Longbow212 Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 After 2 years here I am about to return to the UK. I am not returning to a job and money will be very very tight until I get on my feet again. To help soften the landing I am wondering if there is anything which could be bought cheap in Thailand and sold on for a profit in the UK. I was considering precious stones but to be honest I really don't know what I am dealing with and the potential of being scammed is very high. Other ideas are Thai silk garments etc or herbal medicine. This is not a mass import and would only taken up one large suitcase. If I make a hundred pound or more I would be happy. Suggestions are welcomed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanForbes Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 I can think of an obvious answer, but unfortunately, we can't import them. But, maybe that is a good thing. They are expensive to keep wherever they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterbigeyes Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Used automotive spare parts? I have a friend that drops by time to time to pick up turbos are stuff like that to resell back in his country Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander76 Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 I would say thai silk is your best bet myself and my wife do this we get silk pyjamas in Changmai and scarves in Nong kai and sell them at carboot sales Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manarak Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 you will want to be careful, if you bring anything of significant value, you will be racketted by customs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 you will want to be careful, if you bring anything of significant value, you will be racketted by customs. Well in the OP's position I would buy as many cigarettes as I could stuff in my luggage and chance it at customs....worst case scenario is they get confiscated.....chances are you can turn at least 100% profit. Bit of a risk....depends on your poker face..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roamer Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Your aims are modest. It's a can do. But you have to consider your market, who are your friends, who are you aiming to sell to ? Example, my wife spotted some silk scarves with a shell type arrangement on them in Chatuchak, bought 50 @ £4 a pop, sold them at £12 each in her lunch hour at work, actually within 15 minutes, people buying them for themselves, Xmas presents etc. £400 profit. If she had tried to sell them on Ebay she would have been lucky to get her money back for a myriad of reasons I won't go into here.You don't need heroin or fakes, just need to know your market. Identify that then look for the product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwasaki Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 My friend pops over every year for a beach holiday. When he goes back he fills a wopper of a suitcase filled with football shirts and the proceeds pay for his next trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prometheus Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 thai food ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Gravy Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 thai food ! I can't resist . Take the sun back with you. The all year round sun here would go down 'a treat' in blighty and you would make a fortune. But seriously you want people to tell you how to 'get rich quick' and make you money but taking things from Thailand to the UK? Take back, gems, silver and classic watches. :jap: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmax Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I can think of an obvious answer, but unfortunately, we can't import them. But, maybe that is a good thing. They are expensive to keep wherever they are. hey , pm me with any ideas please !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmax Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 buy loads of fancy lighters and themn fancy cigarette cases and sell them at boot sales Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 buy loads of fancy lighters and themn fancy cigarette cases and sell them at boot sales My mate sells them big novelty lighters the ones with the built in lazer beem , buys them for 40 baht ,and then sells them back home for £10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heng Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 A friend of mine exports cold rolled steel for a decent margin. Might be a little heavy for your luggage though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennya12threh Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Some nice ideas here. Ill plan on doing something as well as I plan on going to Canada in about 8 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterbigeyes Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 thai food ! Yes yes.. that one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeem Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Good quality Footy Shirt copies and watches (Lolexes) buy bulk to bargain prices right down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Tazers would sell well in any Western city.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moe666 Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 (edited) Stay away from unset gems if you know nothing about these and have no good supplier in Thailand. Also be careful of silk. Burn a thread and if no ash silk. Edited August 25, 2010 by moe666 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLeech Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 you will want to be careful, if you bring anything of significant value, you will be racketted by customs. Well in the OP's position I would buy as many cigarettes as I could stuff in my luggage and chance it at customs....worst case scenario is they get confiscated.....chances are you can turn at least 100% profit. Bit of a risk....depends on your poker face..... Worst case scenario? Not if you are stopped at Thai customs - particularly if you cannot pay the considerable fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 you will want to be careful, if you bring anything of significant value, you will be racketted by customs. Well in the OP's position I would buy as many cigarettes as I could stuff in my luggage and chance it at customs....worst case scenario is they get confiscated.....chances are you can turn at least 100% profit. Bit of a risk....depends on your poker face..... Worst case scenario? Not if you are stopped at Thai customs - particularly if you cannot pay the considerable fine. Ah yes it would be the first case of Thailand fining someone for taking cigarettes out of the country where incidentally the taxes have already been paid. Think about it....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manarak Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 (edited) you will want to be careful, if you bring anything of significant value, you will be racketted by customs. Well in the OP's position I would buy as many cigarettes as I could stuff in my luggage and chance it at customs....worst case scenario is they get confiscated.....chances are you can turn at least 100% profit. Bit of a risk....depends on your poker face..... I don't think so... You are not allowed to simply discard the excess quantity if you are caught, you will have to pay the full tax on the whole quantity. And the customs will make you pay double the import tax because you smuggled. If the quantity is really big, you can also be done in for tax fraud (prison). Edited August 25, 2010 by manarak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bifftastic Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 you will want to be careful, if you bring anything of significant value, you will be racketted by customs. Well in the OP's position I would buy as many cigarettes as I could stuff in my luggage and chance it at customs....worst case scenario is they get confiscated.....chances are you can turn at least 100% profit. Bit of a risk....depends on your poker face..... I don't think so... You are not allowed to simply discard the excess quantity if you are caught, you will have to pay the full tax on the whole quantity. And the customs will make you pay double the import tax because you smuggled. If the quantity is really big, you can also be done in for tax fraud (prison). Most of the time they just take them off you. One guy I know used to do it all the time, got a few 'hauls' confiscated and then got well and truly nicked as they'd got him 'on file' as it were. Didn't do any time for it but was close. Another guy recently had his confiscated too, so 1st time you're usually ok, well, if you consider losing all the money you put into it 'ok'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beetlejuice Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 you will want to be careful, if you bring anything of significant value, you will be racketted by customs. This is exactly right, don`t waste your time, I looked into this and the import taxes involved makes it non viable. One sort of business that could work is an on lne Thai dating agency. Arranging for English guys to hook up with Thai girls for marriage, if you could gain the right contacts n Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackr Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Was going to say lighters as they're super-cheap, but a bit dicey for obvious reasons. Maeow Daeng/Kiaw for smokers - local baccy (green mellow, red strong). Bit rough but only 5 baht for 40-gram pack with papers. Those cheap 'n tacky lasers. Grade 'A' footy shirt copies. Cheaper version of Twins Muay Thai boxing shorts. Chinese silk items (much cheaper than Thai) sold as Thai silk. Light, Thai-style slippers. Scarves for the coming winter. Super glue. Amorn (not sure if nationwide) do a cheap thread compound, which is very expensive in the UK. Small screwdriver sets. Light plastic (crap) garden solar lights. Knock-off sunglasses, watches. Take a load of different cheap items and see which goes best for next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apetley Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 you will want to be careful, if you bring anything of significant value, you will be racketted by customs. Well in the OP's position I would buy as many cigarettes as I could stuff in my luggage and chance it at customs....worst case scenario is they get confiscated.....chances are you can turn at least 100% profit. Bit of a risk....depends on your poker face..... I used to work as groundcrew at a UK airport and it was not unknown for a foreign country to tip UK customs off when they spotted a suitcase full of cigarettes. Not a good idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkup2000 Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Aquarium stuff like waterpumps, plastic vegetation and such at Chatuchack. At just a fraction what it costs back in europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manarak Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 you will want to be careful, if you bring anything of significant value, you will be racketted by customs. Well in the OP's position I would buy as many cigarettes as I could stuff in my luggage and chance it at customs....worst case scenario is they get confiscated.....chances are you can turn at least 100% profit. Bit of a risk....depends on your poker face..... I used to work as groundcrew at a UK airport and it was not unknown for a foreign country to tip UK customs off when they spotted a suitcase full of cigarettes. Not a good idea! How much are packages of 100x 500mg paracetamol pills sold in the UK? (90 baht at boots) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneilo Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 you will want to be careful, if you bring anything of significant value, you will be racketted by customs. Well in the OP's position I would buy as many cigarettes as I could stuff in my luggage and chance it at customs....worst case scenario is they get confiscated.....chances are you can turn at least 100% profit. Bit of a risk....depends on your poker face..... I used to work as groundcrew at a UK airport and it was not unknown for a foreign country to tip UK customs off when they spotted a suitcase full of cigarettes. Not a good idea! How much are packages of 100x 500mg paracetamol pills sold in the UK? (90 baht at boots) Pennies in tesco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patsycat Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 A few years ago, a friend of mine bought loads of kiddies sandals and squeeky shoes. He says they sold very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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