Dvds - Mailing Overseas

[Upcountry]

Hello, hello,

I have a friend in the US who will send me a few DVD's from time to time. I'll watch them and send them back.

If you have had a similar experience, I'd like to know the best way for my friend so send them and for me to return them.

We'll use padded envelopes.

Should my friend declare it package as a gift?

Is UPS better then Fred-X? US Mail?

Will customs pounce on me in either direction?

Will the cost be prohibitive?

Thanks

Upcountry

/Deperate for good movies - full screen stereo redux on UBC is too painful!

[12call]

Do u really want to get into the ILLEGAL act of trading counterfeit merchandise???

[thaiflyer1]

12Call..........might be wrong but it sounds like the Dvds are coming to Thailand from the states so may not be counterfeit. Something ive never done so cant comment further than that ..........why dont you just buy the dvds in Thailand (copies) or should we read between the lines and assume that is what you are doing already?

[rainman]

Go to Panthip Plaza and get your DVDs there. Cheaper and without the risk of your package being intercepted.

[Upcountry]

Thanks for your comments, folks,

In fact I'm interested in DVD's that I've so far not been able to find in any form around Thailand. I'm stuck upcountry, rarely visit Bangkok. My few visits to Chiang Mai and Bangkok (Pantip) have yeilded the usual top-10 like selection.

I always laugh when I find a good film at a DVD-copy place or a rental store that is actually interesting, like "Full Frontal" or "Dogville". It seems that the reason it was selected was that the pretty face on the cover or the name fooled the buyer into thinking it was porn or sexy somehow. At least that's been my experience.

If I could find an outlet in Bangkok that rented a wide variety like you can find at a good U.S. rental store or Netflix, etc., then I'd find a way to do business with them. At 800 baht or more a pop, buying new originals is pretty prohibitive.

Yeah, I'd settle for chancing copies if I could find a deep selection, but so far no luck.

Again, I'm not after DVD's for the heck of it. I'm after choice and alot of it. For instance, after hearing of Brando's death and a tribute to him on NPR, I'd like to see an old rarity of his called "The Man", where he played a very convincing paraplegic. I was spoiled in the US, getting to watch anything I felt like watching. It's tough giving that up, just becuase I'm 'stuck' over here.

So, I'm looking for ideas on how best and affordably to send DVD's back and forth.

Thanks,

Upcountry

[12call]

http://www.zest.co.th/src/main_dvd.php3?la...&sid=1086789521

[Sel]

Couriers, EMS and international parcels are prohibative in cost for small weights

Place your dvd in a small circular plastic cover that can be bought at a lot of places in Thailand (8 to 10 baht each I think )(don't know about US) Should help customs in US to not suspect it is for resale in states.

Use Regular Post at the post office

mark as a gift. As long as the dvds are genuine you should not have trouble in the states with customs I would say as the dvds will have the security/authentic hologram or whatever they use these days.

From the post office:

Use SOFT outer package (NOT hard cardboard box packet or your own packet)

Buy the smallest soft packet (has bubble wrap inside and fits about 3 covered dvds) from post office. Price is about 18 baht I think

One CD in case including post packet weighs in at about 50 grams (40 grams CD and case)

Cost to USA

Up to 100 grams 25 baht

100 to 250 grams 65 baht

250 to 500 grams 115 baht

This should be the airmail price (if it isn't then airmail only cost about 50% more)

MAKE SURE YOU USE THE SOFT PACKET otherwise you will pay minimum 950 baht for the first kilogram regardless if the weight is only 50 grams or 100 etc up to 1 kg

I think the information above is still current?

As side note

If you go across the boarder at mai sei or to the markets in Loa you can see a much larger choice of DVD titles. Lots of festival films sundance caines etc, and foreign films. (some older classics but sparse pickings). 100 baht is the going price. A lot seem very genuine as they seem to be factory packaged and have what look like official seals. (Chineese manufactured I think) Haven't had a bad copy. Downside are that region 9 cost extra (50 baht?) so have a multiregion player, a lot don't have thai subtitles if the other half wants them.

[Dondi]

i get my gf to send them 2 at a time , out of covers and usally with some other things , ie=clothes / new pair of shoes whatever

never had a problem , as long as there not doubles and more then i say around 5

i crossed into Sydney with 160 DVD's , had them all checked but it was cool , the customs weren't overly happy but could do nothing