Please help!! What is the best way to ship!!!

Miguel says on Dec 26, 2004, 11:21:

USPS I have posted previously about my good luck sending items to Barranquilla; my luck just ran out. I sent a box of various presents to my girlfriend and her family, and it looks like someone opened it, ripped off a couple of items, re-wrapped it and then it was delivered. Lesson learned.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Sam Salmon says on Dec 26, 2004, 11:21:

"Why do you think there has b "Why do you think there has been a delay????"
It was stolen-what other reason is there?

"What is the best company to use to ship globally, I mean one that guarantees delivery or offers insurance."
DHL-but make sure they deliver themselves in the country and don't use an Agent.
An Agent will charge your Father all kinds of additional money for delivery, Customs/Excise fees, and a little more just to line their own grubby pockets.
Think Carefully if the additional money you're spending to send things to your Padre wouldn't be better spent in Colombia-can't you just send him the money through a reputable broker and let him source the goods in Colombia?






' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Patrick says on Dec 26, 2004, 12:31:

Federal Express and no other All other shippers use an agent in Colombia. FedEx is the only one that controls the shipment from start to finish. They offer FedEx Economy to Colombia, about 4 or 5 days from the states to just about anywhere in the country. Good Luck.
Patrick

Don't blame me I voted for Ron Paul!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Save the Wildcats says on Dec 26, 2004, 13:35:

If you use www.virtualexito.com it wouldn't have to go through customs, right? That might be an idea in the future. I'm sorry about your father's stuff, that really makes me mad.

Kim

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Miguel says on Dec 26, 2004, 14:26:

Bueno, Señor Sam I have been thinking/steaming for a couple of hours over some asshole opening my package and stealing something worth $15 and not taking something worth $50! Now, I will only bring gifts personally on my trips, and the other times will wire la plata.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

isaactraveler says on Dec 26, 2004, 15:00:

hey miguel probably was the doorman at her place.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

2retirensa says on Dec 26, 2004, 15:01:

There is no overnight delivery to Colombia You sent the pkg on the 19th Dec. and expect it to delivered by the 20th? Of Dec.? You need to wait atleast 3 weeks. My photos, a small enevelope package took that long. Some one just sent me a small pkg from Cali via DHL & all was well. Sent on Fri., arrived on Tue (or close to that time frame.
Maureen

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Miguel says on Dec 26, 2004, 16:27:

Que issac? What the hell you talking about, bro? She lives in a strata 3 neighborhood with her family that ranges in age from 4 to 85; no doorman.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gomezman5 says on Dec 26, 2004, 18:43:

Miguel is corect Forget about sending things....wire the money.
Customs in Colombia is horrible. I sent someone a book and a box of candy. The book got taxed (rediculous) and the box of candy was stolen.

As far as where your goods are??? That's anybody's guess. Customs, DHL, FED Ex....they're all either thieves or incompetent. I tend to think the later applies.

Look, we're sending things of value, and the delivery services know that something that comes from the US probably has value in that if they don't need it, they can just steal it and sell it to someone who does.

I mean, before I decided to just send money, unless, I can take it myself or beg someone to take it with them, it got to the point where only %50 of the tima, the goods got there.

One major exception.....it's a pain, but it's better than anything I have read. A compnay called Servientrega is like the Fedex in Colombia. They are extremely reliable. They also have an office in Miami. What you could do is Fed the package to their office in Miami. That's 1 day. Then they can send it to Bogota and it will arrive that night or the next day. One day later it can be delivered if it's in Bogota. You will have to contact Servientrega in Miami to find out about the info they need. You include the shipping document with the package you are sending Fed EX to them in Miami. You can also charge the Servientrega cost to your credit card. Best of all, Servientrega is very reliable, and has tracking....Again it costs$$, but it's secure, and is guaranteed to arrive---unless customs does its thing....Best..SEND THE MONEY AND LET THEM BUY THERE!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gomezman5 says on Dec 26, 2004, 18:46:

I forgot it's to Tulua Send the money.....or call Servientrega and ask them how much $ and how long from Miami to Tulua.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Dec 27, 2004, 01:07:

Servientrega--Miami I have used this service many times-very highly recommended--they have door to door service in a few days and it is guarenteed. Here in Miami they are located just west of the airport on 82 ave.(5 minutes west of the Palmetto expressway--use nw 25st exit-east). They are next door to Avianca's off airport location.They are affiliated with fed-x now.Their address is 2234 NW 82 ave. phone 786-331-9001. They also have a website-servientrega.com. They are considerably cheaper then Avianca Air Express, who I used to use but I find this company better and cheaper. I would never send anything via USPS mail--God knows what would happen to anything sent vai US Mail tp Colombia.

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

latingirl says on Dec 27, 2004, 21:56:

but it was Global Express They guaranteed 5-6 days.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gomezman5 says on Dec 27, 2004, 22:33:

Thanks Miammike Thanks for giving the added info. I send things to them from the midwest. They want all the packing info...it makes clearing customs easier. Global express doesn't have the network or as a elaborate tracking as Servientrega has..

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Dec 31, 2004, 12:55:

Servientrega Forgot to add-they are in Hiahlea off the Palmetto. I have used them for about 5 shipments and they came thru each time without any BS or problems and it was door to door in 2-3 days guarenteed. I have used ABE shipping for a few documents and they were OK also-but more$$ then SERVI by a little.

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

santiBOG says on Jan 2, 2005, 07:52:

apartadoaereo.com I've used apartadoaereo.com to Bogota.

It's not a next-day type thing, but it's very reasonably priced.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

toneloc24 says on Jan 2, 2005, 09:29:

My recent experience Three weeks ago, I sent X-mas cards to Colombia using US Postal, normal international rates.

To this moment, they have yet to arrive. Within the same batch of postage, I sent X-mas cards to Chile & the USA (California & NY). The USA postage arrived on-time, the X-mas card to Chile arrived with 7 business days.

This can't be normal for Colombia, is it? I'll never again use USPS for international mail/packages. Their guarantees are worthless after they leave the USA.

"PBH is dead!!!!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jan 2, 2005, 10:26:

Can't be normal for Colombia... Toneloc-this is the "Norm" for colombia since I sending things there since '95---I have never seen fast and reliable service via normal or even reigisrered, express mail from the USPS to Colombia. I tried it a few times in '95 and gave up the ghost a long long time ago. The problem occurs once the mail leaves the US and hits the colombian postal system--from this point on-delivery becomes a crap shoot. Since I don't mail every day-I figure the reliable courier services like ServiEntrega are worth it-they save a lot of grief. That said we have Problems here with domestic delivery within the USA also. Miami in my experience has the WORST mail service the USA. This is hard to beleive but last year it took 7 MONTHS for an item I purchased on eBay, sent from Maryland to Miami via USPS Parcel Post--it was sent to the correct post office but due to inconsiderate postal carriers/employees they just did not deliver the item(even after I went to the post office 7 times to claim the item) thru dogged persistance I found the item in Atlanta's Dead letter dept-ONE day before it was due to be auctioned off. WE here in the US, in certain areas are not without problem.Here in the US, in contrast to Colombia or the rest of the Americas, US postal workers are very HIGHLY compensated whereas in Colombia they are paid a pittance. Its probably a miracle that mail service in colombia functions at all-workers have no incentive to give it their all-not the case here where they earn $22/hr.+benefits. Try Servientrega you'll like it!

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ARMacleod says on Jan 2, 2005, 10:41:

Ali Baba and the 40 ? Expensive but from England anyway very efficient. FED EX

Try this for size

Dateline: 07 Jan 04. Got the information I required for flights etc by ‘E' Mail in Oxford England.

Dateline: 08 Jan 04. Attempted to E Mail information to ‘much beloved' in Bogota, many attempts and many phone calls later still came out unreadable at the other end.

Dateline: 09 Jan 04. Posted three copies of the documents to three different addresses in and around Bogota

The one to la oficina de correos Bogotá has yet to arrive
Number two to home of amiga de hermosa senora, probably winging its way to ‘utopiacowboys,' pad in British Columbia

Dateline: 15 October 04. Copy No three arrives at my home in Oxford England. Now this bit is good. Much beloved is sitting in my home when I get in from work, fiery rage in eyes. Who the &%£$ do you know in Bogota?

Investigates large brown envelope on table, postmarked Colombia. No evidence of wires protruding and not having a sniffer dog, I opened offending object. Eureka! Inside It is the third envelope, having been opened by a scrounging Brown Bear in Yellowstone Park and subsequently resealed.
Note internally states recipient not found at this address and returned to sender.

Much beloved had been in England since April 04 and was preparing to return to Bogota for a holiday. That was good, she could deliver it to herself.

‘ E' Mail Ontario Canada, from Oxford for an out of print 45 record featuring Burundi Black. It arrived in Oxford, Five days later, Insert "Sorry for delay, I do not work weekends". This I swear on the life of Herr Pergaminstadt Humboldt ( An Austro Germanic malcontent)

But never mind, I love Colombia for many more reasons than the efficience of the postal service.

Be happy, stay lucky.

The brain is like a parachute, it only functions correctly when it is open. Pax vobiscum.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Chevere33 says on Jan 10, 2005, 11:57:

Don't use US mail! I gave up sending things to Cali via regular mail a few years ago. First, it'd take months, then they just stopped showing up at all. Even had two letters not show up. I'd be interested to find out what the consensus is on shipping things. I've shipped via DHL twice, and it's very reliable, but way too expensive!

Constancia

0 funny, 0 helpful.