Shippings to Phuket from Europe

[the juggler]

Hi folks, what experience and advice do you have concerning shipments from outside LOS (especially Europe) to Thailand. My friends back home want to send me some things.

What is the best way to ensure I receive the shipment.
How long does it take?
Any known problems with customs?
What should not be send?
How do you do it?

THX

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by the juggler

Hi folks, what experience and advice do you have concerning shipments from outside LOS (especially Europe) to Thailand. My friends back home want to send me some things.

THX

I ship a fair amount of small to medium shipments to Thailand, but it is commercial goods.

What is the best way to ensure I receive the shipment.
Use a reputable carrier if the contents has any value. That would include DHL, UPS, FedEx, etc.

How long does it take?
I ship from the US and only by air, so 2-3 days is the norm. From Europe air should be the same or faster. Ground shipments may be available from Europe, however, it is likely to be serviced by multiple carriers and increase the chance of delay and loss.

Any known problems with customs?
Everything you ship has to clear customs, which means either of 3 scenarios. 1. It goes right through (unlikely if the package is more than a "thick letter package"). 2. Use a broker, which will carry a fee. 3. Do it your self (I have no clue how hard or easy this is in Thailand. In the US no big deal).

What should not be send?
Any items that are restricted by Thai law or have specific taxes. Using common sense you should be able to make a reasonable call. Perishables, medicine, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, certain printed matters are obviously no-no's. There may be a number of not so obvious items that should not be shipped. If any doubt contact the Thai Embassy in the originating country or the Thai customs in Thailand for details.

How do you do it?
Go to to an office of the shipper you choose to use. They will have all the necessary paperwork. The may also be of assistance concerning restricted items.

[Simbo]

Just make sure your shipping agent is doing door to door. I paid a company in the UK what I thought was door to door for delivery. Turned out to be door to Phuket Customs. 10000baht and no receipt later i got my stuff- most of which had been bought in Thailand!!! Avoid electronic etc as even thought they are used you'll get stung. I have some personal stuff I want to bring over but am waitng for an O or retirement visa so I can ship through a friend who can smooth the way a bit

[pablo]

A couple of years ago, I used UPS to send a box full of items, from USA to Thailand. I was required to describe the items sent, and also, the declared value of same. And, yes...the box was opened, and inspected by Thai customs.

In the process, I had to give UPS a credit card number, with which, they (UPS) charged off the "imposed" duty fee's, once the box arrived and was inspected in BKK. (no problems encountered..and, it was done by USA office) They actually faxed a copy of the import duty receipt to me.

Next, the "box" was loaded into a delivery truck, for a trip to Isaan. UPS has interpreter's in BKK, who decipher and translate the English written address.

The "box" arrived at destination, 5 days after I (posted) it, in the USA. And, was delivered to the doorstep, of the addressee. As I recall, the UPS fee was around $125 USD.

Here's the only drawback.....

The declared value, of the items contained in the "box", was $450 USD.

The "import duty", levied on these items...was $365 USD.

I paid over (twice the purchase price), to send the items from home, to Thailand.

Never Again!



Pablo

[ThatGuy2]

also the other way around.......

is it expensive/safe/fast to send stuff from phuket to Australia?

does anyone know......any tips maybe?



TG2

[LivinLOS]

Just bear in mind you will get reamed on Customs duties.. Happens 9 from 10 times.

[the juggler]

Thanks, for the information, I will try UPS. They told me its around 125 Euro for the shipment. Lets see what will happen, I let you know.

[Karon Steve]

5 years ago I sent half a container of household items from Saudi Arabia to Nakhon Si Thamarrat door to door using a company called Four Winds.
They came to the villa and packed the items in Saudi and compiled an itemized list for insurance purposes, also used as this as the cargo manifest, and delivered it to the house in NST. Took 2 weeks and I paid $500 for the service and no duty was paid by me in Thailand.

I know of other people who import/export to and from Thailand and they ALWAYS use an agent.

Currently I have an Aussie customer who is having all sorts of trouble getting his household effects in through Bangkok. Trying to do it himself and not through an agent. All his stuff is stuck in a container on the dock. He cannot bring it in as his doesn't have an import licence and can't send it back as he doesn't have an export licence, which requires an import licence!
He is currently using a friend of a friend who has an agency. Will post later if and when it is resolved.