Anyone have experience / suggestion regarding long delay in USPS parcel clearing customs in Bangkok, bound for Chiang Mai?  I have a large parcel that was shipped from US on May 7 bound for Chiang Mai.  It contains a bunch of miscellaneous consumer items purchased on Amazon and eBay.  It seems to be stuck in Bangkok Customs since May 10.  Considering that today is May 23, I'm not sure if I should be concerned or if this could be considered a "normal" delay.   

 

The last tracking indicated:

May 10, 2018, 9:51 am 
Customs Clearance 
THAILAND 
Your item is being processed by customs in THAILAND at 9:51 am on May 10, 2018.

 

What course of action, if any, should I take to find out what's going on?

 

Edited May 23, 20188 yr by Kohsamida

How was it shipped, i.e. as a part of the Global Shipping Plan (GSP), or just plain International shipping?

I suspect the latter, as you say it contains a bunch of miscellaneous consumer items purchased on Amazon & Ebay, so via GSP could be difficult.

The hold up is probably whilst they assess the duty payable on the items, this can be delayed if the packing invoices are not correctly marked up, HS codes etc. etc.

As a recent comparison, I ordered a 300 USD item from Ebay US on Friday 11th May, shipping was done under the GSP and all duties included in the initial cost and it was delivered on Saturday 18th May.

30 minutes ago, Mattd said:

How was it shipped, i.e. as a part of the Global Shipping Plan (GSP), or just plain International shipping?

I suspect the latter, as you say it contains a bunch of miscellaneous consumer items purchased on Amazon & Ebay, so via GSP could be difficult.

The hold up is probably whilst they assess the duty payable on the items, this can be delayed if the packing invoices are not correctly marked up, HS codes etc. etc.

As a recent comparison, I ordered a 300 USD item from Ebay US on Friday 11th May, shipping was done under the GSP and all duties included in the initial cost and it was delivered on Saturday 18th May.

I have a mail consolidator company in the US.  Items I purchase from Amazon, eBay, and other stores are consolidated by them into one package and then shipped through the post office.  As I said, it is all easily tracked via USPS and Thai Post.

 

Again, my question really is whether this can be an acceptable delay or if I should be concerned, and if the latter, what action can I take to find out what's going on?

6 minutes ago, Kohsamida said:

Again, my question really is whether this can be an acceptable delay or if I should be concerned, and if the latter, what action can I take to find out what's going on?

Your best course of action is to contact Thai Post and ask them what the delay is being caused by, they should be able to identify the package by the tracking number, assuming that it has been transferred to their system, otherwise they should be able to tell you who to contact in Thai Customs, the delay is almost certainly due to documentation / duty payable.

Have you already asked your consolidator if they know why?

1 minute ago, Mattd said:

Your best course of action is to contact Thai Post and ask them what the delay is being caused by, they should be able to identify the package by the tracking number, assuming that it has been transferred to their system, otherwise they should be able to tell you who to contact in Thai Customs, the delay is almost certainly due to documentation / duty payable.

Have you already asked your consolidator if they know why?

The documentation was spot on perfect.  Every item in the shipment was clearly described and valued, and even included original invoices.  Your advice to visit post office sounds prudent.  Thanks

3 minutes ago, Kohsamida said:

The documentation was spot on perfect.  Every item in the shipment was clearly described and valued, and even included original invoices.

OK, another possibility, is the combined value of the items more than 40,000 THB?

If so, then you will have to make an Import Declaration, which also means registering your passport with customs.

http://en.customs.go.th/content.php?ini_content=individuals_151007_04&lang=en&left_menu=menu_individuals_151007_04

They do not operate on invoiced prices but set their own, I found this out years ago. Their prices are always much higher than what is quoted so as to raise more money that usually goes into private pockets. 

3 minutes ago, Mattd said:

OK, another possibility, is the combined value of the items more than 40,000 THB?

If so, then you will have to make an Import Declaration, which also means registering your passport with customs.

http://en.customs.go.th/content.php?ini_content=individuals_151007_04&lang=en&left_menu=menu_individuals_151007_04

Nope, around 13,000 baht including postage.

 

2 minutes ago, seajae said:

They do not operate on invoiced prices but set their own, I found this out years ago. Their prices are always much higher than what is quoted so as to raise more money that usually goes into private pockets. 

Thanks for reply but that has nothing to do with my question.