Recently, in USExpatCostaRica.com there was an article about how Costa Rica Customs are enforcing the collection of import/sales tax on items mailed to Costa Rica from outside the country (usually via Internet). If your stuff gets caught in their ever-tightening net you will receive a notice of "Aviso Mercadería" in your local Post Office, but no item. They hold all such packages in the main P.O. in Zapote on the southern edge of San José. No matter if you live a 6 hour drive from Zapote. If you want your stuff you must go there and suffer through an almost comical procedure of visiting 4 to 5 windows, spend at least an hour and a half, and you'll pay handling, storage, sales tax and duty for the privilege.
There are alternatives, most of which are better than the Zapote trap. Ex-pats quickly learn about these alternate shipping methods (or give up and buy locally if they can find what they want here).
In the USExpatCR article the list of options to get stuff into the country went like this:
I've utilized all these methods at one time or another. USPS is the least expensive (if not stopped by Customs). DHL, UPS, FedEx, and their ilk are double the cost of USPS and you will be sure to pay the duty. Asking your friends to re-mail stuff (duct tape on the outside does wonders) or stuff their suitcases on your behalf is limited by how much you feel you can impose on them.
Shipping to a private PO from where a company re-ships to you in C.R. (e.g. AeroCasillas) is usually expensive and despite their guarantees that all duty and tax is paid, I have heard stories of stuff getting caught in the Customs net anyway (double whammy). These companies don't usually ship large quantities, either, and their prices are based on volume and weight.
In February I discovered another way, namely ShippingCR.com. This is a small business, run by Mike and Francesca, out of Florida. Their mainline business is moving whole households via shipping container, but they also do partial shipments based solely on volume, not weight. They charge $25 per cubic foot, one cubic foot minimum and no extra fees. That price includes everything, duties, taxes, etc., delivered to San José. If you can't pick up your shipment yourself they can arrange to use a local shipper to get it to your home town (which is inexpensive). They even have an online quote service, where you send them the web link of the item you want to ship and they will tell you how much it will cost to ship to C.R.
I ordered several expensive and heavy ham radio items to ship down, and after a few days thought started adding to the list. It ended up being about 15 cubic feet total and Mike generously gave me a 10% discount. So, for the pile of stuff you see in the photo at right it was $330, far less than it would have cost by any other method, and no hassles. The drawback, of course, is that you have to be patient. Figure 3 months from the time you order on the Internet to arrival in San José unless you just happen to get it to FL a day before the container leaves.
After I'd completed the order with ShippingCR.com I found out via e-mail from the broker who handled our household move down here in 2008 that he is getting into the partial shipment business as well. His name is Mike Rappaport of Lomaser.com. It's the same concept, shipping by volume, flat rates, everything included. He has a different fee schedule however, as follows:
In the USExpatCR article the list of options to get stuff into the country went like this:
- U.S. Postal service to a local post office box or “Apartado Postal” in Costa Rica
- Ship via mail, parcel service or courier to a private mailbox in the U.S. that imports to Costa Rica
- International courier service, such as DHL or FedEx to an address in Costa Rica
- Ask a friend or associate to bring a package in a suitcase on their flight
I've utilized all these methods at one time or another. USPS is the least expensive (if not stopped by Customs). DHL, UPS, FedEx, and their ilk are double the cost of USPS and you will be sure to pay the duty. Asking your friends to re-mail stuff (duct tape on the outside does wonders) or stuff their suitcases on your behalf is limited by how much you feel you can impose on them.
Shipping to a private PO from where a company re-ships to you in C.R. (e.g. AeroCasillas) is usually expensive and despite their guarantees that all duty and tax is paid, I have heard stories of stuff getting caught in the Customs net anyway (double whammy). These companies don't usually ship large quantities, either, and their prices are based on volume and weight.
In February I discovered another way, namely ShippingCR.com. This is a small business, run by Mike and Francesca, out of Florida. Their mainline business is moving whole households via shipping container, but they also do partial shipments based solely on volume, not weight. They charge $25 per cubic foot, one cubic foot minimum and no extra fees. That price includes everything, duties, taxes, etc., delivered to San José. If you can't pick up your shipment yourself they can arrange to use a local shipper to get it to your home town (which is inexpensive). They even have an online quote service, where you send them the web link of the item you want to ship and they will tell you how much it will cost to ship to C.R.
I ordered several expensive and heavy ham radio items to ship down, and after a few days thought started adding to the list. It ended up being about 15 cubic feet total and Mike generously gave me a 10% discount. So, for the pile of stuff you see in the photo at right it was $330, far less than it would have cost by any other method, and no hassles. The drawback, of course, is that you have to be patient. Figure 3 months from the time you order on the Internet to arrival in San José unless you just happen to get it to FL a day before the container leaves.
 |
| Francesca of ShippingCR.com in now nearly empty container |
200 Cu. Ft or less = $7
200-400 Cu. Ft. = $6.5
200-400 Cu. Ft. = $6.5
400-600 Cu. Ft. = $6
600-800 Cu. Ft. = $5.50
Over 800 Cu. Ft. = $5
600-800 Cu. Ft. = $5.50
Over 800 Cu. Ft. = $5
There is also a $75 broker's fee per shipment. Now, before you go grab for a calculator let me tell you that the break-even point between the two shippers is about 5 cubic feet ($112.50 for ShippingCR with discount, and $110 for Lomaser). Below 5 cubic feet ShippingCR has the edge, Lomaser has it for greater than 5 cu. ft. Another difference is that Lomaser's endpoint for the shipment is Cartago, which is an hour's drive closer for us, but may be farther for you. Like ShippingCR, Lomaser can arrange for local transport inside the country. They can also arrange for faster transport for items needed immediately.
 |
| Uruca pick-up point for ShippingCR |
Be sure that as soon as you consider using these shippers that you contact them first (English and Spanish spoken both places) to get quotes and find out when the next container is leaving port. They have lots of phone numbers, e-mail, and even Skype IDs. If you talk to Mike Baird at ShippingCR or Mike Rappaport at Lomaser, also be sure to tell them I sent you. No kickbacks are involved, I just would like them to know that I appreciate their services enough to recommend them.
Have fun shopping and when the load arrives enjoy your "Christmas Day" no matter what month it arrives!
Cargo containers are of increasing interest to architects who plan to make them into homes, offices and other buildings.
ReplyDeleteContainer Size and Dimensions of Freight and Cargo and its standard widely
used in shipping.
shipping containers for sale NSW
Just to be clear, the company above is located in Australia.
DeleteWe shipped via shippingCR on our initial visit and I could swear they charged us $75 per cubic foot. That being said, everything arrived safe and clean.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a big OUCH if so!
DeleteBy the way, I can no longer recommend ShippingCR.com. They made it very difficult to obtain those few small items that didn't make it in the first shipment. I've since used Mike Rappaport's service and it was excellent. Also, Mike uses a bonded warehouse so all your stuff is secure, whereas ShippingCR just uses a rented storage place, which seems to move around from one area to another. All our packages were opened when using ShippingCR, not so when using Mike's service.
ReplyDelete