Shipping Household Personal Affects. Items To Avoid?

[Artamus]

I've read a number of threads on ThaiVisa on shipment of personal affects, and pretty obviously cars and motor-cycles are an obvious thing to avoid.

I'll be retiring in a few months and wish to ship the bulk of my current household "contents" to Pai. I estimate there's about 10-14 cubic metres. I intend to use a proper agent for the shipment, as my current company will pay for the actual shipping anyway (door to door), so the only costs I am likely to incur are "duties" and "miscellaneous taxes".

I'd be interested to hear comments on others who've shipped general household contents and specifically if any items attract attention. The main items are likely to be:

Some furniture - hand made computer desk, cabinet and bed.

Books - large collection of reference books (maybe 1,000 in total), magazines, papers and journals.

HiFi system and speakers - good quality stuff that I want to keep.

Usual kitchen and household stuff (will not include anything electrical as will sell that before leaving).

Other junk including CDs, decorations, pictures, mechanic tools etc.

The only item I feel might attrract attention would be the HiFi system?

[Rasseru]

Two things.

First, I would expect there to be another Thai Visa forum that would be a more appropriate place to post your question.

Second, I would advise you to work with a mover/shipper who has real experience in shipping household effects to Thailand. The situation is more complicated than it might seem. Movers with experience know this, can advise you appropriately and can potentially save you a lot of money.

[Steve2UK]

I've read a number of threads on ThaiVisa on shipment of personal affects, and pretty obviously cars and motor-cycles are an obvious thing to avoid.

I'll be retiring in a few months and wish to ship the bulk of my current household "contents" to Pai. I estimate there's about 10-14 cubic metres. I intend to use a proper agent for the shipment, as my current company will pay for the actual shipping anyway (door to door), so the only costs I am likely to incur are "duties" and "miscellaneous taxes".

I'd be interested to hear comments on others who've shipped general household contents and specifically if any items attract attention. The main items are likely to be:

Some furniture - hand made computer desk, cabinet and bed.

Books - large collection of reference books (maybe 1,000 in total), magazines, papers and journals.

HiFi system and speakers - good quality stuff that I want to keep.

Usual kitchen and household stuff (will not include anything electrical as will sell that before leaving).

Other junk including CDs, decorations, pictures, mechanic tools etc.

The only item I feel might attrract attention would be the HiFi system?

Agree with Rasseru that it's worth going through an experienced Thai import agent - maybe more important than the choice of shipper moving your container from your country to BKK port - unless you're going to use one of the high-powered mega-expensive re-locator type operations. As you're heading for the Chiang Mai area (where I am), feel free to PM me if you'd like me to pass on details of the CM-based import/export shipper/agent who handled my (very similar) consignment relatively painlessly.

You're right about the Hi-Fi gear potentially attracting attention (= payment due) - but, curiously, the mechanic tools might as well. I remember a post on the subject a couple of years back when they had major problems over a hedge-trimmer of all things - conceivably because there was suspicion that it might be for "work" use. Don't try to get your head around the logic........... TIT (This Is Thailand) .

BTW, some may say you shouldn't bother with the kitchen stuff. Ignore them - good quality (i.e. non-Thai) kitchen equipment is not that cheap here and you'll appreciate still being able to use the stuff you like.

Edited January 17, 2008 by Steve2UK

[Mapguy]

I've read a number of threads on ThaiVisa on shipment of personal affects, and pretty obviously cars and motor-cycles are an obvious thing to avoid.

I'll be retiring in a few months and wish to ship the bulk of my current household "contents" to Pai. I estimate there's about 10-14 cubic metres. I intend to use a proper agent for the shipment, as my current company will pay for the actual shipping anyway (door to door), so the only costs I am likely to incur are "duties" and "miscellaneous taxes".

I'd be interested to hear comments on others who've shipped general household contents and specifically if any items attract attention. The main items are likely to be:

Some furniture - hand made computer desk, cabinet and bed.

Books - large collection of reference books (maybe 1,000 in total), magazines, papers and journals.

HiFi system and speakers - good quality stuff that I want to keep.

Usual kitchen and household stuff (will not include anything electrical as will sell that before leaving).

Other junk including CDs, decorations, pictures, mechanic tools etc.

The only item I feel might attrract attention would be the HiFi system?

Agree with Rasseru that it's worth going through an experienced Thai import agent - maybe more important than the choice of shipper moving your container from your country to BKK port - unless you're going to use one of the high-powered mega-expensive re-locator type operations. As you're heading for the Chiang Mai area (where I am), feel free to PM me if you'd like me to pass on details of the CM-based import/export shipper/agent who handled my (very similar) consignment relatively painlessly.

You're right about the Hi-Fi gear potentially attracting attention (= payment due) - but, curiously, the mechanic tools might as well. I remember a post on the subject a couple of years back when they had major problems over a hedge-trimmer of all things - conceivably because there was suspicion that it might be for "work" use. Don't try to get your head around the logic........... TIT (This Is Thailand) .

BTW, some may say you shouldn't bother with the kitchen stuff. Ignore them - good quality (i.e. non-Thai) kitchen equipment is not that cheap here and you'll appreciate still being able to use the stuff you like.

Pack light except for those things you really can't replace. Basically, you can buy whatever you want here, sometimes cheaper. Otherwise, remember that shipping by air is by weight; by ship is by volume. By courier, get a second mortgage.

There is nothing harder, I suppose, than saying goodbye to stuff. We all have more stuff than we need.

The Thai customs regs are actually sound and sensible. Nothing odd, really. But get a reliable courier on this (Thailand) side of the pond. Schenker is one of them. Normally, that would be through contacts of your own shipping agent wherever you are.

Otherwise, relax a bit while being watchful. You get what you pay for. The worse leg of my journey was the terrible packing done by the agent at origin. In Thailand, the service was excellent.

The Thai customs regs are actually quite clear. Look them up. They are posted on the internet.

[highonthai]

I Have just shipped 3 pallets worth of stuff to Chiang Mai , door to door from Los Angeles.

My advice is to find a Thai shipper and work with them.

I have a good company in Los Angeles. They are very creative.

[p1p]

Where are you shipping from? If it is the US, you should be aware of Thailand's 220 volt supply, which will make most of your electrical equipment difficult to use here.

Things like televisions also will not work unless they are specially made, (expensive) multi country.

I repeat the strong recommendation to use a good Thai agent.

Lastly, I am moving this to General, where you may get more advice.

[anonymouse]

I've only had the experience of shipping books which are not taxed so you should have no problems with them. Not sure which country you are from but pm me if you want the address of a good shipping agent based at Heathrow.

I find that it's best to have the items delivered to the port at Bangkok and then a Thai based freight forwarder to take over from there and deal with port taxes and moving it up to Pai. Schenker seem to be the best bet in Chiang Mai and I'm sure they can get the stuff to Pai.

[soundman]

Avoid shipping any wine or alcohol. This is likely to attract the customs attention & create a situation where they will demand exhorbitant duties on their valuation, not yours or the real value of the items.

Soundman.

[Artamus]

Many thanks to all for the replies.

This shipment will actually originate from the Middle East (so there will definitely be no alcohol included).

Points noted about getting a reliable agent on the Thai side. I'll have a reliable agent this end, but will probanly need to influence them about which Thai agent to use.

As my company will pay the actual shipment costs I am not that worried about the volume, but will, as advised, sell off all the general easilly replacable itmes at this end before shipping.

Thanks.