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Villa de RQ

Jan 21, 2004, 6:43 AM

Post #1 of 12 (750 views)

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Moving household items to Mexico

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Please advise:

Is a freight forwarder a better way to move belongings than conventional mover?

I am understanding one can use a freight forwarder and not require menaje de casa.

Also moving costs may be lower.

Thanks in advance

Rolly

Jan 21, 2004, 7:18 AM

Post #2 of 12 (744 views)

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Re: [berniegu] Moving household items to Mexico

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Sure you can ship your household belongings to Mexico without a menaje, but if you do, you'll have to pay an import duty. The menaje is a courtesy extended by the Mexican government to allow you to bring your belongs to your new home in Mexico without paying any duty. It has nothing to do with how you ship the things.

Rolly Pirate

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

Villa de RQ

Jan 21, 2004, 8:47 AM

Post #3 of 12 (723 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Moving household items to Mexico

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Thank you for your response.

I am also understanding their is a $425 fee for importing household goods with or without the menaje de casa.

Please comment.

Thanks

Rolly

Jan 21, 2004, 9:10 AM

Post #4 of 12 (719 views)

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Re: [berniegu] Moving household items to Mexico

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There is a fee for the menaje. I forget how much -- a bit less than US$200. I am not aware of any other fee.

Where are you getting this "information?"

Rolly Pirate

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

Villa de RQ

Jan 21, 2004, 9:42 AM

Post #5 of 12 (715 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Moving household items to Mexico

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Rolly,

Thank you for your reply.

The source of my information is a freight forwarder in Laredo.

The forwarder does use a casa de meneje.

Rolly

Jan 21, 2004, 9:55 AM

Post #6 of 12 (711 views)

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Re: [berniegu] Moving household items to Mexico

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That US$425 is probably his markup of the customs broker's fee. If you use a moving company, the broker's fee is included in the price of the move. A customs broker is required to handle the paperwork with the Mexican customs folks on all but the smallest of personal (in your car) moves.

Rolly Pirate

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

juan david

Jan 21, 2004, 5:25 PM

Post #7 of 12 (669 views)

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Re: [berniegu] Moving household items to Mexico

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Maybe the more important thing is to work with a local mover who has a reputation for goooood packing and who has worked with a Mexican partner who services the area you are moving to. They will have to work together on the hand off at the border and probably the menaje de casa inventory translation as well. As always, Rolly os the main man on this topic. Good luck.
" let sleeping dogs lie"

Miguelito

Jan 22, 2004, 4:05 AM

Post #8 of 12 (644 views)

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Re: [berniegu] Moving household items to Mexico

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I think Rolly is correct. I'm using a customs broker and moving my stuff on my own truck. His fee is $300, he's in Pharr, Tx. The cost for the menaje at the San Antonio consulate is $122 and I'm applying for mine today. Regards, Mike

Los que cantan oran dos veces! (Those who sing pray twice!)

Villa de RQ

Jan 22, 2004, 5:22 AM

Post #9 of 12 (635 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Moving household items to Mexico

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Interesting!!

The moving quote from the freight forwarder for 10,000 lbs is $2750 from Laredo to Lakeside. I will need menaje de casa.

The quote from a moving company is $1/lb or $10,000. Seems like the $425 versus $200 for import fee is the small piece of the puzzle.

My numbers are based on firm quotes.

Judy in Ags

Jan 22, 2004, 7:32 PM

Post #10 of 12 (591 views)

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Re: [ian] Moving household items to Mexico

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"They will have to work together on the hand off at the border and probably the menaje de casa inventory translation as well."

I'm not sure of what you mean by "hand off at the border". Our son-in-law moved all our stuff in March of '03 in a regular commerical moving line van. There was no "hand off". Nothing was even unpacked or inspected after presenting the Menaje de Casa" at the border. I also don't understand why you say a translation of the Menaje de Casa would be necessary when the Mexican Consulate requires that it be translated into Spanish before it can be approved. Have you been through this process?

juan david

Jan 23, 2004, 2:51 PM

Post #11 of 12 (551 views)

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Re: [Judy in Ags] Moving household items to Mexico

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Yes, have been through this. Our mover( a United Van Lines agent ) has moved a number of clients from Ottawa to Lake Chapala. They sent the packing list to the Mexican partner in Guad who translated it and sent it back so we could take it to the consulate for menaje de casa permission. The Canadian mover delivered to a warehouse in Laredo and the Mexican mover picked our stuff up, cleared it through customs and delivered to Lake Chapala. We thought it made sense to have Mexican movers clear customs so that if any hitches occured, they could deal with it on the spot.

I'm sure there are many other ways to do this process, but that's how ours went.
" let sleeping dogs lie"

Villa de RQ

Jan 24, 2004, 7:59 AM

Post #12 of 12 (504 views)

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Re: [ian] Moving household items to Mexico

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Good POST:

I have not been through the move process yet but I am getting ready to; or as we say in Texas, fixing to.

I will use a Laredo based freight forwarder who will coordinate with a mover to have my belongings picked up in Dallas and sent to Laredo. I will have a Fm-3 but it is not necessary to get the menaje de casa approved by the consulate. The freight forwarder will open all boxes and make identify any items that may need a customs fee. Six months or older appliances may still need to show wear to avoid customs charges. They will then cross the border, pay the fee, and deliver to lakeside.

Cost is significantly lower than using a mover