Cigars by PostNL from the Netherlands to Thailand
Cigars on the market in Gouda (Aki Shi / Shutterstock.com)
You probably remember that I am an avid cigar smoker. I smoke an affordable cigar, which I have been buying for many years in a specialist cigar shop in Alkmaar. Since I live in Thailand, the cigars are still bought at the same place. They are taken for me by a selection of people who (regularly) come to Thailand. Over the years I have built up a nice network of “couriers”.
But now with the corona crisis, a problem has arisen, because many friends and acquaintances are eager to come to Thailand and bring cigars for me, but - you know - access to Thailand is still very limited for visitors.
I now buy the cigars from a shop here in Pattaya, but the Senoritas cigar I want is outrageously expensive and every purchase costs me a rib out of my body. I looked for a solution in consultation with the Alkmaar cigar supplier and we decided to do an experiment with sending the cigars directly via PostNL and Thailand Post. As a test we took a box of cigars of 50 pieces of the own brand “De Gekroonde Herderin”, a fine cigar for me. The box was properly packed and delivered to the post office. Then we had to wait and see, because how long would it take and how would the cigars get through customs?
The shipment, which I could track via PostNL's Trace & Track system, went something like this:
- November 11 – brought to post office Alkmaar
- November 12 – arrived at central sorting center
- November 16 – on the way to Thailand
- December 1 – arrived in Thailand
- December 2 – Cleared through Thai customs
- December 3 – Arrived at Banglamung Post Office
- December 4 – notice of arrival to me
- December 5 – package picked up by me
It was quite exciting, because especially the time between November 16 and December 1 was quite long. Just when I was about to raise the alarm, the message arrived in Thailand. Customs clearance could also be a problem, but went well, although I had to pay 650 baht import tax when I picked it up.
The total additional costs – shipping costs and import tax – came to 47 Euro. The cigars themselves were a lot cheaper, but the saving compared to the cigars I buy here was still just under 20 Euros. We are now going to have two boxes delivered and if that works out in the same way, the savings will be considerably greater.
The experiment was successful and I was able to receive the cigars as a Sinterklaas gift paid by myself on 5 December. I am now going to set the 50 shepherdesses on fire one by one, respectfully, but with pleasure.
Oh well, at some point everything goes up in smoke.
But at least you have them.
That part between Nov 16 and Dec 1 always takes so long.
It involves collecting the packages from all over the country.
Only priority mail is faster, but it is also much more expensive.
It is not for nothing that a satisfied smoker is not a troublemaker.
have fun with it.
pjotter
Dear Gringo, thank you for your story. I too have run out of cigars and find them too expensive here. Go try this too.
Glad it worked out, Gringo. I wouldn't worry about the NL post but about the Thai side. The risk of breakage, for example, and the fact that a package can spontaneously fall off the mail cart. That 650 baht import tax for 50 cigars seems surmountable to me.
If I were you, I wouldn't give PostNL the privilege of the doubt.
Gifted a friend a subscription to a Dutch magazine.
Waste of money, of the 12 copies that were sent, 5 survived PostNL, although much later.
However, the same sheet sent to Thailand have all arrived.
Registered mail from Thailand to the Netherlands?
Twice after six weeks and ringing the bell, a container was found at Schiphol and the shipments were delivered by express on the same day.
Mail from the Netherlands to Thailand has always arrived.
Always!
My experience is just the opposite, must say that the only thing I sent was Christmas cards.
The cards we sent from TH were always right on time.
Of the 20 cards we were supposed to receive, 2 or 3 arrived between April and July.
So one more reason to stop with that Christmas thing 🙂
I've also had cigars {but let the sender call it licorice or candy or souvenir} here to the distant and now also delicious Mae Hong Son and that's going great! Nowadays it takes 12 to 14 days!!
Gr
Paul
I have had cigars sent from the Netherlands for years. Always with PostNL and do not fill in cigars but miscellaneous on the shipping form. I have a fictitious amount of 20 euros entered as the value. Of the dozens of shipments, I had to pay import duties of 1 baht once because the form mistakenly stated cigars. For the corona time average shipping time plus minus 1.400 week. Now an average of 1 to 2 weeks.
Does anyone have experience with the reverse?
Every time I come back to the Netherlands from Thailand, I almost quit smoking because of the price.
Thailand 1 pack of normal brand cigarettes 60 Baht/€1,70.
In the Netherlands the same and same number € 8,– ..
I've often thought, sending 2 slippers saves € 63 x 2 = € 126 excluding shipping costs of course. The question is, are there any readers who have experience with sending.?
I have been bringing 4 or 5 slippers back from Thailand for years. I just put them in my suitcase. I was checked once at Schiphol. Then you will be asked if there is something in the suitcase that does not belong. I replied Yes, 4 cartons of cigarettes. Customs: That's 3 too many. My answer was: it has gone well 10 times and not now; Bad luck.
Suitcase open of course and I had to pay import duties and a fine for 2 slippers (I think € 65). Neatly pinned and was allowed to take all 4 cartons of cigarettes.
Peterdongsing, I also sent cigarettes to the Netherlands. Each 4 slippers. If you take the packages out of the slippers, they fit exactly in one of the Thai post boxes. Unfortunately I don't know the size. Has gone well every time. Here too, put 'miscellaneous' on the form as content and a value of, for example, 20 euros. Has arrived in the Netherlands in one piece and without any problems every time.
Dear Peterdongsing,
Why "almost" stop??
I myself stopped in time and now I fly back to Thailand at least twice a year and Business class, completely free?
Yes, actually, because I have since stopped smoking.
Moreover, it feels wonderfully liberating, both physically and psychologically.
If you need it faster (and not much more expensive), use UPS.
sent a 24 kilo package of coffee to a friend in the Philippines on Monday, Nov 4 and it arrived there on Thursday, Nov 27 in the late afternoon
package was picked up by UPS at my address and delivered to my friend by UPS (climbing 4 floors of stairs!)
total shipping costs were 61 euros, no import duties