Tariff Charge Calculations, And Finding Personal Courier From Nyc Area

Hi,

Several issues: I need to upgrade my personal recording studio. The item I need is a digital interface, which allows analog signals to be converted to digital and back, and transfered via firewire to my computer, and back. To get it from Philadelphia would cost about $2,000 US + insurance + shipping. $2,000 = 60,700 baht. Alternatively I could have a friend pick it up in Singapore and hand carry it, but the initial price is $2550 USD (About $S 3,660). Considerably more to begin with, but if they hit me with a 25% tariff that would be $2,500, and shipping would put it over the price from Singapore.

Does anyone know what percentage Thai Customs would add on such a unit? Is there any web site that has computational functions for items imported to Thailand? It seems that most of the things I've received, the amount of tariff was based on the declared or insured price. What's your experience?

Some things I've read lead me to believe Thai customs watched audio devices closely, and charge a premium for import duties of audio items. Does this apply to home theater (my unit would not be home theater - it's a pro audio recording device) Or do the Thai's make a distinction (as if they even could)? I could possibly have the sellers describe it as a mic pre-amp (which is part of what it does) or use jargon that might be true, but confusing.

Someone once mentioned that sending to someone with a Thai name (preferably with a label written in Thai) made customs less curious. This would be a possibility, if I thought it would help. Any thoughts about this?

Alternatively, does anyone know how to enlist the aid of a personal courier - not like FedEx, but someone who would carry it on with his luggage from the US, and get it to me directly?

Sorry - a lot of various questions - any insight you could provide would be quite helpful.

Thanks - Buzzer