Mail to Colombia

[Dennis]

Has there been any recent changes to the Colombian Postal Service?  I used to be able to ship a box to Bogota and not have any problems but the last two times I have sent things the boxes were opened and several items were stolen from the box prior to it being delivered.  It was just minor things, candy, cookies, and small clothing items but it is irritating when you find out the the gifts you sent never arrived. 

[utopiacowboy]

No one I know ever uses the Colombian mail system. They always use the private delivery services.

[Frank Rizzo]

Same here cowboy. Only the utility bills come regular mail, in my experience.

[utopiacowboy]

Same here cowboy. Only the utility bills come regular mail, in my experience.

Yes, that and the junk "mail" (flyers etc).

[Dennis]

By private delivery service I assuming you are shipping via FedEx or you are located in Colombia.  I was referring to sending a box from Los Angeles to Bogota.  Is there a more secure way to ship frm the US to Bogota that isn't as expensive as going FedEx?

[utopiacowboy]

There are alternative services like UPS and DHL. We always manage to find someone who is going to Colombia and send stuff that way.

[jediknight]

check travel agencies in your area that cater to the latino community. also, check out places where money is sent or calls are made to latin amercia. here in nyc those places offer shipment to colombia and i've never had a problem. is there an avianca express in your area? http://www.aviancaexpress.com/index/usaofi.html
JK

[bundy_138]

Yeah, stay away from the "regular post" when shipping to Colombia.  I use DHL when shipping packages (tracking #, very fast delivery, and insured).  A little pricy, but well worth it for the "piece of mind".  I only use the postal service for letters and cards, no more.

Bundy

[mender]

[quote author=bundy  A little pricey, but well worth it for the "piece of mind". 

I guess so. A 5 # package, will cost $360, with online discount.

[soltero]

This is your best bet. It is reliable and inexpensive. I have used it many times with great success.

http://www.abecargo.com/


Since 1989, when Colombians residing in United States clearly show their needs to send packages to their, families, friends, partners in Colombia, is when ABE Cargo Express, Inc. have been present. The Honesty, Sincerity and Responsibility, since the beginning, have characterized our labor. All this have permitted us that in a minimum period of time we have earned the trust of Colombian Community. That is why today we offer them a very complete portfolio of Courier Services in General.

[drm64]

Ditto Soltero's recommendation. We use ABE Cargo. It is cheap and fast. You send your package first to its base in Miami and there it is readdressed and forwarded on to its Colombian destination.

[Pivery]

  Hi Dennis,

I'm not sure how big of a box you were / are sending, but my lady lives in Barranquilla and I live in Los Angeles. I have sent her boxes USPS Express Mail twice a month more or less. And not only did they get there on time or even earlier than estimated but none were opened. I have sent small boxes and even as large as a box almost stereo speaker-sized.

So even though they get a bad rap, I have never lost anything through them and is relatively inexpensive I think.

Pivery

[Researcher]

This is your best bet. It is reliable and inexpensive. I have used it many times with great success.

http://www.abecargo.com/


Since 1989, when Colombians residing in United States clearly show their needs to send packages to their, families, friends, partners in Colombia, is when ABE Cargo Express, Inc. have been present. The Honesty, Sincerity and Responsibility, since the beginning, have characterized our labor. All this have permitted us that in a minimum period of time we have earned the trust of Colombian Community. That is why today we offer them a very complete portfolio of Courier Services in General.

 Soltero,

    Do you ship to Miami via Fedex or other service to ABECargo?

    Researcher

[soltero]

Soltero,

    Do you ship to Miami via Fedex or other service to ABECargo?

    Researcher

Just regular US mail. It is all very affordable. For instance, I was going to go the FedEx route once for a package, and said package was going to cost me a whopping $379.00 to ship from here to there via FedEx. I figured there had to be another way. Shipping US mail to Miami cost about $18.00 and from there, I believe it was another $23.00 to Cali and it arrived intact exactly a week from the time I sent it. They also have next day shipping, but the week was good enough.

[Jeff S]

In case you hadn't heard, the old International standby DHL is no more. I guess I'm getting old. It used to be the best and in some cases only international courier, as PanAm was for most International travel.

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/11/business/fi-dhl11

- Jeff

[KingDphax]

I used to mail stuff to my girlfriend all the time. It arrived in about 8 days like clockwork. I used USPS (8-day). The price was about $25.00. My package was going to Cartagena. Things may be different going to Bogota.

-King Dphax

[mbison]

This is your best bet. It is reliable and inexpensive. I have used it many times with great success.

http://www.abecargo.com/

I haven't used Abecargo so I can't compare, but I have had good luck with Zaicargo http://www.zaicargo.com/.  Basically they give you a Miami address and anything you ship to it is shipped onward to Colombia.  The rate is $3 per pound, 5 pound minimum.  So far I have shipped a camera and an xbox with no issues.

Mickey

[jay5688]

I really like ABE cargo, I have used them with very good results and the package arrived exactly when they said it would. I called them to ask about the procedure and was given very good instructions by a Colombian girl in Miami. She said to include the shipping and billing instructions in the box and they contacted me for the payment when they were shipping it to Colombia for the payment. They have a good website and are good to answer any questions about the process they use.
I also used USPS to ship to Miami and they handle everything from there.

Just a note I ask about big ticket items like computers and was told there would be some sort of import tax on new stuff shipped to Colombia , I really do not know the law just what I was told on the phone.

good luck

[Researcher]

Just regular US mail. It is all very affordable. For instance, I was going to go the FedEx route once for a package, and said package was going to cost me a whopping $379.00 to ship from here to there via FedEx. I figured there had to be another way. Shipping US mail to Miami cost about $18.00 and from there, I believe it was another $23.00 to Cali and it arrived intact exactly a week from the time I sent it. They also have next day shipping, but the week was good enough.

   Soltero,

            I want to thank you for the helpful info.I used abecargo and it worked great.After my brother in laws kidney transplant, one was donor, both had to go across Bogota to the doctor to have blood pressure taken 2 times a day.They had to take a taxi because they aren't allowed to drive at this time.The doctor told them that if they bought a blood pressure monitor they could just stay home and keep a record of the readings. The only problem was that the monitor there costs $250. I found a really good one here for $50 and we shipped it to them via abecargo for $18.Fedex wanted 5 times that. We sent the package last Monday and they  got it Friday. The taxi trips were getting expensive for them and now they don't need to go across town.So thanks again from me and my wife.

  Researcher

[utopiacowboy]

FedEx is just too expensive for shipping packages to Colombia. I only used them to ship documents. For that they were reasonable and right on time every time I used them.

[soltero]

   Soltero,

            I want to thank you for the helpful info.I used abecargo and it worked great.After my brother in laws kidney transplant, one was donor, both had to go across Bogota to the doctor to have blood pressure taken 2 times a day.They had to take a taxi because they aren't allowed to drive at this time.The doctor told them that if they bought a blood pressure monitor they could just stay home and keep a record of the readings. The only problem was that the monitor there costs $250. I found a really good one here for $50 and we shipped it to them via abecargo for $18.Fedex wanted 5 times that. We sent the package last Monday and they  got it Friday. The taxi trips were getting expensive for them and now they don't need to go across town.So thanks again from me and my wife.

  Researcher

I am VERY glad I could help! That has to be one of the most touching stories I have heard in a long time. Thanks very much for sharing it, and nothing but the best to you and your beautiful Missus!