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Is it worth shipping personal belongings from the USA to Thailand?

shipping to Thailandcustoms and dutiesDHL servicesThailand Postexpat advicemoving to Thailandpersonal belongingsimport regulations
Jul 16, 2023
a year ago
Leo *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Have you had any experience shipping your personal belongings from usa to Thailand? There's a DHL store close to where I will be living in Thailand, I'm considering shipping clothes, footwear, and golf clubs from USA to Thailand. What do you think?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion highlights significant concerns about shipping personal belongings, especially from the USA to Thailand. Many users suggest selling possessions instead of shipping, as customs fees and shipping costs can exceed the value of the items. Users recommend engaging Thailand Post for potentially lower fees compared to DHL or FedEx. Additionally, it's advised to bring lighter clothing suitable for the tropical climate and to avoid shipping bulky items, as they are often cheaper to purchase in Thailand.
Jo **********
yes don’t do it
a year ago
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Mick ********
Agree, don't use DHL. If you absolutely have to ship your stuff, using a handling company like Asian Tigers to do it. Avoid fedex and DHL, will cost you a fortune.
a year ago
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Richard *********
DONT use dhl or Fed Ex, use ur local PO>

make sure you mark, USED< no commercial value

I use ALL my US clothes' here, ( expect for my Colorado winter stuff) an have for 30 + years :-)
a year ago
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Mary ********
Only bring what you are absolutely sure you cannot get here. Most things are cheaper to buy here than the shipping cost. Its hot here, you only need the lightest of clothing, anything too heavy will never be worn. Depending on your size you can buy suitable clothes easy enough, worse case scenario there are cost effective tailors here, still cheaper than shipping costs. I came over with 2 carry on suitcases and still brought stuff I will never use here. Unless it's sentimental, leave it and buy new.
a year ago
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Marty *********
I recently shipped some of my late father’s paintings and sculptures to Thailand. It was expensive but they were sentimental items. One of a kind and sentimental items might be worth shipping.
a year ago
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Jorge ****
Most of the USA clothes cannot be used here. LOS is a tropical humid country. Clothes here are not expensive since this area is a manufacturing hub. Also figure this, one sweats so much, one has to launder often, clothes wear out and have to be tossed away. Leather goods, like shoes, belts, and jacktes will get moldy. Books too. Appliances here are 220 VAC 50 Hz. Save yourself the trouble and leave old luggage behind.
a year ago
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Av **********
Have fun with customs
a year ago
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Cary ******
Sounds like you’re still in the US, better to pay for excess baggage and take it with you.
a year ago
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Christopher *******
I've sent several ups/dhl to Thailand. I've found that whatever you paid for an item, triple it's cost to determine shipping and customs fees

Note, if anything is quarantined, (example, food like tea leaves) it will be held in customs for as long as they bloody well like, AND in addition to fees, and an import license (IF they approve) they will charge you a daily rate for storage.
a year ago
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Paul *******
@Christopher ******
Total cost per package. Just fudge the paperwork. If it's not a huge package, it will make it through customs and delivered directly.
a year ago
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Paul *******
@Christopher ******
They're not circumventing customs, they're just able to deliver goods that are declared as being valued below 1500 Baht with zero fuss.
a year ago
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Christopher *******
@Paul ******
 1) is that total cost? Or per item? Second, how do I use thai post if sending from USA? General us postal service?
a year ago
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Paul *******
@Christopher ******
Yes. You use USPS from the US.
a year ago
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Paul *******
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Paul *******
@Christopher ******
I think you misunderstood. I mean use Thailand Post for delivery not a courier.
a year ago
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Christopher *******
@Paul ******
 so thai post can, to varying degrees, circumvent customs? Or have different restrictions?
a year ago
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Christopher *******
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Paul *******
@Christopher ******
Import license isn't required for small quantities of said products, but it can take 3 weeks or so to release them. It's crazy. Always use Thailand Post.
a year ago
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Christopher *******
@Paul ******
 I don't have thailand post. The tea in question required a license, but wad going to require over a month and was estimated at 600 usd (per ups)
a year ago
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Christopher *******
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Alistair **********
If you've going back to the states 1-2x a year, just slowly bring what you can over on the plane. Avoid import duties that way
a year ago
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Riaan **********
Get a price estimate from DHL, then decide again. The shipping fee will be an absolute fortune for those items, never mind the import duties etcetera
a year ago
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Brandon ************
General guidance is to sell everything and buy it again in Thailand. Everything you ship is going to be seized by customs and you are going to have to go there to pay duty and pick it up. They're always going to value the items more than you expected and charge you more than you expected, probably costing you more than it would be to buy it new in Thailand.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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