BajaNomad - Pay to get drunk.............

Pay to get drunk.............

mcfez - 10-26-2011 at 05:28 PM

A little useful data to share..............

A very unfortunate situation arose last week in which a party of visitors traveling in a single vehicle stopped to buy duty-free liquor in Calexico to bring to San Felipe. The understanding was that a maximum of 3 bottles per person was allowed into Mexico. On crossing the border, Mexican customs confiscated all of the bottles; a loss to the visitors of hundreds of dollars. I checked with the San Felipe Tourist Office and they say that the regulations have been changed. Their belief is that the limit is now 1 bottle per vehicle. We are going to check with customs to see what the policy is. In the meantime, I would advise visitors not to bring more than they can afford to lose. It is also important to realize that customs officers are now incorruptible. No bribes are tolerated and cameras watch every interaction between the officers and the traveling public. It seems to me that the duty-free shops in Calexico should alert customers to any new regulations though I realize that doing so will severely cut their sales.

Update: Mexican Aduana (customs) say that the duty-free limit is still 3 liters/person but they must be declared. Excess is charged duty at the rate of 239% of retail value. If you have trouble, dial 078 for Tourist Assistance in Mexicali - your mobile has to be on the Mexican system for this number to work.

sanfelipe.com.mx

bajatravelergeorge - 10-26-2011 at 06:18 PM

Great info, thanks.

jakecard - 10-26-2011 at 06:23 PM

A sad loss of sprits.

Jake

BajaBlanca - 10-26-2011 at 06:32 PM

really important info ... who woulda guessed ....

Ateo - 10-26-2011 at 07:10 PM

I almost lost a pack of tecate's heading south thru San Ysidro recently. It was a 30 pack, so don't know the rules but would like to know........

Corrupable Aduana Agents

El Comadante Loco - 10-26-2011 at 07:40 PM

Some Aduana agents in Mexicali are still corruptible. Here is one example of an event that occurred 2 just weeks ago.
A friend towing a trailer crossed at Mexicali and after a though inspected he was told he was over the limit and he was, 4 cases of beer. He was told he would have to pay duty for the excess, 3 cases. The agent was a young attractive female with a big gun on her hip.
My friend said ok, where do I pay and the agent responded in the trailer, so back inside they went at which point she calmly informed him that the duty was $60. He paid it and was on his way. Last year another friend towing a trailer crossed at Algodones and had a problem with the registration, after some discussing he was informed that it would take $15o to fix the problem. He paid and was on his way.
I am advocating that anyone should try to pay off Aduana agents however if solicited by them the choice is yours

nbacc - 10-27-2011 at 04:01 AM

same thing with our load of furniture. We were prepared to pay the tax. He came out and inspected it and we asked where to pay. Inside $250 right here $150. We paid $150 and were on our way. Nancy

Puckdrop - 10-27-2011 at 07:07 AM

Wow, when did this all happen? I just got back from Loreto 3 days ago and I had no problema bringing in 3 bottles of bubbly to my casa :rolleyes:

Does this mean I have to buy cheap Mexican Scotch now :biggrin:

Martyman - 10-27-2011 at 08:14 AM

On my next trip I'm bringing a bunch of stuff that is cheaper to buy in mexico.
I will bring beer, skyrockets and huaraches. c'mon people are you afraid to stop at a store?

shari - 10-27-2011 at 08:41 AM

I never did understand how people bring Tecate imported to the states...back down to mexico??? some folks even bring tortillas down with them...and cases of little bottles of water....what the heck? cheaper maybe? Purified water is 10 pesos for 5 gallons...free at the casas you rent....I find guests bring FAR FAR FAR too much stuff with them instead of buying SOB or at local stores here.

sanquintinsince73 - 10-27-2011 at 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
I never did understand how people bring Tecate imported to the states...back down to mexico??? some folks even bring tortillas down with them...and cases of little bottles of water....what the heck? cheaper maybe? Purified water is 10 pesos for 5 gallons...free at the casas you rent....I find guests bring FAR FAR FAR too much stuff with them instead of buying SOB or at local stores here.

Maybe it's me but who knows, Tecate bought in Mexico taste's better.
Also, Tecate is cheaper in the states.

DanO - 10-27-2011 at 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Martyman
On my next trip I'm bringing a bunch of stuff that is cheaper to buy in mexico.
I will bring beer, skyrockets and huaraches. c'mon people are you afraid to stop at a store?

You forgot slingshots and those little ball and cup thingies.

capt. mike - 10-27-2011 at 09:07 AM

plenty of good quality low cost booze and beer/wine are avail in mexico stores. why "import" any of it??
for me duty free stores are for when you are returning to USA - not leaving it.
sorry - don't get it.

MitchMan - 10-27-2011 at 09:47 AM

ditto capt. mike

Heather - 10-27-2011 at 10:29 AM

The only thing that I make sure to bring down is Diet Coke.
The Coca Lite that they sell in MX, just doesn't compare!

tunaeater - 10-27-2011 at 01:16 PM

TKT beers are $12.50 a case at the duty free shops in CLX. No tax or CRV. Knock on wood! I have yet to have an issue crossing South with beer. Usually they are more interested in the registration paperwork for the bikes.

bajadogs - 10-27-2011 at 04:14 PM

Wow. Smuggling alcohol into Baja? I feel old all of a sudden. What's next? Smuggling fireworks south of the border?

DENNIS - 10-27-2011 at 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
plenty of good quality low cost booze and beer/wine are avail in mexico stores. why "import" any of it??
for me duty free stores are for when you are returning to USA - not leaving it.
sorry - don't get it.

I understand what you're saying, Mike, but the DF stores at the border are for Mexico entry traffic only, but.....I know you know that. Some others may not.

Fundillo - 10-27-2011 at 06:37 PM

Last time I was at the duty free store I saw a Mexican guy with Baja plates literally fill his trunk up with Tecate and at least 15 bottles of Presidente and several cartons of cigs. The rear end of his car was loaded down. As we were all following the duty free guy to the border he was in line in front of me. He got the red light and I did as well. He was in front of me at the aduana. The officer asked him to open his trunk and he went back to open. The officer looked in and then they both talked for a minute. The Aduana followed the guy as he got back to the drivers door and the driver handed him something $$$$$$ and away he went. It didn't take very long for the "NEW" Aduana to see the light. Christmas is coming.

dtbushpilot - 10-27-2011 at 11:22 PM

I crossed at SY about 3 weeks ago heading South at about 4:30am. A friend was flying down in a few days so I asked him if there was anything I could take down for him, he said yes and that he would drop it off on my front porch. The next day I found a 36pack of Coors Lite on the porch. I loaded 3 cases of wine in the Toyota and put some other various stuff on top of it and then put the cat's traveling litter box and the case of Coors Lite on top of that and headed for the border. I went to the checkpoint and as it was early I was the only one there. The guy asked me to open the back so I did, he looked at the case of beer then looked at me.....In my best "clueless gringo" voice I said "is the beer OK?"....He smiled and said "that's not beer" and waved me on.......I'm getting better at this border crossing thing all the time......dt

nbacc - 10-28-2011 at 07:23 AM

Everytime we have gone through it has been "different" but "the same". We just plan on dealing with whatever occurs at the moment wheather it be a smile or $$. We always carry lots of 1 dollar bills. Nancy

yeah - i know only too well

capt. mike - 10-28-2011 at 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

I understand what you're saying, Mike, but the DF stores at the border are for Mexico entry traffic only, but.....I know you know that. Some others may not.

in 2004 we went to the DT free store in SY.
the "drill" was we paid then had to walk a path to cross into mexico [or maybe we were there?] and then had to do the total walk back into the US to "clear" in - what a ROYAL pain!
it took an hour or more and a very long boring walk carrying the goods.

i won't ever do that again to save a few bucks on booze.
we were on a lunch break from our office in bonita. some one came up with the idea and that we would also get some street tacos before we crossed back in.

Bajatripper - 10-29-2011 at 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DanO

You forgot ... those little ball and cup thingies.

That would be a "balero." The ball-and-cup is for wuzzes, the stick-and-barrel is for the real aficionados.

rhintransit - 10-31-2011 at 03:53 PM

so...how many cases of diet coke can I bring. yes, it tastes different but I don't care, it's just that (on sale) I can buy 12 cans for 2.50 vs 8-12 pesos a can in Baja.

BornFisher - 10-31-2011 at 04:11 PM

Show me a store in Baja that sells a 30 pack of Bud for less that $20 (Rite Aid) and I`ll stop bringing it in!
A whole bunch of stuff is NOT cheaper SOBorder!

Ateo - 10-31-2011 at 04:51 PM

How many cases of Chiclet's can I bring Southbound? JK!

Yeah, I used to always buy beer at Costco in the US and bring south. Just liked having everything packed up and ready to go though lately I've just been buying beer, water, gatorade, booze in El Rosario.