I'm going to be moving to the Netherlands in about a month for a 1-2 year stint. Back here in the states, we have god's gift to techies called NewEgg (www.newegg.com) which in my experience is just awesome for buying computer components. Good prices, good service, reliable, etc.

I'm going to build a computer which I will use for my new job in the Netherlands and was wondering what my best options are. Are there recommended online shops for buying computer components out there? The ones I've seen (EBuyer and Overclockers.co.uk seem ok...Another thing, it looks like VAT taxes are very very high out there and it might even be worth it to assemble the computer here and then ship it to where I live. Not sure if that is a good idea or not, but it is an option if the prices I will pay will be so much higher than in the states.

Any suggestions?

Nothing?

mikeg22 wrote:

I'm going to be moving to the Netherlands in about a month for a 1-2 year stint. Back here in the states, we have god's gift to techies called NewEgg (www.newegg.com) which in my experience is just awesome for buying computer components. Good prices, good service, reliable, etc.

I'm going to build a computer which I will use for my new job in the Netherlands and was wondering what my best options are. Are there recommended online shops for buying computer components out there? The ones I've seen (EBuyer and Overclockers.co.uk seem ok...

Are you looking specifically for stores in the netherlands or just europe? Here, we're not post-ordering from another country in europe, if we don't have to (read: if there's no store in the country having the part)

Another thing, it looks like VAT taxes are very very high out there and it might even be worth it to assemble the computer here and then ship it to where I live. Not sure if that is a good idea or not, but it is an option if the prices I will pay will be so much higher than in the states.

Any suggestions?

Tax is 19-20% indeed. Add to that the expensive Euro for you, and you're looking at a steep price. I definitely would assemble the computer in the US. Be SURE to tell customs it's a used computer and not a new one, otherwise you're paying taxes.

Frans is right. One buys within his country otherwise the postage price raises dramatically (i.e. if I want to buy a 17Euro modem from Italy to Slovenia I would pay 55Euro in total, which is an absurd). And yes, bring the computer from US (except for the AC/DC plugin ;-)) it will be a lot cheaper. I wonder why the prices are higher over here in Europe - perhaps we have better quality ...

Otis wrote:

mikeg22 wrote:

I'm going to be moving to the Netherlands in about a month for a 1-2 year stint. Back here in the states, we have god's gift to techies called NewEgg (www.newegg.com) which in my experience is just awesome for buying computer components. Good prices, good service, reliable, etc.

I'm going to build a computer which I will use for my new job in the Netherlands and was wondering what my best options are. Are there recommended online shops for buying computer components out there? The ones I've seen (EBuyer and Overclockers.co.uk seem ok...

Are you looking specifically for stores in the netherlands or just europe? Here, we're not post-ordering from another country in europe, if we don't have to (read: if there's no store in the country having the part)

Another thing, it looks like VAT taxes are very very high out there and it might even be worth it to assemble the computer here and then ship it to where I live. Not sure if that is a good idea or not, but it is an option if the prices I will pay will be so much higher than in the states.

Any suggestions?

Tax is 19-20% indeed. Add to that the expensive Euro for you, and you're looking at a steep price. I definitely would assemble the computer in the US. Be SURE to tell customs it's a used computer and not a new one, otherwise you're paying taxes.

I still haven't figured out how to imbed my response in a 2 response deep message here, so I'll just respond to the end

It looks like I'm going to want to buy the equipment here. Now I just need to figure out how to physically move it to Rotterdam! The easiest way, I think, it to keep the pieces separate and pack them in my bags...which means I probably only want to buy the things that will fit in my bags, so motherboard, cpu, hard drives. I will need to buy the power supply, case, and display there in the netherlands.

Easiest is if I can just find a place there in rotterdam to buy these parts as they are heavy enough that any savings from price competition from a mail-order would probably be eaten up by shipping costs.

The thing I worry about is rough handling of this equipment by the airport baggage people. I remember an era where shaking a hard drive could destroy it, is that still the case?

What do you make of this plan?