A Saga of frustration and disappointment

[dimple joe]

Most people have heard of the golfer John Daly and seen his “different” style of clothing.

You can see it here http://www.loudmouthgolf.com/ and if you look closely, you will see that it is manufactured here in Thailand.

Wishing to cut a dash on the course and happy to support industry in my adopted country, I decided to buy some.

I e-mailed and asked if I could buy here in Thailand but had to do it via the US. No sweat, the website is user friendly.

Prices are a little high, but it's good stuff and it is supporting the poor buggers in a sweat shop somewhere in Bangkok.

Shorts, Shirt and Visor cost about 6300Baht including shipping.

I paid a small premium to have my order sent via Fedex (delivery 14th June before 5.00pm) and was pleased with the tracking facility and childishly enjoyed following the progress of my package across the world.

The whole thing was a marvel of US efficiency and technology - until it arrived in Thailand......

Loudmouth San Francisco - Order placed 9th June, Order dispatched 10th June to Fedex
Fedex - San Francisco to Memphis arrived 10th June, Memphis to Anchorage arrived 10th June
Fedex - Anchorage to Guangzho (China) arrived 12th June (crossed date line)
Fedex - Guangzho to Thailand arrived Fedex Samutprakarn sort facility 13th June 3.27am


Great stuff so far, but now the monkeys get hold of it.....


Fedex - Samutprakarn sent to International shipment release 13th June 6.56am
Fedex - Samutprakarn back from International shipment release 13th June 1.07pm
Fedex - Samutprakarn Tendered to authorized agent for final delivery13th June 1.34pm
Fedex Agent? - Samutprakarn sent to International shipment release 13th June 1.34pm
Fedex Agent – Samutprakarn to Buriram arrived 14th June 3.00pm

Unfortunately when the package arrived it came with a bill for over 3900Baht import tax and I politely refused to accept it.

Those of you who have been paying attention will remember that the bloody stuff was MADE IN THAILAND, so the import duty designed to protect Thai jobs is doing exactly the opposite.

You really couldn't make it up......

[Sabo]

What a sad set of circumstances.

A really really absolutely bloody nice bloke like you deserves so much better.

I was looking forward to seeing you dressed like something from Billy Smart's Circus.  

[nookiebear]

Not the 1st story I've heard re import tax in LOS

[binnsy]

   That is taking the PISS 

[Starman]

How about some pork and beef to soothe your soul? I'll be in the vicinity on Sunday.

[dimple joe]

Thank you to everyone who took the trouble to reply to this thread.

The comments I got on "Teakdoor"  and "Thai Visa" have taught me a lot.

For the moment I am resigned to playing in my normal attire – spangled thong and string vest. 

However, I intend to explore all lawful means to obtain some of the clothing shown on the Loudmouth website and a special thank you goes to those who pointed me in the right direction.

Maybe a 56” pair of shorts will be somewhat snug, but I think it will be worth it to make such an eye catching fashion statement.

I unreservedly withdraw my “monkey” comment and apologise to anyone who might feel offended by it.

Any foolishness was of course on my part.

Being a simple soul, unversed in the machinations of big business and globalization, I assumed that something made in Thailand was just that; but it seems I was wrong.

[Vombatus]

What a sad set of circumstances.

A really really absolutely bloody nice bloke like you deserves so much better.

I was looking forward to seeing you dressed like something from Billy Smart's Circus.  

Are you sure it wasn't because they couldn't supply your size DimpleJoe ??

[Vombatus]

It is perhaps fortunate that you were already a dapper individual.

Lesser people would have been distraught, demoralised and even suicidal if they had been unable to acquire the attire that would have helped them attain their target of a single-figure handicap.

Fortunately, in your case Frank, such aspirations are clearly beyond you and such purchases are merely cosmetic appendages - frankly, you are better off without them and the monetary saving could perhaps be invested in, say,......................golf lessons ! 

[pablo]

A few years back, it was necessary that I ship a box of stuff from America to Thailand.

I used UPS (the brown guys) and had to mark the "declared value" of the contents on the way-bill, for Thai Customs to assign a tarrif.   I think it was declared as around $400 USD and the shipping itself was expensive, at around $85 USD. 

I knew the manager of the UPS store (a friend) from where I shipped the package.  As such, and knowing there'd be an import tarrif, I left a credit card number with my friend, with which to pay the duty when it was tabulated.  He messaged off the request both to UPS "headquarters" and to the Thailand office in Samut Prakarn, to be notified for payment details on the import tarrif.  (Yeah...right)

Like the OP, I sat and watched the tracking from here to there, and was amazed with the efficiency of the operation.  I wondered "how in the hell" some driver was able to find this non-descript house, on a dirt path (road), in a village outside of Prakhon Chai?  But, find it he did.

I thought that all was delivered and done.  Then I received a phone call from LOS with a frantic "tiirak", saying that the driver demanded 3000thb for the import duty?  As the exchange rate was around 41baht/dollar back then, that amounted to around 35% (or so) tarrif.  She paid to receive the package, and I double checked with my friend at the UPS store, to insure that I wasn't double charged...I wasn't.   (No surprise that my credit card payment plan was bungled. 555)

Anyway, it's just really expensive to import things in Thailand.

And thanks to the OP for the reminder...I'll have to stock up on my "spiffy golf threads" before coming back to Thailand.  555   

[urleft]

I am tempted to bring and extra suitcase on my next trip and just charge Fedex shipping rates.

[dimple joe]

Please Urleft, resist the temptation.

It would be illegal, remember the wartime adage "loose lips sink ships".

I wouldn't be surprised that once good old John Daly hears about this (I have sent links to loudmouth for this forum plus Teakdoor and Thai Visa) he wll fly to Buriram and present myself and whole the membership of The Happy Endings Golf Society with complimentary oufits.

When he does so, I will happily pay his green fees at Khoa Kradong for 9 holes - we'll probably even let him win - and I'll chip in for a breakfast at the Bamboo or if he prefers at Muang Pizza.

[urleft]

Thanks, easy to resist the temptation as just too much hassle and I not worth the money.   Though I am sure everyone on this board is completely trustworthy, even if I don't have a friggen clue who they are.

[dimple joe]

Just to let you guys know, today I received a full refund from Loudmouth, not just for the goods ordered but also for the Fedex delivery charge.

How nice to deal with a decent company on the internet.



I'll now try buying locally, but should this fail, I'll re-order but use USPS for delivery hoping that this will avoid the ridiculous import duty.

[Vombatus]

Well done. Justice prevails.

Is the kit now required ?

I did bump into Dave and got the impression that while he is away (altitude training in the UK) the society would temporarily crumble - and I needn't bother turning up for a knock.

[dimple joe]

Thank you. It's still a must have for me.

The fact that Dangerous is in UK (outpatient vist at the home for the bewildered) merely means that we get round the course somehwat quicker.

Come on down.....