Ebumbu

44 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

FedEx will have to be given an approximate value for insurance.   How can eBay give you a proper valuation, why not get someone to just take it to a jeweller?

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. 

4 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Don't bet on that, if they decide to examine your package they will  be able to value it, that's what Customs are there for!

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. 

27 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, I don't.   If you declare a $500 valuation that is the limit of your FedEx insurance if the package gets lost.

 

If the items are undervalued on the FedEx documents and Thai Customs decides to examine your shipment, you will be assessed for the real value, as determined by Customs and may be fined for trying to avoid duty by under-declaring the value so substantially.   Your package may also sail through with no issues.  That decision is yours.   

 

You need to find out the duty rating for the specific items and you can do that by calling the Customs Dept call centre.   A declared value of $500 will still attract duty if the item is subject to assessment.

 

This site is usually accurate, https://www.simplyduty.com/import-calculator/, and it suggests that "gold jewellery" and "diamond jewellery" is zero-rated for import duty so only VAT would be applied on the valuation, plus insurance and shipping cost.

 

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. 

3 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The only tax will be 7% VAT on CIF value, so you're suggesting that the import duty will be rated at what by the courier company?   To make it "not worthwhile" any import duty and VAT would have to exceed the value of the jewellery, wouldn't it?

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. 

2 hours ago, Sig said:

On top of that, according to the article - "The suspect has reportedly admitted to the crimes..."

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

7 hours ago, billsmart said:

I'm from the US, and the "perp walk" is just the police walking the accused away ,usually in handcuffs. I've always thought it was supposed to be a public display showing the police arrested someone.

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. 

4 hours ago, Thailand said:

He is possibly guilty but shouldn't the guy still still have the benefit of"innocent until proven guilty"?

That quaint legal concept takes too long and requires dispassionate judgment. It has been superseded by trial by media, hearsay, virtue signaling, police coercion, and the court of public opinion. Much quicker and more emotionally-satisfying results. 

Well, the "Phuket Petri Dish" tested poorly with focus groups, so the branding team suggested "sandbox" -- to suggest the carefree life of a child. 

Just like history is written by the winners, who is a cult and who is not a cult is written by the winners. 

Thailand is ready for its own version of Shark Tank. With a twist! 

So I go to the registration site. I fill out everything carefully. I check my information carefully. Then, I click SUBMIT. Upon submission, I get a big error message at the top of the page. I reload the page to try again. When I do, it says I'm registered. So, there was an error. But there was no error. Life and death issue. What could be more TIT? 

Come to Amazing Thailand and spend 2 weeks under house arrest, complete with GPS bracelet. Experience the feeling of being convicted of a felony, while enjoying your island paradise.  

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

 

When I moved to NYC in the 1980's, a rather beautiful woman I had befriended looked at me and said "when are you going to remove that horrendous thing from your face?" I said huh? She said do you plan on dating? I said yes of course, I am divorced and single again. She said do you plan on sleeping with these women you date? I said of course. She said it is not going to happen with that terrible thing on your face. Not here, not now. I shaved the next morning! 

Are you sure she was referring to your beard? 

Quote

"4 Those with high skillsets"

I have a 9" tongue and can hold my breath for a very long time.  

6 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Not according to this, got a link proving otherwise?

 

Different studies show different results. We live in Thailand. The great advantage is that Sinovac does not require a deep freeze, so it's one less thing that can get ****** up. 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2114531/china-sinovac-shot-seen-highly-effective-in-real-world-study

21 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Hands up who wants the Chinese one?

It's more effective than AZ, Sputnick, or J and J. My hand is up. 

Not impressed. The US embassy did this for its citizens in March. Greatest country in the world. Uh, wait a minute.