I'm currently stationed on a U.S. military base in Korea for a year. Whenever I send or receive mail, it goes through without needing special stamps or anything extra, just like it would back home in the mainland U.S. Given this unique position, I was wondering if it might be a good idea to buy solar panels or equipment here and mail it back home. I've heard that solar costs might be rising, and I'm not really following tariffs or anything like that, so I apologize if this sounds a bit clueless. I'm just curious if I could save some money and bypass tariffs by shipping the equipment as if it's domestic mail.
3 Answers
It can be cheaper to get panels locally if you buy by the pallet, with prices around $1 to $1.30 per watt. However, consider that the major costs come from installation fees and additional materials you'll need like inverters and mounting equipment. Unless you have a way to ship larger items duty-free, you'll likely find that the savings just aren’t significant enough to justify the effort.
Just a heads up, you can't use APO for commercial shipments, and you'll still have to fill out a customs form when sending items. It’s a bit of a hassle, so keep that in mind before making any decisions.
Generally, prices for solar panels in the U.S. are higher due to tariffs and shipping costs from manufacturers, especially if you look at Europe as a benchmark. It might not be cost-effective to buy small items like batteries, but if you're considering a larger purchase like a whole pallet of solar panels, you should compare prices on specific sites like Signature Solar. Just be aware that it could still be pricier overall than buying local due to potential duties and shipping expenses.
That makes sense! I guess I need to do more research on the total costs versus potential savings. Thanks for the insight!