Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/08/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Bob, In general, tariffs on industrial goods like computers are quite low these days (I assume Thailand is a member of the WTO). For example, the customs duty on photo gear imported into the EU from 3rd countries like the US is in 3-4% range. In Europe, you also have to pay VAT (sales tax, basically) on top of that, ranging from 15% to 25%, depending on country. I have no idea if they have that in Thailand. More importantly, I also have no idea how much red tape (if any) is associated with an item clearing customs there; in a country like that I can imagine it could range from zero to several weeks. It is a good idea to use the USPS and not one of the express carriers like UPS or Fedex. That is true for all international shipments. The reason is that they will often charge the recipient a very high fee just for performing the service of clearing customs. When I lived in Belgium, I once had to pay UPS something like $50 on a $100 item that had not even incurred any Belgian duty! With USPS, you never get ripped off in this manner. The post office in the destination country will simply collect any duty and VAT that may be due and that's it. Nathan Nathan Wajsman Alicante, Spain http://www.frozenlight.eu http://www.greatpix.eu http://www.nathanfoto.com Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0 PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog On Aug 7, 2009, at 1:20 PM, Robert D. Baron wrote: > A family member is traveling in Asia. I've been asked to send out an > Apple G4 12' laptop. I plan to send it through the US Post Office > rather than a commercial carrier such as UPS or FedEx. I would > appreciate any advice I can get from knowledgeable members of the LUG; > in particular, I need to know roughly how much in customs duties the > recipient is likely to have to pay (I will value it at $400 USD, which > seems reasonable based on current ebay listings). > > Off list replies would be fine but maybe on list would add to this > wonderful repository of useful information. > > Of course it is somewhat on topic inasmuch as the laptop has > Photoshop on it. > > Thanks, > > --Bob Baron / Oklahoma City > rbaron at concentric dot net > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information