Merkalink for importing packages

[jamnkats]

Feel free to move this to the Local forum but I thought the tourists might have a need for it also.

I posted long ago at PI about different mail services but recently tried Merkalink to import items I could not get here (medical texts in English). I purchased the items via internet (here in Mexico), had them sent to Laredo (to Merkalink's addy with my identifying info on it) and they imported the books and delivered them. I'm quite confident they would have arrived at my palapa in PaaMul, but the delivery truck had an accident and I didn't want to wait for a re-delivery attempt, so I headed to Playa and picked the stuff up. For items you simply cannot get, have muled or afford down here, it is a great service and the cost isn't outrageous. The only possible problem could be that I don't think their website has an English version, but I never looked really hard for it, so you might need Spanish fluency (or someone to translate) to setup your account and watch your items. Merkalink uses Estafeta for delivery and their tracking is as good as UPS's or FedEx's (they actually have a code for "vehicle accident". kinda freaky).

[John]

We'll probably be contacting you for more information soon... we've been thinking about starting this service for mail from the States.

Have you ever had something electronic shipped through this type of service? Ever had to pick something up at the Cancun airport and pay import taxes on it?

Thanks for the info and website link!

[jamnkats]

Originally Posted by John

We'll probably be contacting you for more information soon... we've been thinking about starting this service for mail from the States.

Have you ever had something electronic shipped through this type of service? Ever had to pick something up at the Cancun airport and pay import taxes on it?

Thanks for the info and website link!

I personally, haven't done either, but I have conversed with I guy from Cuernavaca who has used this service many times for electronic items, and my neighbor recently had a satellite modem, a satellite dish and other pieces of electronic hardware brought down from Yuma to PaaMul via Merkalink. The vendor shipped from Yuma to Laredo and Merkalink brought it to his palapa. He paid shipping/import fees (all the info is on the website), but directly to Merkalink.

I personally, once had to pick up my package from MultiPack, a repaired computer sent by CompUSA from the US, after FedEx pawned the delivery off on MultiPac. Apparently FedEx does not go to Mazatlan! I paid minor import fees (CompUSA paid customs duties to FedEx) to MultiPac. Multipac could not find our campground (even though it was right next to DIF!) in Mazatlan, so I finally picked it up at MultiPac.

I had a brake controller (electronic piece of equipment) shipped via UPS from Alabama directly to my palapa here in PaaMul. Even though the vendor took care of customs and shipping, I still paid some tax or fee or something to the final delivery person (UPS contracted out the delivery here). Interestingly, the package arrived the day we came back from evacuating from Dean.

I had something else shipped UPS and picked it up in Aguascalientes (city) when they couldn't find the town we were in in Zacatecas state (UPS) and had another brake controller (electronic) sent direct to our campground in Guanajuato (city) via Estafeta from the US (the original shipper was FedEx, I believe). The only time I've not had to pay any import fees or extra fees was with Merkalink.

But no, I've never had to pick anything up at the airport. The shipping company has always been able to clear customs whenever I've ordered something, be in Merkalink/Estafeta or UPS or FedEx.