Customs On Gear/parts

[Netfan]

Ok, maybe i'm po'd about nothing, maybe this is a big whine, but here is where i find out- i just got home to find a notice from the post office. good news: the cordura jacket i ordered from the us has arrived. of course the bad news is that on a $129 jacket - customs valued it at 4500 baht- they say i owe them 1780 baht. does that seem a bit excessive to anyone else? or is it just cause its my money i'm upset? (i will be paying it btw). charges are 1350 import duty and 410 VAT with 20 baht for delivering the notice for good measure. also a tiny bit upset that it took a week from the time it arrived at thai customs for me to get the notice on saturday. plus i can't get it in time for my ride to hua hin monday because of course sunday they are closed and monday is a holiday. gives me some time to cool down before i go in anyway.

[neverdie]

Mate that is a JOKE.

If I was you I would be contacting customs to tell them the price that you paid, perhaps show them a print up of the online or whatever. Its kind of doubling the price you have paid for something....if you bought it when you were overseas and came here with it in your bag you would be paying nothing.

I have only ever brought one shipment of personal stuff into thailand & they accepted a declaration off me regarding the value of items that I did not have a receipt for.

Look into this a bit deeper before you hand the cash over.

[Netfan]

thanks neverdie- i will print out my paypal bill. and ask to see their rates book. but i know what somchai at the post office is going to say "not me- go suwanaphum".

[neverdie]

yeah well i dont know about that, you are probably right, i didnt read properly, not thinking it was at the post office. I am sure somchai has seen this before, you may have to contact customs. There is something written into law that they can value items and tax accordingly, i don't know if by providing them with a receipt if this can be reviewed....for your sake i hope it can.

I wont get stuff like that sent here, i will pick it up and put it in my bag on my next home trip.

I got stopped at the airport once, just leaving the arrivals hall, i had a laptop box, all taped up, it had photoframes and a couple of buddhist statues in it....they were my g/f & had originated from thailand been taken to Australia and then I was walking back in the country with them.

The customs bloke at the airport stopped me and said that I must pay him some tax money on the laptop....I told him that it wasnt a laptop....he said he didnt care because it had laptop written on the box, Asus Laptop it must be a laptop....I opened the box & he peered in at all the picture frames, monk stuff and the buddha & I asked him, what tax? He got cranky and walked away. So you have to be careful how you carry stuff in too or they will try and get a bit of tea money out of you that way.

Good luck and let us know how you go

[LivinLOS]

Sorry but thats totally in line !! 30% luxury good and 7 % vat.. And your moaning ??

I once bought 200 USD worth of goods (6k baht) and they wanted 10k baht in tax !!! fuc_king courier companies not USPS.

[neverdie]

Sorry but thats totally in line !! 30% luxury good and 7 % vat.. And your moaning ??

I once bought 200 USD worth of goods (6k baht) and they wanted 10k baht in tax !!! fuc_king courier companies not USPS.

Automatically I just did the exchange rate based on the Aussie dollar (thru habit) and not the USD. So 129 x 35 (approx) is....4515 baht, so maybe their valuation of 4500 is accurate, maybe they already have the 129 usd value. Good point LivinLos.

Is this classed as a Luxury item. I was only thinking VAT had to go on it??

The only tax I had to pay on stuff on the way in was VAT.

[LivinLOS]

My experience is luxury good tax gets slapped on if they feel like it.. I have had it applied and not applied on the same type of item.. And nothing, no amount of argueing, cajoling, or anything could get it changed or removed.

Basically they have your stuff, you have already paid, and they know that.

If you use USPS (regular mail for other countries) it usually fares far better than the courier systems which err on the side of caution (cos they process and pay it) and charge you a fee for the work !!

[Netfan]

From Thai Customs website- relating to mail order goods:

Postal items, regardless of the number of packages, sent by mail as personal effects, gifts or trade samples of no commercial nature sent at the same time by one consigner to another consignee or arrived simultaneously with a declared value not exceeding 20,000 baht and regardless of the implied amount of duties payable, the customs officers will independently make assessment of their value and deliver such items to the Communication Auhority of Thailand for delivery to the consignees from whom duties will be collected on behalf of the Customs.

So basically its up to to the inspector. He / She can charge whatever they want. Obviously mine was having a bad day. Seems like 40% is about average. Guess I better stop moaning and pay up.......

Edited February 8, 2009 by Netfan

[JSixpack]

Remember they charge duties on the shipping fees as well. Given that, the charges are normal for here.

[neverdie]

Even better reason for bringing things like this in, in ur suitcase when you come and go in your travels....even in the case when you only travel yearly.

Ohh well, you win some, you lose some...great fun, isnt it?

[Netfan]

Even better reason for bringing things like this in, in ur suitcase when you come and go in your travels....even in the case when you only travel yearly.

Ohh well, you win some, you lose some...great fun, isnt it?

Fun it is! Lesson learned. I have a clutch slave on the way - same value, but it's a small package, lets see if it gets thru.

[dotcom]

Last 2 out of 3 of mine came straight to the house. Big items too. One Joe Rocket Jacket & one pair of Draggin jeans. The third item was the LED tailight - valued at $200 including postage & they only charged me 720 baht.

So as mentioned above it's a kraop shoot. P.S. I now oder cd's & dvd's one by one from Amazon & they sail right through with no duty or tax.

Sorry to hear you got pounded Netfan. Sukks.

[RusticCharm]

Look on the bright side Gus. Even with shipping and duties, you still paid far less than what the item would cost in any Bangkok bike gear shop.

[Richard-BKK]

I regularly receive packages from overseas. The trick is to ask suppliers to include a undervalue invoice... and let them write "Samples With No Commercial Value" I hardly pay import duty on small items. In the beginning I had the idea that I needed to do this on our company, but it really doesn't matter if I get them at home or at my office...

[Netfan]

Look on the bright side Gus. Even with shipping and duties, you still paid far less than what the item would cost in any Bangkok bike gear shop.

True. Picked up the jacket today at post office. Useless to discuss it. They will send package back to Hualampung office - takes 3 days - and I can go down and take it up with them, local post office doesn't set the rate. Fair enough. When I saw the box I immediately knew what happened. In big letters "HAWG LEATHER MOTORCYCLE JACKETS". So even though the jacket isnt leather i got hit with the leather rate. Still, like Rustic says, all in it was just under 8,000 baht. Same jacket at Ducati dealer just under 12,000. Guess I can't cry too much...

Richard- what you say is true, but there are a lot of vendors who specifically say on their website tey will not do that.

AHHHH- the kicker- turns out the jacket is a bit on the small side The GF gets to wear it to Pattaya. I get to try and lose 5 kilos

Edited February 10, 2009 by Netfan

[BSJ]

If you can get the item sent to family in your own country and they can give to someone travelling to LOS that avoids the Turkey shoot at the P.O. If your family/friend's aren't coming get em to send a small box of clothes with the gear (tags removed) and mark it personal items. Or claim a religious exemption. Tell em your a christian missionary and you going to spend time in Cambo helping unmarried mothers!

[RusticCharm]

When I saw the box I immediately knew what happened. In big letters "HAWG LEATHER MOTORCYCLE JACKETS".

That's outrageous! Any company selling items on the net and shipping internationally should be aware that overseas customers could be hit with customs duties and package accordingly.

My Alpinestars gloves came in a plain envelope that was marked 'gift' and showed no sign of the company name or product anywhere. Hats off to Riders Direct!

My leather Ducati jacket arrived in a box marked 'Triumph'. I'm surprised I wasn't hit with duties for a CBU motorcycle.

[JSixpack]

Richard- what you say is true, but there are a lot of vendors who specifically say on their website tey will not do that.

Right. Gotta workaround if you want to try that method, but sometimes you don't have any help.

[neverdie]

Richard- what you say is true, but there are a lot of vendors who specifically say on their website tey will not do that.

Right. Gotta workaround if you want to try that method, but sometimes you don't have any help.

Yes, if in doubt with this type of thing, have the item mailed to a friends house back home, have them re-package & reorganise the 'gift' and then send it on, could save you a buck.

[Kerryd]

I'm sending to boxes of stuff to myself today. I've declared their value (for insurance and customs) to be $1,000 US. They are being shipped by DHL.

Once they arrive, I'll see what the Customs charges are and post it here. I fully expect to get dinged, but if I'm lucky it won't be more than I would have paid in excess baggage fees, had I decided to try and lug it all through the airport with me.

Got to run and catch my plane ! Home in 24 hours !

[neverdie]

I'm sending to boxes of stuff to myself today. I've declared their value (for insurance and customs) to be $1,000 US. They are being shipped by DHL.

Once they arrive, I'll see what the Customs charges are and post it here. I fully expect to get dinged, but if I'm lucky it won't be more than I would have paid in excess baggage fees, had I decided to try and lug it all through the airport with me.

Got to run and catch my plane ! Home in 24 hours !

I'm imagining its bike stuff....maybe you could have boarded the plane wearing it....helmet, armour, kevlar pants, bike boots, gloves...what are they going to say to you? You could probably even work your way up into first class....afterall, whos gonna argue with you

[Vato]

from my experiences shipping car stereo equipment over here, you can declare as much as you like with USPS and notpay taxes...as long as it is clear that it is either:

A ) Personal Item

B ) Gift

not declaring a value can often lead to a higher tax rate...and more than likely what you are shipping over here IS indeed a personal item, so no laws being diverted.

the suggestion of listing as a commercial sample, does not always work...i got stuck with import taxes everytime i tried to declare something as a commercial sample, which really were samples...

with FEDEX you will have to pay taxes regardless of the designation of a gift or personal item...only way they can make their time guarantee is by not passing through customs...so they just pay up...

FEDEX is good for importing things of dubious origin/use if you do not want customs hassles or inspections and are willing to pay all the fees including CIF.

PS...try to ship in a thai name, a western name is a dead give away.

Edited February 11, 2009 by Vato

[William Osborne]

i have bought quite afew bike parts and accesories I have been charged less duty on a $500 item than a set of gloves that were marked as a gift.

makes no sense how they apply their charges but its still beats spending the day pissing around Bkk looking for bits and works out cheaper..

[RusticCharm]

AHHHH- the kicker- turns out the jacket is a bit on the small side The GF gets to wear it to Pattaya. I get to try and lose 5 kilos

My 70$US Alpinestars Octane XXL gloves from EBay were an awful fit for me so I've gone back to the cheapos I got at the Paddock.

Anyone want to buy them? Worn once for 10 minutes! Offers between 1,500-2000THB.

http://altfarm.mediaplex.com/cm/ck/1065-29...em=330301424748

I'll bring them to Pattaya Bike Week if anyone's interested.

Edited February 12, 2009 by RusticCharm

[LivinLOS]

i have bought quite afew bike parts and accesories I have been charged less duty on a $500 item than a set of gloves that were marked as a gift.

makes no sense how they apply their charges but its still beats spending the day pissing around Bkk looking for bits and works out cheaper..

Thats my impression.. Some things +30% + 7%.. Then a few weeks later something come through with just 7% or even free.. Total hit and miss and you just have to budget on 40+% being possibly applied and be happy when its not.

I have tried to argue, tried even going to customs locally and looking in thier 'big book' of tarrifs (I used to be a major mail orderer of toys when I arrived here) tried to argue them down.. Nothing changed the randomness of it and I never once was able to get them to change thier mind even when they were provably wrong !!

[Netfan]

AHHHH- the kicker- turns out the jacket is a bit on the small side The GF gets to wear it to Pattaya. I get to try and lose 5 kilos

My 70$US Alpinestars Octane XXL gloves from EBay were an awful fit for me so I've gone back to the cheapos I got at the Paddock.

Anyone want to buy them? Worn once for 10 minutes! Offers between 1,500-2000THB.

http://altfarm.mediaplex.com/cm/ck/1065-29...em=330301424748

I'll bring them to Pattaya Bike Week if anyone's interested.

Hey Terry - I have a feeling XXL is gonna be too big, but bring them along, I'll try them on. The fingers my rstaichi's (paddock) are splitting after less than a year.

[adurelaaks]

from my experiences shipping car stereo equipment over here, you can declare as much as you like with USPS and notpay taxes...as long as it is clear that it is either:

A ) Personal Item

B ) Gift

not declaring a value can often lead to a higher tax rate...and more than likely what you are shipping over here IS indeed a personal item, so no laws being diverted.

the suggestion of listing as a commercial sample, does not always work...i got stuck with import taxes everytime i tried to declare something as a commercial sample, which really were samples...

with FEDEX you will have to pay taxes regardless of the designation of a gift or personal item...only way they can make their time guarantee is by not passing through customs...so they just pay up...

FEDEX is good for importing things of dubious origin/use if you do not want customs hassles or inspections and are willing to pay all the fees including CIF.

PS...try to ship in a thai name, a western name is a dead give away.

I think your post helped me a lot, I've been doing research on shipping a small package from the US to Samui. The package is for my girlfriend (has a Thai sounding name) and it will be sent to her place of business, a resort in Bohput so it shouldn't be hard to find. I would feel much more comfortable if the package was not opened by customs though. And it sounds like many if not everything, sent through the post goes though customs and is opened to confirm the value and then must be picked up at the post office taking even more time (although it will be a comercial address if that makes any difference) I have no problem, or my mom who is sending it doesn't, paying whatever the extra costs are to ship through UPS, FEDEX, or DHL. The issue being they are personal items that will be wrapped in wrapping paper etc. and we want them quickly. Nothing of much value though. So with that in mind could you give me some more tips on getting this package through quickly and unopened i.e what shipping company would you suggest out of the three(they all have some sort of office in Samui, although UPS is using a broker called TNT). Even if its panties, bra, and a bottle of vitamins ( which I already understand is ok to send) -and maybe a sex toy of some type-marked as gift, Worth 20 dollars US should I make the declared value more than actual just to make sure it gets here quickly and unrumaged through? Do you know of particular things that you should avoid sending/declaring because they are more likely to be searched (sex toy), or things that are less likely to be searched as well? Any sort of inconspicious packaging? Any particular type of shipment: expedited, express, etc. Any more tricks or knowlede you have on this sort of thing would be greatly appreciated. The post here in Samui is terrible and take a long time even if you pay top dollar (relatively). If I Understand you correctly though, a package shipped thorugh another carrier other than the post office, you will be charged the tax and customs duties up front in the price, but will have the package at your door, unmolested on the date they state on the receipt -most of the time at least? If this is basically correct then I'm all good, just give me a few pointers on filling out customs papers, packaging etc. that would help it along. The last thing I want to happen is the package to show up months from now. Ok, sorry for all the questions but you have no idea how much help you've been to me. -adurelaaks

[RusticCharm]

Dude,

Avoiding customs duties on bras, panties and sex toys isn't what this thread is about. This is the 'Bikes in Thailand' forum. We're talking about motorcycle accessories and clothing. Now please bugger off!