4 months old.
This type of experience is not limited to technology. Would you believe dog food, for instance? Always watch the pull (expiration) dates.
Hi Joyce. I bought a HP C6280 printer/scanner in Panama City for around $140. At that time it was priced higher in the US in the sites I found. I love the printer. It is outstanding. I had to order ink for it at INFOX, since no store carried it here in David.
I recently purchased a Logitech Space Navigator 3D mouse, which is a Taiwan brand manufactured in China. I bought it online through a US vendor and the total cost, including shipping is less than what I would have to pay locally. The mouse was shipped from China to America and then to Taiwan. I have a well traveled mouse! A 3Destination mouse
In Panama, it is the customs’ fees that drive up all Internet purchase prices.