Shipping electronics to CO (Dead Horse alert)

Papi de Alejo says on Jul 3, 2009, 08:55:

I'm looking to travel with a 22" in its original packaging in a couple of weeks. I'm hoping that the packaging will be sufficient to safeguard the tv as it travels as checked baggage as it's just a bit too large for carry-on..

Saltador - As to shipping, I was told by Vincell Cargo in NY (they have a relationship with Coordinadora in Colombia) that if I shipped any electronic items, they would have to charge me 28% for duty.

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Saltador says on Jul 3, 2009, 08:57:

That would be great johnny. Just saw a really highy reviewed Samsung 40" on ebay for 1000 dollars....

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Loggi says on Jul 3, 2009, 09:04:

I was taxed $4900,00on my personal belongings.

Live for the moments you can't put into words

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Papi de Alejo says on Jul 3, 2009, 09:10:

Thanks Johnny. I will keep that in mind for when I'm ready to do larger shipments.

As for the shipper, Coordinadora is a known entity in Colombia, at least in Santa Marta. The company here in NY, I believe used to be a part of Coordinadora and has been spun off or some one took up the slack when the Colombian company decided to retrench from their international operations. I have shipped with them a few times but only had a problem (delay) the first time when someone in Colombia decided that there is no such place as Bonda and sent the package to Honda. It's a long distance from Tolima to Magdalena. They rectified the problem and delivered the package within a day and a half of realizing what the problem was.

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

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scumbuster says on Jul 3, 2009, 09:15:

Jonney.. What would be the shipping time on a pallet? Say Miami to Cartagena? What extra expense to get it to Bogota? Any idea?

Tomas Jefferson “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

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Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 3, 2009, 14:04:

medefockinllin says on Jul 3, 2009, 14:40:

NEVER USE JJ LOGISTICS IN MIAMI. Utterly incompetent, dishonest and no computer system. They lost four items of mine and the items that did arrive were delivered after 2 weeks by one of the owners' brothers-in-law. Turned up at my house in an old Renault 9 with my boxes crushed.

Complained and was told that I can sue them if I wish and that they refuse to answer any questions over my missing shipment. The two scoundrels who run this "business" are brothers FRANSICO RESTREPO and RAFAEL RESTREPO. Beware.

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 3, 2009, 14:55:

Papi de Alejo says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:09:

My 22" was purchased for US$250. That's still a COP$100K - 150K difference.

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bam m says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:25:

I know Medefockinllin....has had some real bad experience with them....and...it is concerning to say the least and anyone using them must take his experience into consideration...

.. but we've been just fine using them Miami to Cali or Medellin....now we do have our own trucks in colombia to pick stuff up at the airport...but hell we ship literally everything down...with them. (air)..i've had a few broken things...i admit....probalby 4 to 6 items in the past 4 years....

but we ship down lots of fragile stuff ...like a crazy Alien egg for the game room ...hahahahaha

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Saltador says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:55:

JJ doesn't go to Cartagena so I don't even have them for an option :-(

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jrhfilms says on Jul 3, 2009, 21:44:

Hi All,
If I wanted to ship a computer from the U.S. to a friend in Monteria as a gift... would she be responsible for a tax..as a gift?
Thanks,
Randy

Randy Harrison

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medefockinllin says on Jul 4, 2009, 05:22:

jrhfilms - YES, if she decided to take delivery.

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davidslc46 says on Jul 4, 2009, 05:36:

The only way possibly to avoid that is to remove it from original packaging and have it invoiced as used. You declare a $100 value and leave it up to the guy who inspects it to determine a value different should he want to. This may not be acceptable to you but it is done by many citizens in many countries where gifts are taxed like everything else.

Having gotten my 42 inch Plasma TV from exito recently for about $600 and seeing Compaq laptops there yesterday for about 1399 COP leads me to believe Colombia electronics are becoming much more attractive when you weigh shipping and potential taxation costs.


David

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Saltador says on Jul 4, 2009, 06:11:

david,
Actually it would be quite acceptable to me to do that, I've given the colombian economy quite enough money over the last 5 years or so to ease my conscience. My fear is that they would open the boxes to inspect (does anyone know if they do this?) discover the new TV's and make me pay the full amount or even a fine or bribe or who knows...
I'm curious as to what 42 inch plasma you got from exito for 600 dollars.
exito.com has a 42 " Panasonic TC-P42X1X listed for 1,899,000 pesos as their cheapest right now. At the current exchange rate of 2100 to one, that is 904.00 dollars. If you bought it a few months ago at the exchange rate of 2600 to 1 it still would have been 730.00. I can buy that TV in the states with no tax and free shipping today for 600.00.
Although that does seem to be a highly rated TV, and a good buy for the money. I may have to go that route as the lesser of the evils.

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 4, 2009, 08:01:

Saltador says on Jul 4, 2009, 08:25:

makopp5,
are you sure? It seems all the shipping companies want to add some kind of percentage of the value as a colombian tax...
I remember shipping with servientrega and having to pay a tax, but I guess that was a gift, so maybe you are right...
Anyone else know?

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 4, 2009, 08:32:

davidslc46 says on Jul 4, 2009, 08:53:

It is a LG. Exito had an anniversity sale a couple months ago where my 42 inch LG plasma went for 1.599.000 COP and the Samsung was going for 1.699,000 COP as I remember. With the better exchange rate we calculated it to be around $600.They were clearly phasing out the Plasmas in favor for LCDs which were running about 600 COP more at the time as I recall.

Yes they do open and they will make a judgement on whether it is new or used. I had a used ( 2 months ) 37 inch no brand LCD I shipped from panama and declared it as used for $400 and they assessed me 300,000 COP. With $200 shipping that $600 TV cost me closer to $900 USD shipping it in a manner like this used. Definately not worth it, but it was already paid for so it cost me $350 USD to get my used TV here from Panama.

Invoice low and run the risk of the 36% IVA. For that matter make up a lame invoice from Miami Electronics and clearly state it as used

You get a local service warranty buying here as well.

David

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Saltador says on Jul 4, 2009, 09:20:

Thanks guys. I guess the consensus is it's not worth the hassle or cost to ship in. That exchange rate sure could help ease my pain...2600 was a gift from the gods....

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Saltador says on Jul 4, 2009, 21:46:

Damn dude, you really just can't let it drop? This is just a message board man, get over it.

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Saltador says on Jul 4, 2009, 21:54:

I must have really hit a nerve with you. I told you, I'll be in cartagena in September, if it really bothers you that much we can meet and you can finally get it all off your chest.
For me it's water under the bridge. You must really not have much of a life to get all this worked up over nothing....

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Saltador says on Jul 4, 2009, 22:09:

Sure, you're simply saying that. Along with calling me a "dumbass", a "punk", and a "fucking loser".
Can't wait to see if you feel the same way when we meet. Should be interesting.

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Saltador says on Jul 4, 2009, 22:12:

I was trying mongo, thought it was over. I think I've been pretty restrained actually considering the venom coming at me from this guy.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Jul 5, 2009, 08:01:

Avianca will let you checkin up to a 42" flatscreen as checked luggage....

RVW orderded me to remove my tagline congratulating the PBH Mods New Golden Boys. Lame.

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 5, 2009, 09:02:

makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 5, 2009, 09:11:

Lowell says on Jul 5, 2009, 09:28:

Warranty service is also a consideration.

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

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 5, 2009, 09:31:

makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 5, 2009, 09:50:

oneforyourmillion says on Jul 5, 2009, 10:07:

You are confused? You are frustrated? Comming to the internet and PBH for answers? Problem is everyone else here it seems is just like you. The problem as I see it from reading these posts is that most if not all of you are lost like a child in the woods. You beleive all this fantasy crap about Colombia and so you can not find your way. Fine if you are visiting, if you live here you need to know where you are in order to get anwhere you want to get. Floating around like a fish in a bowl is fine but your not doing anything. If you want to actually do something here like ship something of a high dollar amount here then you need to be in the real Colombia or the bending over you will receive will not feel like fantasy land Colombia.

I got some advice for you from real worl Colombia and it is my good deed for the day...the only one I got for today. If you want to pay 900 bucks for it buy it at Walmart and watch it in your living room in Miami. If you want to watch it here buy it in Exito and pay the 1200. Ignore EVERY single post above and just read this, it is your bible OK it is the only helpful thing written on this post.

First are you in COLOMBIA now? Or some fantasy Colombia land? If you want to visit real Colombia I can help you. The entire system of bringing in goods from where the dollars/Euros are is RIGGED. It is called wash the money. Narco dollars are used to buy goods by container loads where the market terminates on their drug trade. It is confusing, nothing is certain, everything changes depending on who you talk to. This is for a reason as for every confussion or every regulation there is a cash machine. This is OK because the majority of the money that is being fleeced is drug money. Hello are you awake?

They ship those items to Colombia and pay a huge fee to get it through the port (the government wants their part of it too) It does not matter to the narcos the cost because they are washing the money. The cost is rediculously high because everyone wants to take a bite out of the cocain market on the legit end of it as it is very lucrative. The narco then sells at a loss anyway to liquidate the dollar item for pesos, no big deal that he got screwed on empuestos and shipping port fees and whatever pilferage went on. He made a bundle on the other side of it so who cares it is pocket change tax for him on fast money.

So then you also have legit business trying to operate in this system and paying very high costs and thus passing that on to anyone playing by the rules. DIAN is there to make it all appear legit.... Then the other side is all the crap you can buy, pireted, copied and refurbed passed off as new for this reason there is so much of it.

Of course buying a widescreen does not have to be done at Exito. You too can help wash the money and buy it somewhere else, you should know where that is for your area. But unless you are connected in the system, washing money or are stupid, shipping a new high dollar electronic item to Colombia in order to save money is a BAD idea.

So now continue on with your little conversations that as usual ignore the elephant in the room and the heart of Colombia which is COCAIN. Or just say no and buy it in Miami, watch it in Miami, wherever...... Goodnight.

PS you can bring it in on the plane as long as you declare it, you bring less than three of any one item as more than that and it is seen as a commercial item for resale and they take it. For the cost it would be one of this item and it has to be under $1,500 to be duty free, need receipt and declare it on the DIAN form. So there is a way.....that is your only way.

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Saltador says on Jul 5, 2009, 13:26:

oneforyourmillion,
Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge on this subject. I felt like a fish floating around in a bowl until you posted. Now, I feel so much better after having read your opinion that it's better to buy the televisons in colombia. Wait. That's what everyone else said...ok maybe your advice wasn't so useful.
Now I got some advice for you from real world Chicago, and it's my good deed for the day, the only one I got for the day...
I fly Spirit Airlines. Spirit only allows one checked bag to cartagena. One. End of story. So I can't bring it as long as I declare it.
So now continue on with your little life that revolves around colombia and cocaine. I'm going back to the fish bowl to dream about fantasy land colombia....zzzz....zzzz.....zzzz

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Papi de Alejo says on Jul 5, 2009, 15:03:

Hey Salt, that's my current problem as well. I'm flying Spirit on 7/30 with more than should fit into one suitcase. Luckily, I have enough clothes in Colombia for the short time that I'm staying and I am traveling with my doughter. I need to convince her to get her stuff into two 21" suitcases that we will designate as carry-ons and then I can use her luggage allowance as well as mine for the stuff.

By the way Spirit has a sale until 11:59 tonight. Use the code 50OFF and get $50 off your fare.

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

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Miguel_Clavo says on Jul 5, 2009, 16:08:

GL...read his comments...its the Paper Tiger....=)

RVW orderded me to remove my tagline congratulating the PBH Mods New Golden Boys. Lame.

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Saltador says on Jul 5, 2009, 17:14:

Papi,
Yes, for some reason Spirit will only allow one checked bag of 50 lbs. I even emailed them to ask about sending another package down and paying extra, they do this on many other flights. But to colombia it's no go.
I got the 50 dollars off my ticket for 7/28, will miss you by two days :-(

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Papi de Alejo says on Jul 5, 2009, 17:27:

Salt, they will let you pay for an overweight bag; I did on my second flight with them.

What pisses me off with the $50 off is that I needed to buy 3 tickets and was waiting patiently for their email. I got nervous and bought 2 on Friday morning. Around noon came the email with the $50 off. So I bought the last one.

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

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larryrn says on Jul 8, 2009, 03:21:

There is no warranty here for items purchased in America. The prices of electronics have come down substantially here at the retail establishments - in some cases lower (LG for example when on sale is less expensive since it comes from Mexico and their are no import taxes since Colombia has a free trade agreement with Mexico). And the HD specs for Colombia are not compatible with the US formats - Colombia will be on the European standards.

My last LCD is LG and I purchased a 42" for 1899,000 at Exito. 3 HDMI's, full 1080p and 3 year onsite full warranty.

Larry.

Your Source for Nursing CEUs - www.RN.ORG - www.RNCE.US - www.EnfermeriaSite.com - www.Enfermeria.US

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Saltador says on Jul 8, 2009, 03:28:

Good info larry, I will be buying locally.

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davidslc46 says on Jul 10, 2009, 15:42:

What a phucked up thread!

But I did see Exito is selling 42 inch plasma Samsung today for 1,849.000. They came in to country last month.


David

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