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dandalton123

Aug 21, 2010, 6:42 AM

Post #1 of 24 (4214 views)

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mailing electronics customs?

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I have a friend in mexico and she needs a laptop she sent me the money get her one and I need to mail her laptop back to her... What is required so it is not confiscated how do i pay the taxes on the laptop for customs? Any advice on this situation? I was going to mail through us postal service since they have flat rate shipping

Judy in Ags

Aug 21, 2010, 8:25 AM

Post #2 of 24 (4179 views)

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Re: [dandalton123] mailing electronics customs?

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If it were I, I'd tell her to buy one in Mexico. To me, it would not be worth the hazzle, worry and cost to send one to her. Good computers are availble in Mexico.

DavidHF

Aug 21, 2010, 8:48 AM

Post #3 of 24 (4172 views)

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Re: [dandalton123] mailing electronics customs?

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I'd suggest you ship FedEx or UPS. USPS does not have "flat rate" shipping for international destinations, besides that when it gets to Mexico it will be handled by the Mexican postal system. The recipient pays the duties to the shipper when it's delivered.

Hound Dog

Aug 21, 2010, 9:51 AM

Post #4 of 24 (4163 views)

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Re: [dandalton123] mailing electronics customs?

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have a friend in mexico and she needs a laptop she sent me the money get her one and I need to mail her laptop back to her...

Why in the world doesn´t your friend simply buy the computer in Mexico? Our computers were all purchased from Dell in Mexico and not only are they as good as any we may have purchased in the U.S. but they are made for the Mexican market which is also a plus. If you send that computer purchased in the U.S, to Mexico and it is not stolen en route (a distinct possibility if shipped through snail mail) Mexican customs will rob you blind with an outrageous tariff. That obscene tariff will apply whether you ship via snail mail or overnight courier.

All of our furniture and appliances including television sets and our Nissan XTrail were purchased in Jalisco or Chiapas and we are pleased with the quality and price of everything we have purchased here. There is one exception, however; I just bought some bluejeans from LL Bean in Maine because I am a big guy who fancies I need the "big&tall" jeans that LL Bean sells via catalogue. I had eight pairs of jeans shipped to me in Ajijic by FedEx from Maine. Those jeans, which were made in Mexico using Mexican materials and Mexican labor and then shipped to LL Bean only to be re-shipped to me in Ajijic, cost me $205USD. The duty on those jeans came to the equvalent of $253USD so my total actiual cost was the equivalent of $458USD most of which was the duty tacked on by Mexican customs. At least, this time they didn´t steal them as they may very well have had we used snail mail.

chinagringo

Aug 21, 2010, 9:56 AM

Post #5 of 24 (4159 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] mailing electronics customs?

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I hope for those prices/costs, you are not talking about one or two pairs of jeans! When you made your first post on this topic, I assumed that you had meant MXP but after two posts, I concluded that you did in fact mean USD.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Reefhound

Aug 21, 2010, 10:51 AM

Post #6 of 24 (4137 views)

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Re: [dandalton123] mailing electronics customs?

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I agree with the others. She may be saving pennies at the risk of big dollars. I definitely wouldn't ship by mail. Depending on where in US to where in Mexico, you might be able to ship on a bus. We often put packages and boxes on a bus in Houston and they arrive safe and unopened in Celaya about 20 hours later.

Hound Dog

Aug 21, 2010, 11:00 AM

Post #7 of 24 (4133 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] mailing electronics customs?

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Neil.

I ordered eight pairs of jeans since I only buy blue jeans from the states every few years. This was actually my second order since we arrived here in 2001. I believe the jeans cost about $18USD each and the rest was expedited delivery via UPS for a total of $205USD. These jeans are, ahem, "comfort cut" for larger-than-life foreigners and, even though I can find some nice jeans for larger guys at Liverpool and Sears in Guadalajara, I like the LL Bean jeans with that elastic band that accomodates Dawg´s natural expansion upon his having taken a seat and, what the hell, eight pair of jeans, split between Jalisco and Chiapas, will last me forever which is longer than I need practically speaking so here is my math:

Actual Cost of Jeans $144USD
Shipping via UPS $61USD
Mexican Customs Charge $253 (Equivalent USD)
Total Out of Dawg´s Pocket $458USD (mas o menos)

Total Cost per Pair $57USD (Equivalent)

Average Life of each pair of blue jeans will be about ten years (assuming Dawg should live so long) or $5.70USD per year all costs included. Assuming each pair of jeans will be worn 40 times a year since Dawg is a very casual person, the cost is about $0.15USD rounded up per occasion. So, that comes to a little over one peso every time I wear a pair. That´s about $3.00USD a year per pair. I don´t know about you, Neil, but my social security benefits will cover that expense. Now, if I could just do that with Herradura Blanco Tequila.

I like to think that some customs agents in Guadalajara, where they tacked on that duty, had a splendid lunch on the Dawg which had the multipier effect of, in turn, helping the restaurateur and wait staff have successful days as well so I did my part for the local economy.

Now you know how we bankers can rationalize any expenditure. So, bail us out already.

Reefhound

Aug 21, 2010, 11:15 AM

Post #8 of 24 (4125 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] mailing electronics customs?

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Is that one of the items on the tariff list from the trucking issue?

chris cooper

Aug 21, 2010, 11:18 AM

Post #9 of 24 (4123 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] mailing electronics customs?

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Although some on this board will disagree, I don't think duties are as arbitrarily assessed as some claim. Certain but not all items from China can be charged an extremely high duty. Clothing is one item that will suffer a very high duty of several hundred per cent while a laptop from China will be charged 16% of its value.

Dell.com.mx sells laptops on line and their price includes shipping and customs duties. That might be a good option.

Casa

Aug 21, 2010, 12:54 PM

Post #10 of 24 (4085 views)

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Re: [dandalton123] mailing electronics customs?

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Why don’t you just send the laptop back with your illegal immigrant friend that is going back to Oaxaca or bring it yourself on one of your regular visits to your family in Mexico?

stevebrtx

Aug 21, 2010, 6:07 PM

Post #11 of 24 (4045 views)

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Re: [Casa] mailing electronics customs?

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One note of caution, I bought a little netbook at Walmart a month ago, heck of a deal, but I didn't think it through, in typical Mexico fashion the Windows XP OS was in Spanish - well, as usual, the "duh" was all over me. Fortunately I had an unused copy of Vista, in "Inglish", which with some work, has worked out.
www.chapalaweather.net

morgaine7

Aug 21, 2010, 7:11 PM

Post #12 of 24 (4036 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] mailing electronics customs?

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Dell Mexico will load the computer with the English operating system if you specify it when you place the order. A friend of mine who doesn't know Spanish just did this a few months ago.

Kate

stevebrtx

Aug 21, 2010, 7:28 PM

Post #13 of 24 (4029 views)

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Re: [morgaine7] mailing electronics customs?

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Dell may, if you "order" but I'd bet most anything you buy "off the shelf" will be in Spanish. Also, my friend has a Canadian HP laptop which failed a year ago and Mexico will NOT touch any HP NOT sold in MX, she went through hell on that one. So, just a caution on buying things in MX.
www.chapalaweather.net

(This post was edited by stevebrtx on Aug 21, 2010, 7:29 PM)

Rolly

Aug 21, 2010, 7:36 PM

Post #14 of 24 (4024 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] mailing electronics customs?

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"...Canadian HP laptop which failed a year ago and Mexico will NOT touch any HP NOT sold in MX."

I'm sure you must mean HP México will repair only.... Warranties of out of country goods are often a problem.

There are loads of independent repair shops that do a fine job of repairs.

Rolly Pirate

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

stevebrtx

Aug 21, 2010, 7:40 PM

Post #15 of 24 (4019 views)

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Re: [Rolly] mailing electronics customs?

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Yes Rolly, Thanks for the correction I was typing while watching the final laps of NASCAR Bristol. It was covered by warranty, but only in Canada and that in itself was a whole other fiasco.
www.chapalaweather.net

morgaine7

Aug 21, 2010, 7:43 PM

Post #16 of 24 (4017 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] mailing electronics customs?

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Quote

Dell may, if you "order" but I'd bet most anything you buy "off the shelf" will be in Spanish.

True, at least in our area. That's why my friend ordered hers from Dell instead of buying it locally.

Quote

Also, my friend has a Canadian HP laptop which failed a year ago and Mexico will NOT touch any HP NOT sold in MX, she went through hell on that one. So, just a caution on buying things in MX.

Sorry, but I don't follow. Wouldn't that be a caution against buying a computer abroad and bringing it to Mexico?

Kate

Rolly

Aug 21, 2010, 7:51 PM

Post #17 of 24 (4012 views)

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Re: [morgaine7] mailing electronics customs?

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Too bad she didn't order it from Dell México.

Dell does not have a repair service in México; they have authorized repair companies. (Been down that road after my dog knocked a glass of water into my portable Dell. Fried the mother board.)

Wouldn't that be a caution against buying a computer abroad and bringing it to Mexico? Yes

Rolly Pirate

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

stevebrtx

Aug 21, 2010, 7:58 PM

Post #18 of 24 (4008 views)

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Re: [Rolly] mailing electronics customs?

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Let me put it on a bumper sticker:
If you buy in MX, make sure it's in English (unless you're fluent)
If you buy it out of country, be prepared in case of failure to get a blank stare in MX
www.chapalaweather.net

morgaine7

Aug 21, 2010, 8:03 PM

Post #19 of 24 (4004 views)

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Re: [Rolly] mailing electronics customs?

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Quote

Too bad she didn't order it from Dell México.

She did.

Kate

Rolly

Aug 21, 2010, 8:31 PM

Post #20 of 24 (3994 views)

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Re: [morgaine7] mailing electronics customs?

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OOPS. Reading comprehension misfire.

Rolly Pirate

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

mexliving

Aug 21, 2010, 10:01 PM

Post #21 of 24 (3976 views)

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Re: [Rolly] mailing electronics customs?

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last time i checked in mexico, computers(lap tops) and flat screens cost MORE in mexico then in the usa!!!! i purchase a kitchen aid item for 250.00 dollars in sears usa/ that same item was 500.00 dollars (inpesos) in fabricas de francia..... so i dont understand you folks that say you got such a great deal........
fedex/dhl.... all items you shipped to mexico have to be documented on shipping order by fedex/dhl personal in usa...... an item made in china will carry a duty..... your friend risks the package being held by the shipping company with customs fee's to be paid.... last time i had a box shipped down here, i had to pay 600 pesos for import duty.....

its like driving into mexico with 4 new tires in your trunk.... they are confiscated since your not allow to import tires into mexico

Peter

Aug 21, 2010, 11:08 PM

Post #22 of 24 (3964 views)

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Re: [mexliving] mailing electronics customs?

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i purchase a kitchen aid item for 250.00 dollars in sears usa/ that same item was 500.00 dollars (inpesos) in fabricas de francia..... so i dont understand you folks that say you got such a great deal........

If you are speaking of a Kitchen Aid mixer w/dough hook, etc. those were the prices I was finding for awhile, even more costly in Liverpool but for the Artisan series. Later I found the classic KA mixer in an independent store here in Morelia for $2,500mxp. That ends up being much less costly than the one I purchased several years back in the US to around $250,,

I have found I can get some very excellent buys here in Mexico if I am lucky enough to find them.

johanson

Aug 22, 2010, 8:21 AM

Post #23 of 24 (3929 views)

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Re: [Peter] mailing electronics customs?

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I usually buy my Dell laptops in the US, I've had many, and I always ask for a warranty policy that covers me in Mexico.

I've had problems down here, and the service I got from Dell or their representatives, was better along the shore of Lake Chapala than I got in the states. Someone actually came out the next day and changed out my motherboard. In the states I would have had to mail it in.

That said if, I didn't travel back and forth on a regular basis, I would by one here in Mexico from Dell with an English operating system and keyboard, something many friends have done.

joaquinx

Dec 7, 2010, 10:04 AM

Post #24 of 24 (3248 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] mailing electronics customs?

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In Reply To

There is one exception, however; I just bought some bluejeans from LL Bean in Maine because I am a big guy who fancies I need the "big&tall" jeans that LL Bean sells via catalogue. I had eight pairs of jeans shipped to me in Ajijic by FedEx from Maine. Those jeans, which were made in Mexico using Mexican materials and Mexican labor and then shipped to LL Bean only to be re-shipped to me in Ajijic, cost me $205USD. The duty on those jeans came to the equvalent of $253USD so my total actiual cost was the equivalent of $458USD most of which was the duty tacked on by Mexican customs. At least, this time they didn´t steal them as they may very well have had we used snail mail.

I just received my package from LL Bean and was charged no duty. Sent by air and actually delivered to my door by Mexican Post rather than a notice to pick it up at the station.