Sending household items to Costa Rica from USA

maezing wrote:

You can use boxes on American Air. The limit is 5 checked per person, find rates by calling them. Size is important, and weight or you are charged over size rate but a good way to ship something you love. Bring it with you is cheaper than shipping by a mover or commercial.  The speakers, if they are old Bose, sell them on Craig's list and buy the new smaller single one and bring it. I use one all the time, light weight. If you upgrade to business class, you get more pounds and more free bags too. The price difference is very small. If you want more info contact me. Maezing@yahoo.com

Thank you. I'm somewhat of an audiophile and the one Bose won't do it for me. However I could sell the big ones and get a Set of smaller Boses. Not a bad idea.
The more I think about it I may just use a set of Bose computer speakers and run everything through my computer. Bose makes a great sounding set of computer speakers. Then we can run netflix etc through the computer and play dvd's, files, and cd's through the computer as well.

The idea of using the airline sounds like the way to go.

The only good prices I've found for shipping so far are to ship out of FL but I'd have to ship from CA TO FL first which then adds too much cost to the whole thing. Shipping is very very high here in the USA now due to cost of gas. Whether post office or fedex or private shipping services the price is outrageous. Only USPS "media mail" is "affordable". If I could find a service similar to Michael's through CA then that might well work but so far I have not found anyone doing it through CA.

indisunflower wrote:

I shipped two barrels from NYC to San Jose and it was a disaster. Mostly books and household items, school supplies for the kids and my husband's amp and studio equipment. The shipping company used a SJ-based company that charged me over $400 to just transport the two barrels from Limon to a warehouse near my home. I then had to hire a broker who removed EVERY single item from the barrels and itemized each one for import tax (even a small bag of fridge magnets). In the end I paid over $1000 for items that were all used and sentimental. It was a huge headache that took about 3 months to resolve. I suggest bring as much as possible with you in suitcases. Pay for the extra baggage ($50-75/depending on the airline) but you have everything when you arrive. That was my only regret in the moving process to CR.

Thanks much for the info. I suppose this might have been avoided (?) had you used a different shipper though. I have heard success stories shipping out of Miami but then again we can't afford to ship TO Miami so this is not an option for us.

ExpatDave wrote:

SanRamon,

I have also used Michael with shippingcr.com. many, times.  We ship almost once a month and have never had any problems at all.  Michael charges $4.50 per pound with a $30 minimum or you can ship via pallet for $650 per pallet.  Pallets can be stacked/packed 7' high.  There are no additional import taxes, no brokers, etc., etc.. (As usual with Edwards comments, he talks quite negative and has no idea what he's talking about.)  It's a flat rate and you will get everything that you ship.  As Terry stated, you simply ship to their Miami address and then pick up your packages, etc. in Escazu.  You can also pay a bit more and have it delivered to your door.  You can ship anything you want with the exception of illegal items of course.

His info.:
Michael Baird
info@shippingcr.com
506 7241-8772

So, you're finally making the BIG move?

- Dave

Yes, finally making the Big Move!
You can see my other comments on why we won't use shipping out of Miami for our household items though I would if we lived closer to Miami.

Have been planning this move for years but now that it's upon me I'm finding it very stressful, figuring out exactly how to do things like get a decent 4x4 car, get household items there, etc etc. "The devil is in the details"!

So far I have almost decided for sure to just take whatever we can through the airline and buy a used car there. Of course neither of these solutions are ideal but we have budget limitations!

TerrynViv wrote:

Indisunflower;
We brought a 40' container down and at least 60% of it was brand new.  An experienced shipper will tell you what the right way is to pack and ship.  We used Barry Wilson and he made sure that we knew the rules and procedures.  Not one box was damaged, not one box was opened, and not one item was missing.  There are five families in our community that have had the same experience.  All of us are very pleased with our decisions and Barry!  He gave us a price up front and guaranteed it.  Everyone knew exactly what the TOTAL cost was before they packed their container.  We also brought down a Yamaha rhino and there were zero surprises there.

What is a Yamaha rhino?
How much is a 40' container and the packing and shipping total? Just curious. We would not use a 40' as we don't have that much stuff nor will our small home hold that much stuff, LOL. (However, is there a smaller container available or can yo generally find 1-2 others to share a container? If you prefer not to answer re cost that's fine, or you can answer via pm if you want.)

Edward1958 wrote:

http://yourcostaricacontact.com/

Thanks for the link. This seems pretty legit and I have never argued that Costa Rica is NOT one of the most expensive countries in Latin America to live!
It is said to be fourth most expensive according to this article.

From said article:
"However, the author claims that although these countries are expensive, some have high wages, low levels of corruption, stable democracies, which makes them ideal places to live." I know Costa RIca does have corruption but then, well, let's not even get me started on USA corruption. [It's worse, just more hidden away...]

As someone else I know recently pointed out, retiring in Costa Rica is not about "the cheapest place to retire", it's about the "best place to retire". I wouldn't even say "the best", I'd say "the best for the money". But also among the best.

I think if most of us who live there or want to live there didn't feel that way, we wouldn't be here in this forum!

(Unless some are just here to bad mouth it because they had a bad experience... And there is some legitimacy to warning people that it's not paradise and they may not like it here. I always say "it's not for everyone".)

I always do warn people to go there first for a few months or more, live in a HOUSE, not a hotel, and see what it's really like to LIVE there as opposed to being on vacation there.
And if you do plan to live there,

LEARN THE LANGUAGE and BE PREPARED TO PRACTICE PATIENCE AND GOOD HUMOR!

maezing wrote:

I have a question for Dave too. Michael ships new also, right, at that price? Or just used.

I've only shipped new but the price is the same no matter what you ship - new, old, stinky, greasy....  $4.50 per pound or $650. for a pallet and yes he does ship many full containers as well.  I've been using him for five years and have had NO problems whatsoever.  The price is a set price.  There are no additional fees/taxes, etc.