ABOUT THE LIVING LIFE IN COSTA RICA BLOG

I (Vicki Skinner - aka "THE Sarong Goddess") created this blog in 2007 to share DETAILED Finds•Lists•Info•Events•Experiences to help bring more EASE to people living in, visiting or thinking of moving to Costa Rica since DETAILS are NOT easy to find!
I’m NOT an expert (an "expert" 2 ME knows 101%-NOT me). I believe in sharin info•helping where I can! And with over 2,200 entries, so some things might be out of date, so if you find old info PLEASE help each other by getting the updated info & sharing it with me to revise. At least you have some basic info to get you started.
VOLUNTEER TO HELP:
Better yet - do you have extra time on your hands & looking for a volunteer project? Since this blog is a labor of love & RARELY does anyone share a donation (even though MANY have said how much it's helped them), I could REALLY use help updating info. Spanish speakers ESPECIALLY welcome since my VicLish can be somewhat limited at times!!

DONATE:
Has my blog helped in any way? Helped find something•brought more EASE? More exposure or business?
I welcome you to show YOUR appreciation for my efforts!
ANY size DONATION is APPRECIATED!
(see below other ways to show your appreciation)
The easiest way is with PAYPAL - Attn: LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com
(you do NOT need to have a PayPal account to do this - just a credit or debit card)
ADD INFORMATION:
Do YOU have/know of a Business•Event•News•Place•Things 4 Sale•Rent to add? Email:
LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com

OTHER WAYS TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THIS BLOG

• APPLE LAPTOP - Do you have a Laptop you're not using? Mine recently broke so I'm using a lender. Must be new enough to run current Skypes & have an SDCard slot.
• Amazon.com or GoDaddy.com Credit•Gift Certificate (attn: SarongGoddess@gmail.com)
• Something else to share?? A gift certificate or invite for your business? I'm open!! (at times I'll add other things here that I'm seeking)

Sunday, January 26, 2014

MAILING•SHIPPING THINGS TO Costa Rica - Options - including the CHEAPEST Delivery Rates for


Shipping things to you in Costa Rica from the U.S. can be expensive and risky at best especially since we don't really have "Addresses" in Costa Rica and you can't always get things delivered to your doorstep.  Added to the chances of the packages getting stopped by the Aduana•Customs & them demanding taxes from you (yes - even if it was a gift & the price is NOT based on what you paid for it - it's the price THEY deem it would sell for IN Costa Rica!!).
Hence why many people opt to us a company that gives you a U.S. address (all I know are in Miami) and it is put on a plane and delivered usually to their office where you either pick it up or some give you the option to have it delivered to your door (for a fee).

I'm starting to compile a list of them here - along with their prices and details.

I'd love for you to share YOUR experiences with them down in "Comments"

OMGoddess!!

Did you know that Costa Rica's Postal system•Post Office•"Correos"
has a
MIAMI ADDRESS SHIPPING SERVICE TO Costa Rica??
(similar to JetBox, etc. but their site says with BETTER SHIPPING RATES to Costa Rica??

Their "shipping to Costa Rica" division - they refer to it as an "Internet Shopping Service" where you get a Miami address for FREE 
and it's then shipped to one of the Costa Rica post offices or your home (to your home for an additional Delivery Fee - $3 within the Metropolitan area.  $5 outside!)
AND
it sure looks CHEAPER than the other services!!!!!!
(at least that's what their site says it is!!)

Their site - "Box Correos  -  BoxCorreos.com
features a unique international freight rate, calculated by the actual weight of the item, in addition to the security system of payments (Certified Compliance PCI Data Security Standard), used by the most prestigious banks to safeguard data credit cards and debit cards.  In addition to these benefits, Mail Box, takes care of customs formalities and the respective permits for the delivery of the package at home."


REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE MIAMI ADDRESS:
(NO monthly fees like most of the other services charge!!!)
https://secure.boxcorreos.com/index.php?option=com_registration&view=register&Itemid=150


LIVE HELP
BoxChat.correos.go.cr/webim/client.php
(during working hours [I'll get those hours soon])
(unfortunately their website is only in Español so not so easy to figure out if your Spanish is limited)


CALCULATING THE TAX AND SHIPPING:
https://secure.boxcorreos.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38&Itemid=220
(it's in Español BUT, if you open it in Chrome.com - it will translate it for you!!)


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OTHER MAILING•SHIPPING OPTIONS:

AEROCASILLAS
Aeropost.com/web/frontend/?lang=_eng

BOX RATE:
FREE

MEMBERSHIP:
$20/year for their Plus program (which seems worth it if you're regularly receiving things - especially because you can get FREE DELIVERY TO YOU if you're within the Metropolitan Central Valley area [see below])
Just a 1 page letter under 150grams  =  $1.50
RATES:
AeroPost.com/web/frontend/tarifas?lang=_eng&country=sjo
****They charge you based on real weight, NOT on the size of your package (NO OVERSIZE FEE!!)
FREE DELIVER TO YOUR HOUSE if you live in the Metropolitan Central Valley area (Cartago, Heredia, San Jose and Alajuela
You can return your junk mail and they will credit your account!!!!!!!

They ALSO charge a Customs•Aduna
HANDLING FEE
Aeropost.com/web/frontend/aduanal?lang=_eng&country=sjo

HOW MUCH IS THE CUSTOMS•ADUANA TAX?
CALCULATOR - to figure out the Customs•Aduana Value of this tax
Aeropost.com/web/frontend/general/42?lang=_eng&country=14


FREE DELIVERY within the METROPOLITAN CENTRAL VALLEY area
Where is that??

As North as:
(working on it)

As South as:
(working on it)

As East as:
(working on it)

As North•West as:
(working on it)

As South•West as:
Forum 1, Santa Ana Centro,San Rafael de Santa Ana, Salitral Centro, Ciudad Colón Centro, Piedades, Rio Oro, Brasil de Mora, Ciudad Colón, Pozos Sur. Del Tunel y la pista    Can NOT deliver to:  Calle vieja entre Brasil de Mora, Calle vieja entre Ciudad colon y santa ana. Puriscal, Palmichal, Acosta.


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ARCR
ARCR mail service is actually NOT their own.  It's done through Aercasillas - BUT - ARCR members do NOT pay Aercasillas' $20 annual fee (it's included in your ARCR membership).
The only bummer is ARCR members do NOT have the option for FREE DELIVER TO YOUR HOUSE within the greater Metropolitan


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JETBOX
JetBox.com
(note their website is only in Spanish but they have a Live Chat area
MEMBERSHIP
$1 to join (one time fee)

MONTHLY:
NO FEE

PRICES:
JetBox.com/tarifas
 JetBox.com/calculadora


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SkyBox.com


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MORE COMING SOON
(I wanted to get the above Box Correo info to you asap as I was SOOOO EXCITED about it!!)



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SHIP THINGS TO THE U.S.
 LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/04/ShippingDocumentsToUSFromCR.html


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LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/01/MailShippingToCR.html
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