Iherb and supplement shipping question

[swm59nj]

        I was considering ordering some vitamins from Iherb. Im an American living in Bangkok. 200mg Co Q10, 500 mg vitamin C, and a multi for my girlfriend. I realize I might be charged customs fees. I would probably order two bottles of each. I want to use specific brands that I know.

       My question is. I was told by a couple of pharmacists here in Bangkok that supplements including vitamins are considered drugs over a certain dosage. For example I cant purchase the Co Q 10 200 mg. I use unless the location has a pharmacist there. So if I order the above mail order. Is that in any type of government violation?  

[Sheryl]

Not to my knowledge. And I have not heard of any such rule regarding CoEnzyme Q10. There is for Vit A and D for obvi9us reasons (toxicity in higher doses) but I much doubt thete is any such rule for most nutrients.

 

iHerb does a pretty good job of  ensuring their orders get through customs in Thailand. 

[swm59nj]

15 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Not to my knowledge. And I have not heard of any such rule regarding CoEnzyme Q10. There is for Vit A and D for obvi9us reasons (toxicity in higher doses) but I much doubt thete is any such rule for most nutrients.

 

iHerb does a pretty good job of  ensuring their orders get through customs in Thailand. 

            A couple of months ago I went to the local GNC to purchase the 200mg of the Co Q10. The girl told me she couldnt sell it to me because of the strength. She also said she could not sell other vitamins and supplements because of anything over a certain milligram.  She could only sell them on Sundays between 2 and 6 pm. Because the store brings in a pharmacist.  

[Sheryl]

53 minutes ago, swm59nj said:

            A couple of months ago I went to the local GNC to purchase the 200mg of the Co Q10. The girl told me she couldnt sell it to me because of the strength. She also said she could not sell other vitamins and supplements because of anything over a certain milligram.  She could only sell them on Sundays between 2 and 6 pm. Because the store brings in a pharmacist.  

 

This may be a GNC specific policy. And/or she may have been making that up, "not allowed" being a frequent Thai response to things they don't know how to deal with or haven't done before.

 

AFAIK GNC does nto carry Co Q10 in higher than 100mg dose.

[swm59nj]

On 1/11/2021 at 11:30 AM, Sheryl said:

 

This may be a GNC specific policy. And/or she may have been making that up, "not allowed" being a frequent Thai response to things they don't know how to deal with or haven't done before.

 

AFAIK GNC does nto carry Co Q10 in higher than 100mg dose.

       Thank you. IHerb had everything I wanted. When I attempted to order, the delivery time choices were approximately one to almost two and a half months.  So I passed. Maybe because of Covid? I heard in Thailand Blackmores is a good brand. Are you familiar with any other vitamin/supplement brands in Thailand that are good? 

     As an example I take 200mg CoQ 10 twice per day. Per my doctor instruction. I purchase Pharma Nord brand from  pharmacy, which is expensive.  I take it because I was getting muscle aches from a statin drug I had to start taking recently. Another pharmacy near my condo sells a brand called Mega, which is cheaper. But Im not familiar with it. I have seen the Mega brand in pharmacies though. to be honest Im only familiar with American brands.

 

[tyler28]

iHerb shipping to Bangkok usually takes two weeks or less, in my experience. I've never been charged customs fees in 50+ orders.

[xylophone]

57 minutes ago, swm59nj said:

       Thank you. IHerb had everything I wanted. When I attempted to order, the delivery time choices were approximately one to almost two and a half months.  So I passed. Maybe because of Covid? I heard in Thailand Blackmores is a good brand. Are you familiar with any other vitamin/supplement brands in Thailand that are good? 

     As an example I take 200mg CoQ 10 twice per day. Per my doctor instruction. I purchase Pharma Nord brand from  pharmacy, which is expensive.  I take it because I was getting muscle aches from a statin drug I had to start taking recently. Another pharmacy near my condo sells a brand called Mega, which is cheaper. But Im not familiar with it. I have seen the Mega brand in pharmacies though. to be honest Im only familiar with American brands.

 

If iHerb had everything you wanted, then order from them, much as I do and I get them sent by airmail, the cheapest one possible, and they arrive within 2 to 3 weeks.

 

I have ordered all sorts including COQ 10 from them for years when I have been based here and have never had any problem with taxes or delivery et cetera. 

 

Make sure that you don't use any of the DHS type methods of delivery, airmail and local post is the best way to go.
 

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, swm59nj said:

       Thank you. IHerb had everything I wanted. When I attempted to order, the delivery time choices were approximately one to almost two and a half months.  So I passed. Maybe because of Covid? I heard in Thailand Blackmores is a good brand. Are you familiar with any other vitamin/supplement brands in Thailand that are good? 

     As an example I take 200mg CoQ 10 twice per day. Per my doctor instruction. I purchase Pharma Nord brand from  pharmacy, which is expensive.  I take it because I was getting muscle aches from a statin drug I had to start taking recently. Another pharmacy near my condo sells a brand called Mega, which is cheaper. But Im not familiar with it. I have seen the Mega brand in pharmacies though. to be honest Im only familiar with American brands.

 

Mega brand is reputable should be fine. But you may be able to do better from Lazada which has multiple US brands including Kirkland, Life Extension, Puritan Pride, Nature Made etc

https://www.lazada.co.th/catalog/?spm=a2o4m.home.search.6.1125719czHNmeh&q=coenzyme q10 200mg&_keyori=ss&clickTrackInfo=textId--801760228825428690__abId--185029__pvid--cd79522a-3d3c-40b6-840c-e79106136f5b&from=suggest_normal&sugg=coenzyme q10 200mg_5_1

 

Lazada is a local service like Amazon, online order and home delivery. They often have US made supplements but the supply is erratic so if you see something you want and expect to use long term, order a lot. The Kirkland brand m=which is in bulk and especially good price is particularly unpredictable in availability, so is the Puritan Brand.

 

Re iHerb, pre-COVID delivery by regular service was usually pretty quick i.e. 2-3 weeks. in this COVID times it is all over the map, sometimes similiar to before and sometimes as long as 2 months and paying more for supposedly faster delivery does nto seem to help. (Main constraint is limited number of flights). Personally I always try Lazada first and then iHerb for what Lazada lacks.

[dddave]

My last delivery from i-Herb was ordered in late October and arrived mid-November; about 3 weeks.

I've made about 8 orders over the last 3 years, never over $100.00 per order, standard shipping and I have never been assessed duty.

Edited January 12, 2021 by dddave