Bringing several bags of electronics

[Caribbean Cool]

Don't know what it is likely to be and doubt anyone else knows either....yours is a crap shoot. Good luck.

 

[devilclam]

Hi, I know it’s far from ideal to bring several bags (6) full of (used) electronics from Europe into Argentina but there are not really alternatives. So planning to do the trip and wrap the luggage up in plastic and pray it won’t get stolen on the way.

That said, from what I’ve read in the forum it should actually be ok! (much to my surprise lol)

Is this still so in 2025 (most comments and topics I read were dated around 2011-2020 mostly

Any tips maybe?
Cheers!

I mean... I brought two iphones once mixed in with my clothes and they made me pay $50 in customs fees. I'm not sure what types of electronics you're bringing but I would imagine that six suitcases of just electronics is gonna attract some attention.

 

[sdsurfista]

I guess the obvious question is why do you have some many things? Do you have a believable explanation of why each item is for your own personal use? If not, if questioned they will likely assume you are a "bagadero"/mule which is not illegal, but certainly will trigger some steep customs taxes. And at that point if you do not have receipts they will assign argentina electronics prices to your gear which will be quite high potentially raising your cost even more.

 

[Traveller88]

I guess the obvious question is why do you have some many things? Do you have a believable explanation of why each item is for your own personal use? If not, if questioned they will likely assume you are a "bagadero"/mule which is not illegal, but certainly will trigger some steep customs taxes. And at that point if you do not have receipts they will assign argentina electronics prices to your gear which will be quite high potentially raising your cost even more.

it's just a collection of (eurorack) synthesizers - those with the patch cables -, drum machines/ effect pedals, interfaces that all get connected in the end to make electronic music, not even that expensive actually, just bulky

 

[Rich One]

True depends on the hour of the day and customs agent. Perhaps very few have a related XP..

 

[rob0001]

If this is examined by customs the assumption is that you are selling the stuff and will likely pay duty on all of it.

 

[cayayine]

Hi, I know it’s far from ideal to bring several bags (6) full of (used) electronics from Europe into Argentina but there are not really alternatives. So planning to do the trip and wrap the luggage up in plastic and pray it won’t get stolen on the way.

That said, from what I’ve read in the forum it should actually be ok! (much to my surprise lol)

Is this still so in 2025 (most comments and topics I read were dated around 2011-2020 mostly

Any tips maybe?
Cheers!

Should be fine now that most airlines have baggage trackers that you can monitor on your phone.

 

[rob0001]

it's just a collection of (eurorack) synthesizers - those with the patch cables -, drum machines/ effect pedals, interfaces that all get connected in the end to make electronic music, not even that expensive actually, just bulk

Hi, I know it’s far from ideal to bring several bags (6) full of (used) electronics from Europe into Argentina but there are not really alternatives. So planning to do the trip and wrap the luggage up in plastic and pray it won’t get stolen on the way.

That said, from what I’ve read in the forum it should actually be ok! (much to my surprise lol)

Is this still so in 2025 (most comments and topics I read were dated around 2011-2020 mostly

Any tips maybe?
Cheers!

No one has asked what your immigration status is coming into the country. Are you a tourist? Are you seeking temporary residency or are you already a permanent resident or a citizen. That status matters greatly. I came in as a tourist then changed my status to temporary resident. But, because I was coming in as a tourist my luggage needed to be tourist stuff...my luggage, as my attorney stated, needed to reflect my status. I wanted to bring in 9 suitcases from Mexico. I was advised to not under do that as a tourist does not need 9 suitcases of stuff. I was told by my attorney to do it in 3 trips. I did that with no problem. If I had tried to do it with 9 suitcases I was told customs would assume either I was not a tourist or I was selling the stuff.
The stuff you ate bringing could also be looked at as you are going to be working in Argentina...that maybe even worse. Just be sure to bring a lot of money if you try this stunt.

 

[rob0001]

By the way, if you do try and bring all this stuff. Please let us know the outcome to help others...even and especially, if the outcome is not good. Thanks.

 

[Ries]

over 17 years I have come in many times with all kinds of weird stuff.
Immigration asks to see your passport. They dont have anything to do with your bags, you have to go thru immigration before you even get to bag claim.
Customs sit, bored, on a chair, watching the screen of the xray machine.
Probably 1 time out of ten, they look at me and ask, what is this? pointing at something on the screen.
Last September I came in with an aluminum handrail for my building, in bunch of parts. Aluminum pipe sections, straight and curved, up to 1 meter, brackets, hardware.
They asked, I told them, they never opened the bag.
They never ask for ID, they can tell by accent I am not Argentine. Customs never had me produce a passport.
Maybe 2 or 3 times out of 30 or 40, they have actually opened a bag or box, and then, when I explain its hobby or personal, they wave me thru.
I frequently travel with both a mac and an windows laptop, 2 phones, an ebook, and an ipad, sometimes with dj mixers or small amps or auxilury speakers. They wanted to see my sewing machine once. Once they did they were profoundly uninterested.
Never once had them ask about any of those things.
I would guess that an analog synth, and you saying "I am not a professional musician, its my hobby", would get thru easily.
20 iphones, or multiple new in packaging computers, cameras, watches, thats what sets them off.