Reader question: What to take with you when emigrating to Thailand?
Dear readers,
The plans to leave for Thailand for good are taking shape. The sooner the better. On this site I have already read several posts about whether or not to take household goods with you. In principle, I do not take household goods with me. Costs do not outweigh new purchase.
But, I have some things that I'm very attached to. The books? They can be done with sea freight.
How am I going to do that with my three electric guitars? Are all of the well-known 'better' brands and I am particularly attached to them. Buying new is not an option. A pair of keyboards. Are probably also for sale in Thailand. But a lot more difficult.
The same with some electronics. Are 'exotics' between and difficult or not or very expensive to get in Thailand.
Or everything simply in a 'mini-container' and as sea freight. Although everything is a bit older, will customs in Thailand be difficult (= ask a lot of money for customs clearance) if I send it to a friend?
Or partly via sea freight and the guitars as extra hand luggage? (I used to do in my younger years, but I have no idea what the extra costs were. I didn't pay myself then
What are the experiences with these dilemmas?
Regards,
John
Can't give you any advice on this, just my personal experience.
We took everything with us in a large 40 ft container.
Cost about € 2500 in 2012.
Everything well packed (self) and loaded the container yourself.
Furniture, clothing, crockery etc all arrived in good condition.
TV, washing machine, stereo etc all arrived in good condition, but I did suffer from the sea voyage
TV (4 years old after 1 year broken washing machine 3 years old after 1 year broken.
So if you are attached to the guitars and keyboard I would take them as hand luggage.
Or ship as air freight
But again, this is a personal experience
Hello bert, could you please send me an address and a telephone number or an email where I could rent a 40 foot container like this !!! I also want to send my goods and my household goods to thayland later !!! Would you please forward it to my email address [email protected] thank you very much in advance mvg frank
John, look up household effects exemption. As far as I know, Thailand also has them. Moreover, it is wise to read which stamp you need to facilitate the import of those used goods; a long time ago an arrival stamp was enough but I think now you need a real visa.
Does it matter if you send it to your girlfriend? Don't think so. Maybe it makes a difference if your girlfriend enters it and is also present with you at the customs clearance. A recognized mover with Thailand experience is also worth his money in this context. Whether air freight is less controlled seems strong to me; I rather think that a wooden box between hundreds of containers is more likely to cycle through.
Personal goods may be imported as usual. However, you must stay in Thailand for at least 1 year. In principle, you can have everything that belongs to your household sent in the container. There are different options and prices. Pack yourself and load the container, or have everything done.
Dear John,
I moved with Windmill Forwarding four years ago, completely to my satisfaction. They have experience with customs clearance in Thailand and packing fragile items. Request a quote there, it's worth it.
We also moved everything via Windmill Forwarding in 2014, we have been well received and the costs are from door to door.
I moved with Windmill almost 3 years ago. I took almost all of my belongings with me. No regrets because quality is hard to find here. However, I am not satisfied with Windmill. Made a quote for 20 cubic meters. I didn't take several things with me after all. When everything was packed, they cheerfully told me that it could be delivered 24 hours a day. and if I could just hand over €1000. In Thailand I also received an invoice for storage in the port for supposed inspection by customs. According to Thai moving staff, almost everyone receives such a, sometimes high, invoice. Reported this to Windmill but no response. They probably get a percentage of that. Many things were damaged upon arrival here in Chanuman. It really isn't handled gently. And then the misery begins to get reimbursement for this from insurance with an exemption that you were allowed to pay yourself. You are very weak at that moment. My apartment in Belgium was also damaged during the move. I moved myself the day after moving my belongings. So I was only able to take pictures of the damage and had to arrange everything from Thailand. Windmill's response was very short. 'Based on those photos, it appears that it concerns existing damage'. End of discussion and there you are. So never again a windmill for me.
Windmill Forwarding The Hague
Pack your precious guitars properly yourself, preferably in a wooden box.
Moved a lot of precious stuff
Even a marble table top of more than 200 kg (packed in a wooden crate)
Everything was neatly delivered in Thailand and no hassle with customs
Windmill Forwarding takes care of everything for you
Nothing was broken or damaged.
Do take out extra goods insurance just to be on the safe side.
Top company, can definitely recommend!!!
In 2012 I started dragging some stuff to Thailand. I was still working as a flight attendant at the time and could take a suitcase with me on every flight to Thailand. And I flew to Thailand sometimes twice a month.
But I must say I wanted to start a new life. I left almost 90% of all my stuff in the Netherlands. In that year I gave away a lot and when the time finally came, I was able to place all my possessions from the Netherlands in Thailand in one cupboard.
Sometimes I do miss things and occasionally regret what I left behind, but in general I can say that I am glad I didn't take that ballast with me. Why do you have to carry all that junk around the world?
I've been inside people where it looked just like in the Netherlands or Germany. Stuffed with gadgets…
An Irish acquaintance also had containers full of stuff at home, which eventually simply rotted away due to the moisture and temperature.
Bringing your guitars? Can they withstand high humidity and constant high temperatures? Electronics break down pretty quickly here.
Of course I don't know what keyboards you have, but I see that here in Thailand you can buy keyboards from 2000 Baht to “the sky is the limit”… Your guitars will probably not be replaceable… but believe me, you can Thailand Get EVERYTHING (online and in Bangkok)…
Try to sell or lose as much as possible and take as little as possible. Then you can start fresh here…
Dear John, I think this is Sjaak's best advice! Think carefully about what you really want to take with you, bearing in mind that everything spoils here due to the climate, unless you live in full air conditioning… I also made a very strict selection and sold or gave away many things. And don't regret it. Sometimes I miss something and quickly think 'sorry then'. You start a new life here, you can't move your old life with all the decorations.
Since I was a shipper for an oil company, I sent everything by truck, plane and boat. When I had to send large machines and equipment by sea freight, I had a box made to measure and upon delivery of this, a kind of aluminum foil was drawn and welded around these machines and equipment by the company person. This was to protect it against moisture and condensation in the container at sea.
Dear John
My experience With a 20-ft container of household goods, shipped from R'dam by boat.
Sorry a long time ago company name v carrier no longer remember.
Yourself All contents packed & container loaded in front of the door With friends.
Packing list drawn up by yourself and estimated value Per item..
Customs technically people in BKK were only interested in All electrical household effects..such as T.V's..stereo..washing machine..Elec.tools etc.. were opened, viewed and valued per box / box.
Approx 18.000 Baht were the customs clearance costs, import taxes and transport home.
Baht was then 48,- Bht/1,-€..
Pack your precious guitars except In a "Flight Case" Extra With bubble foam rubber and possibly wooden box..to prevent damage..
Anecdote..Had a nice supply of drinks in the Netherlands of various types..everything well packaged and in a wooden box..included in packing list..”wedding gift”..which was partly the truth..in short, nothing taxed or viewed..still fun v eg Stroh Rum 85%..on ice (flambé) Or cake/pie..
I understand that possible import exemption is possible if you have lived in NL with your Thai wife for xyears and then move to Thailand with your household effects..
Also recommended in terms of tools if you have good tools.. quality here is often mediocre..
Succes
Import exemption is for everyone, provided you stay in Thailand for at least 1 year. Only it is useful that the person who receives your container. Leave some cash for customs. They opened exactly 1 box with us.
Last December we sent a 20 ft container with household goods from Dordrecht to Khon Kaen. Most of the packaging was self-packed, but the sofa, cupboards, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher and refrigerator were packed by TransPack.
Costs just under 3.500 euros, but upon arrival of the container, 10.000 baht still had to be paid for the power tools.
I can recommend TransPack in Rotterdam and Boonma in Thailand.
Together with the container, 5 people from Boonma arrived who put everything neatly in its place and unpacked and checked the items packaged by Transpack!
I took everything 8 years ago and still enjoy it.
Yes the costs were high.
Don't leave anything for those few pennies.
Two years ago I took only part of my belongings with me through Windmill.
Very stupid, because I now deeply regret it.
For example, I miss my Bosch freezer, record players Dual, Marantz, records 50 years old, music books, power tools, Bosch kneading machine, stuff from my son, etc., etc.
Advice really take everything.
Dear John, I have several small and large transports and relocation at immigration to Thailand. Have it taken care of by Windmill from The Hague.
I am very satisfied with that, excellent service, good price and arranged from door to door, no tampering with customs and corruption.
Just as it should and agreed, I recommend them. For more info: International Relocation Windmill Forwarding BV, www. windmill-forwarding.com
Good luck and regards, Rocky