Ebumbu

Hi folks. So, I've inherited a lot of jewelry from a near relative. My grandparents were jewelers and the collection's value is high. I want to have it FedEx'd and insured and sent to me here in Phuket so I can sell it on Ebay. I know there are risks. Many have advised me (from a previous post) of Thai-customs corruption and have suggested I find a customs broker "with connections" so I don't get ripped off. I'm fine with that. I'd rather pay a little extra than get caught up in a racket and lose everything. Any suggestions for a reliable customs broker with reasonable English skills? If you have experience doing this thing, please share. I am a total newbie to this. I can either bring it here or sell for scrap. No other options are available. I have a limited window to do this and these are my choices. Scrap would get me 20% value, which is an unacceptable loss. Thank you!

I was told work permit or no dice no way. Are you talking about a wire transfer? It was either Kbank or SCB that said no way without a work permit. Can this be overcome? Dee Money is OK, but not sure of sending limits. I think they keep a tight lid on that. If I needed to move funds urgently, I used Thai PP.

Wise has been very professional and responsive. Opened both biz and personal account. No complaints. EZ.

Agree. That's the only realistic risk area I see. But, according to Thai Customs, this kind of jewelry is duty free except for 7% VAT. Now, if they assess the box as containing the Hope Diamond and the Star of India, I suppose I could have it returned to the US and try again. Will check that. It's more risky to me to lose 80% of the value by selling everything for scrap in the US. I got a Willy Wonka ticket, so I am going to redeem it if I can.

Evidence? I contacted Thai customs. They told me that gold and jewelry only require a 7% VAT. Nothing more. Bringing it over on one's person requires one to pass through customs, no?

It's a simple matter to get official appraisals from GIA in Bangkok. The world has become a small place. No business proposition is risk free, but worrying about pilfered bank vaults isn't on my radar.

I have a US LLC with a US address. I have a seasoned Etsy and Ebay store, with US provenance. All kind of unfounded assumptions lead to unwarranted conclusions. I'm going to bow out of this thread. The angry-codger squad has arrived.

Get well soon.

I'm not selling to Asia. I'd be selling to US and EU on Etsy or Ebay. I have substantial experience selling on both of these platforms. I feel more confident about my decision to import after reading your unsubstantiated objections about "nobody wants Jewelry in the US" or "I can't get a reliable safety-deposit box in Thailand." That's just nonsense. No offense and nothing personal. You're entitled to your opinion.

I've contacted Thai customs themselves. They directed me to an official calculator. According to their rules, this kind of jewelry doesn't require a tariff above 7% VAT, which makes it profitable for me to import it. Turns out that value of the items is higher than I expected or quoted in this post. I know there are a lot of curmudgeons on this forum, and that's fine. If you have specific info, please share it with me. Otherwise, I'm going to insure the package for the actual value, take pictures of the contents, and FedEx it my Thai residence. I expect to pay a 7% VAT. From there, I plan to have it legitimately appraised by GIA, piece by piece, then list it on Ebay. I don't expect to be extorted by customs. I will have pics of all pieces, and I have their rules straight from the horse's mouth. Of course, anything is possible, and any decision involves risks. I've evaluated risks as low. If you know otherwise, please share specific data with me, and I'd appreciate that. I also have a Thai friend in the jewelry business. She advised me that my plans are doable. But, I'm open minded. Change my mind.

Why not?

For me, this is all I need. I need a method to transfer out from my Kbank account to my US account (with US Paypal connected to it). Thai Paypal does that. I never hold a Thai Paypal balance. OK, good. I don't like to 100% rely on Dee Money to withdraw from Kbank. So, I still have two methods to move money out to a US bank when needed.

Does this mean Dee Money is now the only way to get money FROM a Thai bank to a US bank? I don't like that. I've used Thai Paypal at times to get money to the US quickly, when needed. Wise will not transfer money out of Thailand. What other online options do I have for outbound transfers from Thailand? Wire transfers are not available to me. Thai banks are like Hotel California.

I logged into my Thai Paypal. I recently asked them to change my business account to a personal account. They did so. There is no other notification. I don't know why. I'm just reporting. There's no other inbox email from there, and there's no general notification. All is normal.

They actually answered. It appears that "base metal clad with gold" is duty free, as you said. But, TIT, so god knows what will actually occur. It would not shock me to owe 30,000THB or more. Here is their full response. I gather I will only be responsible for VAT, shipping, and insurance, as you say. Or, they'll hold it hostage for an extortionary fee. ???? --- Dear Sir/Madam: With reference to your enquiry, we would like to inform you that usually any person imports product into Thailand whether personal use, gift, or commerce. They have to pay the import duty and related taxes normally. The calculation of duty for goods imported into the Kingdom shall be in accordance with a nature of the goods, a customs value, a corresponding customs tariff and a duty rate at the time of the completion of importation. Consequently, we recommend that an importer/receiver to search the HS-Code, the import duty, the description, and calculate the import duty below. Please visit the website of Customs Department at http://itd.customs.go.th/igtf/en/main_frame.jsp, then choose topic "Search for Import Tariff" under the topic "Search for Tariff". - Please type your HS code "Tariff Code 2, 4, 6 or 8 digit" without dot (For example, 7201 or 720110) or a key-word in the “Description” box then click “Search”. - If you search by 2 digits tariff code, a page with a full range list of goods in such heading will appear. Find 8 digits tariff code that describes your goods and click it. - Choose the condition in the list box (Duty Reduction Column), the conditions will be display. - To see the general rate, please click "General Rate (section 12)" and click show, the import rate will display. When you know the rate as process above, you can calculate the import duty by yourself as the following formula. **The calculation must start by CIF. CIF means C= cost of your goods, I=Insurance, F= Freight.** For example: CIF = 100 Baht Import duty rate = ..% VAT = 7 % So: Import duty = 100 x ..% = Y VAT = (100+Y) x 7 % = Z Total of Import duties to be paid = Y+Z We hope this clarifies your concerns.Should you require any further assistance, please do nothesitate to contact us.

It's a dead relative. No one is going to take it to a jeweler in the US for them. It gets shipped to me or sold to a pawn shop locally. Those are my options. I got a "ballpark" figure on one piece of $8000. But, it's definitely not a real appraisal. There are other pieces and they are unknowns. Some are costume jewelry. But, I've read that even that can be valuable on Ebay as a "vintage" item. I am seeking more info. I lack the details I need to make a good decision but I'm trying to get them.

OK. This is what's tricky. I don't actually know the value. And I may not get the value from Ebay, whatever it may be. If they do open it, at least I get an accurate appraisal! I will call their number shortly. Thanks.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. OK, I have emailed them here with all the details I have. https://www.customs.go.th/ I don't have an official valuation, so the value is a guess. When I tried the calculator you recommended and entered a $5000 value, I got an 11,000 THB tariff, which seems OK. I'm dealing with jewelry of unknown value. I doubt customs can judge the value. It looks old and dirty. A friend of the family said $10k, but it was not a serious appraisal, just an eyeball figure, probably due to the one diamond. Thanks.

Do you have a link to the original article, please? I do use my Thai Paypal from time to time.

You're talking in a technical way that's over my head. Do you suggest I go ahead and import with Fedex and list a $500 value or something like that as "costume jewelry"? Or, should I list a higher value and pay only 7%? That percentage would make it worthwhile to import. What do you suggest, please?

Hello expats and others. A relative recently left me $10-$15k in jewelry. I'm planning to have it shipped to me from the US, but I don't want to suffer a bloodbath on tariffs. On the other hand, I don't want to be foolish in case FedEx loses the package. Any advice about this? I'm thinking of claiming a value of $500 for "costume jewelry." Would that be a bad move? If I claim $10k, is customs going to slaughter me? Any advice is appreciated. Also, what would be the best way to go about getting a formal appraisal here? I'm in Phuket. Do I need to go to Bangkok? My plan is to sell the jewelry on Ebay or Etsy after a formal appraisal and pictures. Or, I sell it for stones and gold here and be done with it. Not sure yet. Ideas? And, I'll store it in a bank safety-deposit box, unless anyone has a good reason not to. Thank you.

No link to source article?

Officer, it's a deep fake. I am willing to testify that those are not my bits and bobs.

Before or after CCTV cameras were turned off and "enhanced interrogation" methods were employed? You trust the BIB to follow international human-rights standards?

For the Son of Sam case, in the 70s, they had Berkowitz walk around the entire block three times so he could be extensively photographed by the press, and harassed by a mob who screamed at him. It was an intentional shaming process -- not just an arrest and detainment. That's how it was then. Not sure how it is now. Back then, they did a walk of shame even before any trial had started. Reminds me of LOS.