Sending to Colombia- Other than Servientrega?

rumronrum says on Mar 26, 2008, 07:50:

You might want to try FEDEX. I've always had good luck with them to/from Colombia but they are expensive! http://www.medellinvisitorguide.com

RumRonRum

miamimike says on Mar 26, 2008, 08:31:

Fedex is super expensive and a last resort. Muy $$$. a Better option is Avianca Air Express and they are located next door to Servientrega's main office here in Miami. Avianca is OK for Cargo and has fast service.Their office is right off the Palmetto expwy(rt 826) take the 25 st nw exit to 72 ave.its right at this intersection next door to servientrega. Good luck

Avianca Airlines-Avianca Express(Main)
(305) 599-9112 2511 NW 72nd Ave
Miami, FL

Kendall office:

Avianca Express Kendall
9574 SW 137th Ave
Miami, FL 33186-2201
(305) 385-5115

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —President George W. Bush,

EVERETT says on Mar 26, 2008, 08:44:

I use
http://www.zaicargo.com/
here in Houston. Used them for many years and no problems. They have a Mami office, in fact I think all their cargo pass through Miami then on to Barranquilla for distribution. They are inexpensive also.

The Stars at Night are Big and Bright

gringoloid says on Mar 26, 2008, 09:53:

i would never use servientrega again....... they stole a lot of stuff from me when I moved to colombia.

scooby_1781 says on Mar 26, 2008, 10:04:

My problem is I live in Northern Calif. and the closest big city is 200 miles away. I have to rely on the regular post office but it takes 3 months for anything to get to Colombia

"SEMPER FI"

gringoloid says on Mar 26, 2008, 10:07:

i'm going to try this Avianca Express next, as well as JJ Logistics. This Centurion Freight in Miami might be worth a try also.

miamimike says on Mar 26, 2008, 10:42:

Scooby-if you call and make arrangements first, most of these places will take your package sent by USPS and the repackage it for a small fee, say $5. I would never use reg mail.

G'Loid-I've used Servientrega many times, yours is the first theft case I ever heard of. What did servi say when you informed them of the problem?

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —President George W. Bush,

gringoloid says on Mar 26, 2008, 10:56:

mike...................they forged my signature 4 times.........there was not much i could do. you have to be able to speak fluent spanish to deal with these people, and I can't. I was never able to even get Senora Beatriz on the line. i understand the OP's position.

i also sent my stuff in very strong and secure 'electronic boxes' that cost $15 each. you could put these out in the rain and run over them with a truck and they would hold up. servientrega found a way to destroy half of these boxes.

I lost thousands of dollars in valuable stuff.

no one should ever send more than one or two boxes at time with them.

gringoloid says on Mar 26, 2008, 11:00:

now that we're on the subject...........a few minutes ago, I received a delivery by DHL of my arthritis medication that cost $109 from Miami. the tax on this was $45 usd. I thought it is just 26%.


this doesn't seem right............does anyone know what the tax is on medications? Or the tax on anything, for that matter.

Frank Rizzo says on Mar 26, 2008, 11:00:

Too bad GL..... never had a problem on this end with JJ logistics.....they've broken like 1 lamp in over 2 years... with lots of delicate stuff sent, just sent down an aliens extermination arcade game and it arrived new and without a scratch........never lost anything....as of yet...

arthur brode says on Mar 26, 2008, 11:00:

Servientrega said
"no jodas mas gringo y vete pal carajo!"

http://www.calirentals.net/

miamimike says on Mar 26, 2008, 11:12:

G'loid-I'm heading out for some errands and we have a small neighborhood colombian owned shop(Montezuma) who also ships located here in north miami on 123rd st& Biscayne Blvd. He offers good door to door service in 3-4 days, minimum charge is $15 for 5 pounds, I'll ask him about the Meds. I would also almost guess the Meds need a copy of your prescription for no delays enroute coming or going to Col. This was a change post 9/11 I am told..

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —President George W. Bush,

rumronrum says on Mar 26, 2008, 11:37:

I had medication sent from Los Angeles to Medellin VIA FEDEX. It was $53.50 and no one charged me any tax! http://www.medellinvisitorguide.com

RumRonRum

tlextoo says on Mar 26, 2008, 12:18:

Timely post....was getting ready to send a package to Miami. I was able to speak sufficeint spanish to get the gentleman to at least agree with me, or maybe he was simply agreeing with me as I parroted what I had read of the procedure here on PBH. Interesting to note that the Servientrega agent in Austin said it was eight days to Medellin, 5 from Miami. No entiendo. Maybe I'll float a test package first with a broken cell phone and an inoperable Ipod. btw the guy in Austin spoke English.

tlextoo says on Mar 26, 2008, 12:20:

miamimike - you have the contact info for your man in Miami?

miamimike says on Mar 26, 2008, 12:25:

Tlextoo-I will get all the Info on that Neighborhood shipper and post it later.

Rum-$53.50 sounds like WAY TOO much. God, How Much did your Meds weigh?? They are usually superlight~ The shipper I am speaking of has a $15 Minimum and that is for 5 pounds.

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —President George W. Bush,

arthur brode says on Mar 26, 2008, 12:26:

J.J.Logistics
5525 NW 72 Ave.
Miami,FL.33166
1-305-805-8300

http://www.calirentals.net/

gato-bandido says on Mar 26, 2008, 12:31:

What about the other way - from Colombia to US? Is Servientrega any good for that?

arthur brode says on Mar 26, 2008, 12:35:

dont know.
cant afford it.

http://www.calirentals.net/

DodgerDogs says on Mar 26, 2008, 13:11:

MiamiMike, Servientrega is famous stealing , ask locals in Colombia about Servientriga.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

bamacellist says on Mar 26, 2008, 15:25:

I have never had a problem sending small and medium packages from Birmingham Alabama to Barranquilla via regular mail and delivery has been within two weeks generally. I just shipped something via Servientrega because I needed a quicker delivery. You can ship it to any location listed on their website and they will handle it. I used "Fast & Efficient" in Tampa. They speak English there. They called me when they received the package and I paid their shipping invoice by credit card over the phone. They also called when delivery was completed. They received it on a Friday and it was delivered the following Wednesday. $18. They made me very happy. Btw, I attached the trans-shipment info to the outside of the box in a clear packing invoice envelope.

"The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand."

rumronrum says on Mar 26, 2008, 16:38:

Miami Mike. It was a FEDEX Envelope and the second one I've received. Yes, way to much but like all FEDEX packages I was able to track it and received it as promissed.

RumRonRum

bradenmiami says on Mar 26, 2008, 16:41:

If your sending small stuff, go with DHL. Never had a problem with them even once over the last 6 years....

For big stuff, go with the JJ Logistics reference. I used them to ship my stuff here when I moved to Medellin, and it went off without a hitch! I go the reference originally here from PBH... If you make it to the office, let me know how my old gray couch is doing! I gave it to them as a gift when I decided not to ship it...last I saw it, it was getting set up in the office just off the warehouse!

You won't find a tourist here...

Saltador says on Mar 26, 2008, 16:53:

Great info all. Guess I should have asked BEFORE I sent the package, but never a problem before with Servientrega.
Update: 7PM CST. They were supposed to call me back today so I could pay for the shipment. They never did. Package still in Miami for yet another day. Will call tommorow and see what happens...

bamacellist says on Mar 26, 2008, 17:25:

These services seem to be like every other type of service company... they all have mostly happy clients and also a few who have had a bad enough experience that they'll never give them another chance. Years ago when I lived in Caracas, DHL was the way to go, but I had two straight bad experiences with them within the last couple years and I would never choose their service now. Good luck!

"The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand."

Frank Rizzo says on Mar 26, 2008, 18:24:

Right on Brad....i agree....with you on using JJ..... Brad, do you use the equipaje route or puerta a puerta, usually??? Raphi gives great service....

bradenmiami says on Mar 27, 2008, 03:08:

I have only used the equipaje route, and that was before I heard hints of a new tax even on the equipaje? I don't know the details, or if its true...

You won't find a tourist here...

miamimike says on Mar 27, 2008, 03:45:

More on shipping:



Submitted by viewpoint on Sun, 02/06/2005 - 16:01.

What ever you do don't ship anything via DHL or any major Air Freight Forwarder without being sure of the rates. Your post doesn't state your point of shipping but I am assuming the USA. Find a freight forwarder that can handle your shipment from any of COPA Airlines departure cities in the USA or Puerto Rico and ship by them as it (can) will cost you 2/3 less. COPA can't take freight from you direct but can accept it from a freight company (freight forwarder) for further shipment to you in Bogotá. It's the cheapest airfreight that I know of. I receive a corporate discount from DHL and it still cost me $750 to ship several boxes of books, movies and business papers including customs clearance. After I saw the bill I fainted almost but started checking with COPA and they gave me the information and the contacts to bring the cost on a similar shipment to about $250. Please let me know what APx charges per lb. or kilo. DHL was about $2.50 lb into Medellin and the COPA route was less than .75 cents/lb. You could check with Avianca air freight department.



http://www.cartagenainfo.net/poorbuthappy.html

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —President George W. Bush,

gringoloid says on Mar 27, 2008, 06:16:

yes, mike..........please post all the details of your neighborhood shipper. (phone and whether they speak english)

i never knew there were that many shippers here.................can't we all get together and use one shipper and then maybe they would take better care of us?

we should at least have a 'sticky' or a tab for shipping..............it's hard to find these exact threads 6 months later.

Frank Rizzo says on Mar 27, 2008, 08:32:

Hi....that sounds about right Mike.....the base charge on the equipaje is $ 0.80 cents per pound.....i have them do a more full service deal...where they prepare the shipment in the wharehouse in miami over about a month each time...taking everything that comes in...then he'll make a run to Sams or Costco in miami for a few items....then ships it down....they do all the paperwork through the customs in colombia, pay whatever taxes and deliver to the house....in all it's about $ 1 or so a pound with equipaje....as an average....

Yeah Brad.....we've got hit with some monster taxes on electronics....with the equipaje sometimes....Raphi can tell you the stories... you can't beat his service...

Scott says on Mar 28, 2008, 06:28:

Servientrega now has an office in Orlando.

Servientrega
1308 S Semoran Blvd
Orlando Fl 32807
407-459-1328

Saltador says on Mar 28, 2008, 07:43:

Update:
They called me Thursday. I was able to give them my credit card number for payment. I asked her when the person was to receive the package in Manizales, and she said Friday or Saturday. I find that hard to believe, but will post back when it arrives.

mike41623 says on May 10, 2008, 06:47:

Update May 10th 2008. Hey guys I just checked this post out and wanted to update anybody im here in florida. I just used zaicargo without adding insurance to send a package here from miami to medellin in colombia and the package got there fast and safe with no problems. My friends in medellin received it so I recommend using zaicargo its good! :)

Take care.