Package Delivery Services
[blue]Greetings everyone,
As we all know, the performance of government or quasi-governmental organizations is always suspect, and specifically the performance of the official mail system: Correo Argentina. I've never used them, but I suspect that there's a reason why people don't send checks in the mail, and why the major utility companies hire private mail services to deliver their bills.
In any event, I had a occasion recently to need to send a letter to a friend in Junin, so I was compelled to research the alternatives.
First, Federal Express and the other recognized international delivery services do not or cannot deliver within the country, so that option, as pricey as it might have been, is off the table.
Eventually, I discovered the website of what is described to me as largest private mail services in Argentina: Correo Andreani.
[url]http://www.andreani.com.ar[/url]
The specific page for their mail services is
[url]http://www.andreani.com.ar/institu/andreani2/correo/home1-1.htm[/url]
The website includes descriptions of their various packaging and shipping options, the delivery times to various locations, etc. I was also pleased to note that they are partners with UPS.
Most of their "offices" listed on their website are actually their agencies, which are typically incorporated within kiosks, locotorios, etc. However, they do have a main office downtown that is staffed with their own uniformed employees. The address is Suipacha 272, near the three way corner of Sarmiento & Pena.
I paid 12 pesos for next day delivery to Junin.
Thanks,
Jackson[/blue]
Receiving packages from the US.
I recently bought some stuff at Ebay, which was coming from the states.
Before I got the stuff sent over I inquired about the customs regulations here with a local friend. He advised me to get it sent down here if possible in an envelope, since envelopes would not be checked by customs.
For one item I was able to get it sent down here in an USPS envelope, and indeed it showed up at my door without any invoice of customs attached to it. The declared value of the contents was US$200, so it was way over the duty free limit of US$25 (!!!) / month.
The other item had to be shipped in a box (by USPS / EMS) Correo Argentino showed up with the box and a customs invoice. The package had a declared value of US$150 and shipping value of US$57, and the total customs fee was $328. Since I did not have the cash on me at the time I asked the driver if it would be possible to pick it up at the office near Retiro station. That was not a problem and he gave me a notice showing the package details etc. I called the phone number on that notice the day after, and got advised that I had to wait for another notice which would come in by mail later the week, which I needed to pick up the package.
Well it took a week to get the needed second notice. I went to the correo argentino office and waited for >2hrs to be served. Once I handed in my notice they processed it, and I got told to wait in the room next door for my number to be called.
I had to wait another 30 mins in that room before my number got called. I went in the back to the customs guy who was going to open the box and inspect etc.
Once the guy figured out I was a foreigner without a residency down here he told me that I would not have to pay duty on the package, since the law does not require it. He just singed off the paperwork where he put my passport number on, and that was it.
All in all it saved me $328, and cost me half a day at the post office and another week of waiting for my package.
So if you have the time, just make sure that the package is sent back to the correo argentino office, and then tell them you are not a resident, but a temporary visitor. Most likely they will wave the duty on the package.
In any case, if possible, have it sent in an envelope instead of a package, and it will save you the duty too!
Recent USABox Experiences?
Does anyone have recent experience with USABox? I am thinking about using them but I sent them some questions about three weeks ago and they still have not responded. If they handle mail the same way they handle questions I do not want to do business with them.
Thanks,
Bob