THAIPHUKET Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Never order anything from abroad, what are your experiences? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimbathewhitelion Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Quick. From Amazon, best get a friend in a Western country to take care & bring over; or a western expat going back & returning. Never seen on their website that they'll send overseas & if so less likely to Thailand. Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sante Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I've bought many items from Amazon that were shipped to Chiang Mai. Some things aren't available for foreign addresses but the ones that are arrive quickly by couriers like Fedex and DHL. Cost is very expensive because Amazon adds import taxes besides the shipping fees. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimbathewhitelion Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Also to note if it's addressed to Falang name, customs might seize the package & ask for a (bribe), an additional import tax payment before you can pick it up. Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakecross Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 We sell on Amazon and ship worldwide when permitted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnieTheKhwai Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I've ordered many times without crazy charges. Best not to use the courier companies like FedEx, but ship with regular registered mail. Books are easiest of course. (Printed Matter - No Commercial Value) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awk Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Also to note if it's addressed to Falang name, customs might seize the package & ask for a (bribe), an additional import tax payment before you can pick it up. Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand Have you actually experienced that? Has anyone? I've ordered books, mp3-players, laptops, cables, and various other things. I have never been asked for a bribe, or anything more than the official import fees. Yes, all addressed to my obviously farang name. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sante Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I've never had to pay extra--the import taxes estimated by Amazon are on the high end. A few times Amazon actually reimbursed some of the cost weeks after delivery but that's a rare occurrence. Also, when I order items from and supplied by Amazon, I'm never given delivery options--courier shipment is automatically assigned, at least for Chiang Mai. Now I usually check for a desired item on ebay from mainland China, Hong Kong or Singapore suppliers before ordering from Amazon because Amazon's import estimate is so high. When I do order from Amazon, it's usually for several items that are shipped free to a US mail forwarding company, Shipito, who will combine the packages and send it US Priority mail which usually arrives at my CMU post office box without import charges. Although my last purchase, a backpack, did get held up at customs and slapped with a fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JXXXL Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 If you know someone in the US it really helps. I used to have numerous items sent to my Dad's house where would take the items out of the packaging and remove the invoices and pack everything on one box. A Thai friend told me to ship the items via USPS (US Postal Service) because the items would then be delivered via the Thai post and would be less likely to incur duty. He said Fedex, UPS, DHL, etc. are far more likely to get hit. I've had about 20 packages delivered to CM from the US and only two were flagged for duty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernjohn Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 (edited) My cousin had an ATM card sent with fed ex. Her mother had included some marshmallow Easter bunnies as it was Easter time. About $4 to $5 item. Customs held them up while they sent back to the states to ascertain the value of them. Fed Ex charged her an additional 1,500 baht for the duty and handling of it. Plus the time delay as customs had a four day holiday and the time getting the value of the marshmallow Easter bunnies. I guess it is always good to put the value of the item if a friend is shipping it they can put a cheap price on for you. If at asll possible mail it. Edited March 3, 2014 by northernjohn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicog Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Can you really not buy it locally? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDGRUEN Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Another aspect to this ... If the American supplied 'mobile' / 'cell' phone has to be 'unlocked' before it can be used with a Thailand SIM card... it is highly likely that the WiFi Hot Spot feature will not work. I have had this experience with two American supplied cell phones. Everything works great ... except the WiFi Hotspot. This is also the case in the U.S. - take a phone from AT&T ... get the AT&T supplied unlock code - unlock the phone and the WiFi Hotspot feature will not work using a SIM card supplied by MetroPCS. Maybe this won't apply to your purchase ... I also concur with the comments about using the U.S. Postal Service and Thai Post ... takes longer but normally duties / import taxes are not applied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimbathewhitelion Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Also to note if it's addressed to Falang name, customs might seize the package & ask for a (bribe), an additional import tax payment before you can pick it up. Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand Have you actually experienced that? Has anyone? I've ordered books, mp3-players, laptops, cables, and various other things. I have never been asked for a bribe, or anything more than the official import fees. Yes, all addressed to my obviously farang name. Yes, otherwise I wouldn't of posted it however that was in a small place/town in Issan. I now live Bangkok & have no issues with posts. In the end if it works for you by all means continue. Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THAIPHUKET Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 Thanks for all your input, it was enlightening and worth trying--next time. But I found what I wanted and bought a HTC ONE at ZOOM in Central for 17.990b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sante Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I think I should have done the same as you, buy locally. Instead I ordered a THL W100 Quadcore phone from Chinavision. The phone looks great, is inexpensive, with glowing reviews, but it shipped out from Singapore more than two weeks ago and hasn't been delivered yet. And I'll probably end up paying additional import fees too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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