DHL MAFIA !

[rexall]

Another crybaby.

I have ordered stuff from USA to Canada where courier was the only option and I can assure you I paid the same fees you did in Thailand.... probably even more.

The worst part of your rant is that you "knew" about courier companies and their policies, yet you still decided to use them because it was cheaper.

When will people take the responsibility for their actions?

Hmmmmm. As you do not know what fees I paid, I am curious how you can "assure" me that you paid the same fees as I did? The Psychic Hotline, no doubt.

And besides, my core complaint was not about paying fees. My complaint was about being charged 800-1,200 THB for DHL to act as my "agent" and then act as anything but my agent.

And, like the OP, you are not reading carefully. In the first place, I said three times "I should have know better!" What does it serve to remind us of that? And I pose the same question to you as I did the the OP, if I get mugged walking home, knowing that I probably should have taken a different route, should we not prosecute the mugger? Is his crime less anti-social and "immoral" because I was stupid? Do my actions somehow invalidate the principle that it is wrong to mug people?

The direct English translation to "When will people take responsibility for their actions" is "People should take responsibility for their actions." Which is pretty insipid as nearly everyone would agree that is is best when people take responsibility for their actions. Eh?

BTW, in my conversation with the DHL lady today, she assume this was about a shipment valued in excess of US$1,000. She seemed quite surpirsed to learn this was about less than $100 worth of vitamins for personal use.

[mogandave]

Another crybaby.

I have ordered stuff from USA to Canada where courier was the only option and I can assure you I paid the same fees you did in Thailand.... probably even more.

The worst part of your rant is that you "knew" about courier companies and their policies, yet you still decided to use them because it was cheaper.

When will people take the responsibility for their actions?

Hmmmmm. As you do not know what fees I paid, I am curious how you can "assure" me that you paid the same fees as I did? The Psychic Hotline, no doubt.

And besides, my core complaint was not about paying fees. My complaint was about being charged 800-1,200 THB for DHL to act as my "agent" and then act as anything but my agent.

And, like the OP, you are not reading carefully. In the first place, I said three times "I should have know better!" What does it serve to remind us of that? And I pose the same question to you as I did the the OP, if I get mugged walking home, knowing that I probably should have taken a different route, should we not prosecute the mugger? Is his crime less anti-social and "immoral" because I was stupid? Do my actions somehow invalidate the principle that it is wrong to mug people?

The direct English translation to "When will people take responsibility for their actions" is "People should take responsibility for their actions." Which is pretty insipid as nearly everyone would agree that is is best when people take responsibility for their actions. Eh?

BTW, in my conversation with the DHL lady today, she assume this was about a shipment valued in excess of US$1,000. She seemed quite surpirsed to learn this was about less than $100 worth of vitamins for personal use.

I agree the OP has reading issues.

So they wanted to charge you something other than a fee to act as your agent? What might that be?

[NancyL]

I sure hope the OP hasn't shut down the supply line for those of use who use the USPS to bring our vitamins and supplements into Thailand.

Incidentally, it isn't just vitamins and supplements. Last year for Thanksgiving, I organized a very special dinner at party at home and just had to make the family succotash, which involves lima beans. You can't buy canned or frozen lima beans in Thailand (well, maybe at the PX at the U.S. Embassy, but I couldn't score entry into there). Dry lima beans just weren't going to work, so I decided to buy canned lima beans from Amazon.com, yes that's right, and have one order shipped via DHL and the other order shippped via UPSP.

Sure enough, the DHL order got hung up in customs and hit with a duty and the USPS order took longer to arrive, but no duty. Both shipments got manhandled and the cans arrived severely dented. I had to open the cans and decided to risk saving the lima beans by freezing them. I decided a week or two in a dented can wasn't going to kill us. Oh, the price per can was about $15, incidentally. Not something I'm going to do again.

[h90]

I sure hope the OP hasn't shut down the supply line for those of use who use the USPS to bring our vitamins and supplements into Thailand.

Incidentally, it isn't just vitamins and supplements. Last year for Thanksgiving, I organized a very special dinner at party at home and just had to make the family succotash, which involves lima beans. You can't buy canned or frozen lima beans in Thailand (well, maybe at the PX at the U.S. Embassy, but I couldn't score entry into there). Dry lima beans just weren't going to work, so I decided to buy canned lima beans from Amazon.com, yes that's right, and have one order shipped via DHL and the other order shippped via UPSP.

Sure enough, the DHL order got hung up in customs and hit with a duty and the USPS order took longer to arrive, but no duty. Both shipments got manhandled and the cans arrived severely dented. I had to open the cans and decided to risk saving the lima beans by freezing them. I decided a week or two in a dented can wasn't going to kill us. Oh, the price per can was about $15, incidentally. Not something I'm going to do again.

If the can is only slightly damaged it doesn't matter, if the inner surface is damaged it start to rust and it isn't good anymore. If there is gas pressure in a can, don't eat it, there is a good chance that it is a bacteria that kills you. (I had to throw away several cans of SPAM, I have for emergencies and it broke my heart....)

[NancyL]

Oh come on, h90, you can buy Spam here. There are at least six different kinds of Spam in the little store in our condo!

But yes, I figured the canned lima beans were OK. But, when I opened the first one, I saw that the inner surface was damaged, but hadn't started to rust. That's when I decided to open all the cans and freeze the contents, rather than just leave the cans on the pantry shelf and hope for the best.

Since then, I've decided that succotash made with edamame beans is pretty darn good.

[rexall]

Another crybaby.

I have ordered stuff from USA to Canada where courier was the only option and I can assure you I paid the same fees you did in Thailand.... probably even more.

The worst part of your rant is that you "knew" about courier companies and their policies, yet you still decided to use them because it was cheaper.

When will people take the responsibility for their actions?

Hmmmmm. As you do not know what fees I paid, I am curious how you can "assure" me that you paid the same fees as I did? The Psychic Hotline, no doubt.

And besides, my core complaint was not about paying fees. My complaint was about being charged 800-1,200 THB for DHL to act as my "agent" and then act as anything but my agent.

And, like the OP, you are not reading carefully. In the first place, I said three times "I should have know better!" What does it serve to remind us of that? And I pose the same question to you as I did the the OP, if I get mugged walking home, knowing that I probably should have taken a different route, should we not prosecute the mugger? Is his crime less anti-social and "immoral" because I was stupid? Do my actions somehow invalidate the principle that it is wrong to mug people?

The direct English translation to "When will people take responsibility for their actions" is "People should take responsibility for their actions." Which is pretty insipid as nearly everyone would agree that is is best when people take responsibility for their actions. Eh?

BTW, in my conversation with the DHL lady today, she assume this was about a shipment valued in excess of US$1,000. She seemed quite surpirsed to learn this was about less than $100 worth of vitamins for personal use.

I agree the OP has reading issues.

So they wanted to charge you something other than a fee to act as your agent? What might that be?

No, as I said, they charge a fee of 800-1,200 THB to act as your agent. This is separate and in addition to duty, tax, and a string of inscrutable little charges that amount to an additional several hundred baht. My point was--and it's not that difficult, so pay attention--there is not reason for them to act as my agent. None whatsoever. If it goes through the post office there is no agent, no forms, no power of attorney, no multiple signed copies of passport, etc. DHL is creating a problem, and then charging me to act as my "agent" to solve a non-existent problem. My MAFIA reference was over-the-top, but not all that much. Isn't that what the MAFIA does, charge you "protection money" so that you are protected from them? Or the Christians who invent a soul so that they have something to save? This whole agent business is annoying, but it is totally crazy-making when they are clearly NOT acting as my agent, nor on my behalfl, nor in my best interest. If you insist on acting as my "agent," then act like my agent; take my money, fix the problem and stop bothering me!!!

[rexall]

Nice pick-up Mogandave....coming soon Rexall plans to start a chain of pharmacy's in Thailand.... troll

Update. The sentiment here by many OP is that it is unreasonable of me to object to being bullied by DHL. That's fine, and if OP enjoy blaming themselves when they are victimized, and responding with Mai pen rai to irrational and unreasonable business practices, no skin off my nose!

I did write to the Pres. of Swanson in the U.S. Nothing but an auto-reply to that so far. I also write the the CEO of DHL in the States and got a nice reply withing two hours, a promise to send my complaint on the the appropriate people including the management of DHL Thailand. This morning I got a phone call from someone in DHL who elicited an expanded version of my complaint, much to my appreciation, did not attempt to argue with my logic that if delivery via the post office did not necessitate all this extra expense, delay and red tape, there was no logical reason why DHL should be different. She also did not attempt to (overly) hide being "Oh, we are just following orders!" She promised that my goods would be cleared through Customs today.

Will this make an difference in the long term? Probably not, but one never knows. Was this being dealt with with any real understanding and appreciation of the actual problem, or is everyone simply eager to shut up the difficult falang as quickly as possible? Dunno, but probably the later. Probably does not do much to soften the image of the "Ugly American" either.

Bottom line, while I am pretty placid most of the time, other times, I feel in no way obligated to remain passive, smile and say "Mai pen rai" while someone is giving it to me up the arse! Sometimes things are simply insane and unreasonable, and it has nothing to do with "cultural differences."

Hopefully thill will initiate a crackdown on everyone using the USPS to sneak things in under the radar.

Excuse me! How is using USPS sneaking anything in under the radar??? The incoming package goes directly to Customs FIRST. Customs examines it, assesses duty and tax, clears it and then releases it to the Thai Postal Service for delivery. You are either being intentionally annoying or have missed the whole point of this thread!

[DLang]

I had a motorbike exhaust system bought in the UK, they sent it with DHL.

Was expecting about 3000k baht in taxes and charges.

Arrived at my house 3 days after purchase.

Taxes: 700 baht.

DHL charge: 220 baht.

Total: 920 baht.

Thank you DHL!

[h90]

Oh come on, h90, you can buy Spam here. There are at least six different kinds of Spam in the little store in our condo!

But yes, I figured the canned lima beans were OK. But, when I opened the first one, I saw that the inner surface was damaged, but hadn't started to rust. That's when I decided to open all the cans and freeze the contents, rather than just leave the cans on the pantry shelf and hope for the best.

Since then, I've decided that succotash made with edamame beans is pretty darn good.

Yes I bought the SPAM here....I am one of these people who are prepared for the Zombi Apocalypse. Having a stock of water and food at home.

(well after 1 month sitting in the house at the floods 2011, sitting another 1 week at another flood eating my stock, it might be a good idea to have stock).

SPAM and similar products should last, no matter what is printed as expiration date, forever. At the military the fed us 30 year old cans of a similar product......But several of my SPAM cans blow up a little bit, corroded and leaked out some liquid.

[krisb]

There's that word mafia again.

No such thing in Thailand apart from the odd Sicilian on holiday.

[rexall]

I sure hope the OP hasn't shut down the supply line for those of use who use the USPS to bring our vitamins and supplements into Thailand.

Incidentally, it isn't just vitamins and supplements. Last year for Thanksgiving, I organized a very special dinner at party at home and just had to make the family succotash, which involves lima beans. You can't buy canned or frozen lima beans in Thailand (well, maybe at the PX at the U.S. Embassy, but I couldn't score entry into there). Dry lima beans just weren't going to work, so I decided to buy canned lima beans from Amazon.com, yes that's right, and have one order shipped via DHL and the other order shippped via UPSP.

Sure enough, the DHL order got hung up in customs and hit with a duty and the USPS order took longer to arrive, but no duty. Both shipments got manhandled and the cans arrived severely dented. I had to open the cans and decided to risk saving the lima beans by freezing them. I decided a week or two in a dented can wasn't going to kill us. Oh, the price per can was about $15, incidentally. Not something I'm going to do again.

Thanks for this. Your experience of two identical shipments via USPS and DHL makes it pretty clear that I am not describing some anomaly. Surely there must be some explanation as to why the post office is pretty much seamless, but there is such rigamarole via DHL and FedEx. However, if there is such an explanation, no one has offered it up here. If it is not somehow corrupt, it is just plain "screwy." Neither of which is particularly charming.

[mogandave]

The post is run by the government so it is under much less scrutiny than private sector companies.

FedEx and DHL have to make sure everything is complete and correct, the post, no so much.

I know you will continue to believe they cheated you, and they could have, but I doubt very much they did.

[NancyL]

The post is run by the government so it is under much less scrutiny than private sector companies.

FedEx and DHL have to make sure everything is complete and correct, the post, no so much.

I know you will continue to believe they cheated you, and they could have, but I doubt very much they did.

To expand on this, the Thai Postal system is a gov't department and, as such they are going to be able to operate in Thailand because, after all, they're Thai. However, FedEx, DHL, UPS are not Thai gov't agencies. They are private companies and their privileges could get yanked at any moment. Thus, they are going to toe the line and follow the rules.

[NancyL]

Back when Hubby and I had a greenhouse/nursery business in the U.S. we had similar experiences in bringing plant material in from Canada. Suppliers could mail a 15 kg box of small rooted cuttings of nursery stock via Canada Post and we'd pick up the the plants a couple weeks later from our local USPS post office, as a jumbled mess, with the box all smashed up, but if it was a cool time of year and if the plants were all the same variety, often this could be an economical way to get stock.

But, if we had the same order shipped via FedEx, sure it would go out in a nice climate-controlled aircraft and then we'd get a call the next day from USDA at the Detroit airport and I'd have to go in to beg with them to release the stock over some irregularity they found in the paperwork or some little critter that was crawling around on the plants, while paying FedEx a hefty fee to act as an "agent". Sure the plants arrived in nice condition, quickly, but it sure was a lot more expensive and nerve racking.

[h90]

Back when Hubby and I had a greenhouse/nursery business in the U.S. we had similar experiences in bringing plant material in from Canada. Suppliers could mail a 15 kg box of small rooted cuttings of nursery stock via Canada Post and we'd pick up the the plants a couple weeks later from our local USPS post office, as a jumbled mess, with the box all smashed up, but if it was a cool time of year and if the plants were all the same variety, often this could be an economical way to get stock.

But, if we had the same order shipped via FedEx, sure it would go out in a nice climate-controlled aircraft and then we'd get a call the next day from USDA at the Detroit airport and I'd have to go in to beg with them to release the stock over some irregularity they found in the paperwork or some little critter that was crawling around on the plants, while paying FedEx a hefty fee to act as an "agent". Sure the plants arrived in nice condition, quickly, but it sure was a lot more expensive and nerve racking.

I sending some hydraulic seals to Canada...customer is begging me to send per post. Even at low value he always pays some fees with FedEx. With post he just get it delivered without anything.

And it isn't big business just some small UCups for hydraulics on boats....

[CHdiver]

Rexall, have a look at iHerb.com, you do not have to use DHL with them. Maybe you give them a try.

[philw]

I sure hope the OP hasn't shut down the supply line for those of use who use the USPS to bring our vitamins and supplements into Thailand.

Incidentally, it isn't just vitamins and supplements. Last year for Thanksgiving, I organized a very special dinner at party at home and just had to make the family succotash, which involves lima beans. You can't buy canned or frozen lima beans in Thailand (well, maybe at the PX at the U.S. Embassy, but I couldn't score entry into there). Dry lima beans just weren't going to work, so I decided to buy canned lima beans from Amazon.com, yes that's right, and have one order shipped via DHL and the other order shippped via UPSP.

Sure enough, the DHL order got hung up in customs and hit with a duty and the USPS order took longer to arrive, but no duty. Both shipments got manhandled and the cans arrived severely dented. I had to open the cans and decided to risk saving the lima beans by freezing them. I decided a week or two in a dented can wasn't going to kill us. Oh, the price per can was about $15, incidentally. Not something I'm going to do again.

Oh, the pain of it all...

I fully agree.

[philw]

What is the Zombi Apocalypse. ?

And how does one prepare, as you did??

H90.

[Jay Sata]

The OP seems to moan about Thailand judging by his comments elsewhere.

Maybe time to return home if he can't accept he is not living in the USA.

[NancyL]

What is the Zombi Apocalypse. ?

And how does one prepare, as you did??

H90.

Oh my goodness, Phil. Where have you been? Do you not watch Walking Dead? Did you not listen and heed all the warnings about how the world was going to grind to a halt with Y2K? We're you not majorly inconvenienced with the 2011 floods, even in Chiang Mai? Somehow this country's supply chain all revolves around Bangkok and with that great event, the Chiang Mai shelves were bereft of essentials like toilet paper, kitty litter and Coke Zero for weeks and weeks. Finally the brain trust at Rim Ping realized that there are direct flights into Chiang Mai that don't have to go thru Bangkok and they air lifted these essentials into us from sources like Korea and Singapore. The idiots at Tops never figured it out because all their decision making is done out of Bangkok and the local managers have no real authority.

Meanwhile, we were 6 hours away from feeding our cat canned people tuna because we literally couldn't find any cat food anywhere in Chiang Mai and the kitty litter box was getting pretty rank! (We live in a condo -- the cat never goes outside.) Fortunately, Hubby had set out on foot and was going door-to-door to every 7-11 and other possible shop that would have cat food and called with the happy news he'd found cat food! If you've ever had a cat, you know you don't want to start feeding canned tuna meant for people to a cat because you'll never get them to eat regular cat food again.

So since the great flood, I keep a one month supply of essentials in a dark closet and periodically use replenish them to keep them fresh. Just like living in Michigan and having essentials in a dark closet for blizzards and power outages.

Edit: I just realized, I've outed myself. Now every cat owner in my building will be knocking on my door asking to "borrow" kitty litter and cat food (and probably toilet paper for themselves, too) when the next flood, curfew or other problem limits our ability to get these items.

[h90]

What is the Zombi Apocalypse. ?

And how does one prepare, as you did??

H90.

Preparing for a Zombi Apocalypse is a mocking term for people who prepare for an unlikely disaster.

Having water and food at home.

Having a generator at home

Having a gun (I don't have)

and can live on their stock for month.

As ridiculous this seems in 2011 we were flooded for 1 month. The week before the 7/11 had stock 2 can of tuna in mayonnaise (no one wanted that) no water only bacardi brezzer and this they didn't sell because it was out of time. The BigC had more but was also 3/4 empty of food but smart filled so nonone (with IQ lower 60) could see that it is empty.

1.5 meter water and we needed pumps to keep the water out. We had electric but we also had a generator and lots of gasoline.

We could live 1 month from our stock still having a varity of choices to eat. Water last another 6 month we overstock, while beer was gone in the first week.

Zombis didn't come, but tons of colorful fishes from the flooded pet shops.

[lostoday]

How does DHL work from Thailand to the USA. My wife wants to send some expensive presents (hand crafted silver) to the family in the States?

[h90]

How does DHL work from Thailand to the USA. My wife wants to send some expensive presents (hand crafted silver) to the family in the States?

I would rather use FedEx or UPS and I have no idea how customs in USA works.

Just customer regularly ask me to declare below 250 (or better 200) USD or split shipments.

So below 200 USD it seems everything is easy to USA, but never tried silver

[Asiantravel]

I recently purchased a dental water flosser from Ali Baba and they sent it to me using DHL.

The package took five hours to come from Hong Kong to Bangkok but after arriving in Bangkok it was stuck for seven days!

DHL made me jump through so many hoops before they would release it including making me obtain a letter from a doctor saying I needed to use it.

By the time I paid additional charges they demanded the cost of the item had doubled from what was advertised on the Ali Baba website.

Moral of the story for me is I will never again buy anything on the Internet that has to be shipped to Thailand

[mogandave]

At least not products that requires a special license to import such as medical equipment, food or dietary supplements.

[Jay Sata]

At least not products that requires a special license to import such as medical equipment, food or dietary supplements.

The OP should have checked the rules imposed for importing his vitamins. Customs often treat these items as suspicious in countries apart from Thailand unscrupulous people try to import drug precursors masquerading as vitamins.

I notice elsewhere he also had a go at TV.

He complained "They edited my post because I had a bold red headline in large font and scolded me for it."

Rules are rules as they say and throwing your toys out of the pram in a larg red font tantrum will

get a rebuke for sure.

Lucky he is allowed to call DHL Mafia. Try that with a Thai company and you could be facing a libel writ.

If he had bothered to check with the DHL website he would have seen this list...

Commodities where you should contact your local Customer Service advisor to clarify shipping requirements

Alcoholic beverages

Chemicals, non-hazardous

Communications equipment

Compact disc

Computer components & parts

Computer software

Cosmetics

Diskettes

Drugs: non-prescription

Drugs: prescription

Foodstuffs

Liquids, non-hazardous

Measuring apparatus

Medical samples

Medical/dental supplies & equipment

Military equipment

Personal effects

Phones/modems

Plant products

Plants

Radar equip.-transmitters/receivers

Samples, textile

Seeds

Telecommunications equipment

Tobacco

Toys

http://www.dhl.co.th/en/country_profile/import_guidelines_express.html

I have to say I have nothing but praise for these international couriers who transport goods half way round the world for a few hundred baht. Customs clearance is down to the individual country.

[Tchooptip]

There are also stricter regulations regarding supplements now. Other suppliers have cancelled Thailand as receiving destination already. Customs has a remark that supplements and food products are controlled and require

Food and Drug Association or Ministry of Health approval. I actually have reveived a postal shipment with a stamp that food or supplements are not legal to import and might be seized by customs in the future. And these were

just harmless vitamins and amino acid products.

"There are also stricter regulations regarding supplements now"

Since when ? I receive supplement from Europe AND USA regularly, last time 2 weeks ago, never had any problem. ( in Samui)

[Jay Sata]

The guy who started the thread has issues elsewhere.

Suffice to say if you do a bit of googling you will discover he is a cheapskate moaner

who lives in Issan but wants a five star US lifestyle.

Nothing wrong with DHL and frankly the thread title is unfair?.

[Sayonarax]

Really, moaning about a couple hundred baht?

[NancyL]

Really, moaning about a couple hundred baht?

Well, it is a little more than a couple hundred baht. But, the first time this happened to me, at least I took the time to search on ThaiVisa and realized, oops, I should have known. I just considered it a newbie learning experience. Most of us have similar learning experiences here, often costing more money.