WARNING: Amazon cash grab, money for nothing! straight from your pocket!

[RigPig]

Shop elsewhere and save 50% off everything shipped overseas!!!

Hi Guys and Gals.

I just recently went to purchase an item on Amazon. It is a small electronic USB hub, valued at $89.99, shipping was exactly $20.00, so total 109.99.

Then the crunch!!

$50 Estimated Import Fees Deposit

What the.... 50% of the cost of the item and shipping? in...wait for it ESTIMATED import fees!

Estimated by who? Collected by who? Paid to who? Why do I have to pay Amazon for this? Cant I just pay the necessary fees to the appropriate department when I know how much it is and so do they? As I have done a hundred times before!!!

Now itś my understanding that (basically0 anything under $100 has no tax, excise or duty. If it does incure charges I am quite happy to deal with that as it comes (as I have many times before). Now there is a pretty good chance that one of 2 things will happen here. The goods will either get through and no charge or..... Go buy vaseline in a Kilo tin and get redy to take whatśś coming!!!

BUT.....

Amazon want to collect $50.00 (50%), and (maybe) give me some sort of refund (to my credit card) in (maybe) 60 days !!!!

I am pretty sure if I held 50% of all Amazons overseas purchases and shipping costs in an account for 2 months and then just refunded it that it would take care of all my financial problems (via interest alone) for a long time!!

What is this? Just another money grab? What happened to free choice? Any company sending goods and using USPS (us mail) doesn´t try this on! And the tax or whatever is your problem!! As it should be!

I contacted Amazon via an online chat and the conversation is attached, if you are interested in their feedback.

I am a big boy now (I hope) and have managed the customs route a few time and am pretty sure I can handle it again!!

May I suggest that if you find this acceptable, that you send 50% of ALL your overseas purchases and shipping casts to my bank account and I will take care of any import charges for you when the goods arrive and will HAPPILY refund any money left after all fees and charges (or make additional charges as I find necessary). All care taken and no responsibility guaranteed! PLEASE PM me for my PayPal account details.

Needless to say your opinions and views will be appreciated and taken on board.

P.S. I bought it elsewhere without the charges.......

As ALWAYS watch the hidden costs and read the fine print!!!

Amazon Chat and Emails.doc

[NeverSure]

You said "What happened to free choice?"

That's right Bubba, Amazon is a private company and it has free choice. So do you. Take your biz elsewhere.

The last I knew Fex Ex and UPS made those charges up front, to be paid by the shipper so that those couriers would have the money to get the items through customs. I don't think it's Amazon but rather the courier. The Post Office doesn't make those charges so maybe that's what you encountered in the past.

[cyberfarang]

When it comes to buying items from abroad the customs and excise have their fingers on the pulse.

Customers are going to buy goods in their residential countries, or pay through the nose for them. There are no ways to beat the systems of business interests.

[taotoo]

Amazon's system works great - you know up front what the max import duty will be, any difference gets refunded, and you don't have to mess about dealing with customs.

[NOC]

Thailand just signed a duty free agreement with Taiwan. Order from there.

[RigPig]

You said "What happened to free choice?"

That's right Bubba, Amazon is a private company and it has free choice. So do you. Take your biz elsewhere.

The last I knew Fex Ex and UPS made those charges up front, to be paid by the shipper so that those couriers would have the money to get the items through customs. I don't think it's Amazon but rather the courier. The Post Office doesn't make those charges so maybe that's what you encountered in the past.

Whilst I agree with Take ypur biz elsewhere...i did!!

The charges from the big 3, well you dont find that out till they get to your door, and if you have a problem with the charges...... bend over!!! The charges are not up front to you until they get to your door with the goods, you want them? Pay up.....

I dont care about the taxes, I pay it all the time, but imagine how much money Amazon is making from this in interest gains alone!! All you have to do is refund it all in 60 days and apologise, let the punter take care of it themselves anyway!! No comeback, you refunded the money, did nothing, just gained the interest.

What do you do when you have bought something which will attract no charges anyway and they want 50% of the value (cost and shipping), that they MIGHT refund you all or part of in 60 days? Do you have ANY comprehension of how much money this involves? Mind boggling!!

1% of the interest on this would do me!!!

Why should I be without my money for 60 days? I have had VERY few problems just paying at the post office or at customs.

Not right, not fair and not overly transparent IMO, so just a warning, it''s easy to just click on a mouse button and not pay enough attention.....

[RigPig]

Amazon's system works great - you know up front what the max import duty will be, any difference gets refunded, and you don't have to mess about dealing with customs.

Any difference gets refunded???

Maybe, if thee is any difference and we haven''t manipulated the charges. Maybe when the goods got here there were no charges!!!

There is little messing about with customs just pay it.

If you like the system so much, send me 50% of the value of everything you buy overseas and I will take care of your customs problems and PROBABLY refund your money in 60 days!!!

[taotoo]

If you like the system so much, send me 50% of the value of everything you buy overseas and I will take care of your customs problems and PROBABLY refund your money in 60 days!!!

My time is worth more than a few weeks' interest on a few dollars. Judging by your offer, yours isn't.

They DO refund the difference - I've used the system, you apparently haven't.

Surprised by your recycled reply given that our "views and opinions will be appreciated and taken on board".

[giddyup]

Ebay does the same thing with their Global Shipping program. I used to buy watches from the US but since they introduced GS they ask a ridiculous fee for the shipping then stick import duties on top, even for secondhand watches. They lost me as a customer.

[robblok]

Fact is most of these companies Ebay and Amazon included calculate the tax correctly. On computer-parts its 30% + 7% over shipping an cost of item. Thai customs will charge the same. If you are shipping without tax you might get lucky once in a while if you don't use DHL UPS and the likes.

Its a free choice but the advantage of Ebay and Amazon calculating before is that you know what you will pay. Not everyone is smart enough to go through the customs tabels with tax percentages and understands that this is over shipping and cost of product (customs can even value your product higher) and then ad 7 vat%.

Second hand watches are not excluded they are a collectors item and should be taxed too.

Do I like it.. NO.. do I use other shippers to try to avoid it Yes.. is it a scam.. No.

Edited September 24, 2015 by robblok

[giddyup]

Fact is most of these companies Ebay and Amazon included calculate the tax correctly. On computer-parts its 30% + 7% over shipping an cost of item. Thai customs will charge the same. If you are shipping without tax you might get lucky once in a while if you don't use DHL UPS and the likes.

Its a free choice but the advantage of Ebay and Amazon calculating before is that you know what you will pay. Not everyone is smart enough to go through the customs tabels with tax percentages and understands that this is over shipping and cost of product (customs can even value your product higher) and then ad 7 vat%.

Second hand watches are not excluded they are a collectors item and should be taxed too.

Do I like it.. NO.. do I use other shippers to try to avoid it Yes.. is it a scam.. No.

The ONLY time I had to pay duty on a watch was when it was sent Fedex. As far as I'm concerned it's up to Thai Customs to collect the import duty on goods, not some third party. Why would I use a shipping company that charges duty (and it's wildly different from seller to seller even on the same item) when if that item is sent by normal post the odds are there won't be any duty? That's not evading duty, because it's Thai Customs responsibility to collect any duty payable. Like I said, I refuse to buy from US Ebay sellers anymore if they use Global Shipping.

Edited September 24, 2015 by giddyup

[robblok]

Fact is most of these companies Ebay and Amazon included calculate the tax correctly. On computer-parts its 30% + 7% over shipping an cost of item. Thai customs will charge the same. If you are shipping without tax you might get lucky once in a while if you don't use DHL UPS and the likes.

Its a free choice but the advantage of Ebay and Amazon calculating before is that you know what you will pay. Not everyone is smart enough to go through the customs tabels with tax percentages and understands that this is over shipping and cost of product (customs can even value your product higher) and then ad 7 vat%.

Second hand watches are not excluded they are a collectors item and should be taxed too.

Do I like it.. NO.. do I use other shippers to try to avoid it Yes.. is it a scam.. No.

The ONLY time I had to pay duty on a watch was when it was sent Fedex. As far as I'm concerned it's up to Thai Customs to collect the import duty on goods, not some third party. Why would I use a shipping company that charges duty (and it's wildly different from seller to seller even on the same item) when if that item is sent by normal post the odds are there won't be any duty? That's not evading duty, because it's Thai Customs responsibility to collect any duty payable.

Its evading duty, and you know it. Officially you have to make a declaration of the value plus shipping and do it honestly. Most people don't do this so its evading duty. I am also evading duty and I don't loose sleep over it but I don't need to rename it to feel better about it.

[giddyup]

Fact is most of these companies Ebay and Amazon included calculate the tax correctly. On computer-parts its 30% + 7% over shipping an cost of item. Thai customs will charge the same. If you are shipping without tax you might get lucky once in a while if you don't use DHL UPS and the likes.

Its a free choice but the advantage of Ebay and Amazon calculating before is that you know what you will pay. Not everyone is smart enough to go through the customs tabels with tax percentages and understands that this is over shipping and cost of product (customs can even value your product higher) and then ad 7 vat%.

Second hand watches are not excluded they are a collectors item and should be taxed too.

Do I like it.. NO.. do I use other shippers to try to avoid it Yes.. is it a scam.. No.

The ONLY time I had to pay duty on a watch was when it was sent Fedex. As far as I'm concerned it's up to Thai Customs to collect the import duty on goods, not some third party. Why would I use a shipping company that charges duty (and it's wildly different from seller to seller even on the same item) when if that item is sent by normal post the odds are there won't be any duty? That's not evading duty, because it's Thai Customs responsibility to collect any duty payable.

Its evading duty, and you know it. Officially you have to make a declaration of the value plus shipping and do it honestly. Most people don't do this so its evading duty. I am also evading duty and I don't loose sleep over it but I don't need to rename it to feel better about it.

I don't make the declaration, the seller does, and usually they put the correct value for insurance purposes, and I still haven't had to pay duty. So I don't know how I'm evading duty. Do you suggest if a watch comes through without any duty being charged I contact Thai Customs and tell them they've made a mistake?

[RigPig]

Fact is most of these companies Ebay and Amazon included calculate the tax correctly. On computer-parts its 30% + 7% over shipping an cost of item. Thai customs will charge the same. If you are shipping without tax you might get lucky once in a while if you don't use DHL UPS and the likes.

Its a free choice but the advantage of Ebay and Amazon calculating before is that you know what you will pay. Not everyone is smart enough to go through the customs tabels with tax percentages and understands that this is over shipping and cost of product (customs can even value your product higher) and then ad 7 vat%.

Second hand watches are not excluded they are a collectors item and should be taxed too.

Do I like it.. NO.. do I use other shippers to try to avoid it Yes.. is it a scam.. No.

The ONLY time I had to pay duty on a watch was when it was sent Fedex. As far as I'm concerned it's up to Thai Customs to collect the import duty on goods, not some third party. Why would I use a shipping company that charges duty (and it's wildly different from seller to seller even on the same item) when if that item is sent by normal post the odds are there won't be any duty? That's not evading duty, because it's Thai Customs responsibility to collect any duty payable. Like I said, I refuse to buy from US Ebay sellers anymore if they use Global Shipping.

I agree whole heartedly!!

The thing is this involves a HUGE amount of money, FedEx, UPS and DHL ALWAYS cost more and add their fees, it's a scam IMO.

To be able to charge 50% of everyones purchase and potentially keep (and invest the money for no cost for 60 days!!

As you say "As far as I'm concerned it's up to Thai Customs to collect the import duty on goods, not some third party", I am pretty sure they aren't doing it from the kindness of their hearts and the better welfare of the public in general!!

Amazon and Ebay should be giving a choice if they don't want to loose custom, and I hope they either do or start listening to their customer base. It's not such an issue in the U.S. as shipping is quite often free.

[giddyup]

Fact is most of these companies Ebay and Amazon included calculate the tax correctly. On computer-parts its 30% + 7% over shipping an cost of item. Thai customs will charge the same. If you are shipping without tax you might get lucky once in a while if you don't use DHL UPS and the likes.

Its a free choice but the advantage of Ebay and Amazon calculating before is that you know what you will pay. Not everyone is smart enough to go through the customs tabels with tax percentages and understands that this is over shipping and cost of product (customs can even value your product higher) and then ad 7 vat%.

Second hand watches are not excluded they are a collectors item and should be taxed too.

Do I like it.. NO.. do I use other shippers to try to avoid it Yes.. is it a scam.. No.

The ONLY time I had to pay duty on a watch was when it was sent Fedex. As far as I'm concerned it's up to Thai Customs to collect the import duty on goods, not some third party. Why would I use a shipping company that charges duty (and it's wildly different from seller to seller even on the same item) when if that item is sent by normal post the odds are there won't be any duty? That's not evading duty, because it's Thai Customs responsibility to collect any duty payable. Like I said, I refuse to buy from US Ebay sellers anymore if they use Global Shipping.

I agree whole heartedly!!

The thing is this involves a HUGE amount of money, FedEx, UPS and DHL ALWAYS cost more and add their fees, it's a scam IMO.

To be able to charge 50% of everyones purchase and potentially keep (and invest the money for no cost for 60 days!!

As you say "As far as I'm concerned it's up to Thai Customs to collect the import duty on goods, not some third party", I am pretty sure they aren't doing it from the kindness of their hearts and the better welfare of the public in general!!

Amazon and Ebay should be giving a choice if they don't want to loose custom, and I hope they either do or start listening to their customer base. It's not such an issue in the U.S. as shipping is quite often free.

With Ebay the customs duty can vary wildly from seller to seller for the exact same item, so it's not even consistent. I only buy from European or Asian sellers now.

[robblok]

Fact is most of these companies Ebay and Amazon included calculate the tax correctly. On computer-parts its 30% + 7% over shipping an cost of item. Thai customs will charge the same. If you are shipping without tax you might get lucky once in a while if you don't use DHL UPS and the likes.

Its a free choice but the advantage of Ebay and Amazon calculating before is that you know what you will pay. Not everyone is smart enough to go through the customs tabels with tax percentages and understands that this is over shipping and cost of product (customs can even value your product higher) and then ad 7 vat%.

Second hand watches are not excluded they are a collectors item and should be taxed too.

Do I like it.. NO.. do I use other shippers to try to avoid it Yes.. is it a scam.. No.

The ONLY time I had to pay duty on a watch was when it was sent Fedex. As far as I'm concerned it's up to Thai Customs to collect the import duty on goods, not some third party. Why would I use a shipping company that charges duty (and it's wildly different from seller to seller even on the same item) when if that item is sent by normal post the odds are there won't be any duty? That's not evading duty, because it's Thai Customs responsibility to collect any duty payable.

Its evading duty, and you know it. Officially you have to make a declaration of the value plus shipping and do it honestly. Most people don't do this so its evading duty. I am also evading duty and I don't loose sleep over it but I don't need to rename it to feel better about it.

I don't make the declaration, the seller does, and usually they put the correct value for insurance purposes, and I still haven't had to pay duty. So I don't know how I'm evading duty. Do you suggest if a watch comes through without any duty being charged I contact Thai Customs and tell them they've made a mistake?

I would not do that.. but its just being lucky having evaded the tax your liable to pay. I told you I don't sleep over it and am happy to evade tax. But that is what it is evading tax. Your liable for the taxes and by using normal post and not getting real big parcels you are more likely to evade the tax.

I try to evade it if possible but that what it is and nothing else.

[giddyup]

I would not do that.. but its just being lucky having evaded the tax your liable to pay. I told you I don't sleep over it and am happy to evade tax. But that is what it is evading tax. Your liable for the taxes and by using normal post and not getting real big parcels you are more likely to evade the tax.

I try to evade it if possible but that what it is and nothing else.

I'm not evading anything, if Thai Customs want to charge me duty I pay it. Evade suggests I'm doing something sneaky to avoid paying duty, I'm not.

verb (used with object), evaded, evading.

1. to escape from by trickery or cleverness:

to evade one's pursuers.

Synonyms: avoid, dodge

[Pib]

Generally anything not exceeding Bt1,000 will be exempt from import taxes (assuming the customs believes its a truthful declaration)...but you still might still end up paying 7% VAT from my experience and other ThaiVisa posts I've seen.

See this Thai customers webpage regarding importing postal items.

[RigPig]

I don't make the declaration, the seller does, and usually they put the correct value for insurance purposes, and I still haven't had to pay duty. So I don't know how I'm evading duty. Do you suggest if a watch comes through without any duty being charged I contact Thai Customs and tell them they've made a mistake?

I would not do that.. but its just being lucky having evaded the tax your liable to pay. I told you I don't sleep over it and am happy to evade tax. But that is what it is evading tax. Your liable for the taxes and by using normal post and not getting real big parcels you are more likely to evade the tax.

I try to evade it if possible but that what it is and nothing else.

The tax limit is $100.00, if it's $109.99, the tax is on $9.99. I have won this argument at customs in Phuket. They want the tax on the entire amount!! Up front!! Will they argue the point with customs or just "mai pen rai" and take the easy way out and collect their commission, FedEx tried to charge me for personal belongings, most of which I had bought in Thailand! I had a work permit at the tine which made me exempt. Did they ask? ... no. What a drama that turned into...

If there is a problem no matter how trivial, you have to get YOUR money back from them... AFTER the 60 days is up. GOOD LUCK with that, and all over $50.00...

Probably not worth the effort in reality, and I have no doubt they depend on that !!!

[Saraphee]

^{I use eBay USA & UK a lot.I don't ever buy from a seller who uses Global Shipping.}

^{If Amazon are going the same way then I simply won't waste time checking the Amazon sites any more.}

[TheCruncher]

Ebay does the same thing with their Global Shipping program. I used to buy watches from the US but since they introduced GS they ask a ridiculous fee for the shipping then stick import duties on top, even for secondhand watches. They lost me as a customer.

It strikes me actually that it are only US sellers that participate in that global shipping scam program.

[giddyup]

Ebay does the same thing with their Global Shipping program. I used to buy watches from the US but since they introduced GS they ask a ridiculous fee for the shipping then stick import duties on top, even for secondhand watches. They lost me as a customer.

It strikes me actually that it are only US sellers that participate in that global shipping scam program.

That's true.

[IMHO]

^{I use eBay USA & UK a lot.I don't ever buy from a seller who uses Global Shipping.}

^{If Amazon are going the same way then I simply won't waste time checking the Amazon sites any more.}

Some US global shipping vendors on eBay have found ways to get their products classified using much cheaper rates than you'll ever get yourself. Almost half the import duties in some cases. I have no problems using the program in those cases The other thing to bear in mind is that eBay's global shipping program also gets you ridiculously fast delivery. Less than a week from the US, even for big & bulky items.

Edit: removed examples. Don't want to ruin it for myself

Edited September 24, 2015 by IMHO

[giddyup]

^{I use eBay USA & UK a lot.I don't ever buy from a seller who uses Global Shipping.}

^{If Amazon are going the same way then I simply won't waste time checking the Amazon sites any more.}

Some US global shipping vendors on eBay have found ways to get their products classified using much cheaper rates than you'll ever get yourself. Almost half the import duties in some cases. I have no problems using the program in those cases The other thing to bear in mind is that eBay's global shipping program also gets you ridiculously fast delivery. Less than a week from the US, even for big & bulky items.

Edit: removed examples. Don't want to ruin it for myself

You've had positive experiences using Global Shipping, I've had the opposite. Won't touch them with a barge pole.

[RigPig]

^{I use eBay USA & UK a lot.I don't ever buy from a seller who uses Global Shipping.}

^{If Amazon are going the same way then I simply won't waste time checking the Amazon sites any more.}

Some US global shipping vendors on eBay have found ways to get their products classified using much cheaper rates than you'll ever get yourself. Almost half the import duties in some cases. I have no problems using the program in those cases The other thing to bear in mind is that eBay's global shipping program also gets you ridiculously fast delivery. Less than a week from the US, even for big & bulky items.

Edit: removed examples. Don't want to ruin it for myself

You've had positive experiences using Global Shipping, I've had the opposite. Won't touch them with a barge pole.

Likewise!! USPS gets it here in around a week from the US. It usually takes longer to get from Bkk to Phuket after customs clearance, acording to the tracking.

Anyone who thinks they are doing this for customer benefit is delusional!! It's all for money .... or they wouldn't do t!!

[TheCruncher]

^{I use eBay USA & UK a lot.I don't ever buy from a seller who uses Global Shipping.}

^{If Amazon are going the same way then I simply won't waste time checking the Amazon sites any more.}

Some US global shipping vendors on eBay have found ways to get their products classified using much cheaper rates than you'll ever get yourself. Almost half the import duties in some cases. I have no problems using the program in those cases The other thing to bear in mind is that eBay's global shipping program also gets you ridiculously fast delivery. Less than a week from the US, even for big & bulky items.

Edit: removed examples. Don't want to ruin it for myself

You've had positive experiences using Global Shipping, I've had the opposite. Won't touch them with a barge pole.

Likewise!! USPS gets it here in around a week from the US. It usually takes longer to get from Bkk to Phuket after customs clearance, acording to the tracking.

Anyone who thinks they are doing this for customer benefit is delusional!! It's all for money .... or they wouldn't do t!!

Not so long ago I ordered 45 Piece Hunter MP rotator and 45 piece Hunter pop up spray bodies.

There were 2 suppliers, both from US on eBay which had what I needed, one who provided customs services ( for my convenience) and another who didn't.

The seller with the GSP was already more expensive per piece, and charged a total of 69$ import duties for the lot, so I went with the other option.

Goods went through customs in Thailand, and I paid a total of 352 Baht in import duties.

So far for the "service" under the global shipping program

[RigPig]

Some US global shipping vendors on eBay have found ways to get their products classified using much cheaper rates than you'll ever get yourself. Almost half the import duties in some cases. I have no problems using the program in those cases The other thing to bear in mind is that eBay's global shipping program also gets you ridiculously fast delivery. Less than a week from the US, even for big & bulky items.

Edit: removed examples. Don't want to ruin it for myself

You've had positive experiences using Global Shipping, I've had the opposite. Won't touch them with a barge pole.

Likewise!! USPS gets it here in around a week from the US. It usually takes longer to get from Bkk to Phuket after customs clearance, acording to the tracking.

Anyone who thinks they are doing this for customer benefit is delusional!! It's all for money .... or they wouldn't do t!!

Not so long ago I ordered 45 Piece Hunter MP rotator and 45 piece Hunter pop up spray bodies.

There were 2 suppliers, both from US on eBay which had what I needed, one who provided customs services ( for my convenience) and another who didn't.

The seller with the GSP was already more expensive per piece, and charged a total of 69$ import duties for the lot, so I went with the other option.

Goods went through customs in Thailand, and I paid a total of 352 Baht in import duties.

So far for the "service" under the global shipping program

Exactly my point!!!

They have the right to charge for a service, but I should have the right to choose not to use it, other than going somewhere else, if I want to make a purchase.

If you had used them how long do you think before you got the balance back do you think?

The amount of interest you could make on having that sort of money, with no interest GIVEN to you, even on short term investments is mind blowing!!!

MONEY FOR NUTHIN' and your cheques (checks) for free!!

[juice777]

Just use eBay I've never had a problem most things come from china, I've yet 2 pay any tax, I even buy my condoms on there in lol they come in a pack of 144 and work out half the price. Everthing is cheaper then tukcom or other places if u can wait it's much cheaper

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[jmccarty]

Most anything you can get from Amazon you can find on ebay, for something electronic, try aliexpress. Either will be cheaper shipping and likely little if any import tax so long as it does not stand out or is big and shiny!

[muratremix]

Topic Title is very misleading.