Moving to Thailand from Cambodia - how to move my belongings?

[Tuatara]

Hi,

 

I'm relocating to Bangkok (or more accurately, moving back to Europe but looking to move all my household goods in to storage in Bangkok as there are no storage options here in Phnom Penh).

 

As shipping through established companies is prohibitively expensive (thousands $ for 1-2 cu.m of goods) I'm looking instead at doing a series of night bus missions back and forward between the two cities.  Problem is, while the shippers do all the customers clearances, I won't be.

 

Does anyone have any experience with the border staff?  What sorts of things are likely to raise eyebrows, or prompt them to extract some kind of customs charges?  I've got a stack of clothes and shoes which I presume will be no problem, same with books, climbing equipment etc.  But what about computer hardware, toolkits, bike repair equipment, kitchenwear (microwaves, bread maker, etc).  Part of me assumes it will just be waved through as used household goods.  The other half of me is expecting a border official to demand a full inventory of my suitcases and associated charges.

 

Almost all of it was shipped from the UK to Cambodia at the start of my posting, and its all simply going in to storage for an eventual move back to Thailand or Cambodia some years down the line.

 

Any experiences and advice would be appreciated.   

[tonray]

My advice is that instead of spending potentially years of storage fees and likely having many things degrade or become obsolete during that time, why not sell what you can, give the rest to charity and start fresh down the line ?

[Tuatara]

I've considered that, and will certainly give away/sell much of it. 

 

But a lot of the stuff has certain sentimental value (wedding gifts, various ornaments and trinkets picked up along the way, etc), will be used in subsequent work here, or is simply hard to get in the region.  Storage in BKK is very affordable and good quality, circa £10-20 a month in airconditioned cubicles, and my time away is uncertain.  Also, much I will potentially be able to bring back to Europe in various trips to the region in the coming months and years anyway.

[darrendsd]

If I understand correctly you are looking at taking the bus from Cambodia to Thailand?

 

You are aware that Thai Immigration only allow 2 land crossings per calendar year?

[jenny2017]

Please have a look here:\

https://www.google.co.th/search?ei=CbIuWoCgOofSvwSQuYaQCw&q=International+moving+company+in+Cambodia&oq=International+moving+company+in+Cambodia&gs_l=psy-ab.12...33676.45194.0.47398.40.30.0.10.10.0.296.3385.20j7j3.30.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.39.3354...0j0i131k1j0i131i67k1j0i67k1j0i22i30k1j33i21k1j33i160k1.0.J5b4h-rXS_M

 

 

   You'll see some companies, a map and their website for more information. 

 

[Get Real]

As far as I know, there should not be that high price for 1-2 cu. m. I´ve used transport by a single  20 feet container before. That was off course not between Cambodia and Thailand. According to me most of the international transport companies charge standard international fees. For me the price of one 20-feet container was 1400 USD from Germany to Thailand. That was 4 years ago.
I guess you could contact V-Serve at Sukhumvit 77 i Bangkok. They will probably give your a quick estimate of the price, and surely will have the contacts to be able to help you.

[BritTim]

If the final consignment is at all bulky, Thai customs will almost certainly give you grief. I have not dealt with them recently, but they used to make my life a misery for anything other than personal luggage I was traveling with.

[12DrinkMore]

16 hours ago, tonray said:

My advice is that instead of spending potentially years of storage fees and likely having many things degrade or become obsolete during that time, why not sell what you can, give the rest to charity and start fresh down the line ?

 

Totally. I have done this several times over my life.

 

It is always a huge relief to get rid of stuff, travel light and start again, being ever more selective about what to buy. Tastes, hobbies and (in the case of clothes) body size change. And I want to look forward to tomorrow not sit in a room full of reminders about the past.

 

I do have a selection of photos stored on Google Drive, if I really feel the need.

 

No stuff = FREEDOM!

 

But I know a lot of people utterly anchored to their past and their big pile of stuff.

[mikecha]

When u move everything do not forget the mamifest in 3 coppied realy detailed 

serial number of machines mixers electrical goods and not to many the same ,say u have 2 vacume cleaners sell 1 and 1 to  the manifest

Thai customs like detils so  realy make an effort to have this done in detail

2 0ft container is best as it keeps it all together 

if u have boxes stick manafest on side of the box what inside  and mark 1 to 20 or more exact colly stated 

if Thai custom check they may open 2 and chech if all is correct they may back off 

import duty you might have to pay or some small envelope in right place to stamp in documents goods free

personal efects are sometimes let in free but not all the time if u have a thai GF /wife u can say it is her thai personal efects then maybe go easier 

good luch at the customs 

or find a company that do door to door  but again the manifest must be made by you

 

like others say sell most  and keep little 

[UPDEHSOI]

1 hour ago, 12DrinkMore said:

 

Totally. I have done this several times over my life.

 

It is always a huge relief to get rid of stuff, travel light and start again, being ever more selective about what to buy. Tastes, hobbies and (in the case of clothes) body size change. And I want to look forward to tomorrow not sit in a room full of reminders about the past.

 

I do have a selection of photos stored on Google Drive, if I really feel the need.

 

No stuff = FREEDOM!

 

But I know a lot of people utterly anchored to their past and their big pile of stuff.

Well, I'll be!! I'm pretty much in the process of doing this. Too much of a hassle to sell stuff. I'm giving everything I have here ( except what will fit in a suitcase ) to a little Thai/Burmese lady and her daughter. I have known and helped them a little for years. They are poor...don't have much.                                                                                                         As far as sitting in a room full of reminders, I Do have a wall or two plastered with photos of different experiences I have had in different countries over the years. Not very classy, I must admit. But it's MY PAD!! And I have only stuck up photos of Good Memories.

Also, quit making remarks about my body change...okay? I RESEMBLE that remark! ( joking )

[Tuatara]

14 hours ago, darrendsd said:

You are aware that Thai Immigration only allow 2 land crossings per calendar year?

2

That I wasn't aware of.  Good to know, and clearly puts a spanner in the works of the bus-trip plans.  It did sound too easy to be true.

 

8 hours ago, Get Real said:

As far as I know, there should not be that high price for 1-2 cu. m.

1

Yes, I was surprised at the price, but it seems standard with the two shipping companies contacted so far.  The problem appears to be, even when willing to share a container there are a) few part containers used on this route, and b) a minimum volume applies regardless (around 4.5 cu.m).  

I'll try some of the other recommendations and see what they can quote

 

7 hours ago, BritTim said:

If the final consignment is at all bulky, Thai customs will almost certainly give you grief. I have not dealt with them recently, but they used to make my life a misery for anything other than personal luggage I was traveling with.

Seems to be the consensus.  From what I've been reading, much like when I brought the items to Phnom Penh in the first place, duty charges are potentially waived given its all used household stuff, single items of each, and has been in the country for more than a year.

 

Thanks all for your help - I'll keep checking back in.

 

The situation would have been much more straight-forward if I was in Thailand alreayd - simply bung everything in to storage, job done.  For reasons unknown, Cambodia is almost devoid of self-storage facilities.  If anyone is looking for a business idea to start up, you heard it here first....

[Tuatara]

2 hours ago, mikecha said:

When u move everything do not forget the mamifest in 3 coppied realy detailed 

serial number of machines mixers electrical goods and not to many the same ,say u have 2 vacume cleaners sell 1 and 1 to  the manifest

Thai customs like detils so  realy make an effort to have this done in detail

 

 

Thanks for that.  Good points.  Have enquired with a few shippers and might simply use them for the paperwork side.  As long as I am reasonably confident Thai customs aren't going to throw massive surprises at me then that is 99% of my issues deal with.  Moving it all from A-B is more straight forward, and I accept there may be the odd bother or mysterious fee here and there.  

 

2 hours ago, 12DrinkMore said:

No stuff = FREEDOM!

 

I agree to a point.  Certainly it's freedom to move. 

 

But if parking up for a few years I don't take much comfort in a spartan apartment and like the reminders (trinkets, tapestries and pictures) picked up over the decades.  More to the point, the stuff I'm moving includes a paraglider, climbing and diving equipment, treasured socket set and other motorcycle repair gadgets and a summer wardrobe aren't going to fetch much on the market here.  All have plenty of life left in them, and aren't a barrel of joy to repurchase in Southeast Asia.  Have got rid of most I am happy to dispose of, no doubt more will go, but there is a solid cu.m of things that I would rather hold on to.

[bkk6060]

4 hours ago, 12DrinkMore said:

 

Totally. I have done this several times over my life.

 

It is always a huge relief to get rid of stuff, travel light and start again, being ever more selective about what to buy. Tastes, hobbies and (in the case of clothes) body size change. And I want to look forward to tomorrow not sit in a room full of reminders about the past.

 

I do have a selection of photos stored on Google Drive, if I really feel the need.

 

No stuff = FREEDOM!

 

But I know a lot of people utterly anchored to their past and their big pile of stuff.

I left my world in the USA in a box at my son's house.

Getting older I want to get rid of crap, not accumulate it. 

God, it is such a free non baggage feeling.  So great!

 

 

[poanoi]

i know a khmer guy that can do it, he has fair prices and lots of experience,

let me know if you are interested.