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New EBay/Estafeta system


Lexy

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Instead of testing the system with one small delivery (as some wiser people have done), I purchased six EBay items. Each time one arrived very quickly at Estafeda in Laredo, I got an email asking for proof of payment. I promptly answered the email with a copy of the EBay invoice.

On my website account is a "Pedidos en Curso" which lists each item and after most of the items it says "En espera de factura." So I've once again sent the invoice with the matching number is was assigned by Estafeda.

Then nothing. The Pedidos en Curso remains unchanged.

One problem is when they notify you by email that an item has arrived, their description is very short, like "pair of sandals." But if I've ordered two different pairs of sandals, I'm left wondering which payment invoice to send to them. I tried to straighten things out by following up with two different invoices with matching pictures and descriptions. Still not hearing from them. Ewww.

There have been a few other problems which I won't detail here. But I wondered if anyone else has run into problems in getting their packages forwarded. I've done what I thought was required.

I've just written an email to them in English because my Spanish is limited asking to have my whole account reviewed. I'm hoping to resolve the problems. It sure looked like a good idea and it has worked for others. But I'm in limbo here. . . .

Lexy

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Thanks for being the guinea pig. I think More Liana ordered an item... maybe she can report by now.

This kind of thing cannot happen to a company of that size... it could drag down their whole business. With millions of eBay users worldwide, can you imagine the whiplash? So right now, it all sounds like a pipe dream, doesn't it?

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I understand your pain Lex - it is like you are importing all the stress from the North that you came here to avoid! As with many dealings here, it all comes down to a technique which you learn over time. You have to contact Estafeta U.S.A. - not Mexico. They are in Laredo, and hire Americans who speak English. Do you have Magic Jack or free long distance - their number (956) 717-3435. Ask for the customs clearance clerk, not the broker (they are too busy, or self important, or whatever). She is the one who can solve your problems - be very, very nice to her.

I think there is a misunderstanding between Ebay and Estafeta. Estafeta pays Ebay a commission for business, but I think they only pay that commission for priority overnight shipments. Obviously, most people are paying 3 day ground service to save money. That takes weeks to get to Chapala. Even overnight/priority takes a week. The bottleneck is Mexican customs hence the fact that only one person in the U.S.A. knows what is going on!

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Very interesting, Chillin. I figured that had to be someone in Laredo Estafeda who oversees these things.

I'll await what anyone else might have to say. There's was much excitement about the plan. I followed the simple rules spelled out when I joined this EBay 365, but it ain't going smoothly.

Thanks for the telephone number.

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Things have definitely slowed down with their processing time. I have an idea that they are getting swamped with this new 365 plan and weren't quite ready for the increase in business. The first order I did about 2 month ago only took 10 days from the ebay order to me receiving it here. I ordered 2 items after that and they took about 14 days. The next item I ordered took 19 days and I still have 2 sitting in Laredo "Pendiente de Importación" and been there at least a week. All of these added times are from them slowing down on the processing once it arrives at Estafeta in Laredo.

You do have to stay on top of things and can't always rely on them sending you an email. I track my ebay package and once it shows delivered to Laredo I start checking the Estafeta/Ebay site. These last couple of deliveries it has taken 2 or 3 days just to show "En espera de factura" and I send that as soon as it is there. You can't send it before it is on the website because you need the item number. Here's the basic steps that they usually go through in Laredo.

  1. En espera de factura - You need to email your Paypal receipt and put the item number that is listed on their website for your item. I also include my name and box number with them.
  2. Pendiente de cargo - They are waiting for you to pay the tax. If there is no tax there is still a button there that you have to click to "release" it from this stage (forget exactly what it says). If you owe tax there is a Paypal button to pay it.
  3. Pendiente de Importación - Waiting to be imported, not much you can do here but wait.
  4. Entregado a Estafeta México - This means that it has been imported and is on its way. Usually only takes about 3 business days once they have it before it is delivered.
  5. At this point there is a "Número guia" that you can copy and go to the Estafeta Mexico site http://www.estafeta.com/ and plug in the tracking number. You have to choose the 22 digit option. It doesn't really tell you much other than that they have it and expect to deliver in 3 - 5 days. It doesn't get constant updates at every point like a package on UPS does.

There's also a little message section at the bottom of the page for your item. Once I send the factura I put a note there that I sent it. On this last package that took 19 days I put a note there asking what was taking so long after it had been sitting in the same state for 5 days. I don't know if that helped, but it was finally release for importation right after that. So you seem to have to stay on top of it. My guess is that they are getting overwhelmed.

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I forgot to mention, you can check with Estafeta U.S.A. before ordering to see if they can clear Mexican customs with your order. Someone has pointed out before there are many strange rules on the Mexico side. For example fabric is not allowed (although a previous order using Fedex got through). I also wanted to order unpainted wood blanks for making fishing lures - nope, not allowed, painted - yes.

They seem to be a pretty laid back place. I don't know if they consolidate to Brazil from there, but apparently that market alone has far exceeded Ebay's expectations.

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Thanks very much, Chillin and Oasis Cloud.

I got a reply to my email asking for help on my account from someone in the Laredo office in English. I'm working on it.

I made one costly mistake. I ordered an item that is not allowed to come in to Mexico. To return it to the seller, it will cost me four times what I paid in postage from seller to Laredo.

Lexy

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Maw posted the translated list of no-nos that Ajijic Hiker had entered:

  • Weapons and accessories in general
  • Flammable, toxic or dangerous products.
  • Any type of food.
  • Medicines, food supplements, vitamins.
  • Any type of medical instruments such as pressure gauges, massagers, etc..
  • Pornographic material.
  • Some cosmetic items with drug ingredients.
  • Perfumes
  • Balloons
  • Wooden pencils
  • Precious Metals.
  • Precious and semiprecious stones
  • Precious and semiprecious stones
  • Used clothing and shoes.
  • Some baby accessories such as bottles, diapers, teethers.
  • Used and new tires.
  • Wooden items in general.
  • Toner and ink.
  • Candles, waxes.
  • Cigarettes of any kind.
  • Electronic cigarettes and accessories.
  • Equipment gotcha or Paint ball and accessories.
  • CDs or DVD unrecorded (blank).
  • Alcoholic beverages.
  • Counterfeit merchandise referred to as "" pirate ".
  • Laboratory samples (toxic, hazardous or special handling).
  • Animals (dead or alive).
  • Parts with liquid waste.
  • Items of extraordinary value and precious stones, money or coins, metals, negotiable debt.
  • Plants (natural).
  • Psychotropic substances (chemical precursors and basic chemicals).
  • Explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, magnetic items, oxidizing materials, radioactive objects, toxic items, irritating materials, infectious substances and / or articles that could damage the structure of the aircraft and those possessing other characteristics inherent to the above you listed.

* This is a partial list, if you have questions about a particular product, please send your inquiry to informes.ebay @ estafeta.com before buying

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  • 2 weeks later...

I am happy to report my first delivery by Estafeta. This was my 3rd order I placed- a pair of pants- new with tags and received in Laredo on 8/13-so a total of 12 days to receive. However I am still waiting for an order received in Laredo on 8/7- a vegetable cutter. I hope they didn't view it as a weapon! LOL Also waiting on some SS bowls ordered earlier than the pants too.

maw

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I forgot to mention, you can check with Estafeta U.S.A. before ordering to see if they can clear Mexican customs with your order. Someone has pointed out before there are many strange rules on the Mexico side. For example fabric is not allowed (although a previous order using Fedex got through). I also wanted to order unpainted wood blanks for making fishing lures - nope, not allowed, painted - yes.

They seem to be a pretty laid back place. I don't know if they consolidate to Brazil from there, but apparently that market alone has far exceeded Ebay's expectations.

We used to be big eBay sellers and had to cease shipping to Brazil because there were so many lost packages that we could no longer obtain insurance. We use a forwarding service in Houston, US Global Mail, where we have all packages sent. When we have enough stuff, we have them forward everything to Estafeta USA, also in Houston, and they check out our package. They then advise the total price including duty and we call them and give a CC and in about 2 weeks we have everything delivered. They have never said no to anything in the bundle including meds, clothing, nada.

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We got our first shipment today, easy-peasy. 5 polo shirts my wife ordered, no tags and no hassle from Estafeta or from Aduana. Like maw, we are still waiting for the first item (book) we ordered--but the seller sent it to Laredo by the back roads, apparently, and it just got there today. We sent the receipt to Estafeta, we should have the book in a few days. I think this is the cat's meow.

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Yes! The system is working, although a bit oddly, as I am still waiting for two of the first items to arrive in Laredo, but just received the last item to arrive in Laredo. So Estafeda made two trips this week to deliver three packages and there's two more to go. I wonder why all don't go out together, as they've all been there for several weeks.

Still, I'm happy with the savings in postage. I especially like that now I can make use of the sellers that offer free shipping within the States.

Best bargain shopping experience since Filene's Basement back in the day.

Lexy

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Yes! The system is working, although a bit oddly, as I am still waiting for two of the first items to arrive in Laredo, but just received the last item to arrive in Laredo. So Estafeda made two trips this week to deliver three packages and there's two more to go. I wonder why all don't go out together, as they've all been there for several weeks.

Still, I'm happy with the savings in postage. I especially like that now I can make use of the sellers that offer free shipping within the States.

Best bargain shopping experience since Filene's Basement back in the day.

Lexy

My daughter went to BC. Best thing about visiting Boston was Filene's Basement! Off topic but I had to comment.

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What do you use to sign up? Do you only need a paypal account? Or... as someone elsewhere believed: Are you required to have a someone here who tried signing up said you need to have either an RFC # (need Mexican bank acct) or CURP (a # given to citizens and residents)?

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What do you use to sign up? Do you only need a paypal account? Or... as someone elsewhere believed: Are you required to have a someone here who tried signing up said you need to have either an RFC # (need Mexican bank acct) or CURP (a # given to citizens and residents)?

You will have to have a Paypal account to buy on Ebay. Paypal owns Ebay. I think earlier in this thread people said they needed a CURP and an RFC.

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You will have to have a Paypal account to buy on Ebay. Paypal owns Ebay. I think earlier in this thread people said they needed a CURP and an RFC.

This site should answer all your questions - http://www.estafetamembers.com/preguntas-frecuentes

Hopefully you either can read spanish or understand how to use a translate program (if not maybe a friend can help)

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A fair while ago, Merkalink, which is owned by Estafeta, offered a consumer orientated mail delivery. But their online signup required an RFC number, without it you couldn't complete the application. It turns out there is a 'generic' RFC number in Mexico that people can use.

If you do not have the key in RFC key is entered in the generic RFC: XAXX010101000 and in the case of transactions with foreign residents, who are not enrolled in the RFC, the key is recorded on the generic RFC : XEXX010101000.

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Chillin is right with the generic RFC. (It was supplied to me by Oasis Cloud who got it from Spencer.) The Estafeda application for plan 365 does call for a CURP # and an RFC. As I recall, just one or the other will suffice. You pay Estafeda through your Paypal plan, so that's a first step if you don't already have Paypal. The annual fee to Estadfeda is $50 US.

Lexy

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