Fedex customs fees, advice needed please

[sp27]

Ok I know enough not to ever ship things by Fedex, but an ebay seller did this even though the listing said USPS.  I also know I am about to get ripped off big time.

The item is a laptop $1100 but marked as $500, shipping weight is 9 lbs.  Does anyone know what the actual % SHOULD be for import fee?  

I have no issue paying actual import fee but what are my choices if they demand some insane amount?  Can I refuse the shipment and have it sent back?

Any advice will be appreciated...

[robblok]

They will use the Thai local price to base their tax on.. so that is 1100$ x tax percentage +Vat 

[tropo]

They add on shipping before they calculate tax and duties too. You also have to pay a FedEx agent to clear the item. It's a nightmare. That alone can cost several thousand baht. 

 

I wouldn't buy an item on eBay unless I used the prepaid Global Shipping Program. It's not cheap, but there's no surprises and it's delivered to the door.

 

 

[Crossy]

I'm not 100% certain, but I think PCs should be duty exempt, you'll still pay 7% VAT on the CIF value mind.

[impulse]

Here's a handy site that allows you to look up HS codes and associated taxes and duties.

 

http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-hs-code-lookup/

 

Use it sparingly.  After a few freebies, you have to pay for more.

 

Here's the official Thai one.  The search function isn't nearly as handy (or stable), but it's free.

 

http://igtf.customs.go.th/igtf/en/main_frame.jsp

 

Last time I brought in something via FedEx, it fell under a Sino-Thai free trade agreement.  The bastards at customs changed the legitimate HS code and charged me 2500 extra baht (10%) .  Had I been back home, I'd have protested the fee.  But TIT and I was just happy to get the goodies.

[Sheryl]

Your best option if feasible is not to let Fedex clear it ---for which they will charge you a fee and mishandle such that you pay much more than you should and it takes forever...you can expect them to insist it needs special inspection and approval from some dept in charge of electrical safety duty etc etc and by the time you get it, you'll be paying a hefty customs storage fee to boot.

I speak from bitter experience...

That it is shipped Fedex does not mean you have to let Fedex clear it. You can inform them you wish to handle the clearance yourself. Indeed, for expensive items they will usually require you to sign an authorization for them to clear it.

If you live in or near Bangkok or other city with intnl airport clearing by yourself is feasible, I've done it. Takes the better part of a day and not fun, but possible to do.

Otherwise refuse it and seek a refund since Seller misrepresented the mode of shipment, is my advice.

[sp27]

Thanks for the reply everyone, I'm not near Bangkok so clearing it myself isn't an option.  At this point I'd be happy paying 7-15% of the actual value, but based on my previous experience I'm not too confident about those numbers.  

[sp27]

5 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Your best option if feasible is not to let Fedex clear it ---for which they will charge you a fee and mishandle such that you pay much more than you should and it takes forever...you can expect them to insist it needs special inspection and approval from some dept in charge of electrical safety duty etc etc and by the time you get it, you'll be paying a hefty customs storage fee to boot.

I speak from bitter experience...

That it is shipped Fedex does not mean you have to let Fedex clear it. You can inform them you wish to handle the clearance yourself. Indeed, for expensive items they will usually require you to sign an authorization for them to clear it.

If you live in or near Bangkok or other city with intnl airport clearing by yourself is feasible, I've done it. Takes the better part of a day and not fun, but possible to do.

Otherwise refuse it and seek a refund since Seller misrepresented the mode of shipment, is my advice.

In case they demand insane amount, if I refuse the shipment do they return to sender for free or is there a charge for that too?  

[Crossy]

8 hours ago, sp27 said:

In case they demand insane amount, if I refuse the shipment do they return to sender for free or is there a charge for that too?  

 

No direct experience with refusing a shipment, but the words "Fedex" and "free" rarely occupy the same sentence, I expect the sender will end up being lumbered with any return charge. His fault for not using the promised USPS shipping.

 

EDIT Do note that using the post isn't guaranteed to avoid duty, particularly on higher value items. But the Post Office usually only charge the duty and VAT without any of the "extras" which the couriers love to add.

[OMGImInPattaya]

I'm just curious why you would buy a relatively common (and not highly taxed/expensive) item via eBay? Unless it's something that's impossible to source locally or is very high cost due to duties/taxes what's the point...and then having to deal with these hassles. Thailand has moved on and it's not like 10-15 years ago when many things an expat might want were just not available in the stores locally. Also, my first go to nowadays for online shopping for is Lazada...it's amazing what one can find on there and often a much better selection and price than in the stores; and no driving to and fro to find what one's looking for. ??

Edited September 5, 2016 by OMGImInPattaya

[sp27]

35 minutes ago, OMGImInPattaya said:

I'm just curious why you would buy a relatively common (and not highly taxed/expensive) item via eBay? Unless it's something that's impossible to source locally or is very high cost due to duties/taxes what's the point...and then having to deal with these hassles. Thailand has moved on and it's not like 10-15 years ago when many things an expat might want were just not available in the stores locally. Also, my first go to nowadays for online shopping for is Lazada...it's amazing what one can find on there and often a much better selection and price than in the stores; and no driving to and fro to find what one's looking for. ??

I know all about lazada, but high end laptops are insanely over priced in Thailand.  The one with the specs I ordered would be almost impossible to find locally as well.  I always order things from USA and Korea, but never use express shipping and the import fee or tax is always fair/low.  It's just companies like Fedex,DHL that are criminal.

[tropo]

15 hours ago, sp27 said:

In case they demand insane amount, if I refuse the shipment do they return to sender for free or is there a charge for that too?  

Once you know what they're asking it's too late as they know who you are and where you live. They will send you a notice to send a scan of your passport first, before you know anything about charges.

 

It could be time to contact eBay for advice.

 

 

[sp27]

A quick update for those who might care.  Fedex only charged 7% on the cost listed by sender ($500) and not the actual value but they also charged VAT on shipping which was $100.  All in all it was actually a great experience.  I didn't have to contact them or anything, just paid 1400 baht on delivery.  I think I just got lucky this time unless Fedex changed their ways recently...not sure.  I still recommend using USPS for less valuable items, I've never had an issue with them in the last 4 years.  

[tropo]

Thanks for the update. Perhaps FedEx have been losing a lot of business due to their underhanded methods and decided to become more customer friendly? I'll still never use them again after my last experience. The worst part, more than the cost, was an incompetent clearing agent sending me endless dumb requests for information on my shipment and calling me too.

 

I'll use the Global Shipping program though (and the Amazon equivalent), as long as it's worth the cost as that is ridiculously expensive on many items.

[Crossy]

Yes, thanks indeed for the update.

 

In the last 12 months or so I've had shipments from China and the UK via DHL and UPS both of which charged the relevant duty and VAT without any significant "extras", so perhaps things are changing for the better.

 

I do still avoid FedEx after an expensive experience some years back.

[seajae]

I had a gardening  tool(not available anywhere in Thailand) sent from the US and they used fed ex, the cost of the tool was  under $90 (incl, shipping),  fed ex hit me up for 1200 baht tax on delivery

[sp27]

On 9/13/2016 at 5:00 AM, Crossy said:

Yes, thanks indeed for the update.

 

In the last 12 months or so I've had shipments from China and the UK via DHL and UPS both of which charged the relevant duty and VAT without any significant "extras", so perhaps things are changing for the better.

 

I do still avoid FedEx after an expensive experience some years back.

For Asia EMS works great.  They are reliable and the VAT is usually lower.  

[sp27]

On 9/13/2016 at 11:01 AM, seajae said:

I had a gardening  tool(not available anywhere in Thailand) sent from the US and they used fed ex, the cost of the tool was  under $90 (incl, shipping),  fed ex hit me up for 1200 baht tax on delivery

I always buy things on Amazon and ship to my sister in the US usually for free.  She sends me things by USPS and I never pay tax on anything.  Just takes a week longer than fedex for shipping but worth it if you're not in a hurry.  

[tropo]

42 minutes ago, sp27 said:

I always buy things on Amazon and ship to my sister in the US usually for free.  She sends me things by USPS and I never pay tax on anything.  Just takes a week longer than fedex for shipping but worth it if you're not in a hurry.  

I don't have family in the US to ship stuff over. We have to rely on the price that eBay merchants charge, and it's often way more than the price of the item.

 

Does your sister lie on the Custom's declaration? How does that work at the post office in the US where she has to sign the form? ... or have you just been very lucky?

Edited September 14, 2016 by tropo

[sp27]

1 hour ago, tropo said:

I don't have family in the US to ship stuff over. We have to rely on the price that eBay merchants charge, and it's often way more than the price of the item.

 

Does your sister lie on the Custom's declaration? How does that work at the post office in the US where she has to sign the form? ... or have you just been very lucky?

She usually writes a lower value, but in general USPS is checked less often.  I order monthly from iherb.com and I've never once paid even small tax.  They ship USPS but total weight has to be under 4 lbs.  I think if it goes over 4 lbs it's automatically in a different category for customs and gets more attention.  But that is just an assumption based on my 4 year experience.