Hi everyone, thank you for this wonderful resource. I'm headed to CM in a couple of weeks and possibly staying for a couple of months. 

I was wondering, what is your experience with the postal system? 

Specifically I hope to send letter size air mail preferably with tracking number from CM to USA every now and then. Maybe a small package as well.

Is the postal system reliable? And if so, how long would airmail take from CM to USA? 

I've read on the Internet (ie changmai reddit, etc) that the mail system in TH is great, but the contributors in this forum seem to be the most

knowledgeable about these things.

Thank you in advance for your time.

Sincerely

Yan 

We never had a letter or package sent from CM to US lost

If using EMS it is quite quick but maybe not cheap depending on weight

But with EMS we have sent many paid the price & they got there in a week

 

Here are some sample prices for 1000gr/ 2.2 lb  parcel using various methods

http://www.thailandpost.com/index.php?page=rate_result&country_code=US&weight=1000

 

Air mail registered is quick & not expensive for letters etc

Surface packages are very cheap but can take 2 months +

 

Now if you were asking about the other direction...US to CM

it is really a crap shoot

We had so many packages & letters go missing even when sent USPS Priority Air

Any letter containing a Credit card never made it & needed to come via FedEx/DHL etc

then ok but $50

 

 

Edited October 4, 20169 yr by mania

I also have had no problem mailing items to the US from Chiang Mai over the years.   I always just use regular mail and normally it takes 8-15 days to get back to the Midwest.  So far (a lot of years), nothing has been lost.  As for mailings from the US Midwest to here, all packages have arrived (usually 8-10 days) although I've had one or two letters never show up (advise anyone mailing to you to not write addresses in English script but in very clear type or block letters).

The Thailand Postal System is by far the best governmental-based organization in the Kingdom. The Post Offices are all neat and clean, and the take-a-number system works quite well, allowing one to sit down in comfort, not worrying that "I'm ALWAYS in the wrong line!"  I have gone in on busy afternoons to find 30 or more people ahead of me, but am always surprised that the wait is not long at all.

 

Prices to ship things out of the country can be quite high, especially if EMS is used, but quick and safe, trackable delivery is guaranteed. Mailing within the country is quite cheap, and it blows my mind that you can even ship machinery and motorcycles.

 

Thailand Post = FIVE STARS! (*****)

In the 1.5 years I have been here only 1 letter was lost. This was standard mail and a small envelope. Everything else has had a different level of importance so I usually send registered or EMS. Excellent service there. I did encounter a problem trying to insure a package via EMS at 80,000THB so I used DHL instead.

 

Overall I think Thailand Post is a good service.

@mania, @CMBob, @Frank James, @jmd8800

thank you all so much for your prompt and thorough replies.

based on the kindness shown i can't wait to get to CM. 

14 days of waiting left. :)

cheers

Yan

I had a 32gb thumb drive go bad.  I put it  in a small envelope with 20 THB  in postage, without tracking.  Got to Taipae from CM in about a week.  They sent me a new one..same way.  Would have been 78 baht with tracking.  I gambled and won.  15 grams was the weight.

13 hours ago, KhonKaenKowboy said:

I had a 32gb thumb drive go bad.  I put it  in a small envelope with 20 THB  in postage, without tracking.  Got to Taipae from CM in about a week.  They sent me a new one..same way.  Would have been 78 baht with tracking.  I gambled and won.  15 grams was the weight.

That's reassuring. 20THB from CM to Taipei is like 60 cents USD I think? That's an amazing price. Thank you so much for the info. I think I'm going to love CM so so much.  

A simple three page letter airmail to the US via EMS, circa 105 baht maximum.

1 hour ago, chiang mai said:

A simple three page letter airmail to the US via EMS, circa 105 baht maximum.

That's crazy cheap?!! Wow thanks. Er but wait. Perhaps my idea of EMS is different from Thailand EMS. The EMS I'm used to, in HK and China is a tracking number service where it's supposed to get to the US in about 5 business days (but usually takes about 7). Is that what you mean chiang mai? Thanks in advance. :)

Yes postage for sending letters are priced better in Thailand than the US

Packages sending is not cheap...especially EMS which is the preferred way to send packages to the US via Thai Post

 

But then again distance is great & not any cheaper to send packages via say International Postal Priority Air from US to Thailand

unless you use their tiny flat rate boxes :) 

Edited October 6, 20169 yr by mania

3 hours ago, YanHuang said:

That's crazy cheap?!! Wow thanks. Er but wait. Perhaps my idea of EMS is different from Thailand EMS. The EMS I'm used to, in HK and China is a tracking number service where it's supposed to get to the US in about 5 business days (but usually takes about 7). Is that what you mean chiang mai? Thanks in advance. :)

 

The same thing, tracking number and 5-7 days.

50 minutes ago, mania said:

Yes postage for sending letters are priced better in Thailand than the US

Packages sending is not cheap...especially EMS which is the preferred way to send packages to the US via Thai Post

 

But then again distance is great & not any cheaper to send packages via say International Postal Priority Air from US to Thailand

unless you use their tiny flat rate boxes :) 

overall, it's cheaper than what I'm used to paying...which is a pleasant surprise to say the least. 

5 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

 

The same thing, tracking number and 5-7 days.

fell off my chair...with glee. 10Q. 

3 hours ago, YanHuang said:

fell off my chair...with glee. 10Q. 

 

They sell good chairs in Thailand too, they're not expensive.