pacifica
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 7-9-2006
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Customs
I am 3 months into my building project and need to bring some door knobs, filters, hinges etc.... down with me this month. We will be flying and am
not sure if we will have problems at customs in San Jose. Do I need to declare these items or can I just pack them in a suitcase and not worry.
Thanks in advance. Pacifica
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Loretana
Senior Nomad
Posts: 825
Registered: 5-19-2006
Location: Oregon/Loreto
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Welcome fellow Newbie.
Look sharp and when your turn comes to push the big button, pray for the green light. I take lots of similar items into Loreto by air about every six
weeks and have yet to be hassled.
If you do get the red light...... smile, be polite, and agree to whatever they say. But I wouldn't go out of my way to declare anything that costs
less than say, $50.00. Plead ignorance if the Aduanero reprimands you.
Although I'm a gringa, I do speak Spanish fluently, which has saved my Reggiano Parmesan cheese from seizure more than once. 
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pacifica
Newbie
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Registered: 7-9-2006
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Thanks for the comeback Lorentana. I will be bringing down several bathroom faucets and 6 doorknobs. Should I still be concerned. Or should I just
bight the bullet anddeclare prior to my flight.
Thanks again, Pacifica
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Bajavestruz
Newbie
Posts: 13
Registered: 7-12-2006
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We just came back from L.A. with a faucet in our luggage. Out of all the baggage on the entire flight,m a total of 10 bags went missing, we were
lucky to only lost one.
Aeromexico was so upset about all the lost luggage, that no one who was missing a bag had to pass through customs. So you could say we all got the
green light. They delivered our missing suitcase with the faucet in it three days
later.
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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Loretana - You sound like you're pretty good at this 'talk' stuff.
I have promised to bring goodies to some folks in Mulege. What do you suggest I say if customs does find the several pounds of frozen dungeoness crab
in my luggage?
And please don't tell me to say "bon apetite". 
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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more like butter or c-cktale sauce?? and invite him over for dinner
jerry and judi
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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Natalie all kidding aside id get one of the gallon size frozen crab meats
its picked and put in a can but not prossed just frozen and its all most as good as right out of the shell all youll need is a small buisnessmans loan
to pay for it spendy
jerry and judi
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Loretana
Senior Nomad
Posts: 825
Registered: 5-19-2006
Location: Oregon/Loreto
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Mood: alegre
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Natalie Ann,
Carlos, the Fitosanitaria Officer at the Loreto Airport is a really nice man. He was who Customs sent me over to when they looked in my hand carry and
saw it was full of fresh fettuccine pasta and butter and parmesan cheese.
I tried to be as charming as possible and chat with him about Italian food and he lost his interest in seizing it.
But he had his game face on about three minutes earlier when he sternly told me "este comida no pasa".  That red light is a nuisance.
Please don't take this the wrong way, but when you warm up to Mexican men in authority and look them in the eyes and kind of invade their body zone a
little bit their "latino-ness" kicks in and they soften right up!
The crab, hey...I would give it a shot! I'm thinking Crab Fettuccine Alfredo.
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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I think you can talk them into a $100 exemption?
Or you can just declare and pay the duty.
Or you can buy Mexican stuff and build a Mexican house.
We brought some stuff by car, declared it and they just waved us through.
Food can be tough, though. I lost a pound of Montana buffalo jerky at the Zihuatenejo airport. I had the green light and was heading out the door, but
an informant tipped them off.
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Loretana
Please don't take this the wrong way, but when you warm up to Mexican men in authority and look them in the eyes and kind of invade their body zone a
little bit their "latino-ness" kicks in and they soften right up!
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Ah Loretana, so all I gotta do is make nice?  Piece 'a cake.  Thank you.
[Edited on 7-14-2006 by Natalie Ann]
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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