BajaNomad

Border crossing with building supplies

cftlet - 10-15-2010 at 08:26 AM

I know I have seen discussions on this subjectbut, in my advanced stage of life , I cant remembr the info.

Iam building a small casita in Los Barriles and Iam bringing some building supplies ( paint, water heater cieling fans etc.) down with me along with some used furniture (king bed, dresser etc.). My question is what amount of tarrif should I expect.

thanks for any info

DENNIS - 10-15-2010 at 09:29 AM

On the new stuff, there's a set percentage, not that it will be applied to you or anybody else. Like anything else written in stone in Mexico, that percentage may vary, but last I heard it was 18%.

The used stuff, and hope they can see that it's used at least a little, will have an arbitrary tarif amount. Could be as much as 18% or it could be nothing. Probably closer to the latter.
Mexico Customs is anything but predictable so just be ready for the worst and hope for the best.

Bob and Susan - 10-15-2010 at 09:32 AM

it'll be 17-18% of the appraised value

just drive to otay mesa to cross after 8am

let the girl appraise for you and pay
don't need receipts unless the appraisal is too high...
it won't be

if it looks like too much they will guide you to an importer right there
then figure 24%

then you're off

jak - 10-15-2010 at 11:40 AM

Good old days: Load a truck to overflow and pay 200 pesos to the bola de la suciedad del agente de aduanas.:lol:

monoloco - 10-16-2010 at 05:38 AM

I declared building supplies at the Tecate border in July, and was charged 15% on the stated invoices. I had some used furniture with no invoices and they charged me 15% on what I claimed they were worth.

Importing building materials

bajachris - 10-16-2010 at 10:45 AM

Does anyone have current experience with lumber? Can I load up with plywood, 2x4's etc and just pay 18% of what is on my receipt? It there a limit as to how much I can bring? I heard $500 but that was a while ago.

DENNIS - 10-16-2010 at 11:03 AM

Why are you dragging all this stuff through the border to LB? Do you feel that after import taxes and transportation you will be saving anything?
You might want to consider Home Depot in La Paz. I know things cost a bit more, but the convenience is worth it.
Also, they sell Doug Fir.

bajachris - 10-16-2010 at 11:08 AM

No I am going to BOLA. The neared decent place to buy building materials for me would be Ensenda and they do not have pressure treated wood. I would rather load up my trailer in SD than a parking lot in Ensenada. Plus the wood is cheaper here.

DENNIS - 10-16-2010 at 11:14 AM

They've had some Wolmanized stock in the past, but not always. It's more their assortmant of plywood that sucks. Seems like OSB is used for everything.
How about Simple Green? Do you have any faith in that stuff? I've used it.

Bob and Susan - 10-16-2010 at 12:17 PM

wood takes a "special import permit"

you can do this with a broker
but it takes about a week

monoloco - 10-16-2010 at 05:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
wood takes a "special import permit"

you can do this with a broker
but it takes about a week
This is true, I imported 3000bf of cherry last month, it was expensive, and a pain. There is a lumber yard in Cabo San Lucas called Pechancha on the road to Todos Santos that has really good plywood, and lumber, the prices are cheaper than the states. They carry baltic birch plywood, CDX fir plywood, African mahogany, oak, maple, cumaru, alder, nogal (walnut), pine, and cedro macho (andiroba)

bajaguy - 10-16-2010 at 08:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
They've had some Wolmanized stock in the past, but not always. It's more their assortmant of plywood that sucks. Seems like OSB is used for everything.
How about Simple Green? Do you have any faith in that stuff? I've used it.





Dennis..........have you found TREX or any of the other "wood" composites in the Ensenada area????

DENNIS - 10-16-2010 at 09:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy



Dennis..........have you found TREX or any of the other "wood" composites in the Ensenada area????


No. You'll have to bring it in yourself. Too pricey for the neighborhood.

bajaguy - 10-16-2010 at 09:15 PM

Wonder how Customs would handle it since it's not wood???

DENNIS - 10-16-2010 at 09:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Wonder how Customs would handle it since it's not wood???


I wouldn't want to find out the hard way. 17/18 % of expensive would be a lot of money.