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Freight Forwarder Wanted

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ricktee
  4/26/2015 20:55 EST

I am looking for someone to use to receive and forward items I purchase in the states.
They must be reasonable and honest.
USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc. charge too much.
Is there a better way to get things?
TIA, [email protected]

KeyWestPirate
  4/27/2015 08:52 EST

I drive regularly and bring items (some quite large and heavy) down for friends.

If you are a resident you can get a $500 exemption -but only if you leave the country for 72 hours.

That means you would have to visit the Copan ruins in Honduras,, or Antigua . . . . if you want the exemption. You then have to meet me at Las Manos or El Espino.

$500 doesn't sound like much, but it can be, and many other items come in duty free so don't need to be included.

Televisions, computers, stereo equipment, large power tools, are hot buttons; food clothing books, personal items, are generally ignored.

I've brought down three vehicles so far, imported one into Costa Rica, and two trucks into Nicaragua. The Nicaragua importation vehicle can be completed at El Espino, about two days. Passenger vehicles, including vans, must be less than ten years old. There is no age limit on trucks. The trucks I brought in were a 1986 and a 1992.

I have a UPS box in Tucson that receives the shipments, an Amazon account that you can use with free 2 day shipping. It's amazing what you can find on Amazon.

My schedule is erratic, this is NOT a truck that goes down the road routinely.

This is something that I would like to do, as I have quite a bit of stuff left in Arizona. I've had good luck with the trips, the last one was 3 1/2 days from Nogales to the Guatemala border, and then two days to get through CA. I've made the run six times so far.

I'm in the US right now, Tucson is my base here.

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ricktee
  4/27/2015 11:34 EST

REPLY: Hi KWP, thanks for the info and offer. I have a friend that is coming here for a visit in May who will bring some items down for me.
I do have some questions for you that I will address at a future time.
I am a resident, married to a Nica I met in the states. I plan to brcome a citizen as soon as my Spanish is a bit better.
Talk to you soon, Rick

KeyWestPirate
  4/27/2015 11:49 EST

Rick

Nice to meet you.

Where are you at?

ricktee
  4/27/2015 12:24 EST

I´m in Nindiri

iguanalover
  4/27/2015 17:59 EST

Contact bushamy 13 on this forum. His wife told me they received things thru an agency in Managua. receives it in the states and brings it in.

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JohnSS
  4/27/2015 23:57 EST

Obviously the best way to buy online and get the stuff here is to have a friend bring it in or to bring it in yourself like you were told. And you may pay little or no import tax. But that takes more energy and determination than I have left.

I used a Miami re-shipper Nicabox for a few years but switched to these guys which serve most of Latin America. Reliable & full tracking but you do pay import tax. Shipping cost estimate including tax on the site. English website & people in Managua speak English. 7-10 days typical.
http://www.aeropost.com/web/frontend/principal?lang=_eng&w=&country=mga

ricktee
  4/28/2015 00:09 EST

I attempted to contact Aeropost quite a few times today John but every time I hit SUBMIT nothing happened so I gave up. I figured that if that is a sample of their efficiency I don´t need them.
Thanks anyway, appreciate your input.

majicjack
  4/28/2015 07:36 EST

Check out Aerocasillas.com

JohnSS
  4/28/2015 13:29 EST

That is the company I posted above.
My 6th sense says the lad may have a tough time dealing with life & its frustrations in Nicaragua ;-)

KeyWestPirate
  4/28/2015 15:15 EST

The lad ??

" . . . My 6th sense says the lad may have a tough time dealing with life & its frustrations in Nicaragua ;-) ..."

We ALL have a tough time dealing with the frustrations of life in Nicaragua.

Some day they may diagnose those who moved here with having a psychotic condition.

I'm hoping that they name it "Key West Pirate Syndrome " so I finally get my fifteen minutes of fame.

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majicjack
  4/28/2015 18:09 EST

Yes but the man said he tried to submit to Areopost and nothing. If you go to Areocasillas it will go right through.

majicjack
  4/28/2015 18:12 EST

It sure beats the hell out of living where they elected Obama and would even consider Hilary!

JohnSS
  4/29/2015 04:55 EST

Yes "The lad" apparently wasn't willing to call Managua and talk to the right people. Instead he threw in the towel when a chat server didn't work which probably means Nicaragua will not treat him well.
What is gonna happen when he has to talk to Claro?

The two sites link to the exact same Aeropost chat server for all of Latin America which is manned by people in Miami. When it worked they couldn't answer my specific questions about shipping here anyhow and told me to call Managua.

If you don't have what it takes to do the KWP trips then there is a solution. Learn to be ecstatic about buying like this at only a 50% - 100% premium above US prices.
Using a freight consolidator for shared container ocean shipping is usually less expensive but pickup & delivery make it more complicated.

mikee2
  5/2/2015 14:53 EST

I need a moving company from Cosa Rica to Nicaragua that can handle a small amount of furniture and a Harley Davidson. All can be put in a 4 mtr truck.

ricktee
  9/26/2018 19:49 EST

I use Aeropost, pretty good but has to be monitored. 2264 8525, opposite Colegio Teresiano, Managua.
Hope this helps.
Rick

KeyWestPirate
  9/27/2018 06:50 EST

I successfully completed a second shipment with Optima recently. I shipped 60 lbs, cost me $182 from Miami to Managua.


Their base price is $2.50 /lb with a $25 minimum. My shipment had some high dollar items,, hence the higher price.

They do customs clearance.

Both of my bins that I shipped were seal

KeyWestPirate
  9/27/2018 06:57 EST

Sorry,,
........sealed with tyraps and arrived unopened.


Same with the last shipment,, arrived unopened, tyraps intact.

Two weeks to MGA from Miami.
They do not consolidate, with all the free shipping in the US this is a missed opportunity for someone.

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