thailandsgreat

Gov't is on the matter Thailand’s Prime Minister SretthaThavisin has called on his citizens to show their kindness to foreign tourists with an aim to help fuel the country’s tourism. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/thai-citizens-urged-to-show-kindness-to-foreign-tourists-4718778.html

Kawasaki Bangkok could not fix this, I will have to go to Bangkok DLT myself. Kawasaki originally sent me a plastic plate which I asked a bike shop to put on. This may be ok for a scooter. But it was apparently not good enough for a motorcycle. Vibrations and wind wore it down. So at DLT I will ask if it is possible to get a metal plate like I have seen on some bikes. If I just get another plastic plate, I must find a better way to affix it. Any advice on this appreciated. Otherwise Kawasaki has been good to deal with. But this will take a little time to fix.

In every country there are locals who wish to show that they don't appreciate foreigners. They sometimes show it in small gestures and a foreigner can e.g. sometimes end up last in a line where he arrived early etc. This is no big deal. But in Thailand it is much more pronounced during week-ends. Why is that? Of course we meet more working people then but I don't believe that is the only explanation.

Since the question came up again: To get a new plate with a Bangkok registration you must go to Bangkok: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eYfFKR8gGw2tuzd98

I put down what DLT just told me so I remember and could maybe be of use to others. Bring passport, visa and green book to this place to get new numberplate. Bike is not needed and she didn't mention the document I got from police. (But it might be helpful if police pulls me over for not having a plate?) https://maps.app.goo.gl/eYfFKR8gGw2tuzd98 (bike registered in BKK) To transfer registration, passport, visa, green book and certificate of residency are needed. Can not transfer to Pattaya DLT which is too small office. Can transfer to Chonburi office. But maybe not worth the trouble since I can pay tax in Pattaya with Bangkok registration. So if Kawasaki Bangkok can not fix it, I must go to BKK.

So I may have to go here. https://maps.app.goo.gl/zPpUy568qmVoGg9x5 with a Bangkok-Mongkol plate? But I will try Pattaya DLT first. Do you know what documents are needed? Better move registration or I must go there pay tax.

I bought a new bike in BKK 3 months ago. This weekend the license plate fell off somewhere on the highway to Kolat. Kawasaki had noted that the plate was a little bent but they nor I did connect that vibrations and wind take their toll. All is great with the bike but the plate is only fastened with two screws. Must have a stable board behind the plate and an extra screw. (Or maybe these flippers that the bike gangsters use 😆 - better not) I got a document from police. Kawasaki Pattaya are also good but do nothing. I and hotel must continue contacting land transport and Kawasaki BKK. What kind of problems can you expect having a bike registered in Bangkok-Mongkol? Will I have to go to BKK Land Transport to get a new plate and pay tax? Can I move registration to Pattaya? Green book is on me in Pattaya.

A sprocket and a chain was 8.5 k Baht including freight from Europe. 30% duty and 7% VAT added up to 3.5 k Baht. Duty based on item cost and freight cost. VAT based on item, freight and duty. Also 200 B duty handling+VAT But that is OK. If I buy more expensive engine/chassis/details stuff I will first check how customs classifies it, though.

The packages arrived today. I haven't had time to look through all. I just give a quick report here. I added what I had paid for the stuff and delivery and set towards the fees I had to pay in Thailand. Fees came to 13% on what I had paid for merchandise and delivery. I needed some special stuff not on webpage, brought from GiVi and slight delays occurred after holidays. But when things got going after holidays my impression is the system worked very quickly with UPS air delivery at reasonable rate. So my conclusion is that I wouldn't hesitate to buy mail order again from large European retailer (US probably same) and prepare for a moderate fee to Thai authorities. But no guarantee how it goes, of course.

Like Kawasaki bikes. Below 1000cc are made in Rayong and above 1000cc imported from Japan. Also reflected in price. Mostly I wanted to deal with the largest GiVi retailer, they also ship by air. I assume few dealers keep specialized Items in stock so I wanted to deal with a retailer close to the source. But ordering from Italy has had delays. I hope VAT and customs will not go worse than 5+30% and with some luck less. But we’ll see. Like I wrote I dislike Amazon since it dodges VAT by importing to low VAT-countries in Europe and also lets other postal clients pay for their packages (Like Trump said) by doing their own customs clearance, avoiding that postal fee. Amazon is very convenient but it is costly for EU-citizens now to import outside Amazon (higher VAT and customs clearance fee). Amazon creates a monopoly. I fear Lazada and Shopee may develop into the same. So looking at political trends I will probably not get away without paying due fees, once the package is shipped. Admittedly Amazon, Lazada and Shopee are very convenient now. "But there is no free lunch." They are establishing monopolies which will probably make individual import difficult later. (Like from UK, US and China into the EU, already.) British mail weakened in some scandal now, I believe? Welcome to private mail, it has not been good in my country.

The reason was the price difference. (I also expected a big Italian retailer to supply some special GIVi equipment more easily.) Earlier hotel staff has helped me buy general stuff from Lazada and Shopee with very good result regarding quality, price and delivery. But for these branded Items, price was high using that method. Here is an example. Local mail order charges 33 k Baht but the biggest Italian GiVi retailer charges 12 k Baht. I was in contact with the local Thai retailer that offered a moderate discount during Motoexpo and also at new year. But with such big difference in price I went with the big Italian outlet. But so far problems. I ordered Dec 5, all Items were in stock and would be shipped immediately. But when I contacted them on Dec 18 the order had not shipped. They waited for one item that would arrive on Dec 22. But it didn't arrive and a substitute was offered. I also made an addition to the order on Dec 28. Those two Items should arrive promptly from GiVi but still waiting for those. Considering the difference in price it ought to pay off buying from Italy (big retailer, air shipping; at worst it ought to add 5% VAT and 30% customs on the price, I believe) but considerable, unexpected delays so far. The last delay caused by "GiVi not getting up to speed after Christmas". And I don't know how Lazada would have played out. One delay was due to "GiVi manufacturing". Basically I was hoping that the large Italian retailer would deal efficiently with GiVi and keep good stock.

I passed Robinson in Bo Win and took the chance to ask prices at Asia City Motors. The 2023 PCX 160 abs are around B. 126.000, including 2 yr theft and 1 yr accident insurance. You only save 2.000 if you cut out the insurance.

Is there any general rule when a biker can follow the blue road signs that, I believe, indicate highways, sometimes they are toll roads and sometimes not. I was southbound on 36 from Chachoengsao and Google maps indicated U-turn and left turn. That was blue sign but ended nicely on road past "Buddha mountain" Kao Chi Chan Followed blue sign to Pattaya in labyrinth at Laem Chabang and finally friendly toll staff had to show me how I had to go against traffic to get on track again. Came from SiRacha and followed blue signs that ended nicely on good road at the side of the toll road. You just have to know if the blue signs also are possible to follow on bike? Google (set for bike) helps but yesterday sent me on a blue road it was impossible to avoid before you were on it and could just go for first exit. Sometimes a biker must follow the blue signs? There is often no additional "no highway" sign to the destination, even though a road is available? How do you know if a blue sign "Pattaya" is only a highway or if it also indicates a road navigable by bike?

Just the situation right now: Large Italian GiVi retailer Motostorm messed up the order. Promised shipping (via air) before Dec 10, but will now ship in January "after the holidays". I am retired and travel alone and can postpone my trips, but for someone working or dependent on family members or others and needs the Items before holidays it would have been a problem. Motostorm agree to breach of agreement so I guess I could cancel the order but price difference is so big I stay with the order. I don't know how other retailers do. Few keep all models in stock and depend on GiVi for delivery, I believe. GiVi doesn't seem to even have produced the Monokey adapter plate I ordered and was agreed to be shipped in 5 days! Just an example: Maxia 5 box from Motostorm is 12.000 Baht and from Lazada 30.000 Baht! Lazada goes via GiVi Thai retailer. I asked them on phone and at that time they offerered moderate MotorExpo discount. So to shop from Italy seems reasonable. Thai friend asked me to check Shad panniers, but same price Lazada and Motostorm. Shad not Italy based. Hotel staff has helped me buy other stuff via Shopee and Lazada. All good price, good quality and prompt delivery. But GiVi is exception. Branded. Too many corporate trolls here to discuss Amazon 😀 but they are real ugly. Amazon imports to low or non VAT countries in Europe and cheats your country of VAT by distribution VAT-free within the common market. Amazon also lobbies/bribes delivery companies to make their own customs inspection. A fee which is added if you import yourself from UK, US, China etc into the EU. Individual import into the EU, outside Amazon, is now impossible! I believe Trump said Amazon makes other postal users pay for their parcels. That is how it works in Europe. Amazon is forcing producers and buyers into their network. Today it is smooth but tomorrow they have monopoly. I suspect Lazada/Shopee is similar. So just waiting for the time being. But so much cheaper from Italy I don't try to cancel order. And GiVi seems good quality. The basic problem is that companies have gone too big, have joined and eradicated competition. It will make no difference to Motostorm if they mess up one order. There is no one else to go to and if it were, it would be owned by the same guys.

I have just checked other merchandise in general. There is no free trade with the EU. My general impression/hope is they will not slap me worse than 30%. If lucky 0-10% All very relative. Amazon cheats on VAT by importing to low VAT countries in Europe and redistributing to other countries within the free market!