Mad_Max Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 Trying to compare handymail with ishop - It appears that ishop allows more than one user for an address, are there any other significant differences? Note - Handymail says magazines can be sent to their US address and will be picked up and delivered to their lakeside address - assume Ishop does the same. Any significant differences? besides price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvanparys Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 Handy mail charges more for letters going to the US... However the difference in prices for a box is something else. We just returned to Ajijic and stopped at Imail and asked the cost of a box $425 a year... We had used Handy Mail for four years previously and they only want $265 USD a year... That was a no brainer... If we need to send a letter which is infrequent we use Imail...Handy mail accepts packages and notifies patrons via email when mail arrives... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johanson Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 There is a third option, Sol Y Luna which is located in Ajijic, 1/2 a block south of Scallions Restaurant. I have used them for years, because of the convenience of their location and where I often go for breakfast, Scallions. Sorry, I do not remember what they charge, but it is much less than Ishop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwhite1948 Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 Suggest you get your mail closest to where you live and avoid the traffic. My last annual renewal with Sol y Luna in Ajijic was 3800 pesos. About 190 USD at today's rate. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad_Max Posted April 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 good idea on close to where you live - but haven't found a place yet - so just trying to get as much as possible in place before I land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mexijims1 Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 I think before rvanparys just compares the total cost of an Ishop box with a Handy Mail box, you need to compare what the cost can be with partners! For example, we have 5 partners in our Ishop box (for a medium box, which was $563/ yr with one month free if you pay before a certain date). Divide that cost by 5 and it becomes a lot less than the cost of a Handy Mail box. So, you need to look at the whole picture -- not just the total price of the box when comparing. That is what I would call a "no brainer!" My biggest complaint at Ishop is the extra add-ons if you have partners getting a lot of magazines, where they add on for "extra weight"!. In addition, on the cost of mailing a letter from here to the US, I have always found Handy Mail to be cheaper than Ishop. Although I am not certain of the exact cost for each currently, the last 10 yrs has always been cheaper to mail to the US from Handy Mail. On Pete's point, I would like to know what the costs are for Sol y Luna compared to Ishop and Handy mail. Once again, the key in the comparison is whether or not you can share a box at Sol Y Luna? Thanks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm1mex Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 Handy mail will accept packages and notify you by email only if the package is sent directly to Handy mail address here. They do not accept packages if sent through Laredo Texas address. Ishop accepts packages sent through Laredo. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnMama Posted April 22, 2022 Report Share Posted April 22, 2022 Just to be sure this is clear, some companies won't ship direct to Mexico. You need a stateside address that will then ship the item to their local office for pick-up. This service is provided by both iShop and Sol y Luna but not Handimail. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringohombre Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 I started by sharing a box at IShop when I moved here full time 14 years ago (my anniversary is this month!). About 3 years later the primary boxholder moved back El Norte and I took over the box. This is a medium box and the rent is US$384 a year (with a 2 month bonus). Over all the years since I have had folks sharing the box and always at the maximum of 4. I have had no problem finding replacements at US$80 per year. Only once was there an "overweight" charge so you have to make sure that your box partners are not receiving a lot of magazines or other heavy mail. I have a business so have a little volume of outgoing UPS and Estafeta packages (no charge) and also some incoming packages, both direct from US (no charge) and through Laredo (small charge). I also get some packages from the artists I work with here in México and am not charged for these. I cannot give enough credit to Maria (the best!), Oscar and Cristian for thier great work and helping me throughout all these years. I would highly recommend them, and the best is they are located just a short distance from me in SAT, just East of Super Lake!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mexijims1 Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Hmmm --Gringohombre, I wonder why we are being charged $563 a year for a medium box and you are only being charged $384 a year for your medium box. Any thoughts ? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringohombre Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 11 minutes ago, mexijims1 said: Hmmm --Gringohombre, I wonder why we are being charged $563 a year for a medium box and you are only being charged $384 a year for your medium box. Any thoughts ? Thanks. Maybe it is called a small small box...it is what most of the boxes there are. Anyway they allow 4 people to share it. I will check and report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mexijims1 Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringohombre Posted April 26, 2022 Report Share Posted April 26, 2022 On 4/23/2022 at 4:31 PM, mexijims1 said: Thanks ! Update!!! OK, my IShop box is called small although it is big enough for the maximum of 4 people sharing it...if they collect every week or so. I was quoting an old rate but in fact it is now US$420 (with 2 month bonus) a year with all the other benefits I mentioned before. As the boxholder, I have been lucky since my box mates only get regular mail volume with minimum magazines, catalogues, etc. that could trigger extra "overweight" fees. All in all I would give them an A+!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mexijims1 Posted April 26, 2022 Report Share Posted April 26, 2022 Thanks for checking. When it comes to determining what or who is overweight, I don't have a clue. Maybe I should ask Maria there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.