Questions On Importing An Iphone 5 From America.

[Xodd]

My parents are wanting to send me the new Iphone 5 for christmas.

What's the best way to ship this?

Am I going to have to pay any import taxes?

Are their any other difficulties you can think of?

Thanks everyone.

[Crossy]

USPS signed for with tracking and insurance.

Maybe, but USPS is most likely means to avoid a nasty surprise.

Will it work on Thailand's 3G frequency bands?

[stoneyboy]

I don't know the cost comparison between here and the US or availability,but couldn't you get them to send the money (bank transfer) and purchase one here,just an idea.

[Xodd]

I had a nice Nexus phone when I moved here that I couldn't use because you couldn't put a sim card in it. I sent it back with my Dad when he visited for a week. They're getting an upgrade on their contract with Sprint so the Iphone 5 will only cost them 200$ plus the renewal of their contract. My mom is letting me have the upgrade and she's getting my old phone.

[NewlyMintedThai]

Save yourself the hassle and get them to order it for you off the Thailand apple store:

http://store.apple.com/th

Will arrive in two days, tops -- no duty.

[Xodd]

As I said they get this for 6,000 baht in america. I'm mostly concerned with what shipping service and whether theirs going to be any taxes.

[Crossy]

They're getting an upgrade on their contract with Sprint so the Iphone 5 will only cost them 200$ plus the renewal of their contract.

Will it be locked to their provider?

[Xodd]

My friend had a iphone 4 and he took it here, had it jailbroken and put in a thai SIM card. I'm assuming it's the same for the Iphone 5.

Edit. I don't know what provider he had.

Edit 2. After about 15 minutes of browsing it seems that it can be unlocked fairly easily (although it takes about 24 hours),

Edited December 16, 2012 by Xodd

[rookball]

get insured and declare the right value. the will be tax, use usps not fedex. their additional charges includes storage fees"

[Shot]

My friend had a iphone 4 and he took it here, had it jailbroken and put in a thai SIM card. I'm assuming it's the same for the Iphone 5.

Edit. I don't know what provider he had.

Edit 2. After about 15 minutes of browsing it seems that it can be unlocked fairly easily (although it takes about 24 hours),

I would read the fine print on the new contract. The new contract might be tied to the Iphone, voided if the phone is taken overseas and or jailbroken, and then billed at retail price. Seen it done, be careful. I would also check the contract will be valid with your old phone.

Hope it works out

Shot

[lomatopo]

Just make sure the Sprint version of the iPhone 5 can accept a SIM, and that it can be unlocked/jailbroken. It does seem to support the necessary GSM bands ( 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz ) and 3G bands ( 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz ) , in addition to some CDMA and LTE bands.

WalMart has the subsidized phone on special for $127.

A new iPhone from http://store.apple.c...ome/shop_iphone is 22,900 THB all in.

There have been many, many, many good threads re: shipping stuff from the U.S. Maybe review those to get a feel for the options, challenges, risks?

Also make sure you understand any service/warranty/repair issues.

Edited December 16, 2012 by lomatopo

[BWPattaya]

The best advice has already been posted. Get them to order it from Apple Thailand. No worries about whether it will work, no worries about having to unlock it. No customs duty either.

[NewlyMintedThai]

The best advice has already been posted. Get them to order it from Apple Thailand. No worries about whether it will work, no worries about having to unlock it. No customs duty either.

And free shipping, with locally valid guarantee and service.

It is a no-brainer.

[NHJ]

your phone will be locked to your provider in the states unless it is verizon(sim unlocked by default) and there's no unlock for iphone 5 unless your operator does it, so it's gonna be an ipod if you decide to go that way.

duty is 5% on phones and you'll have to pay VAT 7% on the top and 7% on the shipping fees.

Edited December 16, 2012 by NHJ

[NewlyMintedThai]

As I said they get this for 6,000 baht in america. I'm mostly concerned with what shipping service and whether theirs going to be any taxes.

That's only the beginning of your concerns. You cannot get an inlocked and contract-free iPhone 5 that cheap -- and that's what you'll need to use it in Thailand.

In the US apple store, they are $649/$749/$849 for the 16GB/32GB/64GB models.

Same price as in the Thailand store, and worldwide.

[NewlyMintedThai]

Use your head.

If you could get a phone in the US that would work in Thsiland for $200, do you think they'd be selling many of them here for $750?

[qdinthailand]

It'll work here in Thailand. You'll just have to pay International roaming rates to Verizon or whomever, for 2 years, on top of the 2 year contract! Something like $1 a minute I believe (or maybe $2, can't remember from last time I checked). But hey, for the first year, you could afford to turn it on 1 minute per day, see who tried to call, collect your messages, then turn it off quick, with all the money your parents saved on buying it from WalMart.

[lomatopo]

Assuming you could hand-carry it, and get it without sales tax (hello NH), and were comfortable with any warranty/service/repair challenges, $649 does represent a decent savings, ~ 12%, over the 22,900 THB via the store.com.th

I have a brief trip back next week and am considering this route as a neighbor is pestering me - I always have a long shopping list - not sure it's worth the savings though?

[NeverSure]

Unlocked 32G

Unlocked 64G

So how much is the extra 32G worth?

[lomatopo]

So how much is the extra 32G worth?

Where?

In the U.S., $100, unlocked. Here, 3,400 THB

16 GB $649 22,900 THB

32 GB $749 26,500 THB

64 GB $849 29,900 THB

Those are actual prices on the websites, not conversions.

Edited December 17, 2012 by lomatopo

[USNret]

If you go through with this ill-advised scheme as several other have pointed out, then be sure to buy it unlocked directly from Apple. Buying it "unlocked" from a carrier like Sprint or Verizon is still not unlocked, despite what they may tell you. As someone else has mentioned above, "unlocked" to a carrier means they will let you roam internationally while still paying for their stateside service plan and horrific international roaming rates. On top of that, you must be a customer in good standing for 60 days in the States, and the duration of your international roaming is limited.

You really should heed the warnings listed above. You are not the first to ever think of this. The U.S. carriers (and Apple) are wise to the scheme. The deck is stacked against you. Buy a Thai iPhone from Apple Thailand. The savings on excise tax, shipping & insurance will make up for the slightly higher price in Thailand and will save you unlimited headaches in the future.