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SHIPPING personal stuff to Medellin, Colombia

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TheSearcher
  1/1/2014 14:42 EST

Hello everyone :)

Ok, this is my official request for information on this topic. Ideally I would like recommendations from people who have used these services, but I do want all the information I can get on this subject.

What I am shipping:
I am not taking any furniture or kitchen appliances as some families do. I am only taking “personal” small items; the even smaller stuff that I don’t want to buy again. Mostly Electronics, books, music/video media (CD/DVDs), 3 laptop computers, and one desktop computer, one printer, lots of cables, bicycle, two guitars, small electric tools and just hand tools, camping equipment, clothing, etc. You get may point? Also, by measuring my stuff I have in a 5ft x 10ft storage, I calculate that all my stuff totals about 450 Cubit Ft.

And judging by a shipping website I found where by entering the box dimensions and approximate weight (not as important as volume) the whole thing would cost me under $1000.00 if I take the stuff to Miami myself. I would be SHARING a container with others at least with this company I saw online.

So, again, there is PLENTY of stuff out there... But the hard part is finding ONE that will not cost you an eye and one I can trust enough.

TIA

EM

Happy New Year!

bronco
  1/1/2014 17:37 EST

certain items that you mention may have a different electrical system and require a transformer. I would reconsider taking items that would as the cost might exceed that of buying a new tool.

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TheSearcher
  1/1/2014 20:32 EST

Hello,

Thanks for the tip. I will keep that in mind.

COME MON PEOPLE, NEED HELP WITH SHIPPING THING...

TIA

stargazer2893
  1/1/2014 21:36 EST

I used Southern Winds to move here, and I am using them to move back. (If I had a choice, I'd never move back.) They were terrific, but when shipments reach port here in Colombia, they don't have much control over what happens. The company I chose here in Colombia was ABC Cargo Logistics, and DO NOT use them. Southern Winds helped me get in touch with them when my emails went unanswered, but that was all they could do. There are limits on the types and number of electronics you can bring in. They will charge you 30% "tax" on the value of your items. They might take your assessed value, or they might come up with a figure of their own. They took my figures, but I did not bring any electronics down here. You definitely will want to bring a vacuum cleaner, towels, and sheets. Quality of those things here are poor. Feel free to message me as needed!

TheSearcher
  1/1/2014 23:09 EST

Wao, that is terrific recommendation and thank you all the points and advice you mentioned. I am filing this email in my“shipping binder”for future use.

I checked their website and it looks very nice and with useful information on container sizes, etc. I will contact them soon and find out the details and a quote if possible.

Just a few questions please for now:

- About when (year) did you do the shipping to Colombia? 3 years, 10 years?
- Did you pay for it yourself? Or an institution paid for it?
- How big was your container and how much it cost you? (just to have an idea)
- I assume it went by ship to Cartagena?
- ABC was simply a transportation company? Pick up the stuff and transport it? Or do they do anything more?

TIA

EM

stargazer2893
  1/2/2014 01:30 EST

I moved here in 2012. I chose a Mayflower company through Southern Winds to pack me up and get it to Cartagena, and ABC to get it to my apartment. I moved a one bedroom apartment with no appliances or beds and shared a container; I believe I had half. Without the 30% taxes, I believe my full charges just to Cartagena were about $3000. They met me at the storage unit, packed all my large and fragile items (I had already packed 80 boxes on my own) labled all my furniture, and packed it carefully (Tetris-style) in the carton. Everything arrived here in good shape except for one wine glass. ABC charged almost as much, but since they left my stuff sitting in storage for a while (despite my daily emails about the location of my belongings) the fees were much higher. ABC did agree to eat some of the storage costs when I produced copies of my emails which contradicted the story the employee was telling them. Hence the do not use reference. If you are able to meet the shipment in port, you may save some time and money. Hiring a local mover from the port might be cheaper, I don't know. I did pay for this all myself. I intended to stay much longer. You're going to Medellin which is half the altitude of Bogota. Turns out the altitude here is a problem for me. Despite many visits here prior to moving, I never had issues. I even brought my two cats with me. It looks like it's going to be much easier to get them back into the states than it was to bring them down here, in case you have animals.

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silli761
  1/2/2014 12:31 EST

I moved to Barranquilla in Sept. 2013 with my family. I used America's World Freight in Miami. You can talk with Belinda at 305 477-4947 or email her at [email protected] . They were great at getting my 82 boxes (5 Pallets) of stuff here. They helped with just about everything from picking up the pallets from my home in New Mexico to some storage time while I applied for my residency visa in Colombia. They even helped with customs here and moving my stuff from Cartagena to Barranquilla. If you can apply for a "Menaje" that should save on the taxes you will pay on the value of your stuff. I was very happy with all the people I had contact with AWF. All my stuff arrived in good shape just remember to pack well and use good boxes if you are packing yourself as I did. I used some of the Home Depot boxes and they made it here but defiantly took a beating. Use some heavy duty boxes for overseas shipping to protect any valuable stuff. Hope this helps!

stargazer2893
  1/2/2014 15:48 EST

I also used the Home Depot boxes and had about 80 of them, varying sizes. Packed them myself as well. Keep a good inventory of what is in each box as each one will be opened and gone through. I brought expensive items (jewelry, laptop, extra keyboard, etc.) myself in my luggage/carry on.

silli761
  1/2/2014 17:54 EST

I also brought all my real valuable stuff in my luggage. It is worth the extra bag fee ($70 to $100) to make sure they go with you, although you have to trust the airlines as well!

spank12
  1/2/2014 18:49 EST

Has anyone shipped smaller amounts, like a few boxes say 100lbs? I was told Avianca will do it. And to your door down here in smaller cities?

TheSearcher
  1/2/2014 19:00 EST

"I also brought all my real valuable stuff in my luggage. It is worth the extra bag fee ($70 to $100) to make sure they go with you, although you have to trust the airlines as well!"

Well, that is also something I am considering, flying my good / delicate stuff (computers / electronics mostly) by plane with me. I agree with you is worth that $.

- Are you saying $70-$100 PER box/bag?... Probably.

EM

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silli761
  1/2/2014 19:10 EST

Per bag so get the largest allowed by all the carriers you will be flying on. You usually get to check 2 bags and have a carry on and a personal bag. Check the websites of your carrier/airline.

TheSearcher
  1/2/2014 19:52 EST

“ They were great at getting my 82 boxes (5 Pallets) of stuff here. They helped with just about everything from picking up the pallets from my home in New Mexico to some storage time while I applied for my residency visa in Colombia. They even helped with customs here... “

Hello silli :(AND EVERYONE.. JUST GET IN :)

Thanks for your input. Boy another good company, AWF. per your recommendation. I like that!... I will put it on my list; so I have 3 already and called two of them - King Ocean (KO) and Southern Winds (SO) - and spoke to one KO agent already .

- Yes, I plan to do most of the labor myself, even take the stuff to the port itsetf and save me some money!...

- Per the agent from King Ocean, I should still take the stuff (boxes) to another person, an aduana (customs) agent or something, who is suppose to help me with getting everything ready for KO to put the “pallets” on the container. I really don’t know what this is about, but I will find out when I speak to this person in a couple of days and will share with you all. It will cost me some $.

KO, said, they charge by the “Cubic Meter” or “1000 Kilos” whatever is “larger” etc etc... Not sure on that either. They also said, the “quote” last 30 days and it may change after that (fluctuates)

- You mention something about the “home depot” boxes taking a beating and get “heavy duty boxes” .... I’ll have to check on that and a million other things! :)

Later
EM

mawdsjeff
  1/3/2014 07:29 EST

I had a nightmare bringing in a container from the UK.... The shipping companies DON'T have any control once the shipment gets to Colombia! The customs opened EVERY box, sometimes tipping the things out and putting them back in a different order or mixed up, unwrapped. I had to keep paying many different charges over a space of a month to get it released. Some companies offer a door-to-door service. In this case you would be able to claim compensation in the originating country for breach of the contract. In the UK, we buy BOXES of woodscrews, but here, the workmen go out and buy say, 8 screws when they need them. The customs made a big fuss about a few boxes of screws I brought in and also about my old telephone collection. I had to hurriedly get notarised statements that I was a member of a telephone heritage society. My advice ? RESEARCH into what is allowed, and get door-to-door! Geoff

TheSearcher
  1/3/2014 13:40 EST

Hello, thanks for your input. Your post brings me to another point:
- Do you know (or anyone), how to actually find out that level on detail (i.e. screws, phones), of the items that are ALLOWED into the country? a Website some place?
- or perhaps, this is one of the big questions I need to ask the Shipping companies themselves.
- As a Colombian (I was born there), I know that there is always "A WAY" ($) to find the "right people" to process things for you, but how in heck we find out from here in the US?... ANYONE HAS AN IDEA?
Thx

TheSearcher
  1/4/2014 13:34 EST

Hello Silli,

Just want to let you know I contacted AWF and spoke with the lady. We are already corresponding via email. She asked me for your name to thank you (I hope is not a kick back (ja ja).

I told her I would let u know and you would contact her at your convenience.

suadel
  1/4/2014 16:50 EST

Hello,
I am a colombian born American Citizen. Moved to Medellin November 2012. Brought all my belongings. As a colombian returning to the country I was covered by a "returning" citizen law that lowered my import taxes to a 15% of MY declared value. I Brought all my household items(a mistake!). I hired a Freight forwarder in Los Angeles and all they did was ship from Long Beach to Buenaventura. Carrier was MAERSK COLOMBIA. I missed the boat twice in Long Beach first for a late delivery to the port and second for a short strike at the port. I had rented an unfurnished apt in Medellin and my stuff took 2-1/2 months to get here and no one gave a damn.MAERSK did not cared about cause for delays and charged me $100/day for days over quote delivery for a 45 date delay, for container rental. Had to hire my own carrier to bring stuff from Buenaventura to Medellin, called Logistic World Transport that I do not recommend! They did not represent my interests properly allowing delays for paperwork, notarized declarations of contents, two Customs' inspections, bank guarantees to MAERSK,
import tax payments, etc. that took weeks. Customs inspections destroyed some of my things and no one took responsibility for my loses. The whole thing, originally quoted around $5,500 for a 20 ft container, cost me $12,500. I recommend you ask ALL THE QUESTIONS AND INVESTIGATE ALL THE CHARGES because once they have your stuff, you are at their mercy. Hope you have better luck. Get a company responsible for delays and door to door delivery. Good luck

ElinglesLoco
  1/4/2014 17:35 EST

Wow! Suadel. That is some bad service. I suppose it helps to highlight the risks, and your experience is a valuable lesson to all. Thanks for sharing, but what a rotten thing to have to endure.

Good luck for the future, and hope things can only get better.

TheSearcher
  1/4/2014 18:03 EST

Wao... THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM TRYING TO AVOID!!... sorry man. I feel like walking through a MINEFIELD!...no kidding. As you said, once a Co has your things... they got the upper hand and screw you if they want to.

SO PEOPLE.. HELP OUT HELP OUT!!!

I have gotten 3 recommendations so far and I surely hope they are legitimate but it would be nice IF MORE PEOPLE gave their input. In a forum like this... I was expecting at least 10 people with moving experiences, and have only gotten 3 with different shippers. I wish there were 3 recommendations for one single company... then you would have a better idea which is best.

Otherwise, what can you do?... call the BBB?... are they good for anything really? I never here anyone recommending their scores.

Well suede, at least you got it off your chest and I am certainly taking NOTE OF IT, and hopefully it will help others as well.

Thx

leona
  1/6/2014 09:29 EST

We send a LOT of boxes to my in laws in Fusa. We use a New York based company, Expresito Carga. I believe they also have an office in Miami. In August or September of this year we are going to move to Fusa as well and Expresito also handles containers. The good thing about them is their personnel on the ground in Colombia. They have reps in Aduana and Dian and the fee we pay them covers all the in country taxes (or so far we have never had a problem). We will contact them for a permanent move and hope it goes as smooth as the hundreds of boxes we have shipped.

TheSearcher
  1/7/2014 07:42 EST

Hi Leona, thank you for your input. I am noting "Expresito Carga" down in my notes. It may come handy. I am dealing right now with 2 companies: AWF & Southern Winds and so far I am pleased with them but we'll see what happens.

So you said you sent 100 boxes?, many anyway and you never have any problems?

I did check their website and seems like a "ups" sort of (boxes, packages) but you said they do "Containers" too. Well, I will start checking with them to just be prepared.

Thank you.

wantinghelp
  1/7/2014 12:26 EST

Ben to Colombia, Medellin, Cali, they have same voltage as US, no need for transformer. US equipment will work there.

brson
  1/13/2014 11:21 EST

We investigated Expresito Carga to send stuff from the US. Their rates are $1.99/lb plus the normal 30% DIAN tax (except for computers or tablets, which is 0) but the kicker is their insurance charge is 6% of declared value, which can add up.

For a year, we've had great experience with Via al Exito Envios in Orlando or Kissimmee, FL as shipping forwarder. They charge a flat $5 insurance. They have handled all kinds of US purchases and package forwarding without any problems and don't impose the restrictions claimed by Expresito as unallowed imports. No problem importing motors (like in lawnmowers), leather goods, perfumes, etc. They must have good contacts at DIAN. Be aware: Customs will open EVERYTHING to the last detail searching for contraband. This means your package can arrive in some considerable disarray. But hardly anything has arrived broken.

For the best info, consult Stephen in Orlando, tel. (407) 384-7808.

BEST LUCK -- Priscilla

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