provided the seller/retailer is reputable and you're not ordering very expensive stuff, i normally prefer to pay via paypal when possible, coz can get a 3.5 exchange rate when u buy from a trusted paypal seller. higher value stuff, better pay via credit card.

shipping insurance depends on what shipping they use. sometimes it's optional.

Paypal ain't really all that safe actually.

Read up http://www.paypalsucks.com/ sometime.

agreed. playing with paypal is like fighting a chargeback war if u get tangled in an unfortunate situation. my friend kena already. paypal just finds ways to suck money from people no matter who's right or wrong. they'll simply lock the funds, and even if you appeal and they agree the release it, they'll only release the funds after 6 months (or 8, cant remember) coz it's they stupid policy. at least via credit card, provided you got no other credit ties or money in your paypal account, you can still slap them back with chargeback, let them shut your account with a negative figure, abandon it and start a new account again till the same vicious cycle repeats. this happens when the seller con's you. but the same cycle happens also when a buyer wants to con the selller, ending up with the chargeback reversed back to the seller (paypal always does this and appealing does nothing), hence the seller essentially sold something for free. thats why many sellers hate paypal and ban credit card funded transfers by using a personal account. welcome to the shitty world of paypal.

This post has been edited by MetalZone: Sep 17 2006, 03:11 PM

remove all labels and proof that you bought it there... and hand carry it back. tell them it's yours and you brought it to US when u went there. i'll let blacktrix elaborate heh

LOL! you can use it as a weapon they say...

i think it depends on what you intend to buy and who you intend to buy it from. if it's about the same price or just a little cheaper, better just buy locally. if the price difference is large or you cant even get it here, i don't see anything wrong with buying internationally. As long as the seller is well known and reputable, it's fine to me by all means.

This post has been edited by MetalZone: Sep 21 2006, 04:26 PM

from my experience if shipping via USPS/EMS... if the customs do suspect anything taxable. they'll just send u a letter, u open it on the spot there. i believe it probably does happens in some instances where the customs opens it already though.