Thai Postal Service - Customs / Duty Fiasco

[Marvo]

I've read a few threads regarding sending stuff to Thailand via UPS and FEDEX etc. and the horror stories of the huge (non-negotiable) customs demands.

So, when I ordered an inkjet ink system for my printer, from Taiwan, I made sure that they sent it regular (air mail) post. (BTW, I ordered golf balls from the US last year and they came straight through, no duty, no problem). But this time my luck ran out.

The package not only attracted duty, but to my great consternation it wasn't delivered to my house in Hua Hin. It wasn't (as I'd expect) held at the local post office for duty/tax collection either. Instead I got a "letter" from the Customs House, in Prachuap Khiri Khan, telling me I HAVE to physically go 100km to the provincial Customs Office in Prachuap to pay the duty and collect the package. Also, after 7 days they will start to charge me storage!

How's that for service!

I can understand the paying duty issue (which luckily only worked out to 20%) but the mandatory 200km round trip to collect something I paid for the convenience of having posted to my home is what galls me. Is this the normal routine throughout Thailand? Guess they don't want anything foreign coming in .

I also guess that means I'll never buy anything from outside of Thailand again if it means hauling my ass 100km from Hua Hin to Prachuap and back every time .

[h90]

I've read a few threads regarding sending stuff to Thailand via UPS and FEDEX etc. and the horror stories of the huge (non-negotiable) customs demands.

So, when I ordered an inkjet ink system for my printer, from Taiwan, I made sure that they sent it regular (air mail) post. (BTW, I ordered golf balls from the US last year and they came straight through, no duty, no problem). But this time my luck ran out.

The package not only attracted duty, but to my great consternation it wasn't delivered to my house in Hua Hin. It wasn't (as I'd expect) held at the local post office for duty/tax collection either. Instead I got a "letter" from the Customs House, in Prachuap Khiri Khan, telling me I HAVE to physically go 100km to the provincial Customs Office in Prachuap to pay the duty and collect the package. Also, after 7 days they will start to charge me storage!

How's that for service!

I can understand the paying duty issue (which luckily only worked out to 20%) but the mandatory 200km round trip to collect something I paid for the convenience of having posted to my home is what galls me. Is this the normal routine throughout Thailand? Guess they don't want anything foreign coming in .

I also guess that means I'll never buy anything from outside of Thailand again if it means hauling my ass 100km from Hua Hin to Prachuap and back every time .

When I got something per EMS I had to go there (but in Bangkok) they opened it, asked what it is and made the tax than. Pretty fair if you live close to the place.

FedEx, UPS and DHL worked well for me so far.

[nikster]

Where can we find out duties on items? The thai customs web page has a lot of information, but no exact figures on anything.

Particularly, I was importing a Baby Stroller, and FedEx says the duty and tax is BHT 9000. <deleted>??

[thaihome]

...Guess they don't want anything foreign coming in .

I also guess that means I'll never buy anything from outside of Thailand again if it means hauling my ass 100km from Hua Hin to Prachuap and back every time .

Sometimes you people just crack me up.

And the worst thing is you have no idea how stupid you sound when you make posts like these.

TH

[Marvo]

...Guess they don't want anything foreign coming in .

I also guess that means I'll never buy anything from outside of Thailand again if it means hauling my ass 100km from Hua Hin to Prachuap and back every time .

Sometimes you people just crack me up.

And the worst thing is you have no idea how stupid you sound when you make posts like these.

TH

No, the worst thing is you have no idea when the tongue is in the cheek (note: ).

Now, a 200km round trip on a motorbike (in the rain) for something I can buy locally is "stupid" .

[h90]

Where can we find out duties on items? The thai customs web page has a lot of information, but no exact figures on anything.

Particularly, I was importing a Baby Stroller, and FedEx says the duty and tax is BHT 9000. <deleted>??

First you find the suitable tariff number. The numbers are international so easy to find online.

Than you go to: http://igtf.customs.go.th/igtf/en/main_frame.jsp and check out the tax rate for it

than you call fedex and ask them if they are complete i*diots (can tell you they are, they always make the clearing wrong).

[MJo]

Now, a 200km round trip on a motorbike (in the rain) for something I can buy locally is "stupid" .

Yes it is, you could have used FEDEX or UPS etc, they do this for you for a fee. But i guess we would then had a rant "i had to pay tax".

[Marvo]

Now, a 200km round trip on a motorbike (in the rain) for something I can buy locally is "stupid" .

Yes it is, you could have used FEDEX or UPS etc, they do this for you for a fee. But i guess we would then had a rant "i had to pay tax".

No qualms about paying the correctly set customs import duty when/if asked for. It's "FEDEX TAX" (9,000 baht for a baby stroller?) that I have a problem with.

[MJo]

Now, a 200km round trip on a motorbike (in the rain) for something I can buy locally is "stupid" .

Yes it is, you could have used FEDEX or UPS etc, they do this for you for a fee. But i guess we would then had a rant "i had to pay tax".

No qualms about paying the correctly set customs import duty when/if asked for. It's "FEDEX TAX" (9,000 baht for a baby stroller?) that I have a problem with.

Well other option is to hop on to the bike and do it yourself. Up to you as they say.

Am i correct that this 9k also includes duties and taxes and is not Fedex service fee only ?

[Marvo]

Am i correct that this 9k also includes duties and taxes and is not Fedex service fee only ?

Sorry, can't comment on the baby stroller case nuances, I just picked that as one of many reports of the erroneous tariff picking attributed to the big carriers.

Nikster says in his post "duty and tax is BHT 9000".

[MJo]

It's customs who defines taxes and duties, not Fedex. Sure they charge fee for the clearance but it's not 9000, propably less than 900...

[Marvo]

It's customs who defines taxes and duties, not Fedex. Sure they charge fee for the clearance but it's not 9000, propably less than 900...

That sounds more likely, but from "some" poster's experiences it looks like customs don't try as hard as they might to find the lowest, most appropriate tariff. Who can blame them really, it's their job to collect as much for the country as possible. Visiting the customs house, being there in person, it was possible to confirm that the correct category tariff was being applied. If a dispute comes up with Fedex, I'm not sure how easy the procedure is the get the tariff category confirmed and/or changed in the event of a dispute. Some people swear by Fedex so they can't be all bad.