My mother is bringing back some decorative wooden boxes which are from Hong Kong and India. They vary in size from nearly three feet long to one foot long. They are engraved and about 60 years old.

What is customs going to say?

Mom is not on a retirement visa.

She will more than likely come back on a double entry tourist visa.

Should she send them...

DHL, Fed Ex, etc.... expensive!!

Normal sea shipping

Air freight

Should she send them to

Me

My Girlfriend

Her own name?

Which is the best way to keep Customs fees low?

Assuming they aren't actually all that valuable?

Cheapest USPS to a Thai labeled "gift", one at a time.

Not sure how customs would case these but an example wooded cases ie like a speaker box come with a 30% import tax + local vat @ 7%

My advice is with the goal of at least some of them slipping under the radar completely.

Have documentation on the pricing available - not that they'll accept it but will help your negotiations.

put some useless stuff inside them, send them as boxes

Sell them and buy similar in Thailand..problem solved.

Cannot sell them as my mother's father brought them to the US from Hong Kong and India in the 40s.

Decided not to bring them until she brings everything over on her retirement visa.

Thank you to everyone for your ideas.