Amazon. Trials and tribulations.

[phetphet]

I recently ordered an electrical massage, muscle stimulator; "Belifu Dual Channel TENS EMS 24 modes machine" US$ 35.00 from amazon.com.

 

A couple of weeks later I get a message that it seems to have been lost in the post (i-Parcel). Amazon say they will refund me, and to re-order again via fastest post option and once received, to send them proof and they will refund all postage fees. So far so good.

 

So I go ahead and reorder with express delivery. Today I get a call from DHL in Bangkok. Asking that I supply copy of passport, visa page and TM.6, all details of order, link to item on amazon, invoice, and doctors certificate and covering letter that I can use it. <deleted>?

 

So I pop around to the local hospital armed with a print out of said Amazon  page, explain situation, and say I just want a certificate to give to Customs that I am in good health and can use the machine. Only had heart rate and blood pressure taken there twice last week. All results normal.

 

Nurse comes back and tells me that doctor recommends ECG and heart check before can issue certificate.

 

So it looks like another order is going to a new Customs and Excise home in Bangkok, and I doubt that Amazon  will refund me again..  ????

 

[Crossy]

12 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Today I get a call from DHL in Bangkok.

 

Here's your problem, the couriers all need to be squeeky clean and your TENS machine is a "medical appliance" which needs an import licence (which you will never get).

 

Tell DHL to return it, you may be able to get a refund from Amazon or the seller could send it by one of the regular postal routes which attract much less attention from customs. And be creative with the customs declaration avoid the word "medical" or "health".

 

Can't you get a machine here or from a Chinese seller?

 

[phetphet]

I might be able to get one here. I did look on amazon, but some of the stuff there is very low quality. This one had good review so that's why I went for it.

DHL said they can't send it back, but I will try and explain  the situation to amazon. See if a refund is possible.

 

Or will bring one back from the UK next time I visit.

[Kwasaki]

Why not use a massage shop 100 bht twice a week is enough surely.

[Jeffrey346]

Every item I ordered from Amazon always had pre customs clearance. Why didn't your order?

[SbuxPlease]

I've have had mixed success with DHL - on a few items I've told them to "return it" after declining their offer to submit all of my vitals. On several of these, they eventually delivered anyways (LOL). Keep in mind they have no competency to know whether your documents are authentic, use that knowledge as you see fit. Seems like a racket where the rules may or may not actually be the rules.

 

Lately (since the start of 2020) I've had great success with AliExpress shipping by EMS and even China Post. Might take a couple of weeks to arrive but I haven't had any of these stopped by customs in a long time. Just avoid Singapore post as that route from China to Thailand is taking months.

 

Feel free to PM. I'm an unusual case as I have an ecommerce business in Thailand and ship thousands of things annually from China to Thailand.

 

[Bender Rodriguez]

23 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Why not use a massage shop 100 bht twice a week is enough surely.

where is a message only 100 baht ? in the sticks ?

[Max69xl]

43 minutes ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

where is a message only 100 baht ? in the sticks ?

Maybe a 30 minutes massage. They do exist. 

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

where is a message only 100 baht ? in the sticks ?

It's 100 baht in my GF's village.

[Lacessit]

I don't bother with Amazon anymore, freight charges are too high. Lazada. Low delivery costs, prompt delivery.

If you want to think about it, a lot of Amazon products are probably sourced from China anyway.

[Kwasaki]

1 hour ago, Max69xl said:

Maybe a 30 minutes massage. They do exist. 

Yes they do you only have to ask.

[Kwasaki]

2 hours ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

where is a message only 100 baht ? in the sticks ?

Another newbie, In the sticks in a Temple your can get a massage for 30 - 50 baht.

[ricklev]

7 hours ago, Jeffrey346 said:

Every item I ordered from Amazon always had pre customs clearance. Why didn't your order?

Me too.  I guess they can screw up occasionally but seems strange.

 

 

[ericthai]

8 hours ago, SbuxPlease said:

I've have had mixed success with DHL - on a few items I've told them to "return it" after declining their offer to submit all of my vitals. On several of these, they eventually delivered anyways (LOL). Keep in mind they have no competency to know whether your documents are authentic, use that knowledge as you see fit. Seems like a racket where the rules may or may not actually be the rules.

 

Lately (since the start of 2020) I've had great success with AliExpress shipping by EMS and even China Post. Might take a couple of weeks to arrive but I haven't had any of these stopped by customs in a long time. Just avoid Singapore post as that route from China to Thailand is taking months.

 

Feel free to PM. I'm an unusual case as I have an ecommerce business in Thailand and ship thousands of things annually from China to Thailand.

 

Dont use DHL, FedEX etc, stick with EMS, China post etc.  With DHL, Fedex etc they always want vat, Duty etc. Regular post (EMS) typically there are no issues. 

[torturedsole]

On 9/12/2020 at 9:12 AM, Crossy said:

Tell DHL to return it, you may be able to get a refund from Amazon or the seller could send it by one of the regular postal routes which attract much less attention from customs.

Good point and is also the case in the UK. I purchase a lot of goods from outside the EU and items delivered by regular post attracts very little attention from customs. Anything coming in by the major couriers, DHL, FedEx, UPS etc., will 100% deliver me a whole world of eye-watering financial pain in the form of import duties, so I avoid wherever possible.  

 

If I'm making a big ticket purchase on eBay and the seller is shipping via the Global Shipping Programme then I contact the seller and request a regular postal service and to change the shipping option in their listing if they want to trade. I haven't come across a single seller refuse my request as it makes no difference to them anyway.  A recent eBay purchase cost $400 + shipping + $150 import charges via the Global Shipping Programme so contacted the seller and negotiated the price of the purchase down and to send low value via USPS. The seller duly obliged and I received an import duty invoice for under $10 + handling fee came to about $20 which is rare for regular post but I'm not moaning as this was negligible.  

[phetphet]

12 hours ago, Jeffrey346 said:

Every item I ordered from Amazon always had pre customs clearance. Why didn't your order?

I don't know. I emailed Amazon and explained the situation. 

This is an excerpt of their customer service reply: 

I see that they've asked for the medical certificate for safety because of this pandemic situation, I'm sorry for that.

 

I don't believe it is because of this. Rather because as Crossy stated in post 2, that it is being classed as a medical device.

 

I don't  think the buyer has much choice which company Amazon uses to ship orders. Most seem  to come from i-Parcel or one of the other major  carriers.

Anyway, they have agreed to refund me once the delivery date has expired so hopefully all's well that ends well.

[impulse]

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/electrical-pulse-tens-acupuncture-therapy-massager-dual-channel-digital-ems-full-body-muscle-stimulator-relax-massage-machine-i1080442921-s2438548467.html

 

Locally available...

[elgenon]

I bought an excellent one over $300 from Amazon that actually gives very good and quick results. America is good for something.

 

IMHO a $30 machine would barely be effective anyway. Good luck on getting your money back!

[phetphet]

44 minutes ago, elgenon said:

I bought an excellent one over $300 from Amazon that actually gives very good and quick results. America is good for something.

 

IMHO a $30 machine would barely be effective anyway. Good luck on getting your money back!

The one I ordered from Amazon had lots of good reviews, and a 4+ star rating. Amazon has already agreed to refund me my money.

I have now ordered one from Lazada for 350 THB. If it doesn't do the job, it's no great loss.

[elgenon]

On 9/13/2020 at 8:58 PM, phetphet said:

The one I ordered from Amazon had lots of good reviews, and a 4+ star rating. Amazon has already agreed to refund me my money.

I have now ordered one from Lazada for 350 THB. If it doesn't do the job, it's no great loss.

Sorry, my stim was recommended by a semi-pro VB player who is a friend of mine and who does a lot of research on such as he ages.  I noticed a big difference the first time I used it. I just want everyone to get the same quality results as I have. 

 

If you are happy with yours, that is wonderful. I hope you are able to get the stim you want and the results you want.

 

There are many wonderful products out there now, stim guns, stim massage balls, etc  My bud has tried many of them