Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

Paul Rodriguez

Mar 9, 2003, 10:27 AM

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Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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I don't know if this the place to ask, but it can't be a bad place to start. In any case, here's my problem: I am planing to retire to the Lakeside area and I have special needs because of health reasons to receive pharmaceutical grade supplements. The company I deal with stated that it will not ship to Mexico because there are too many packages lost. I'm not sure what that means, but I was wondering if anyone would enlighten me as to how one gets packages from companies in the States into the Lakeside area? I will appreciate any help that can be given me in this matter. I am especially interested how to overcome the loss of any shipment. Thank you for you kind consideration. Paul

juan david

Mar 9, 2003, 3:56 PM

Post #2 of 12 (1194 views)

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Re: [Paul Rodriguez] Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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Mail Boxes Etc will handle the whole thing for you...including providing a US mail address for consolidatig and forwarding to Lake Chapala. Think it costs about $25 a month for the service. Their local office is in San Antonio T on the Carretera.
" let sleeping dogs lie"

esperanza

Mar 9, 2003, 8:27 PM

Post #3 of 12 (1153 views)

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Re: [ian] Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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Be sure to investigate thoroughly before you contract for a Mailboxes Etc mailbox. Many people have learned by hard experience that the amount of duty charged for goods sent into Mexico via their service is substantial-to-ridiculous, often more than the item itself is worth. Please see previous threads on this topic on this forum.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Jerry@Ajijic

Mar 9, 2003, 10:21 PM

Post #4 of 12 (1141 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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The charges MBE are not just for duty. They have their own shipping charge which seems to amount to about the cost of the shipped item.
We use them for mail but we get our packages sent to our P.O. Box in Ajijic.

Jerry

shoe

Mar 10, 2003, 6:07 AM

Post #5 of 12 (1105 views)

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Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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I am also on my way there to retire and will need important packages shipped along with mail. Do I understand it right that your sugestion is to use MBE for letters and other paper mail? Then use a Post Office Box for packages? Are there plenty of Post Office Boxes available? Is there a Federal Express type of service available for either mail or packages or both?

Lot of questions I know but help please if you can.

shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

esperanza

Mar 10, 2003, 7:57 AM

Post #6 of 12 (1092 views)

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Re: [shoe] Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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Here are my experiences. Others may have different experiences, of course.

As a newly-arrived Lakeside resident (some years ago), I decided that I needed a MBE address for my mail coming in from the States. I don't remember the price of the box rental, but I got the smallest one available for six months. I was promised that mail arriving at the MBE location (then in San Diego) would arrive at Lakeside within 4 to 5 business days. In actuality, most of my mail was delayed anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks from the time of receipt in San Diego. Any bills arrived past their due dates, and some mail never arrived at all. I particularly note that a box of new checks, mailed from my bank IN San Diego to the MBE address IN San Diego, failed to arrive at Lakeside, necesitating closing my checking account and re-opening it, a process which ended up taking endless time and costing substantial fees.

Then I began hearing stories of 'duty' charged by MBE on friends' packages. One man I know was charged $52.00USD to receive a pair of blue jeans from his mother. Another friend of mine was charged $14.00USD to receive a coffee mug from her dad. In the showcases at MBE one sees items (which have been refused by MBE boxholders because of the 'duty' costs) offered for sale.

My eyes were opened and I applied for and eventually received a box at the Ajijic post office, where there was (and continues to be) a waiting list. Others have their post office boxes at the post office in Chapala, where there is generally NOT a waiting list. Price note: the PO box in Ajijic costs 110 pesos a year. My bills, which I now pay online to avoid late charges, still arrive past the due date, but I no longer care. I've yet to pay a 'duty' charge for anything received. Mail from the States takes about 3 weeks to arrive, just as it did through MBE. The current cost of the smallest MBE box is approximately what another poster mentioned, $250.00USD annually.

Again, these are my experiences. Others' needs and experiences may differ.

For expedited mail, FedEx, UPS, Estafeta, DHL, and some other services offer pickup and delivery at your address.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Paul Rodriguez

Mar 10, 2003, 8:47 AM

Post #7 of 12 (1079 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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Eaperanza, I appreciate the information that you posted. It helps me a great deal. I think that you have licked the problem with the mail, but I'm not clear as to what is the problem with packages. Naturally, not understanding the difficulty makes solutions equally unclear. Thus, I would like to ask you or anyone elsle who has had experiences, or solutions to share them we me.

Specifically, I need to get alternative medicine supplements because of health problems. These are not medications but natural herbs and enzymes which I use to combat allergies and gastric problems. So, from what you say, I would not be wise in using MBE because of the fees that they tack on. Is it possible to send such items to my own government post office box and be assured of getting it (I usually spend a couple of hundred dollars in such shipments)? - and would I be able to deal with any duties costs there at the post office?

I'm trying to get these things straight in my head before leaving the States, so as to have the least of amount of difficulties in Mexico.

To all who respond, my sincere thanks. Paul

DavidMcL

Mar 10, 2003, 9:07 AM

Post #8 of 12 (1081 views)

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Re: [Paul Rodriguez] Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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The shipping situation as described above is accurate.
In the past, I too have received "Supplements" in powder form that were sent to my APDO (Mexico postal box) with no trouble or surcharges.
However that was a couple of years ago. Since then the provider would no longer ship to Mexico for 2 reasons - lost shipments - but also because the Aduana had become much more stringent about "powders" and such like coming into the country.
So my suggestion is to do a test shipment to a contact or friend here. See if it gets there and how long.
The other would be via FedEx or equivalent. Again a test shipment.
At this time DHL have a very cumbersome importation procedure and it all goes through the Mexico City office (If this has changed I would be happy to know!)

Suerte!

David
David McL
WebJefe

shoe

Mar 10, 2003, 11:41 AM

Post #9 of 12 (1058 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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I also thank you for the information as you seem to have it licked, so to speak. One thing that you mentioned is that there is a awaiting list at the Ajijic Post Office. Do you have any idea of the order of magnitude of the time frame of this list to get a box? Weeks? Months? or What? Couldn't be days or you wouldn't have mentioned it.

Thank you again, shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Uncle Donnie

Mar 10, 2003, 12:18 PM

Post #10 of 12 (1059 views)

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Re: [shoe] Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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Hi Shoe,

As with most things regarding Mexico, it all depends. A friend walked into the Ajijic PO one day and got a box on the spot. Others have waited for months.

Chapala is the best bet.

I use a private out-going mail service offered by Tommy Thompson at Barbara's Bazaar. He also receives my UPS and FedEx deliveries at no charge.

My neighbor in La Manzanillo used to receive packages from Germany through the Mexican PO and never paid duty or lost one. It seems there are a lot of differing answers; all true. Especially the "Beware of MBE".

Here are some facts printed in a Sept.,2001 issue of the Guad Reporter:

A customer ordered a book from Amazon.com.

Book: $6.75 US
S&H: $3.99

MBE add-ons: conversion prices are approximate.

Service charge: 3.85 pesos (39 cents)
Shipping: 10.36 pesos ($1.36)
Handling: 52.61 pesos ($5.61)
IVA (MX tax) 10.02 pesos ($1.00) figured at 15%
Tariff: 0.49 pesos (5 cents)
Total to MBE: $8.41 US

Total add-ons: $8.41 US on a $6.75 book. See why we love 'em?

Shameless self-promotion:
http://www.headformexico.com

shoe

Mar 10, 2003, 12:58 PM

Post #11 of 12 (1047 views)

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Re: [Uncle Donnie] Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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Thanks for the input. "Beware of MBE" sounds like good advice. It probably works for some or it wouldn't still be in business. I will get a PO Box at one of the Post Office's when I get there thanks to you all. I also feel great now that there is a private service like Fedex available.

cy'all, shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Frank Burton

Mar 18, 2003, 12:39 AM

Post #12 of 12 (997 views)

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Re: [shoe] Recieving packages in Ajijic area

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I had packages of mail forwarded as "documents" by a relative via FedEx for awhile--it was expensive, $40 to $50 US per one-kilogram package, though it was very dependable and typically only a couple of days from the States to the MBE office in San Antonio. No duty was ever charged, and there was no charge by MBE for receiving because they are a FedEx agent, I believe.

Bring a few months' supply of the supplements with you, if that's practical--my wife and I did so, with no problem. We also have had friends bring supplements with them as they came down to visit, again with no problem.