iHerb Shipping Cost Increase

[sante]

I just went to the iHerb site intending to order but noticed upon checkout that shipping cost has tripled. According to the site, Thai customs is now blocking iHerb orders so former cheap mail carriers can't be used.

 

Does anyone have any information about this change? I tried searching here but nothing was found (I think the search option isn't working - I've tried several forum searches within the week about different subjects and always zero results) 
 

[stubuzz]

Thailand has started to block many outside deliveries. Xenophobia is one of the reasons why this country is not and will not develop.

[connda]

Nothing has changed recently.  Their pricing model changed awhile back.  Search 'iHerb' on Thai Visa.  You should fine some older posts regarding the change.  Standard packages are still $4, but will increase in price as the package gets heavier.  Most of my orders are $4 shipping, although I've had one that was $7 and change.  Their standard shipping is via DHL eCommerce.  The message you see on their site regarding shipping to Thailand has also been there for quite some time.  It's nothing new. 

[Oscar2]

i ordered yesterday. shipping cost for 2 Kg. was USD $4.00. nothing has changed.

[weary]

Confirming it's business as usual. I ordered yesterday, same procedure and price as before.

[jij]

i order regularly from iHerb. my experience from talking to them is that the secret is to keep packages under 4lbs. i also often order cigars and note that this is the magic weight there too. two bundles of cigars and it's delivered to my door for only 7 baht, three bundles and it goes over 4lbs. and i go to customs and pay 1,000+baht.

[sante]

Went back to the iHerb site and checked shipping weight & cost. My package weight is 1.42 kg and item $38.44 with loyalty reward subtracted. But still the only shipping option available was $14.26, a lot more than the $4 or $5 I usually pay. Bewilderment and paranoia set in.

 

But then I focused on the extra discount notice for orders over $40. Ah-ha, as soon as I added another item in my cart that pushed cost over $40, the shipping option shrunk to $5.35. 

 

I don't want that extra item so looks as if I'll have to wait until my loyalty reward expires before ordering again. That extra shipping expense far exceeds the reward. In this situation, the promotion is a detriment, not a bonus, and I can't find a way on the site to decline the reward. Maybe, if I can muster enough mental energy, I'll write them a note about this problem. Seems that shipping cost should be based on item before reward is subtracted.
 

[connda]

On 8/27/2016 at 1:14 PM, sante said:

Went back to the iHerb site and checked shipping weight & cost. My package weight is 1.42 kg and item $38.44 with loyalty reward subtracted. But still the only shipping option available was $14.26, a lot more than the $4 or $5 I usually pay. Bewilderment and paranoia set in.

 

But then I focused on the extra discount notice for orders over $40. Ah-ha, as soon as I added another item in my cart that pushed cost over $40, the shipping option shrunk to $5.35. 

 

I don't want that extra item so looks as if I'll have to wait until my loyalty reward expires before ordering again. That extra shipping expense far exceeds the reward. In this situation, the promotion is a detriment, not a bonus, and I can't find a way on the site to decline the reward. Maybe, if I can muster enough mental energy, I'll write them a note about this problem. Seems that shipping cost should be based on item before reward is subtracted.
 

If you're shipping to THAILAND, I don't believe there is any 'optional' shipping method available - just the DHL eCommerce option starting at $4 bucks.  That's it. 

You may want to make 100% sure when you check-out that your 'Shipping Address' is here in Thailand and not being sent to your 'Billing Address' wherever that may be.  If you mistakenly shipped to your billing address, it could explain why you are offered different shipping options.  If that's not your issue, then I'd highly recommend sending iHerb's customer service an email.  You're seeing something different than the rest of us here in Thailand. 

[sante]

connda, the problem was the cost of my order. Anything over $40 is discounted but my order was less with the loyalty reward subtracted. All my previous orders, with discounts, were more than $40 so I always had the reduced shipping price. I did write to iHerb, mentioning that their promotion can be more of a hindrance than reward when discount increases shipping costs and suggested that customers have the option to reject the reward. But for now I'm waiting for my loyalty reward to expire so I can place the order. I assume that everyone who has replied to this topic has had orders over $40.

[Oscar2]

1 hour ago, sante said:

connda, the problem was the cost of my order. Anything over $40 is discounted but my order was less with the loyalty reward subtracted. All my previous orders, with discounts, were more than $40 so I always had the reduced shipping price. I did write to iHerb, mentioning that their promotion can be more of a hindrance than reward when discount increases shipping costs and suggested that customers have the option to reject the reward. But for now I'm waiting for my loyalty reward to expire so I can place the order. I assume that everyone who has replied to this topic has had orders over $40.

i ordered something for about US $19.00 and the shipping cost for US $4.00. sounds like something is not right on your account. shipping to Thailand is a flat US $4.00 for up to 2 Kg. loyalty reward or whatever has nothing to do with it.

[sante]

Oscar2, perplexing because when I added an item to my cart, the shipping cost dropped down drastically. Also, reduced shipping above $40 is mentioned near shipping checkout. And the reply to my iHerb email said weight and cost of purchase determine shipping price. Guess I'm facing discrimination because...because....uh, I have no idea. But I'm not concerned - I'll just wait until my reward expires. My purchases are usually over $40 anyway and spaced more than 2 months apart so bonus reward doesn't apply.

[JAS21]

I just looked at buying something for 808thb weighing 1.05Kgs. Shipping quoted as 379thb via Global Mail. 

[clokwise]

With my $70 order this week the shipping cost has gone down to $2.75 ! Can't complain..

[Oscar2]

15 hours ago, JAS21 said:

I just looked at buying something for 808thb weighing 1.05Kgs. Shipping quoted as 379thb via Global Mail. 

I tried to duplicate your order but could not come up with exactly 1.05 Kg. but came in at 1.12 Kg with a shipping cost in USD of $4.05 or 138.14 THB. go figure!

[JAS21]

Okay, it was Amino 1900 and here is the link ...  http://th.iherb.com/Universal-Nutrition-Amino-1900-Amino-Acid-Supplement-300-Tablets/37132 802.75 for the AA plus 377.11 shipping.

 

I am looking at the correct site... yes?

[Oscar2]

14 hours ago, JAS21 said:

Okay, it was Amino 1900 and here is the link ...  http://th.iherb.com/Universal-Nutrition-Amino-1900-Amino-Acid-Supplement-300-Tablets/37132 802.75 for the AA plus 377.11 shipping.

 

I am looking at the correct site... yes?

Yes. when I clicked on your link I got the following shipping cost (after logging into my account, adding the item, etc).

Destination: Thailand Change

Global Mail - ฿256.29

Estimated Delivery: September 26, 2016 - September 29, 2016

Extra discount for orders over ฿1,396.70
Limited Tracking. Orders up to $100 USD. Max 4 lbs (1.8 kg)

 

BUT when I change the currency to USD, I get:

Destination: Thailand Change

Global Mail - $4.05

Estimated Delivery: September 26, 2016 - September 29, 2016

Extra discount for orders over $40.00
Limited Tracking. Orders up to $100 USD. Max 4 lbs (1.8 kg)

 

 

Edited September 8, 2016 by Oscar2

[JAS21]

Somewhat cheaper ...do you use a Thai  Credit Card or a US one or ...

[Oscar2]

3 hours ago, JAS21 said:

Somewhat cheaper ...do you use a Thai  Credit Card or a US one or ...

mine is always set to USD and i use Amex. my wife's account is set to THB and she uses K-Bank - i think, but the last time she ordered was about 3 or 4 months ago when the shipping fee was a flat US $4.00 so can't compare recent shipping costs USD vs. THB on long-time accounts.

[Dante99]

Used to marvel at how TV could make simple things so complex but now it has become commonplace.  Signs of the times.

 

 

[elektrified]

The shipping cost is the same @ US4.00. But the good news is that the orders arrive in Thailand in only 5 days now. I just made an order and then my wife not knowing that I had ordered, made an order too. Both orders arrived in 5 days by way of their new DHL shipping option (they call it Global Mail). The last order I made using the old shipping option took 35 days to arrive, so this new service is good news.

 

We continue to use the following link to get 10% or more discount on orders (and they give some free samples as well) http://www.iherb.com?rcode=GEV414

Edited October 6, 2016 by elektrified

[kalbo123]

I just selected a  few items, under 1 kg in total, shipping costs $10 so how do you get $4 shipping costs?

Edited October 6, 2016 by kalbo123

[elektrified]

1 hour ago, kalbo123 said:

I just selected a  few items, under 1 kg in total, shipping costs $10 so how do you get $4 shipping costs?

I just randomly selected a few items. No matter what I select I get USD $4.00 shipping cost.

 

Shipping Weight: 0.99 lbs (0.45 kg)

Destination: Thailand Change

Global Mail - $4.00

Estimated Delivery: October 19, 2016 - October 24, 2016

Extra discount for orders over $40.00
Limited Tracking. Orders up to $100 USD. Max 4 lbs (1.8 kg)

Edited October 6, 2016 by elektrified

[kalbo123]

[elektrified]

kalbo123.....don't know what to say......

 

Preferential pricing system based on past orders or something? Don't have a clue...

[Dante99]

wow a larger order with a few items gets a better shipping rate than a one $10 item order, what a surprise

 

apples and oranges

Edited October 7, 2016 by Dante99

[Blablaboy]

Placed order on 1st of Nov 2016 and items ship out on 4th ( using dhl globalmail) ordered few probiotics 1K baht. Received items on 18th Nov. 

[santaf]

Nov 2017 update on iherb shipping cost:  I have just placed an iherb order today November 3, 2017.  You get FREE international shipping now when your order total is US$40!  They use DHL Global mail and my order is supposed to be delivered between Dec 5-15.  I'm hoping that it won't take an entire month and that I will get my order in a couple of weeks in Bangkok.  Will keep you posted

 

So the thing to do is to make up an order between $40 and $46, better to keep it under $45 to allow for exchange rate fluctuations.  You get free international shipping if order >$40 and no import tax or duties to pay if <$46.

 

I did have a good look at the Vitamins Club shops here in Bangkok and the prices are expensive, that's why I have resorted to ordering from iHerb.  I've used iHerb previously in the US, it's a first class ecommerce site.  iHerb is one of very few online sites I know of that will ship to Thailand (Amazon won't, I don't like Amazon anyway, they are getting too big.  Most Ebay sellers ship to Thailand but quality can be iffy). 

 

If you are new to iHerb, feel free to use my link here to get a 5% discount on your order:

 

https://iherb.co/49cviFUe

 

 

[joealx]

 DHL has problems with Thai customs, so they send it by post from Germany or the US (Vitacost). iHerb has a notice that over $46 is subject to duty.

[grin]

Try removing the browser cookies for the iherb website. It may have some obsolete settings that the website is not using properly when calculating your shipping charges.

[clokwise]

I used their Nov promo to order 3 bottles of the NOW Liquid Glucosimine which is normally too heavy and subsequently too costly to ship. Had to split the order into 3 orders and added a few other supplements to bring the cost up into the $40~46 range, and also to keep the weight under their max limit. Act fast, this promo lasts only until Nov 8.

 

Although they ship by DHL, it's delivered by Thai Post, occaisionally the postman asks for 7 baht. I've gone a few dollars over $46 a few times and never had duty collected.

 

BTW, I've finally figured out how iherb computes their shipping and why we all get different rates. They start with a rate based on weight of each item, but if you order any items marked "Shipping Saver" they deduct a certain amount from the total shipping cost. It's even possible if you order several "Shipping Saver" items you can see your shipping reduced to $0.