Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

niqui

Apr 30, 2002, 12:44 PM

Post #1 of 9 (3130 views)

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to declare or not to declare

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howdy, errrrr hola,
im trying to decide if i can/should try to bring my computer across the border, the hard drive im taking apart and mailing the hardware so thats not a problem, but the monitor, thats a problem. is it worth the risk? or should i just say no and try and buy one when i get to mexico. im moving there and trying to minimalize and bring as small amount of things i can, i also wanna be a legal as possible. any ideas?niqui

Rolly

Apr 30, 2002, 1:09 PM

Post #2 of 9 (3132 views)

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to declare or not to declare

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You're what?!! Mailing the hard drive? DON'T DO THAT! You will probably never see it again; the Mexican postal service is not at all reliable. Also you will have to pay an import duty on anything you get in the mail.My advice is to sell your desk-top and buy a lap-top. Lap-tops are duty free while desk-tops can only be brought in with an FM3 – or sometimes with a bribe, but you also risk loosing it.

andrew

Apr 30, 2002, 1:37 PM

Post #3 of 9 (3127 views)

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While I am not entirely aware of every single regulation, the rule should be: don't mail anything other than books/papers. Getting your stuff out of customs can be a challenge (even if you are allowed to pay the duty); even under the ideal scenario it is very costly and slow. Most likely, if it doesn't get lost/confiscated, and you don't want to leave it as a present for Mexican government, you'd have to pay to have it delivered back to the U.S. If you still decide to mail it, be sure that the customs doesn't have a reason to value it at US$300 or more, or you may not be even able to pay the duty. If you don't have FM-3, Rolly is right - get a laptop (as is the case with other computer equipment, it would be cheaper in the U.S. than in Mex)

niqui

Apr 30, 2002, 3:05 PM

Post #4 of 9 (3127 views)

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thanks guys for the input, how bout this plan :)
i can take my HD apart, i mean other than the shell it will fit in a shoebox, the cards and the drive itself, i can always buy another monitor down there and the keyboard can do whatever keyboards do when they are left behind.the bottom line is i hate laptops, cant work with one, i need a mouse and a monitor to do pics/art and stuff.thanks again
niquii sure am learning more than i would have ever thought id need to know about crossing a border :)

Rolly

Apr 30, 2002, 4:16 PM

Post #5 of 9 (3127 views)

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Amigo, promise me one thing. When you get set up in Mexico, send me an e-mail telling how it went.Good Luck!

Ken in Maz

May 1, 2002, 12:28 AM

Post #6 of 9 (3126 views)

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:A friend here in Mazatlan tried the bring the desktop adventure.He got a red light and the customs agents took the complete computer and his car,after 24 hours of negotiations they released the car after my friend payed a fine of $1500.00 USD.He could have bought the same quality computer here for $800.00 USD.I dont think he was too smart!

andrew

May 1, 2002, 11:30 AM

Post #7 of 9 (3128 views)

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to declare or not to declare

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Who knows! It is very likely, nobody is even going to bother checking you (at least, when you WALK - or even FLY - into Mexico, in my experience, you'd have to be quite unlucky to get a customs check, still less one diligent enough to find and understand what's all that hardware. On the other hand, if you are unlucky, you will put yourself at the mercy of the customs agent - if you want to try getting away with it. However, I'd first check, how much are you going to save on getting whatever the part of the system you get in from the U.S. True, computer prices here are somewhat higher (unless you go to Tepito market and buy the contraband) and the selection may be somewhat smaller - but that somewhat is, may be, 30%. Depends on how risk-averse you are.

alex

May 2, 2002, 12:30 PM

Post #8 of 9 (3126 views)

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me tocó rojo

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I got the red light when transporting a monitor. Fine was about 70 bucks but settled on $40. My passport was passed thru a barcode reader and I was advised that next time I would lose the merchandise AND the car.
Alex

Michael

May 14, 2002, 6:40 PM

Post #9 of 9 (3128 views)

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to declare or not to declare from US to Mexico?

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Wait a minute....I thought going into Mexico from the USA I did not have to declare anything? I'm taking my labtop computer which I purchased used in the USA. When I return to the USA from Mexico...do I have to declare it?Michael
romans12ver2@yahoo.com