Camera Lens "disappeared" during Customs Inspection !

[Bernard]

My Canon camera which my brother sent from England arrived today after I paid the Import Duty of 7000 Baht (£140).  I argued that there is no import duty as the item was more than 3 years old and was told that I either pay or they will sell the camera, lenses and associated gear at auction to recover the duty.

Anyway, the package arrived and when I opened it found that the camera was there as was the telephoto lens attached to the camera but the wide angle lens with a RRP of over £900 had disappeared.  There is no doubt that the lens was shipped via UPS as my brother is very careful and it would be difficult to overlook an item so large. Besides which he is extrememly honest?

The package had been opened by Customs for inspection and reasealed with their own tape.

Has anyone got any idea what my next move should be apart from reporting the loss to UPS in the UK?

[margaretcarnes]

Bummer.
I would ask UPS if they made an inventory of the contents - which I reckon would be automatic? They surely wouldn't ship something without checking contents and sealing it themselves.
Then - well I guess the problem would be convincing Customs at the Thai end that they have 'mislaid' something, by presenting the UPS inventory and the packaging. A very long shot I know.
The package might have been insured, but again - proving the loss could be difficult. There must others out there who have had this kind of experience so let's hope they can be more helpful.

[Rob W]

The contents would have been on the customs declaration they will not ship with out this.
Hope your brother did not try and save duty by missing it off , if he did your screwed.
Normally they are fixed to the side of the box and he will have a copy.

[Takiap]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune..........missing lens and import duty. I've had many things shipped to me here and so far I've never been asked to pay any import duty

As for your missing lens.....................I can't see a Thai customs official stealing a lens, so more than likely an honest mishap, but I seriously doubt you'll get any sort of compensation from customs. Don't forget, they don't really want you here in the first place. Good luck anyway.

[Vinny]

My brother works for a big courier firm and I asked him about this and he said if it was on the declaration form then you should be insured for it.If it was itemized then you should be OK,if not then for you I hope that customs just forgot to put it back into the box.

[Bernard]

The declaration of contents was attached to the package and it clearly stated 2 x lenses and 1 x camera.

[Bernard]

Vinny,

I have asked UPS to investigate and they have fowarded about a dozen photographs of the package being inspected and I cannot see 2 lenses anywhere. What I find strange however, is that the pictures have been taken with the camera bag and all of the contents laid out on the floor of an office (because I can see someones feet in the picture). I would have thought these inspections would be carried out on a bench of some sort in a proper inspection area not on the floor !

[Bernard]

Takiap

Can I ask who you used to ship your goods to Thailand as I still have some stuff in the UK that I need. Nothing very large but all items are quite expensive and valuable to me.

[Vinny]

@ Bernard

Did you're package come direct from the UK or did it take a detour via Germany where a lot of European packages are sent from ?

[Bernard]

The package came via Germany.

[Vinny]

The package came via Germany.

I'm wondering if the packet was opened there aswell ?.I know that UPS have gained a bad reputation in America for employees thieving things out of packages but haven't really heard of anything happening in Germany.I suppose you'll just have to hope that UPS come up with the lense or at least some sort of compensation.