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talosian

May 17, 2004, 9:42 AM

Post #1 of 15 (1369 views)

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Update: Air Freight to Mexico/GDL

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I tried to post this separate but for some reason it would not take. Anyway - - -

I called AA and some of the other airlines and found due to new 9-1-1 security regulations, the airlines will not take shipments from individuals if they are not established customers so a Freight Forwarder (FF) is the only option.

I Googled for FF and didn't get much help so I went to Yellow Pages route. Several said they would not ship air to Mexico because of the problems with paperwork wanted by the Mexican Government.

I finally found a FF local to me (Los Angeles area) which quited me a rate of $0.95 per pound packed by me boxes plus a one-time $45 fee. The FF at: www.sky2c.com and I spoke with Tarun at 1-800-353-5128 X 105.

Of course I'm going to check directly with Cutsoms at GDL since I don't want to ship my stuff there and then find it can't be done as the FF said.

I will also need to find a "mover" to get my boxes from GDL to my place outside of Chapala. Any thoughts?

I figure I'll come out ahead from the $2,750.00+ I was quoted for door-to-door land shipment by a moving company. I will only have about 25 smaller boxes and one large backed item. I'll know more when I pack everything and weigh it.

Will keep things updated and hope this helps someone.

Spock.
"When all logical explanations have failed, we must look to the illogical for the answer.

kirkswig

May 20, 2004, 3:42 PM

Post #2 of 15 (1294 views)

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Re: [talosian] Update: Air Freight to Mexico/GDL

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I've been obsessing over this upcoming move, and I just wanted to thank you for posting this information. I just got off the phone with Tarun and I've decided this will be the way I go. They will even pick up from my door, and bring my stuff to LAX, and I live in Laughlin, NV! The price is great.

Of course, I don't have that much stuff. Maybe six or seven boxes, 300-400 lbs. I figure I'll buy new furntiture in Mazatlan, or perhaps, get a furnished apartment to start.

Thanks again for this very excellent post!

Donald

To boldly go where no wig has gone before.

kirkswig

Jun 3, 2004, 11:37 AM

Post #3 of 15 (1224 views)

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Re: [kirkswig] Update: Air Freight to Mexico/GDL

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I don't know, maybe it's unseemly to reply to oneself, but I did want to register the fact that I've changed my mind about this approach.

Most of the stuff I would be bringing down is computer equipment; a couple of 21" monitors that each weigh a ton (OK, less, but not by much), three or four computers, and all sorts of wires and gadgets and accessories and other stuff that I've now realized can all be replaced by one really great laptop (probably an Apple 17" PowerBook.)

The way I'm figuring it, I can either go to Mexico to get the FM-3 (I don't think I can get one here in the U.S.) and come back, which costs money, then get the Menaje de Casa thing, which costs money, then ship everything over, which costs money, and then maybe have to pay money at customs because I didn't dot the second I and cross the third T -- or -- put all this stuff on eBay, collect a small fortune, and take that money and combine it with all the money I'd save by not doing any of the above and buy a laptop instead and just get a one-way ticket to, say, Mazatlan (yeah Marlene I'll be a callin' shortly) and sail right through customs, potentially spare myself a lot of grief, and maybe even save a dime or two in the process.

Bonus: I can use the laptop on the beach. I've got this image of setting up a big beach umbrella, settling down in one of those comfy folding recliner chairs (I've used one before and I like it!), and cherishing each Pacifico I've managed to stuff into the ice chest that I so thoughtfully brought along for company. Maybe I'll even get some work done on the fool thing, and if I don't, well, I can also practice my beer drinking. It's an art you know.

If only there were WiFi on the beach. I might not have to leave at all then, except maybe to go to the bathroom, which seems redundant since it all gets pumped out into the same ocean I'm sitting in front of.

But I digress...

To boldly go where no wig has gone before.

Jerseycoa

Jun 3, 2004, 1:13 PM

Post #4 of 15 (1205 views)

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Re: [kirkswig] Update: Air Freight to Mexico/GDL

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I'm finding this discussion very interesting. Thanks for posting it all here.
Doris

afcths

Jun 10, 2004, 9:27 AM

Post #5 of 15 (1099 views)

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Re: [kirkswig] Update: Air Freight to Mexico/GDL

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You can get an FM3 at a Mexican Consulate in the US

kirkswig

Jun 11, 2004, 9:50 AM

Post #6 of 15 (1038 views)

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Re: [afcths] Update: Air Freight to Mexico/GDL

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Well, from what I understand, that isn't always the case. The requirements for the individual consulates all vary; and some allegedly require a minimum age or income level I may not be able to meet, I don't know. I just found out my consulate is in Las Vegas, it's pretty new, but they won't answer the phone nor do they have a web site (well, they do but it appears to be under construction.) And since Las Vegas is quite a trip from where I am, I just as soon get it when I'm in Mexico, then I can restrict myself to worrying about my Menaje de Casa which I *will* need my consulate for.

To boldly go where no wig has gone before.

Jerseycoa

Jun 11, 2004, 10:31 AM

Post #7 of 15 (1025 views)

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Re: [kirkswig] Update: Air Freight to Mexico/GDL

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My consulate is a hundred miles from me and I don't drive, so I've been thinking about coming in on a tourist card and applying for a another level once I am in country. Is there much to be said against doing this paperwork in Mexico provided you bring all the required backup documentation?

What is the downside?

I don't plan to bring much in with me at all. I want to be able to be a bit footloose for the first year or so until I make a decision on a location if I decide to stay on. A box of clothes, a box of books, a box of linens with a few small housewares, and my desktop computer, maybe television. I know I can take some of that on the plane as checked baggage, but when I looked at Delta their rules stated no computers can be shipped, but only a laptop carried on.

I haven't called about air freight yet and wonder about ground freight with a load this size. So I hope anyone with experience in shipping a small load of goods as opposed to a household full, will chime in.

Thanks.
Doris

Rolly

Jun 11, 2004, 2:46 PM

Post #8 of 15 (998 views)

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Re: [Jerseycoa] Update: Air Freight to Mexico/GDL

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Do you understand that once you have your FM3, you then have only 6 months to get your menaje de casa if you plan to do that? Once that 6-month period is past, you cannot get a menaje. And the menaje can only be had from the consulate that serves your area in the USA.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jun 11, 2004, 2:47 PM)

Jerseycoa

Jun 11, 2004, 4:41 PM

Post #9 of 15 (975 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Update: Air Freight to Mexico/GDL

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In Reply To

Right. I'm not thinking clearly, I guess. Thanks for the reminder, Rolly.
Doris

Ed and Fran

Jun 11, 2004, 6:07 PM

Post #10 of 15 (960 views)

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Re: [Jerseycoa] Update: Air Freight to Mexico/GDL

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I'm not sure you're that far off on your plan. If you can switch to a laptop (leaving the desktop and the television temporarily behind) you can still probably come down on the plane, get your FMT, travel light for 6 mos, go to the border and take out a new FMT if you still haven't decided, keep traveling around. Get your FM-3 in country (if you think that's easier) only after you have decided where you want to settle down. Then go back to teh States, get your menaje, and move any bulky stuff down. The 6 month limit is from getting your FM-3, not from coming in the country on a FMT.

Just another idea. May not fit your situation.

Remember, your mileage may vary...........especially when using Pemex. :-)

Regards

E&F

Uncle Jack

Jun 12, 2004, 3:24 PM

Post #11 of 15 (908 views)

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Not true, Rolly

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"And the menaje can only be had from the consulate that serves your area in the USA."

A little over a year ago I started dealing with the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix, AZ. The FM3s were a snap....done in one day. Then they started giving me a lot of nonsense about "new rules" regarding the Menaje de Casa. I was told that we had to go to our place of residence in Mexico and register our FM3s before they would issue the Menaje. After several hours of discussion I finally said "to Hell with it" (not to them) and had Strom Moving take our stuff and we headed for Laredo.

I walked into the consulate in Laredo and was treated entirely different. The lady asked why I was applying in Laredo instead of Phoenix. I told her that I had stuff in storage in Laredo (actually true by then) and had to come to Laredo to list it all. She said "No Problema". I was out of the building in less than an hour with all the necessary stamps and documents.

As far as courtesy, efficiency, and professionalism is concerned, the consulate in Laredo is light years ahead of Phoenix.

uj

Rolly

Jun 12, 2004, 3:47 PM

Post #12 of 15 (901 views)

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Re: [Uncle Jack] Not true, Rolly

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Interesting indeed! What did you use as an address on menaje? The storage company?

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Uncle Jack

Jun 12, 2004, 3:56 PM

Post #13 of 15 (898 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Not true, Rolly

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We already had signed a contract for a rental in Ajijic on our trip down a month previous. They accepted the address on the rental contract as legit in Mexico. I don't recall if they were interested in our previous US address or not, but they were certainly aware that we had come from Arizona.

uj

king1522

Jun 12, 2004, 5:55 PM

Post #14 of 15 (879 views)

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Re: [Uncle Jack] Not true, Rolly

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That's interesting UJ. I asked if I could use the consulate in Laredo and was told by San Antonio, absolutely not. I live in Corpus and it seemed to me that Laredo would be easier to get to. However, I must say I was treated very good in San Antonio. When I went in for my FM3 and again later for my Meneja, I was told to come back after lunch and pick them up. One day, in and out. I was really impressed with how friendly and efficient they were.
Don

Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The more paper that
is rolled off, the faster it goes.

Georgia

Jun 12, 2004, 6:16 PM

Post #15 of 15 (874 views)

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Re: [king1522] We never personally got the menaje

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My husband and I got our FM-3 visas three years ago. At that time we had a moving company move a relatively small amount of furniture and "stuff" down under my husband's FM-3. Moving company took care of permits, etc. etc. No problem.

Flash forward three years: This time we had a moving company move all our furniture and all our "stuff" (lots of it) down under my FM-3 (issued three years ago). I thoroughly expected to pay duty. Nope. Moving company and customs broker took care of all the paperwork. No problem.

The "don't ask, don't tell" system seemed to work here. When I asked the Mexican counterpart of the moving company about the six month window she just told me not to worry, that they had a "very good customs broker." I guess so!