And have you guys figured out any way around it? For example, having a friend mail the stuff and claim a much lower price, etc.

Any info is appreciated! Thanks in advance.

It is probably better to buy in Thailand,

or have someone hand carry the items for you.

Hand carry is the way to go, You might consider flying to Hong Kong one morning and catching the afternoon flight home or just buy there online and again get a hand carry. Even when you buy at the big shops in Bangkok many of the cameras have never had the tax paid because guess what? They are hand carried purchases from Hong Kong. The camera market here is completely over the top.

I agree, handcarry and take it out from the original facory-packing, just in case you have to open your bags. Mailing and claiming a lower price is not too helpful, as customs will decide on the value, based on ther importrs, and ignore your "invoice"/ declaration.

Photographic equipments are cheap enough at shops like Fotofile and World Camera in Thailand anyway. Unless it's a product not readily available in Thailand it's probably cheaper buying it at local retailer in Thailand than to buy one on online shops and having it shipped to Thailand by pay shipping, insurance and import duty + VAT when all added up would offset the saving for having it purchased overseas. Import duty for photographic equipments as far as I know is only 5% anyway, but it's on cost of goods + shipping + insurance all combined and 7% VAT is calculated on sum of all that plus import duty.