trotbot

<br />I expect you will get several replies from people who got stung and who didn't.   I will tell you a real life example which happened to me over the last 6 weeks or so.   <br /><br />Ordered 12 boxes of Loreal Hair Color off Ebay for the wife (a particular brand of Loreal you can't get in Thailand).   Got a real good price and even with international shipping I was still getting it at about the same price as if I walked into a Walmart in the States and bought it, which would have been approx $8 per box.   But excluding shipping cost, the basic product cost for 12 boxes was around $48.   The Ebay seller put on the customs slip each box was worth $1, for a total of $12.    Thai Customs ignored this customs value, place a value of 3000 baht (approx 100USD) on the shipment and then charged a 30% import duty plus 7% VAT plus another small fee.  Anyway, this customs charge added up to 1192 baht or about 39.7% of the 3000 baht value they placed on the shipment.  I had to go to the local post office to pay this and pick up the box.  Customs included a note with the shipping documents that said cosmetics/beauty products, vitamins, and a few other things are not suppose to be shipped into Thailand without prior approval from customs; if shipped they could be confiscated.  However,  they didn't confiscate this shipment.   The Thai wife even called the Customs Dept number on the slip and they said you can ship small quantities of what would be consider a month's worth of personal use....now who would be doing that considering the shipping costs unless you order a larger quantity.<br /><br />Anyway, a few weeks later I ordered 3 jumbo bottles of some brand name multivitamins off Ebay for about $33 which happens to be around 1000 baht.  Same vitamins we had been taking for years...and as most of you know vitamins in Thailand are way over priced and the selection is much smaller....Thai's are still more into Chinese herbs and many don't take vitamins.   Anyway, the vitamins arrived with the customs slip clearly identifying them as vitamins, a value of $33 (approx 1000 baht), and I only had to pay the motorcyle postman 7 (seven) baht....so, I'm assuming this was a post office delivery charge or probably a custom charge where the shipment had been valued at 100 baht, no import duty applied, but the  7% VAT was applied.   So, much for the customs warning about shipping vitamins.<br /><br />"When" customs hits you with a customs charge I've read in other posts and from my personal experience as described above it seems the catch-all import duty of 30% plus the 7% VAT is applied...and Thai customs may accept the declared value or apply their own value.  But I have also read posts where people have ordered something like a laptop, paid an expected customs charge to the seller/shipper, and then it was received with no additional customs charges.    All I can say is what I have personally experienced.   Good luck.<br />

On the L'Oreal stuff, Customs did you a favour, as the real (as opposed to the made up rate) is typically 30% and it does need an import license. Cosmetic importers need to register their products and disclose ingredients. If this has not been done, the product cannot legally be imported, and it is for the importer to prove they have a license, not for Customs to search through the records of other Govt agencies to check.

As a general rule, courier = high charges and a pain for personal shipments as they can be held hostage by Customs. Post = much smaller chance of getting legged over. I recently ordered a big shipment from Amazon that came in 5 packages, only one was stopped at the Post Office by Customs, and the duty rate (30%) was correctly applied to DVDs, but the value assessed was lower than that stated on the shipping docs.

If it is posted, and properly identifed in the shipping docs on the outside of the packaging as a lap top under HS Tariff Code 8471 (0% duty rate) then you should only pay the 7% VAT on the cost plus freight and insurance.

<br />Why do people feel it necessary to criticize the complaints this writer has with Thai Airways?  For the longest time, I never understood why Thai Airways held such high rankings amongst international airlines.  The points he makes are valid.  Living in the USA, I always am happy to fly on Asian carriers because they do have much more attractive attendants in the aisles, makes the flight that much more enjoyable.  Traveling on older aircraft is a strong negative, especially when the competitors have a younger fleet at more competitive fares.  Finally, one would expect the home based airline not to have to have buses take the passengers to the terminal after a long flight.<br /><br />I agree with the writer on his points, with the competition the way it is, it is a simple and valid question, Why is Thai Airways such a bad airline?<br />

Never understand why people complain about the bus at Swampy. It is so much better than getting off at C10, or even C4. The only sensible walks are from D, and that is never on Thai. I guess it helps that I get on the first bus, but even so, it has to be easier?

Most IT kit is 0% customs duty now, but you will need to classify and value each item seperately. In theory, if you genuinely paid 10k then you should only pay 7% VAT on the price, plus freight and insurance. In practice, Customs do try to shake down private importers. Customs are used to people waving invoices and evidence of payment around, and they often suspect that a second invoice for the balance is not being disclosed. Therefore it would help to have additional evidence such as the advert you responded to, or evidence of a general market price for the items.

You will not get it in on your or anyone elses Visa or Work Permit as household items.

The big difference is having a broker in Thailand that can sort things out properly. For one off transactions a lot of big brokers are not really interested, they make money on high volume clients, so it costs more to deal with an individual. The US shipper may have a relationship with a Thai customs agent. If not, I suggest you send a request for quote to a number of companies and specify your understanding that it is duty free and that you do not expect significant costs over and above the 7% VAT. There will always be some

There are a number of possible reliefs that exist for professional equipment, but as it is duty free they are not worthwhile.

Thai has some issues with how much it can invest, so it is always behind best in class airlines for modernisation. The popular regional flights (HK, SG, Shanghai) use A330s or 777, which typically are the new business class seats. The shorter, less popular flights are on the old A330s or even the really old A300s (which still have chemical toilets and the worst leg room of any plane outside of the US).

The Thai crews have got a lot better recently in business, and they are without exception friendly and competent. If you want eye candy, fly on SQ.

You are looking at the bound rate, which is the highest that can be charged (but almost never is in practice). Various reductions have taken place, so select the general rate from the drop down menu and it is 30%

I do about 80-150,000 miles a year, all in business, 70% on Thai.

got my shiny Platinum Card, although it is more purple than platinum. Virtutualy no additional benefits, can use the first class lounge, extra 10kgs, miles don't expire. It's invitation only, no criteria are published, but it is clear that economy plebs are not in the running

Duty would be 30% (for HS Chapter 85.09) on the cost plus shipping. Add 7% VAT on the customs value and the customs duty. If you send by courier, it is very likely to be stopped and taxed, and handling costs on top. If by post, it is more random and usually the taxes assessed are lower than legally due