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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3294
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
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Most people here are just trying to help, I'd hate to see some of the more "unsavory" Nomads chime in with a bunch of negative rhetoric....hopefully
they won't.
We live down in Buena Vista part time. We always have a car load of stuff with us on our way down. We put the cases of wine and boxes of things for
the house on the bottom and our traveling stuff on top. We are moving our stuff down a few boxes at a time, no problem.
We often have other places that we want to go on the way down and don't want to be loaded down with a bunch of stuff too so I feel your pain, we
usually travel with a dog and 2 cats just to make it more challenging.
I recommend that you take the things that are the most important to you on this trip and save the rest for the next trip or two...or three....etc.
Another thing to consider is how much of that stuff do you really need? How much of it is everyday stuff that you could replace in MX and maybe help
the local economy?
The only reason I bring this up is that this is exactly what we are going through now. We have a mountain of boxes to move from our home in New Mexico
to MX and after a year we don't even remember what we packed away....what we couldn't live without. I went through the boxes a couple of weeks ago and
found several boxes worth of stuff that was pretty stupid to be importing and moving 2000 miles, things that could be replaced for a few bucks in
MX.....time for a garage sale and a run to Goodwill.
My recommendation is to look your stuff over again, get rid of the plastic hangers and paper plates (I really did have that stuff packed in boxes) and
take what you really need a little at a time....and don't let anybody keep you from posting on Nomads....the real Nomads are glad you are here......dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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Indy
Newbie
Posts: 21
Registered: 7-17-2011
Location: East Cape
Member Is Offline
Mood: Adventurous
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Hey Dtbushpilot !
Appreciate the kind words!
Sounds like our thoughts run parallel regarding shedding things down to be feather light. I laughed out loud regardng packing the paperplates! Yes,
I've done that too at one point or another!
It feels good to say that I'm down to the real necessities. Mostly the things that just can't be replaced. The goal is to travel light, but as you
know, sometimes it can be very challenging to do...even still my mantra is always "less is more".
New Mexico and Buena Vista-sounds like a great plan!
Thanks for the tips and the warm welcome!
Indy
\"The more you achieve with less, the greater the accomplishment\"
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karenintx
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 540
Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
Member Is Offline
Mood: Living The Dream
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We have used "Alister" to import/transport a gas stove, micro oven/hood, 52 inch HD/TV and a coffee table/trunk on two different occasions. We had to
provide copies of the sale receipt but NEVER have we been asked "do you have a FM 2/3, do you own/rent, are you living/visiting in Mexico full or part
time"...they do not care. All they want is to know what is in the boxes, and yes they will look. After that they just want your money. On both
occasions our items were delievered to our condo within one week with no dents/scratches.
Indy, you probably already figured this out...best to call the company you plan to deal with. They will know the "true" in's and out's of the Mexican
Customs...after all that is why they are in the business.
Good Luck
[Edited on 7-18-2011 by karenintx]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
      
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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No need to go underground, Indy. You seem to roll with the punches pretty well. Stick around. This place is a wealth of info.......especially after
you learn to seperate the wheat from the scheisse.
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Indy
Newbie
Posts: 21
Registered: 7-17-2011
Location: East Cape
Member Is Offline
Mood: Adventurous
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Thanks guys.
Dennis I appreciate the pat on the back (LOL)!
The positive follow-up is much apprecicated!
Karenintx the personal referral of "Alister" was exactly the sort of referral I was looking for. First hand personal experience. Thank you.
After all, shipping the items (AND paying whatever fees invoved) is really my first choice. I just got thrown a curve when the first importer I spoke
with asked for the FM3, and then I noticed -so many others- that I found online were asking for the same thing in their posted FAQs. I just couldn't
imagine this was so. Which is why I posted the question here, becuase everyone that I know persoanlly who has shipped boxes of things actually has an
FM3, so they were not the best resource to turn to. Everyone else just hauls it down persoanally, in all of the previously discussed manners of doing
so. But things change and it would not have surprised me if this were actually the case now. So short of calling customs myself to verify... I
turned to the Nomads.
But in the end it's true, best to work out these types of details with the shipping companies direct, even if you have to weed through and eliminate
serveal in the process. That's why they are in the business.
Quickly learning to sort the wheat from the scheisse!
Indy
\"The more you achieve with less, the greater the accomplishment\"
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bajabass
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Want to fish!!!
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What DT said times two. Over a period of time I moved all my essentials down, a little or a lot at a time. When I was finally able to leave California
for good, I had a 20ft open trailer and a Tundra bed full of the final load. Every load went in, red light/green light, at SY.
I paid duty only twice, less than 200 bucks total. Every time I was checked, Aduana only cared about their duty $'s, not imm. status.
I was sent back twice, too many DVDs, and too much of my wife's clothes and shoes. No wife present, no womens clothing. No more than 10 DVDs, or 30
CDs. Red lighted a few times, pulled in, they would look at a few things, pet the collie, and adios.
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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Dave
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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Quote: | Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
If you had an FM3 or FM2, you'd get a one-time tax-free importation of household & personal items. |
I understand the menaje de casa program has been terminated.
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elizabeth
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-30-2004
Location: Loreto, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Quote: | Originally posted by karenintx
We have used "Alister" to import/transport
[Edited on 7-18-2011 by karenintx] |
Thanks for the information...but, can you expand on who/what is Alister? Contact information?
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Katiejay99
Nomad

Posts: 429
Registered: 9-3-2008
Location: Todos Santos
Member Is Offline
Mood: it is what it is
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Regardless of our immigration status, all Mexico wants is that anything brought into the country, which is destined to stay, is properly
imported/duties paid. Punto.
I have brought a lot of stuff across the border. I box it, I label it, I prepare a list in Spanish and English with a note as to which box (they are
numbered) the stuff is located in. I always stop and declare and I always pay the duty/import fee.
The fact of whether or not you are a visa holder is irrelevant, it all has to do with the proper payment of duty. That is why it is illegal to sell a
vehicle which has not been imported.
The menaje de casa was implemented to help FM3 holders bring in household goods duty free (non-imported) because they were assumed to be for the home
they own and not brought in to re-sell.
Even used items are charged a duty. I recently returned with a truck load of personal stuff, all of it for me and all of it used. I declared and paid
the proper fees. They never asked for my status because that was not relevant.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
Quote: | Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
If you had an FM3 or FM2, you'd get a one-time tax-free importation of household & personal items. |
I understand the menaje de casa program has been terminated. |
I dont know about that, but even when it was in existence, you had to use an importer which was often more expensive than just paying the tax. Yes,
you did hear about the occasional exceptions, as with all "rules" in Mexico.
Call me foolish, but we just made up our lists and assigned garage sale pricing to everything (it was all "used", after all) and just paid the 17% or
whatever it is. We went straight to the declare line. They never even came out to the truck and 14 foot trailer to look at the stuff or question our
evaluations. Apparently we were small potatoes.
Once you figure out how much it would cost to buy things like outdoor furniture, many appliances, etc., IN MEXICO, it seems almost ridiculous to
haggle over 17%. Especially since the used valuations are probably 1/4 of what you originally paid for them. You will pay WAY more, trying to buy this
stuff new in Mexico.
All the nervousness is gone, too. We just looked em in the eye and said, "here's what we got". Maybe it was our relative honesty, compared to others,
that convinced them there was no need to check our load.
This occurred during the first two weeks of the famous changeover of Aduana agents at the border. They were young and had laptops to check
evaluations, if they felt it necessary.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Long legs, I appreciate your support, but I have been known to be a bit of a burr under the saddle, at times. Everyone here, knows that.
I cant really recall doing anything UNSAVORY, though. DISHONESTY is unsavory, in my book. That's why I got hot at the OP.
I'm also pretty thick-skinned so I'm not easily offended.
It would be much worse if this incident cost us YOUR participation on the board; rather than another ding to MY reputation.
[Edited on 7-18-2011 by Hook]
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
Long legs, I appreciate your support, but I have been known to be a bit of a burr under the saddle, at times. Everyone here, knows that.
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You? I'm shocked to hear this.   
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Hook
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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I will stand down, in deference to the entrance of the Papa Burr, Roberto.   
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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Now THAT'S funny.
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3294
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
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Quote: | Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
Quote: | Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Most people here are just trying to help, I'd hate to see some of the more "unsavory" Nomads chime in with a bunch of negative rhetoric....hopefully
they won't.
We live down in Buena Vista part time. We always have a car load of stuff with us on our way down. We put the cases of wine and boxes of things for
the house on the bottom and our traveling stuff on top. We are moving our stuff down a few boxes at a time, no problem.
We often have other places that we want to go on the way down and don't want to be loaded down with a bunch of stuff too so I feel your pain, we
usually travel with a dog and 2 cats just to make it more challenging.
I recommend that you take the things that are the most important to you on this trip and save the rest for the next trip or two...or three....etc.
Another thing to consider is how much of that stuff do you really need? How much of it is everyday stuff that you could replace in MX and maybe help
the local economy?
The only reason I bring this up is that this is exactly what we are going through now. We have a mountain of boxes to move from our home in New Mexico
to MX and after a year we don't even remember what we packed away....what we couldn't live without. I went through the boxes a couple of weeks ago and
found several boxes worth of stuff that was pretty stupid to be importing and moving 2000 miles, things that could be replaced for a few bucks in
MX.....time for a garage sale and a run to Goodwill.
My recommendation is to look your stuff over again, get rid of the plastic hangers and paper plates (I really did have that stuff packed in boxes) and
take what you really need a little at a time....and don't let anybody keep you from posting on Nomads....the real Nomads are glad you are here......dt
| dt, your post really surprised me....since when did Hook get classified as an "unsavory"
Nomad and/or anything less than a "real" Nomad?  
There are a great number of Nomads who choose to respect the laws of our adopted country....the country a great number of us call home, yet we still
recognize we're here as guests. I'm one of those whose moral compass points the same direction as Hook's does. dt, I agree with your suggestions to
Indy to lighten his load, but I don't feel it's right nor fair to encourage people who are unfamiliar with Customs & Immigration rules to attempt
to flaunt or circumvent the laws of our host country.
Indy, for what it's worth, karenintx has provided good & factual information....& best of all, it's legal! No worries about what it might
cost you when you get a red light & they empty your vehicle out looking for undeclared items. If you had an FM3 or FM2, you'd get a one-time
tax-free importation of household & personal items. Entering on an FMM, legally you're required to take everything you brought in with you out
when you leave. Also, in my experience, you'll have greater success going with an importer than attempting to ship personal items via DHL.
dt, it's because of crap like your throwing Hook (yeah, he lives on the mainland, but so what? He's earned my respect through his posts for many
years) under the bus that I won't be posting here in the foreseeable future....the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. IMO, your comments
were out of line & you owe Hook an apology.
Kudos to Indy for finally stating that you want to import your possessions legally!
Indy, I apologize for a semi-hijack unrelated to this particular thread, and certainly another trigger for my future absence is I don't want to be a
part of a group where intelligent & extremely knowledgeable, civil & respectful posters like oldlady are banned while rude, crude instigators
like Goat & Joe are allowed to remain & continue to make personal attacks & spew hatred & sewage. |
Wow legs, perhaps I could get you to re-read my opening statement. I never said that the unsavory Nomads had posted anything, I said that I hope they
won't.....my only comment about the current replies was that most people here were just trying to help......dt
[Edited on 7-19-2011 by dtbushpilot]
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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Indy
Newbie
Posts: 21
Registered: 7-17-2011
Location: East Cape
Member Is Offline
Mood: Adventurous
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Wow, the thread that wouldn't die!
Are we all happy campers now?
Hope So!
In what I hope will be the last post on this thread... (Ojalá!!)
I'd like to thank everyone once again for their time, help and insight.
After weeding through many, I have finally secured a shipper, who seems reliable, safe and reasonably priced (including import fees), all without the
need for an FM-3. Seems some shippers -are- only handling FM-3 customers, hence the early feedback that I received which prompted the post.
Once my things successfully arrive in September I'll report back my on my experience for anyone else looking to ship and for a shipper.
Until then, graias y suerte a todos...
... y dejen de pelear!
Indy
Happy Thank You More Please!
\"The more you achieve with less, the greater the accomplishment\"
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bajatravelergeorge
Nomad

Posts: 154
Registered: 9-21-2010
Location: Baja Norte
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
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Its pretty simple. FM3, one time shipment with no duty. Everything else, pay the duty. So save the FM3 for when you are really bringing the big stuff.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Quote: | Originally posted by bajatravelergeorge
Its pretty simple. FM3, one time shipment with no duty. Everything else, pay the duty. So save the FM3 for when you are really bringing the big stuff.
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Other posters have indicated that the FM-3 exemption is no longer available.
Additionally, As Indy said...."Even though I'm not a full time resident with an F3 I do have a casita in Baja and I'm slowly bringing personal stuff
down to make it feel more like home and for the day I am here full time."........
I think that Indy needs to get an FM-2 or FM-3 as it appears he is not a "tourist", buit a "part time" resident.
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