Rickschoppers in Retiring to Thailand

[Brown Sugar]

I agree never really found a problem finding decent tools in Thailand, (some even marked "made in England"???) just the odd specialist tool not available, some excellent good quality tool shops in Nakhon Sawan if one goes into the 'industrial shopping' area of the town.
But keep away from outdoor markets and places like 'Big C'. Purchased a mall cheap power drill from Big C a while ago, drill OK (for it's price) but the drill bits supplied simply turned into "spirals of spaghetti" when I attempted to drill some wood.

[terry57]

^

Regards Tools, one can buy the cheap stuff or one can spend the dollars and buy the quality stuff.

I bought a 360 baht hammer drill, cheap as but I only needed to drill a few holes and it done the job perfectly.

Still drilling away today no probs, when it shits it self I'll off it in the bin.

The drill bits that came with it where made of plastic so I Bought quality drill bits. Job done.

One buys the level of quality that is required for the job.

[FailSafe]

I live in Thailand, Terry- I've been here a long time, and have even shopped in BKK once or twice- the hand tools in HomePro are crap- Stanley tools are low quality.

As far as 'Made in England (or Germany or wherever)' goes, they're Chinese tools based on European designs (like the ratchets sets at HomePro).

I look for tools to last a lifetime, not a lunchtime.

[terry57]

^

Just Seems a tad strange that you reckon one cant get decent tools here when one can go out and buy a Porsche, Rolls Royce, Ferrari or any luxury motor under the sun.

I'm sure the Dealers would not be using off quality tools to service those.

Plus they build massive shopping centers like Paragon, Siam Centre and a new condo goes up every five minutes.

One needs quality tools to construct on that level. Would not be cost effective for the Tradesman who is drilling holes all day to be pissing around with knock off tools.

Not trying to be argumentative but you're post seems a tad odd considering how advanced Thailand Is and what they import.

Whatever . Back to the Visa issue EH.

[FailSafe]

I didn't say you couldn't get quality tools in Thailand- I said good ones were ridiculously expensive (and HomePro doesn't stock them for that reason).

There's a Snap-On dealership in LOS- just like you can buy a Lamborghini for triple the US price at the Paragon, you can also have the pleasure of paying a grand for a $300 torque wrench.

[terry57]

^

Oh my Bad, I thought you where saying silly stuff like "One could not get quality tools in Thailand."

That's just stupid Innit.

So there available but at a premium price.

We are sorted then, Cheers.

[Bettyboo]

Many moons ago, when I was young and used me hands for work, I only bought Snap-on; quality products, worth spending the extra on.

Used to be like christmas when one of these came around:

[Attilla the Hen]

Just got through the entire 15 page thread. Phew!

One thing I didn't see mentioned that I have observed as one of the most common reasons for an end to living in Thailand is having enough money to cover an expensive health crisis. We are all going to get sick eventually. Starting a health insurance scheme when you are over 55 years old is very expensive and once you're over seventy, most insurance companies won't cover you.

Apart from being used, abused and ripped off by your Thai family, having to go back to your home country for health care due to insufficient funds is the next most common reason that a retirement in Thailand comes to an end.

Don't forget, if one of your wife's parents falls seriously, life-threateningly sick, you are expected to pay. If you don't, your marriage will be over.

My rough rule of thumb is, however much money you think you'll need to retire on; triple it.

[terry57]

^

My mate has BUPA. He's been here many years, must ask him what he pays.

But yes, The medical issue is friggin complicated. Make sure one has a heap of cash is the smart move.

[FailSafe]

Tools are more interesting- here's my Thai-made rolling tool chest and top-box- it looks nice, doesn't it? It's basically crap (especially the top-box)- I got a discount via a family connection, but they were asking 35K for this set-up- it's worth maybe half that- my Craftsman chest was so much better and cost less:

[Bettyboo]

^ the contents of that picture cost considerably more than my house...

Gonna pop back to the Honda dealer today and find out the price of that repsol CBR600RR - less than 4,000 rial and I might just get it... I've heard that the 250 repsol is available too, but fuked if I can find any dealer that'll tell me so, price, availability, etc. Shockingly poor service here - they don't even have info (price, etc) of products on their salesfloor...

Anyways FS, you don't want that crap, you want one of these:



or



I wonder how much? Several thousand dollars...

[FailSafe]

The only way I'll have tools like that in Thailand will be if I have them shipped over from the States- in Thailand, with the chest (which costs a fortune by itself), you're probably looking at well over $10,000- maybe close to double that (if purchased in LOS).

[rickschoppers]

Tools are more interesting- here's my Thai-made rolling tool chest and top-box- it looks nice, doesn't it? It's basically crap (especially the top-box)- I got a discount via a family connection, but they were asking 35K for this set-up- it's worth maybe half that- my Craftsman chest was so much better and cost less:

FS, did you ship your Craftsman stuff over in a container? I have much the same, which is what I am talking about when it comes to bringing over tools.

Terry, yes you can buy tools in Thailand, but I have so many that it bothers me to start the collection over again.

[FailSafe]

That's not a Craftsman above- it's a lower-quality Thai knock-off- my Craftsman chest was given away many years ago (which was a mistake, as their new chests- and tools- just aren't as good as their older stuff).

[rickschoppers]

^
I was referring more to the Craftsman tools, which I have plenty of.

[FailSafe]

Oh, sorry- I have hardly any of my Craftsman stuff here- just bits and pieces (ratchet sets, wrenches, a couple air tools)- I never had a container shipped over, and I bring stuff back from my visits to the States (or ask people to bring me stuff when they head over, which is a big favor as tools are heavy...)

If I knew 12 years ago what I know now, I would have made other arrangements- if I were you, I'd definitely bring over a full set including a rolling chest if possible. Hell, I'd bring over a decent motorcycle lift if I could.

I really knew very little about availability of stuff in LOS when I first came over ( there were no web-boards for Thailand and there was very little info on the net)- I walked into a local Honda dealership and asked about a CBR1000RR (this was long before Big Wing)- they were like, 'Huh?' and then showed me a Wave.

[rickschoppers]

Yes, it is a learning curve for sure. I have lived in other foreign countries, so I knew things would be different and I also have been going to Thailand since 1985. Many things I learned after being in Thailand for awhile since all my previous trips were for pleasure and did not have long term plans at that time.

If I can bring some things over in a container, like a bike lift, I will. Wonder why nobody has tapped that market yet. Maybe you can be the first FS and I am sure many expats would like to have a real bike lift instead of squatting in the dirt like the locals.

[FailSafe]

^

The problem is the import taxes you'd be hit with- a good Handy Lift (which is what I'd want) runs close to $1500 with all the bells-and-whistles (even a basic one is about a grand)- now add import taxes and shipping fees and you're looking at well over 2K- few people are going to spend that on a lift- it's the BS tax charges that keep the good stuff out of Thailand.

[rickschoppers]

Agree

[Stumpy]

Apart from being used, abused and ripped off by your Thai family, having to go back to your home country for health care due to insufficient funds is the next most common reason that a retirement in Thailand comes to an end.

Don't forget, if one of your wife's parents falls seriously, life-threateningly sick, you are expected to pay. If you don't, your marriage will be over.

My rough rule of thumb is, however much money you think you'll need to retire on; triple it.

I guess for some that were blind eyed drank the kool-aid, this may be true but not all of us.

And why is that so many people dwell on medical this, medical that. If more people spent time living healthy you wouldn't have to worry about all the money you will spend to avoid death....It's like its an obsession with people. All I hear nowadays is how world is crumbling because of medical costs...... Shit man go live it. Its does not matter.

[Stumpy]

Oh, sorry- I have hardly any of my Craftsman stuff here- just bits and pieces (ratchet sets, wrenches, a couple air tools)- I never had a container shipped over, and I bring stuff back from my visits to the States (or ask people to bring me stuff when they head over, which is a big favor as tools are heavy...)

If I knew 12 years ago what I know now, I would have made other arrangements- if I were you, I'd definitely bring over a full set including a rolling chest if possible. Hell, I'd bring over a decent motorcycle lift if I could.

I really knew very little about availability of stuff in LOS when I first came over ( there were no web-boards for Thailand and there was very little info on the net)- I walked into a local Honda dealership and asked about a CBR1000RR (this was long before Big Wing)- they were like, 'Huh?' and then showed me a Wave.

Yeah I think some misunderstand what some of us are saying. You can get quality tools but at a ridiculous price.

FS; I learned a lot after having to travel back and forth on business over that 4 year span. I started bringing tools and shipping them in crates of equipment for the company . I had always planned on a cargo container with tools I know I will need. One HUGE perk that changed a lot for me was having the missus stay over in the US with me. Now that we have been here for over a year she gets that one time big "Get of jail free" card so to speak and all we bring "Short of motor vehicles" is tax free. So we will load it up because it is a one time only deal. I am bringing my huge Craftsman Pro roll box, switching 2 stage compressor, moto lift, floor jacks, I am even bringing over a lift kit for the Toyota truck I will buy.

[rickschoppers]

JP has done a much better job of planning his retirement than I did. I think one of the things someone should do before retiring to Thailand for good, is live there a year or so with the intention of returning to their homeland to gather items they can not find, or costs way more to obtain. This trip would more than pay for itself in savings on what you bring into the country.

This is not a must for retirement, but for anyone who enjoys wrenching or plans to use quality tools and likes to tinker, it would be highly recommended.

[FailSafe]

Oh, sorry- I have hardly any of my Craftsman stuff here- just bits and pieces (ratchet sets, wrenches, a couple air tools)- I never had a container shipped over, and I bring stuff back from my visits to the States (or ask people to bring me stuff when they head over, which is a big favor as tools are heavy...)

If I knew 12 years ago what I know now, I would have made other arrangements- if I were you, I'd definitely bring over a full set including a rolling chest if possible. Hell, I'd bring over a decent motorcycle lift if I could.

I really knew very little about availability of stuff in LOS when I first came over ( there were no web-boards for Thailand and there was very little info on the net)- I walked into a local Honda dealership and asked about a CBR1000RR (this was long before Big Wing)- they were like, 'Huh?' and then showed me a Wave.

Yeah I think some misunderstand what some of us are saying. You can get quality tools but at a ridiculous price.

FS; I learned a lot after having to travel back and forth on business over that 4 year span. I started bringing tools and shipping them in crates of equipment for the company . I had always planned on a cargo container with tools I know I will need. One HUGE perk that changed a lot for me was having the missus stay over in the US with me. Now that we have been here for over a year she gets that one time big "Get of jail free" card so to speak and all we bring "Short of motor vehicles" is tax free. So we will load it up because it is a one time only deal. I am bringing my huge Craftsman Pro roll box, switching 2 stage compressor, moto lift, floor jacks, I am even bringing over a lift kit for the Toyota truck I will buy.

I'm planning on starting a house build in the next six months- it will have a substantial garage area- it's gonna be expensive to properly equip it- I'm considering shipping a lot of stuff over, but in the end I'll probably bite-the-bullet and buy it locally.

[Brown Sugar]

About four years ago I imported a number of my specialist tools which I could not source (good or poor quality) in Thailand. Got stung heavily on import duty but had no real choice.
Most of these tools were well used and not like new but still they were classed as NEW import items with a 300% import duty on their estimated (by Thai customs) value!!

[Stumpy]

Brian,
I was in the same boat years back which really irritated me. That's when I decided to ship tools over with equipment I was moving for the mfg transfer and it was just part of the crate contents.

Now as I mentioned of above, the cargo I will be shipping over will all be in the missus name and import duty is not applicable.