In an effort to get the target audience online to learn and then earn via working online, they kinda really need 2 things:
- internet access
- a computer
While there are people actively trying to facilitate getting more internet access to a greater piece of the population here in the Philippines, I’m yet to think of a better solution.
For computers, though, it’s just a matter of getting my hands on the actual units. In my previous post detailing how I sourced a PHP5,000 (~US$100) used laptop locally in Manila, I think I mentioned how much pricier it is to purchase decent used laptops here than in Japan, where I previously earned a living buying, fixing and reselling used computers. (a capable used laptop for working online, should be attainable for under Y5,000 or US$50 from Japan)
So, with my ability to hunt for and buy used PCs via Japan’s Yahoo Auctions, I then moved onto to thinking about making importing a lot of cheap laptops into Philippines, which will require money and some thought into logistics.
**Bulk lots of used computers in Japan, generally contain desktop PCs, a lot of broken ones and are cleaned with water from a hose! This is why hand-picking known working machines from a reputation-based trading site is the solution I’m looking at)
Balikbayan boxes, a better solution than container loads!
Consulting with a friend in Japan, approximate costs for bringing in a container load of laptops were as follows (rough estimate):
- Y190,000 ~ 250,000 - 1 x 40 foot container
- P? – Official customs duties on the Philippines’ side
- Y500,000 – Potential “unofficial fees” on Philippines’ side
- Y? – Transportation and storage cost of container both sides
Pretty pricey and requiring a lot of people throughout the process.
Enter the dragon Door To Door Box (balikbayan box)
I’ve used these “return home” boxes from Hong Kong before to send bulk items to the Philippines. Super popular, they allow you to pack as much as possible into a cubic cardboard box, wrap it in a million miles of protective tape, say a prayer and hope it arrives mostly intact to the Philippines. (Actually, I’ve never had any problems with ones I’ve sent)
While they are not exactly designed for shipping electronics products, everyone does to try and avoid the customs fees and just pads the box with a few extra blankets to absorb the kung-fu techniques the shipping workers like to practice on them.
What is the price difference?
For a box which could probably hold 200 laptops, you’ll pay about Y5,000 ex-Japan, or around 25 yen per laptop, door to door! More realistically, I think it would be best to dilute the boxes with other items such as blankets and household goods useful in Philippines, so as not to push your luck with customs. Even a modest 10 laptops per box works out to about US$5 per laptop then, with a bonus of whatever other products would be worth sending over from Japan (used clothing / tools / motorcycle parts?).
So, while not the most professional looking way to get the computers into the hands of the people aspiring to get themselves out of poverty via working online, it can start on a small scale and require less investment than waiting for funding enough to do a whole container load.
The most important thing is to get the computers here. Other people are doing the same thing for profit (the laptop I bought at a store was a Japanese model, previously imported and sold to me at a decent markup), I’d like to see the same initiatives being taken to better society.
I just did a search on Yahoo Auctions to confirm and found the exact same model I bought in Philippines (and am using as my main development machine!) for a starting price of ~US$30 and Buy Now price of ~US$50, with a few others the same available.
Anyone interested to contribute to this ad hoc, much needed resource acquisition movement, please contact me with any ways you want to contribute.
UPDATE: My good friend, “Kleinii”, from Japan, pointed out this mail-order company in Japan selling pretty cheap laptops, too: