Sending a container from Europe to Medellin?

miamimike says on Jan 21, 2008, 06:03:

Peter--they are many Freight forwarders /Consolidators here in Miami that could handle that Job. I would have to ask a Neighborhood shipper who sends out many packages weekly to Colombia from his small store by my Condo..After the Container is loaded, its locked securely from that Point and is secure while in Ocean Transit. What happens when it gets to its destination may be another story. A friend of mine recently shipped all her belongings back to Puerto Plata, DR and while it remained intact, when it hit the DR Port, Customs really slapped her with a High Tax(they changed the tax rate) once she went to pick up. That would be my biggest concern.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tejasmarcos says on Jan 21, 2008, 06:52:

peter - why not just buy your things here in mde? if you are just furnishing an apartment, the expense is not exhorbitant for furniture and other household items (although not cheap). it definitely saves the headaches.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 21, 2008, 07:17:

I used Continental Relocation Services out of Miami for a move from San Juan, PR to Panamá, but I would not recommend them. However they were able to coordinate the total move of HHG and vehicle, pickup at my apartment, packing, and delivery to my apartment here.

I found the service unsatisfactory as the container missed the “supposed" direct voyage to Panamá (they SPECULATED was the fault of Puerto Rico State Police not arriving to inspect vehicle) and ended up hung up for weeks in Cartagena, and communications with them broke down.

The total cost was $8000US and was a bad move. I should have sold all, and bought new here. I don’t think there was any theft, but considerable damage to furniture.

I have pensionado visa therefore had to pay no duty, only sales tax for the car, but aduana was a colossal pain!

Unless you have heirlooms and treasures (and I wouldn’t want to put that stuff in container), you might like to reconsider container shipping.

You do know that you can not import a used car in Colombia?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

gringoloid says on Jan 21, 2008, 07:21:

it's better to give your stuff away and buy new in Colombia. I had a lot of good stuff stolen and broken.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

pedro says on Jan 21, 2008, 07:29:

Hi Peter, I sent a shipment of personal items from France to Australia once.

About 5 years ago, the costs were as follows. 4500 euros to have about 12m3 packed and shipped as far as the destination port. I then paid a customs clearing agent and had it transported in my absence to a storage place in the same city, this probably cost another 300 euros.

Everything arrived correctly and the only damage was a drawer in a chest of drawers that wouldn't slide straight.

Your main issue is going to be customs clearing in Colombia and import duties. This would be a deal breaker for me, and would put me off the whole idea.

You may want to keep an eye on the proposed new laws for qualifying immigrants to Colombia who buy property in the registered tourist zones. They are proposing easier importation of personal items -- in this case it may be an smoother procedure.

que nota!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tejasmarcos says on Jan 21, 2008, 08:16:

hey damien - you are the guy that trashed my thread with all your tacos and nachos nonsense. now you come here and give good advice? what gives?

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 21, 2008, 08:20:

Duplicate

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 21, 2008, 08:23:

Sorry for the duplicates, it appeared not to have been sent.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on Jan 21, 2008, 09:34:

Peter.........Consider Air Cargo for the most essential items.............get rid of the non-essentials before travelling. Your favourite sofas, beds, matresses, T.V.'s and electrical gadgets for the kitchen are worth taking. As is, irreplaceable personal stuff. Ship an extra flat screen T.V and an extra computer or laptop which you can off load here at your lesuire. Just a couple of pricey items can go a long way to reducing your overall costs.

To keep costs down I would'nt bother with a freight forwarder. Instead, go to Lufthansa cargo ( they fly into Medellin ) or similar and deal directly with them. Also, don't use an import agent here. They are not required for importing personal stuff, just commerical. Once your things arrive at the cargo carriers warehouse at the airport here, the process of dealing with DIAN is fairly simple. You will have to pay 15% tax on the value that YOU declare the items to be worth.

You really need to take a good hard look at your things and ask yourself if you really use all of it.

If you are insistent on bringing a lot of stuff then it is better to go with a 40' container. A 20' would not be cost effective. Also, it is then better to use an import agent. More expense. Everything will be taken out of the container at the port, checked and re-loaded. There is also a very good chance that it will be stopped again en route to Medellin, checked and re-loaded again. Contact Maersk in Belgium. http://www.maersklogistics.com/sw32517.asp They will give you all the detals and they also have an office in Medellin.

If you decide to ship by air, I can meet you at the airport here and help you with all the paperwork for DIAN. There are truckers here that will bring your stuff into the city or wherever. You can haggle with them at the airport. A decent sized load should cost around 200,000 to get it into the city and into your house/apt.

Send me an e-mail if you have any specific questions and I will contact whoever here to get you the proper answers.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Timba says on Jan 21, 2008, 14:51:

I have been looking for a satisfactory answer to the same question.

As I understand it, if you are moving to Colombia, you can bring in the container free. The problem is aduana. Even if you know all the rules and regulations, the aduana official you are dealing with may not.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

gringoloid says on Jan 21, 2008, 16:26:

so, bottom line, what are you guys saying the eventual cost for a 40ft container would be?

you're making it sound like it would cost 4 or 5 grand usd.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on Jan 21, 2008, 17:22:

Gringoloid.........Coming from the U.S to Medellin would probably be around $5000.
I don't know the road cost between Bogota and the port. Container from Miami to Cartagena is around $2000.....Road from Cartagena to Medellin will be around $1500. Taxes, based on you declaring the value at $4000 would be $600. An import agent to jerk you around will cost around $400. Total $4500. I have added a little extra on to these costs to allow for prices having risen a bit. If you use a freight forwarder in Miami, there will be additional expenses.

The import agent will typically inform you that he is having problems getting the container released. You will talk to him on the phone several times each day and he will assure you that he is working on the problem. There will be additional storage costs at the port until the agent does his job. The only thing that he actually does is hand the paperwork that you give him over to the DIAN agent. He also deposits the taxes into their account.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 21, 2008, 17:50:

Yeah, RAAAY, been there, done that, in Panamá. Same bullshit here. Would NOT repeat it! Was an espensive nightmare. You did mention cost of storage until all is cleared.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Peter (Moderator) says on Jan 21, 2008, 23:46:

Good advice all over, thanks so much everyone. So the conclusion seems to be: just forget about it. Perhaps do air transport for stuff you'd really want to take.Thanks!

Poor but snappy

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tejasmarcos says on Jan 22, 2008, 05:40:

peter - so you are moving to medellin once again. when do you arrive? how long will you be here? let's meet up........

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Timba says on Jan 22, 2008, 07:15:

Why don't you just call Maersk and ask. I can't believe that it would be $5000 as it only costs $3000 from China to the east coast of North America.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on Jan 22, 2008, 07:26:

The $5000 is'nt even from Belgium.............I've no idea how much from there. The $5000 approx is from MIAMI but that figure includes the land freight from the port, the estimated taxes and the agent fees and storage at the port until it is released.
$3000 is the pure shipping cost from China to the East coast.

But yes, I would still check the costs of shipping a container from Belgium. There is an extra cost you can pay to DIAN to have the container checked in Medellin and not at the port. This means that the first time the container is opened is at the DIAN storage facility in Medellin and the extra charge is well worth it. I have used both methods. You can be there with DIAN when they open it and thus ensure no theft or breakages.

It also speeds up the process as the container leaves the port very quickly.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lowell says on Jan 22, 2008, 07:41:

I used Maersk when I moved fron Calif to Panama. I got very good service. I monitered the packing of the container. In Panama I used an ex customs agent to expedite the entry of my goods including my car. At the port in Panama, my container was opened, backed out my car, and contents transfered to a truck. 1 official observed the operation, only asked if I was bringing in guns or money and didn't inspect a thing. He was tipped $50.00 prior to the start of the operation. I had no damage to anything and nothing was lost/stolen. Don't remember the costs. But remember them as being reasonbable. My expediter went with me to the police station to report my car entering Panama and that I'd be moving the car to the other end of Panama. One month later I had my Panama license plates. I rermember that in order to take my car at the port, I had to pay the normal tax required. The money was returned promply upon completion of the paperwork.

Moving to colombia was also easy. My wife had been with me for 2 years, so we could import tax free. I only paid tax on my construction equipment and then not much. We shipped with Avianca Deprisa, brought in over a ton of stuff at 50 cents a pound. The goods were tranported to Pereira and we cleared customs there. Again, no loss or theft. Computer, home ent center. moms crystal, many other fragile items, no damage. Just some damage to the plactic containers used for packing the goods. Over 80 containers. For that price I even brought my life long prized nuts, bolts, odds and ends collection.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Timba says on Jan 22, 2008, 08:48:

Maersk

$2700 Freight
65 Tax surcharge
421 Handling charge
100 Part dues
125 BAF
174 Emergency Bunker surcharge
25 Documentation Fee
6 Carrier Security
======================
$3616.19

Yes, that is only for the ocean freight portion.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on Jan 22, 2008, 16:18:

That's a decent price...........is it for a 40' or a 20' container ?
The other charges would add around a further $3000. Either way, when you consider a good TV and set of sofas in Colombia can cost around $5000 it makes bringing your own things worthwhile.

I still like the idea of air cargo direct to Medellin of the high priced items, getting rid of the rest for whatever you can get for it. Then buy all the other bits and pieces here. It's amazing how much expensive and bulky stuff you can ship by air for $3000.

.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

0 funny, 0 helpful.

gringoloid says on Jan 22, 2008, 17:40:

Raay, there is one thing we're skimming over here; you are a large volume importer and are familiar with all the ins and outs as well as your shippers wanting to keep your business. i don't think they would want to lose your business.

when someone comes into colombia out of the blue, like me and a few others here, DIAN knows it is a one shot deal and they prepare you for the love scene from deliverance.

many people like arthur have a spouse that is colombian and that helps too.

i have heard some real horror stories; like holding peoples goods hostage for 15-20 grand.

it really depends on your agent.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on Jan 22, 2008, 18:14:

gringoloid.........not really......the shippers I use vary according to what price each is offering at a particular time...........they change their prices by season and according to the load they have booked..............there's no loyalty.

Yes, there have been horror stories regadring DIAN. But they have cleaned up the whole act an awful lot. In my experience their inspectors are now professional and courteous. It's a far cry from what they used to be.

Basically, the paperwork for each container is handed into the DIAN office and the containers are inspected in that order. If anything, I have found that they will very often move a private person's paperwork to the top of the list. The DIAN inspector is looking at import agents all day, every day. If they don't like the f**ker they will often let his paperwork wait. This is why I recommended to Peter not to use an agent at all. When you show up at the DIAN window yourself, show a bit of manners and courtesy, they will respond.

There was huge corruption within DIAN inspectors in years past. They have gotten rid of all or most of the bad apples. Today's DIAN inspector is professional and takes no shit. The import agents are the same f**kers as before.

More often than not the agent will tell you that he has submitted the paperwork and DIAN are sitting on it. This usually is not the case at all. The import agents are known to let your stuff sit and then tell you he needs more money to slip the DIAN guy to release you stuff.

It's better to deal with DIAN yourself. Import agents are required for commercial cargo so I have to deal with the f**kers. They are not required for importing personal shipments. I could write a small book on my experiences with them. Some funny f**kin stories. Avoid them like the plague.

.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jorgeaev says on Jan 23, 2008, 08:45:

I need the details to help you out, actually i own a business in Bogota-Colombia and we do take care of imports and exports. So send me an e-mail to jorge.espinosa at intelservi.com and we'll take it from there. George.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on Jan 23, 2008, 09:28:

George............are you a freight forwarder.....consolidator.....shipping agent....import agent...??

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

0 funny, 0 helpful.