Can somebody explain customs fees?

[cubism001]

I want to buy a 1 inch natural latex topper from the US.  I think I need to declare the item's cost & shipping costs.  Then what?  I choose a category? (multiply this number by that number: I need it that basic, please.) Sending  a link  to a shipping company is useless; the company insists on their own shippers.  Thank you.

[jackdd]

Latex toppers are produced in Thailand, why would you import one?

You have to figure out what the import duties on latex toppers is, then the math is: CIF (cost + insurance + freight) * [customs dutes] * 1.07 (VAT)

Let's assume your topper costs 5k and shipping and insurance is 2k, and let's assume that customs duties are 50%, then it would look like: 7000*0.5*1.07 = 3745 THB to pay to customs.

Edited April 15, 2021 by jackdd

[Crossy]

HS Code 9404.21.0000 "Mattress Of Cellular Rubber Or Plastics, Whether Or Not Covered" would cover it.

 

That attracts 20% duty on CIF plus 7%VAT on the total.

 

But as noted above, they are made here, why not support the Thai rubber farmers, they need every cent they can get.

[cubism001]

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

HS Code 9404.21.0000 "Mattress Of Cellular Rubber Or Plastics, Whether Or Not Covered" would cover it.

 

That attracts 20% duty on CIF plus 7%VAT on the total.

 

But as noted above, they are made here, why not support the Thai rubber farmers, they need every cent they can get.

I tried, didn't work.  Longer story would say the same thing.  Thank you for the category etc.  Other than this purchase, I buy exclusively Thai.

 

[cubism001]

1 hour ago, jackdd said:

 

You have to figure out what the import duties on latex toppers is, then the math is: CIF (cost + insurance + freight) * [customs dutes] * 1.07 (VAT)

Let's assume your topper costs 5k and shipping and insurance is 2k, and let's assume that customs duties are 50%, then it would look like: 7000*0.5*1.07 = 3745 THB to pay to customs.

This is great.  Really kind of you.  Thank you so much!

[Badger18]

2 hours ago, jackdd said:

CIF (cost + insurance + freight) * [customs dutes] * 1.07 (VAT)

When I had  some things sent over from Europe the freight figure used was not the actual shipping cost but a much higher figure based on the volume (or maybe it was the weight) of the package * a set rate per litre (or kg).

[jackdd]

Just now, Badger18 said:

When I had  some things sent over from Europe the freight figure used was not the actual shipping cost but a much higher figure based on the volume (or maybe it was the weight) of the package * a set rate per litre (or kg).

This was probably done because the seller/shipper didn't provide a correct(*) invoice.

 

*Correct in terms of what Thai customs requires

[cubism001]

2 minutes ago, Badger18 said:

When I had  some things sent over from Europe the freight figure used was not the actual shipping cost but a much higher figure based on the volume (or maybe it was the weight) of the package * a set rate per litre (or kg).

Uh oh.  Dig this: just at these figures, my $69 topper ends up costing $372!!! This, mind you, is for a twin.  No way can I do this!  

 

[cubism001]

1 minute ago, cubism001 said:

Uh oh.  Dig this: just at these figures, my $69 topper ends up costing $372!!! This, mind you, is for a twin.  No way can I do this!  

 

But thank you for telling me how to calculate this!

[cubism001]

2 hours ago, jackdd said:

Latex toppers are produced in Thailand, why would you import one?

 

I didn't find a natl. latex topper in Ch Mai under 8000 bhat. Now I've seen stores out of business, for their sakes, hopefully for the short run,  but I'm not sure who to contact now. I've got my down coats jackets vests atop my brick hard apt. mattress.  Maybe that's the best I can do for awhile?

[jackdd]

3 minutes ago, cubism001 said:

I didn't find a natl. latex topper in Ch Mai under 8000 bhat. Now I've seen stores out of business, for their sakes, hopefully for the short run,  but I'm not sure who to contact now. I've got my down coats jackets vests atop my brick hard apt. mattress.  Maybe that's the best I can do for awhile?

Two years later I'm still happy with mine, and the shop is still selling them on Lazada.

Edited April 15, 2021 by jackdd

[Tracyb]

You can buy latex mattress toppers at HomePro and other retail outlets right here in Thailand.  Do that.....and save the headache of taxes, duties and frustration.

[Russell17au]

There are various size Latex Mattress toppers of on Lazada ranging from just over 1000 baht

[Venom]

1 hour ago, cubism001 said:

Uh oh.  Dig this: just at these figures, my $69 topper ends up costing $372!!! This, mind you, is for a twin.  No way can I do this!  

 

Wow even a memory foam topper here in Thailand is less than that! 

[Seeall]

They probably have equations but seem  to me they apply anything they want  / think / desire....

 

 

[chilly07]

They will charge whatever they think they can get away with whilst holding the item to ransom. The shipper and courier will do the same. I ordered a 30gbp item from a firm who had an office in Bangkok. The item went by courier from Cincinnati to Germany and then to Bangkok and they proposed an additional cost of 70gbp. Told them to return the item and claimed refund on Mastercard. Then discovered I could purchase the same item in Pattaya for 1200bht. Buy Thai! Especially as it's cash on delivery!

Edited April 15, 2021 by chilly07

[Seeall]

9 minutes ago, Seeall said:

They probably have equations but seem  to me they apply anything they want  / think / desire....

 

 

what gets me is lazada and shoppe dont seem to have these fees "somehow" so I tell CN marketing stop sending me promos, its not worth it.....  looks like along with the rest of the world the bigger players get richer and the small loose out....

[Headgame]

For importing goods into TH, you need these three tools.

Calculate the duty: simplyduty.com
HHS Codes: foreign-trade.com
Track Customs Processing: tracking.customs.go.th 

 

You're good to go.

Edited April 15, 2021 by Headgame

[recom273]

1 hour ago, chilly07 said:

They will charge whatever they think they can get away with whilst holding the item to ransom. The shipper and courier will do the same. I ordered a 30gbp item from a firm who had an office in Bangkok. The item went by courier from Cincinnati to Germany and then to Bangkok and they proposed an additional cost of 70gbp. Told them to return the item and claimed refund on Mastercard. Then discovered I could purchase the same item in Pattaya for 1200bht. Buy Thai! Especially as it's cash on delivery!

Perhaps I just had good luck. In the past I have imported some small hifi components from the US and India, all above board, meaning the companies wouldn’t lie about the real price declaration, and the charge was reasonable, way cheaper than a specialist hifi shop in Bangkok was retailing them at.

 

Couple of months ago I ordered a computer case from China, the seller under quoted on the declaration, and customs must have looked it up online, and changed the real price, even then, it was OK, again, less than Lazada could do it.

 

I don’t doubt that you received a duff deal, but I never feel I have been fleeced by them. 

[yankee99]

5 hours ago, Badger18 said:

When I had  some things sent over from Europe the freight figure used was not the actual shipping cost but a much higher figure based on the volume (or maybe it was the weight) of the package * a set rate per litre (or kg).

Thats correct you have to make sure the shipper adds the shipping cost to the invoice if not the customs calculates by weight or volume 

[yankee99]

OP i imported a king size casper well worth compared to buying in Thailand 

[Captor]

I have bought mine from Latex Innovations in Thailand. Very good quality.

http://latexinnovations.com/

 

 

[jackdd]

1 minute ago, Captor said:

I have bought mine from Latex Innovations in Thailand. Very good quality.

http://latexinnovations.com/

 

 

Way too expensive compared to other shops.

[Captor]

Just now, jackdd said:

Way too expensive compared to other shops.

But very good quality and will probably last much longer = cheaper.

[jackdd]

Just now, Captor said:

But very good quality and will probably last much longer = cheaper.

It's 100% latex, I doubt there can be big differences. The one which I bough two years ago on Lazada also looks identical to the pictures on latexinnovations, it's probably from the same factory.

[Captor]

5 minutes ago, jackdd said:

It's 100% latex, I doubt there can be big differences. The one which I bough two years ago on Lazada also looks identical to the pictures on latexinnovations, it's probably from the same factory.

Maybe, but I have seen bad Latex that looks same as good Latex the first years. After a couple of years it becomes like powder. What is good or not is difficult to judge the first years. Maybe you are lucky and got good quality. I prefer to be sure.

I have bought from IKEA as well and that was cheaper and still look nice. That was 3 years ago. So IKEA is maybe an option to.

Edited April 15, 2021 by Captor

[Jeffr2]

I've helped a few people with customs.  One time, they accepted the stated value of the item, even though it was way less than what it should have been.  Another, they went online and looked up the item.  Found the value, and used that to calculate the tax.  In the end, it was a relatively easy process and not that expensive.  That was my limited experience with customs.

 

[Thingamabob]

Homepro have a wide selection. Regarding import duties remember that, in addition to the formal calculations referred to earlier, you should allow for the informal calculations made by customs officers relating to how much extra they assess you may be able to pay.

[Sticky Rice Balls]

18 hours ago, cubism001 said:

I didn't find a natl. latex topper in Ch Mai under 8000 bhat. Now I've seen stores out of business, for their sakes, hopefully for the short run,  but I'm not sure who to contact now. I've got my down coats jackets vests atop my brick hard apt. mattress.  Maybe that's the best I can do for awhile?

I tried this...long ago bought a latex topper from vendor outside Big C ..was under 2000 bt..paid a tuk tuk guy to haul it for me to my place

Boy did that thing stink once unwrapped of latex and chemicals..ugh...anyhoo it was horrible --sold it with the bed

 

FF to last year and I needed a topper for my wire infused mattress.....I tried a few comforters but then found a FOAM shop--mine was next to mae hia market

Told the guy my size and haggled it to 300bt..rolled it up and rode it home on my mbike.......works like a charm..no smell....easy to transport and 300 beats 2000