10 replies to this topic

[Doodles!]

Can anyone advise the procedure and cost of import of a $100 item from the States. I wish to buy bedding I have seen on EBay. Thanks

[ohjoni]

The least expensive would be to have it sent to someone in the U.S. who can bring it down for you. If you have it sent directly here through someplace like Mailboxes or Sol y Luna you will need to notify them you afe expecting the package and what is in it. They will notify customs who will charge 1/2 the value as the customs fee. Sol y Luna also charges 90 pesos for bringing the package from Laredo to Lakeside. You can have it sent directly to your house and then it is a crapshoot whether you will be charged duty.

[Ajijic]

The "custom" fees are 16% aka IVA.

[Lexie]

I buy items on EBay only if the seller ships using USPS lst class international (not priority, as it's much more expensive). The items are mailed to my Ajijic post office. I've never had a problem and there's never been a duty charge.

However with something as heavy as bed linens, the shipping costs could be high, but of course you'd confirm that with the seller before you commit to buy. If the sheets are a bargain then the mailing costs could be worth it.
Lexy

[Mad_Max]

From my experience, if the seller will ship to mexico, you can easily see how much he will charge shipping. it is real easy - look on the product page under shipping and payments.

Agree with Lexy - but I also use priority mail as well as other types - but have them shipped to my home. I only use UPS/Fed Ex etc when I am willing to throw away money on shipping. (and I have done that on occasion and saved money over purchasing in mexico)

[RVGRINGO]

Duty on Chinese products can be a lot more than the 16% IVA. Beware! There isn't much for sale in the USA that wasn't made in China.

[Jeanette]

Doodles, isn't it easier and cheaper just to buy the high quality sheets they sell at Costco?

[Ajijic]

For past two years we have been buying products at least every other week through Amazon to our Laredo forwarding address, some made in China, including cameras, cell phones, Blackberry tablet, perfumes, natural toothpaste, curtains, etc etc and never more and never less than 16%. Simply a myth.

[More Liana]

About 18 months ago I threw caution to the wind and started having eBay purchases shipped directly to my address in the DF. Like other posters here, I ask the shipper to use USPS International. Nothing has ever been lost and I have never paid duty.

On the other hand, at the end of July a friend shipped a box of note cards--she painted them herself--to me via USPS Priority. The clerk at the USPS told her the shipment would take 5 to 10 days to arrive. It has not yet made it here. The "priority" part of USPS Priority stops at the Mexican border, after that it's just regular mail.

[HelperGuy]

Doodles, isn't it easier and cheaper just to buy the high quality sheets they sell at Costco?

The sheets at CostCo here are "sateen", which are awful to sleep on as they are too densely knit, don't breathe, and are too "slidey". Sears here sells what they call Egyptian cotton sheets sets for $1,000 pesos. These are quite nice, but they are thicker and can be too hot.

[More Liana]

Most recent item(s) ordered from eBay: two Philips Sonicare toothbrush handles--handles only. Shipped out of LA on August 2, arrived at my door today--shipped USPS International. No fuss, no muss, no duty. Frankly, the 'no duty' was a happy surprise, I had expected to pay something.