BajaNomad - Question About Shipping Stuff From Baja to Mexico

Question About Shipping Stuff From Baja to Mexico

BCSTech - 7-3-2009 at 06:21 AM

Well surprise, surprise... Found out you can't just drive over to to a local package delivery service and ship a box of gear to the mainland of Mexico. Turns out the package has to be taken to Aduana first and import duties have to be paid. Then you have to return to the shipper to send the package.

At least that's how it went this week when I tried to ship a box thru Estafeta in La Paz to Mazatlan.

A local Importer we use to bring things in from the US offered to "help" us, and said they could do it for about 5,000 pesos The goods are only worth about 4,000 pesos. :rolleyes:

Seems it would be a whole lot cheaper just to stuff the gear in some luggage and take it over myself on the ferry...

Anyone have any experience or tips on how to do this cheaply, quickly and painlessly from either La Paz, CSL or SJDC? Is any shipper better than the others? Estafeta, UPS, MailBoxes Etc. DHL, or...?

DENNIS - 7-3-2009 at 07:59 AM

What? They want you to pay duty on goods shipped within Mexico?

jimgrms - 7-3-2009 at 08:02 AM

Just sell it and then repurchase it in wherever you were sending it

BCSTech - 7-3-2009 at 08:05 AM

Yup.

Apparently Mexico treats Baja like a foreign country for tax purposes. I suppose this is because Baja has a lower importation duty than the mainlaind.

losfrailes - 7-3-2009 at 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
What? They want you to pay duty on goods shipped within Mexico?

The reason is that Baja is a 'Duty Free' zone whereas entry into Mainland Mexico is not 'Duty Free'.

However, you still must pay duty on some goods that are brought into Baja.

BCSTech - 7-3-2009 at 08:06 AM

Quote:

Just sell it and then repurchase it in wherever you were sending it

Huh?

BCSTech - 7-3-2009 at 08:08 AM

Quote:

However, you still must pay duty on some goods that are brought into Baja.

I've paid duty on everything I've ever imported.

(off topic) What is on the duty-free list?

danaeb - 7-3-2009 at 08:11 AM

Have you tried the airlines? Volaris is always advertising their cargo services.

DENNIS - 7-3-2009 at 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BCSTech

(off topic) What is on the duty-free list?

Probably nothing in the electronics field. Especially if made in China.
I assume electronic equipment is what you're shipping. Maybe you should consider shipping it in the hold of a shrimp seiner. [just kidden']

losfrailes - 7-3-2009 at 08:16 AM

A Google search revealed no specific list.

However, Dennis is spot on with electronics (NOT on list) and the duty on goods manufactured in China is at the top of the price list.

jimgrms - 7-3-2009 at 08:18 AM

Just sell whatever you want to send then send the money to whoever you were sending the goods and they can buy replacement or keep the money and when you get there you can buy replacements that way you pay no duty

bajajudy - 7-3-2009 at 09:39 AM

When we ship books to the mainland, we have to go to the airport and get a customs certificate before Bajapack will accept them....even if they are returns back to publishers in Mex City.
Yes we are in a duty free zone. It is the same with cars...you cant just drive a Baja plated vehicle to the mainland. Although I have never done it myself, I have been led to believe that when you take the ferry, your vehicle is treated just like one with US plates.

BTW we have found Estafeta to be one of the most expensive ways to ship. Check with Baja Pack

BCSTech - 7-3-2009 at 10:28 AM

Judy, thanks so much. That's great info. I didn't know Baja Pack went to the mainland.

I'm going to CSL on Monday. Does anyone know if Customs and Baja Pack have offices in CSL and where?

If not, I can go to SJDC. Does Baja Pack have an office near the airport?

bajajudy - 7-3-2009 at 12:21 PM

Baja Pack-I know that they have an office in san lucas but I do not know where.
The one here is in Las Palmas Plaza where Scotia bank, MBE, Terramar, Gravi construction...to name the only ones I remember. The office is next to MBE(mail boxes etc).
I do not know the rules about electronics. Maybe Martinez Martinez at Baja Pack can help you.
As far as I know, you have to go to the airport. Ask Martinez about hours, etc.

Hook - 7-3-2009 at 01:34 PM

You people in Baja should get together with the elected officials and see if you can negotiate some kind of free trade agreement with the mainland.

Give it an all encompassing, catchy name like...............North American Free Trade Agreement. :rolleyes:

Amazing!!!!

bajajudy - 7-3-2009 at 01:47 PM

Boy did I have a blond senior moment
It is Multipack not Bajapack...sorry

http://www.multipack.com.mx/

bajajudy - 7-3-2009 at 01:54 PM

It is still Martinez Martinez

Ship it via the bus lines

Dave - 7-3-2009 at 03:20 PM

I used to receive large parcels from Chiapas. Delivered as near to my front door as the bus would stop. No customs declaration , neither.

BCSTech - 7-3-2009 at 03:23 PM

The bus runs from CSL to Mazatlan???

BCSTech - 7-3-2009 at 03:26 PM

Funny thing is, these are four satellite TV receivers, all made in Mexico :rolleyes:

Yeah, there's a tunnel

Dave - 7-3-2009 at 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BCSTech
The bus runs from CSL to Mazatlan???

Not direct, silly. Bus lines accept freight.

Eli - 7-3-2009 at 04:02 PM

Castores has been the most economical, least hassle way for me to ship from mainland to Baja, don't know how it works going the other way. Might check them out.

bajajudy - 7-3-2009 at 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave
I used to receive large parcels from Chiapas. Delivered as near to my front door as the bus would stop. No customs declaration , neither.

NOW that would be Baja Pack. At Aguila bus stations.

BCSTech - 7-3-2009 at 04:46 PM

I have to admit I'm a little skeptical that Baja Pack could get around the import laws simply because they're a bus company.

bajajudy - 7-3-2009 at 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BCSTech
I have to admit I'm a little skeptical that Baja Pack could get around the import laws simply because they're a bus company.

I agree with you on that. It seems that there are two ideas going on here...one about the cost and one about the customs. So you should probably find the cheapest way and let them tell you about customs. Both Eli and Dave are talking about FROM the mainland but both of their thoughts on the cheapest way seem worthy of investigation.

Don't know nothing but...

Dave - 7-3-2009 at 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BCSTech
I have to admit I'm a little skeptical that Baja Pack could get around the import laws simply because they're a bus company.

It would seem to me that you could simply wrap up a package and take it down to the bus station. That's what my coffee supplier did in Chiapas. Why can't you do it down there?

BCSTech - 7-3-2009 at 08:19 PM

Dave, you may be right.

But something tells me this is a one-way street. If import duties are higher on the mainland, then the tax guys wouldn't care about stuff coming from there to Baja.

They may just want to head off people importing stuff into Baja at a lower tariff then taking it into the mainland to save taxes.

bajajudy - 7-4-2009 at 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BCSTech

They may just want to head off people importing stuff into Baja at a lower tariff then taking it into the mainland to save taxes.

BINGO!

Where did you get the idea that...

Dave - 7-4-2009 at 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy

Quote:

Originally posted by BCSTech

They may just want to head off people importing stuff into Baja at a lower tariff then taking it into the mainland to save taxes.

BINGO!

Tariffs on declared items are less in Baja than the mainland? :?:

I have friends who have factories in Baja and the mainland. They pay the same duties.

bajajudy - 7-4-2009 at 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy

Quote:

Originally posted by BCSTech

They may just want to head off people importing stuff into Baja at a lower tariff then taking it into the mainland to save taxes.

BINGO!

Tariffs on declared items are less in Baja than the mainland? :?:

I have friends who have factories in Baja and the mainland. They pay the same duties.

I dont know about lower tariffs but to send anything to the mainland you have to have a customs form that states it was imported. That is what we have found to be true every time we have tried to send books to the mainland. We go to the airport and get the forms and then Mulitpack will accept the merchandise. This is first hand info.

Apples or oranges

Dave - 7-4-2009 at 12:05 PM

BCS didn't fully explain the nature of the goods to be shipped.

Were they imported from the States or purchased in Mexico?

If imported from the States than the aduanal manifest would be proof of tariffs paid.

If purchased in Mexico then a factura would suffice as proof of a legal sale with taxes paid.

Either way, the fact that they were shipped from baja is not the issue. With the exception of the border zone, which extends coast to coast and primarily governs maquiladora imports/exports, tariffs are the same throughout Mexico.

BCSTech - 7-4-2009 at 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveBCS didn't fully explain the nature of the goods to be shipped.

Were they imported from the States or purchased in Mexico?

Electronic gear purchased from the states.

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveIf imported from the States than the aduanal manifest would be proof of tariffs paid.

The shipping company still said they needed paperwork from the local customs officials after I showed them the import manifest.

Dave - 7-4-2009 at 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BCSTech
The shipping company still said they needed paperwork from the local customs officials after I showed them the import manifest.

Then take the manifest to customs. If the merchandise matches the manifest it proves you paid the duties.

flyfishinPam - 7-5-2009 at 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BCSTech
Well surprise, surprise... Found out you can't just drive over to to a local package delivery service and ship a box of gear to the mainland of Mexico. Turns out the package has to be taken to Aduana first and import duties have to be paid. Then you have to return to the shipper to send the package.

At least that's how it went this week when I tried to ship a box thru Estafeta in La Paz to Mazatlan.

A local Importer we use to bring things in from the US offered to "help" us, and said they could do it for about 5,000 pesos The goods are only worth about 4,000 pesos. :rolleyes:

I am afraid I havent read all the posts but this one and I'd like to respond, please excuse me if this has been repeated.

Baja is in the special economic zone and believe it or not it is less restrictive than mainland Mexico.
All these shipping companies seem to have their main hum somewhere on the mainland either DF (everything else) or Guadalajara (FedEX).
Remember Mexico is a centralized government and this carries down to the businesses believe it or not, even as illogical as it is in reality (remember where we are).
If shipping to the USA or somewhere out of Mexico, your package will still go to the mainland, so now you'd also be in the same situation as bcs tech here.

I shipped a computer that was purchased in Cuervavaca back to the shop for repair. I had to go to the airport (where aduana is in LTO) and have it inspected, stamped, signed, factura copy taped to the thing...then went to Estafeta in town to process the shipping of the package back to Cuernavaca. Once aduana gave its blessing all was well.

I discussed with the aduana agent, someone I had known for a long time, that my mother in law went back to Guerrero and that her old foot peddal sewing machine would need to be shipped back. She brought it here on the Aeromexico flight out of DF, but went back home without it.
I had no proof of this as the receipt is gone. He said no problem, he'd bless it with seals and stamps.

Rule for shipping out-
if shipping within Baja (or anywhere Baja Pack works) use Baja Pack (bus station)
if shipping anywhere else, go to aduana first then go to the shipping company and you'll be in and out.

shipping in different subject.

"Seems it would be a whole lot cheaper just to stuff the gear in some luggage and take it over myself on the ferry..."

this is the answer as to why there is so much corruption in Mexico and the black markets that go with it. make the laws impossible to follow and increase under the radar transactions, duh