Bringing A Bicycle To Los For Holiday

[simon43]

Can someone please help me to advise a customer at my hotel? He has come to Thailand to start a cycle trip throughout south-east Asia. He brought his expensive mountain bike with him on the plane, but also sent some parts for this bike by DHL courier from the UK to our hotel. Now, DHL is trying to charge him an import tax of 28,000 baht...

Surely these items are part of his personal belongings and are only for temporary import and personal use in Thailand? The tax (if any) should be minimal.

If anyone can advise me re this or give links to relevant websites (via PM), so that I can help my hotel guest from being stitched up by DHL/customs

Thanks

Simon

[gregb]

There is a legal procedure for this, but it won't be easy. I've done it before through the post office. It does work, but they really don't like it, and neither will you. They will probably tell you it can't be done, but push to see the customs statute. It's in Thai, but it is there. I've seen it. Keep pushing (politely of course) when they tell you no. You're goal is to make it easier for the customs officer to settle with you than to do the legal thing. (Remember, DHL is the agent, not the officer, so best to do this at the customs department where you can negotiate directly with all parties.)

Essentially, you tell DHL that these items are for temporary use, and that you will be exporting them again within 60 days. Please note: it is necessary to export them through exactly the same channel you imported them, which means he'll have to DHL them back out of the country. (Or, technically, he can use any authorized customs clearing agent. It just needs to be the same customs branch.)

The customs clearing agent and the customer must appear with the customs officer, open the box, and inventory it. Pictures clearly showing serial numbers or other identifying markings will be required. You must then pay a deposit greater than the amount of import duties you would otherwise pay, and you will receive a receipt. Do not lose this receipt.

When exporting the items, you must go back to the same customs location where the paperwork is stored, and you must bring the original receipt. Pack the items again in the presence of the agent and the customs official. They will verify that the exact same items are being exported. You must then deliver it for shipment immediately to the same person and address who shipped it to you. After the item has been delivered for shipment, you will receive a receipt for payment.

They will claim that they will mail a check to the person and address that was listed when the material was imported. They say it will be within 6 months. It will be a check in Thai baht drawn on a Thai bank, so you had better have a place to cash it.

In my case, I finally received my deposit back after 4 years. The check they claimed to have mailed was conveniently lost.

Your best bet is to have your friend keep pushing DHL stating you want to go through all the legal procedures, which are hideously painful. However, be ready to bargain. They don't want to do all this work either. At some point, a compromise can probably be reached with DHL and the customs department for a smaller amount of money. This is your only bargaining tool in your current state. Otherwise, don't accept delivery and pay DHL to return it to sender. The legal procedure will take at least 2 days if you go this route.

You will still be hit up by a customs clearing charge and storage fees from DHL under any circumstance. That is not a tax. There is no way to get out of that.

BTW, your customer is very lucky he used DHL and not FedEx or UPS. DHL is the only one of the big 3 that is really receptive to creative customs solutions in my experience.

[Lilawadee]

Or, the short version: Don't use DHL or FedEx to send shit to Thailand.

It's become quite obvious some people in those companies are in cohorts with corrupt customs officials, trying to charge insane amounts. Best to bring anything in when flying in, or if there's really no other way: by regular air mail, preferably to a inconspicuous address.

Now that it's stuck: Just send it back.

[Crossy]

Or, the short version: Don't use DHL or FedEx to send shit to Thailand.

It's become quite obvious some people in those companies are in cohorts with corrupt customs officials, trying to charge insane amounts. Best to bring anything in when flying in, or if there's really no other way: by regular air mail, preferably to a inconspicuous address.

Yep, the error was using DHL. I've always got lumbered with duty on stuff that was couriered (FedEx once tried to charge duty on documents, got away with that one) but 95% of the time regular post just works without duty.

Edited January 9, 2008 by Crossy

[soundman]

Not much help to the OP - however for others going down this road - better to wrap the said item up in cardboard & bring it with you on the airplane, even if you have to pay additional weight surcharge.

If, on the off chance that the airport customs do pull you, creative valuations & easy negotiating with that lot.

Soundman.

[Guest Reimar]

The prodedure can go a different way! If someone want to do a trip on Bicycle cross South East Asia, the most easy way is to apply for an Vehicle Visa. That need to be done in the Home Country as far as I know. By arrival the Vehicle will be mentioned in the Passport and it need to be shown by departure from Thailand. The prodedure in other Countries are the same. Same procedures applies for Car's and Motorcycle too.

It's a bad Idea to use a company like DHL, FedEx or whoever, that companies didn't care and they even don't know the required procedure often.

Best way right now may to go to the Immigration at the Arrival port and present the Passport and ask for to include the Bicycle in the Visa. Explain the Situation about the other goods which was coming with DHL and ask the Immigration Officer for Help. If done on the right and very polite way, normally they would help.

Poeple which want to do some of this trips should contact the Consulate of the Guest Country for more Info before starting the Trip!

[yorkman]

Not much help to the OP - however for others going down this road - better to wrap the said item up in cardboard & bring it with you on the airplane, even if you have to pay additional weight surcharge.

If, on the off chance that the airport customs do pull you, creative valuations & easy negotiating with that lot.

Soundman.

That is sound advice for anything that you want to bring in that you can basically carry. Amongst the more unusual items I brought in was a telescope in a golf bag, and I don't play golf