that you wish you could order online that you can't now.

It's amazing how much stuff you can order online in this country that is if you have a basic understanding of the language, a Korean issued credit card (never tried with my home ones, has anyone else?) and a an alien ID # and of course a site that accepts foreign ids, which do exist.

Personally I am not a fan of Korean fashions and just wish I could order clothes online from companies such as Gap, Eddie Bauer etc since they don't have branches located in Korea it's tough.

I knew there was a Gap in Korea. They opened one in seoul in myeongdong area.

I was thinking of stuff like name brand deodorant from back home and condoms. Things that are more general and onse size fits all.

Don't know about online, because that stuff is pretty easy to find on the streets anyhow. Gukje International market in NampoDong is your best bet for deodorant. The Seaman's Club at the station sells both deodorant and condoms.

I have a korean-issued credit card. With it, I can buy merchandise from around the world. I get books from Colombia, games form Europe, snacks from the US, clothes from Australia, electronics from Hong Kong..

But I cant buy anything from Korea.

why? because BC, the issuing creditor of my Visa card, uses an identity verify plugin, that must be installed in my computer, to verify that I am me, before it will allow the transaction. How does it verify it? by the brilliant idea of having me type my ID number. And naturally, the program does not accept foreign numbers. So despite the fact that some sites accept foreign numbers, the credit card issues does not. So your sh!t out of luck trying to buy anything from a korean retailer.
However, this morning I bough a panflute from a retailer in Bolivia, with the same card...

There's a couple of good articles written up in the KT about this kind of wackiness. Here's the links via "Marmot's Hole". For added interest, a former PWEB poster (HWMNBN) turns up and rants about whiny foreigners wanting to steal money....yawn.


MODS: This might require a new thread.

Well before this thred deteriates into something that it is not. let me explain my post and either answer some questions or have my accountant friend answer them for you.

1. My idea was to teaach business math in English. This would be done through a program like junior achievement back home. The students would learn web design , business math, marketing, inventory management etc.

2. Matt Sidd The counry consists more than the cities of Seoul, Daegu and pusan so there would be a lot of foreigners who could not easily get a trip to the Kukje market in Pusan.

3. Ewok the system is designed for tarrif protection and trying to protect Koreans low tax and their industry. Unfortunately, they do not see how forcing the foreigners to pay higher price for products than the Koreans is hurting their own industry. My accountant friend gave me this example, but he rounded up the numbers for simplicity sake. Say you pay a 20% tax on all value added goods. The cheapest a foreigner can find both on-line and off-line is $100 (Koreans get it for $50.) Now we have 10 customers that want that same product, but only one is the alpha customer. They always have to have the product first and now. The other nine find it from home alot cheaper. So they calculate how much it will cost them to order it from home (plus maybe adding a few other hard to get items from home) and have it shipped here.

Tax Koreans get from the 1 customer is $20. If they allowed foreigners to buy product at the $50 rate, the tax the Korean governement would get is $100.

Hold that thought- did someone say you can get condoms at Seaman's? (Semen's? - shurely not). I went once and didn't see anything. Do you have to ask for them? Any other way/place to find them without ordering online? Western ones, that is.

Common refrain I've heard: "I'm not that big, but the condoms..."

So, why try? If Koreans make it hard to buy their products why go out of your way?

I buy dozens of products online - electonics, books, herbs, clothing - try Land's End - very fashionable high quality goods at great prices and reasonable shipping costs and stuff that you will never find in Korea. I refuse to buy Samsung or LG because the selection is so limited and the prices high.

Stats show that about million foreigners now live in Korea, quite a niche market and mostly computer savvy I would imagine. Koreans would do well to hire some English language web site developers to help them tap into the market, but they won't because - in their mind - nothing outside of Korean exists and no one can teach them anything.

Yep saw them with my own eyes back in January. Trojan brand.

After reading this thread I kept my eyes pealed for them when I was there on thursday and they most certainly had them, that being said (and perhaps I'm revealing a lack of stature here) I usually just by the Beneton ones from the convenience store and have no issues with them.

I find I can buy almost anything online here, except size 12 shoes(which I actually like). The other day I bought a cheap suit on auction and it actually fit (I'm tall with long arms so it's hard to find shirts, jackets that fit). Other things I've bought online include a lazyboy chair, coffee table, computer system, steaks(good ones), waffle maker, large oven, ginger ale, MP3 player and the list goes on. I've been satisfied with all of it too.

Of course you can't get all the names brands from back home both in clothes and foods, but if you're not hung up on particular brands, you can make do. Plus there a about 4 costco site that off a range of products.




As for using your BC Card in Korea, you can. It is a little complicated (like many things here) but it can be done by going to your bank and registering for internet banking. The first time I went, I was trying to explain about the ISP verification while they scratched their heads looking baffled, then after many phone calls to BC Card and registering for internet banking (with Busan bank), I was given a sheet with instructions to follow when I got home in order to register my card on the bc-card website. Once home I followed the ins. but still it wouldn't work as there was another little detour you have to take which I had to figure out my self by scrutinizing the entire menu. Eventually I downloaded the ISP info with my new secret # to my HDD and could buy things online. Best to put this on a removable storage device otherwise you can only purchase things from your home computer. There is also something else you should know, you have to also register for purchases over $300, which I didn't find out until much later. Another trip to the bank yippee.

At the BC-card homepage, you'll see the login in the top left corner, just below that you can see a small list of links, the last one is 주요서비스바로가기, hit that and a blue menu pops up scroll across once till you see 안전결제(ISP)신청, hit that then it will ask you to download some stupid safety programs which you can't avoid. It's still asking me to download them even though I already them have so this is where i have to stop cause it won't let me go further until i restart the browser. Anyway it's best to have a Korean friend help you out. i did it by myself but it was a long and stressful process!! But it can be done, and you won't be able to wipe the smile away when that first 25kg bag of Kimchi arrives~

And for overseas orders I usually use sierratradingpost, they have tons of clothes and shoes, mens and womens, outdoors/sports equip., interior, pet stuff, at cheap prices and they deliver worldwide. Good customer service too.

Orion, did you get the impression that you had to go through all those steps with your BC Card because you're a foreigner, or do Koreans have to go through the same process?

Naw, everyone has to do the steps for security. since every site here has different software they want you to install to protect your CC data (very annoying), instead of using a standard like verisign or another. I actually showed my wife where to go when she got a new CC. . .

this past months online buys include: 43L oven with rotisserie, waffle/sandwich maker, baby carrots, long green beans, 1.5kg turkey breast, 3kgs mortadella. . . and a few more. anyone else spend an obscene amount of money on food and food related items here in Korea?