Bali Post Offices.

mooching

Anyone had any experience with them, are they safe and reliable. I wish to buy something online that is reasonably expensive and it has been suggested to me to use the Post Office next to Bintang supermarket in Seminyak as my pick up address. It will be a small parcel.

spicyayam

I don't know about that post office, but we have a post box in Singaraja and have never had any problems with receiving letters/packages from overseas.

Dick Rector

Never had a problem with the small postoffice in Renon and a recently opened very small kantor pos here in Sanur. The only drawback is it takes weeks to arrive.

hinakos

mooching wroteAnyone had any experience with them, are they safe and reliable. I wish to buy something online that is reasonably expensive and it has been suggested to me to use the Post Office next to Bintang supermarket in Seminyak as my pick up address. It will be a small parcel.

Use DHL (if its not too bulky - they are expensive)

balibule

hinakos wroteUse DHL (if its not too bulky - they are expensive)

I have only had bad experiences with DHL. Whatever you have sent to Bali, make sure there is no value written on it as customs will charge royally. Better to have it described as a gift (no value).

Dick Rector

DHL is FORBIDDEN expensive, I will never use them again. Once I have send a pocketbook size parcel and not even 300 grams to South Africa. Cost was over 80 US$. Correct as balibule mentioned, gift or sample. NO VALUE!!

hinakos

$80 isnt much if the item is valuable and you need it in a hurry (passport, important documents, medicine, memory card etc). I didnt know you had to display a value on parcels coming in and out of Indo. Who does that?

balibule

hinakos wrote$80 isnt much if the item is valuable and you need it in a hurry (passport, important documents, medicine, memory card etc). I didnt know you had to display a value on parcels coming in and out of Indo. Who does that?

DHL asks for a value so their insurance will cover your parcel. I think that's the reason. I don't think DHL overseas understands that Indonesian customs charge import taxes based on the value of the parcel.

hinakos

Ahhh......i learn something every day. Thanks Balibule, i didnt know that. I've only ever sent passports and documents with DHL - and they never ask in that case.

mooching

Thanks for the replies guys. The company I am buying the goods from are called Kogan, I have no idea if they reveal the value of the goods on the outside of the package. I am more concerned if they reveal on the outside what is in the package, it could be very tempting to a local on little money. If I were to be charged on my package when it arrives on the island, it would defeat the purpose of buying the goods cheaper online.

Lea

My son recently send me a package from Canada...I was charged $60 to pick up the parcel from Denpasar Post Office..!!

gilbert de jong

every other month or so I receive a package from NL, everytime when there's a package I get a piece of paper in the PObox, wich I bring to the back of the postoffice and pay 7000 rupiah and have to sign that I received the package... When sending the postoffice in NL does ask what is in the package and the value, always the same is filled out "gifts and value of 150euro".. Only one time I found that someone (maybe customs) had opened up the package, but everything that should have been in it, was in it and again only 7000 rups.

mooching

Thanks once again for the replies guys. I have been frightened off using the Post Office by a few people who have been here longer than me lol. I have got a friend in oz to order my goods and it will be brought over for me by a friend of a friend who is coming on holiday.

Larnes

If your friend is bringing it, make sure you take it out of original packaging and pack in luggage or you could get an attempt at charging duty also

mooching

Yes I have heard of that Larnes.

SHoggard

balibule wroteDHL asks for a value so their insurance will cover your parcel. I think that's the reason. I don't think DHL overseas understands that Indonesian customs charge import taxes based on the value of the parcel.

I've always assumed that ALL Customs EVERYWHERE charge import taxes based on the declared value - the regular post offices in most countries have a little green sticker called "Customs Declaration" for that very reason - DHL/EMS/FedEx just include it in their form... but a Zero value is: a. Inviting further scrutiny (who'd pay $80 to send something of no value) so put something like $5-10 b. Check the compensation/insurance clause if you do put Zero - cos that's whet you'll get

Mark

SHoggard wroteI've always assumed that ALL Customs EVERYWHERE charge import taxes based on the declared value - the regular post offices in most countries have a little green sticker called "Customs Declaration" for that very reason - DHL/EMS/FedEx just include it in their form... but a Zero value is: a. Inviting further scrutiny (who'd pay $80 to send something of no value) so put something like $5-10 b. Check the compensation/insurance clause if you do put Zero - cos that's whet you'll get

Totally agree but with one caveat. Customs usually charge based on the declared value but if they open the package and believe that there was an under declaration of its value, then they may charge customs duty based on what they think the value is (or what any price tag or receipt inside the package suggests is the real value), plus a possible penalty for under declaration if the difference between declared and deemed value is considered significant. Also, as noted above, the courier services won't pay out insurance more than the amount declared.