Hurricane Irma - Keep an Eye on it's path.

[gallofino]

Time for a glass of wine.

Was thinking about you today.  Are you still in Mexico? 

[vmmi]

Well now thats settled, and everyone has a glass in there hands, maybe you could advise me. Yes it might be in the wrong thread but it concerns Irma and its affect.
I had finally two mins on the phone yesterday with my partner who is with her family in Esmeralda, that is no word or contact since the Hurricane went through,  add to that her luggage  went missing, no water and very little food. So I remember hearing that you can send a kilo or two via DHL or similar. Can anyone tell me if i can send a small water filtre, some chicken soup base , a memory stick, chanca pedra , , it will weigh under a kilo. Would it get through, as I know this isnt  going to be the last Hurricane that will go through this season. Please move this if it in the wrong place. Thanks

[greslogo]

First off... DHL is extremely expensive.

Second, Anything other than documents will probably not be accepted. Others can correct me.

Post office if you have confidence it will make it to its destination. By the time it makes it there, the shortages should be over.

Quite frankly, save the money for the contents, which are inexpensive and the shipping, which is expensive and send the equivalent in cash.

What country and city are you in ?

Esmeralda got seriously whacked, btw.

[vmmi]

In Ontario, east.
 She said money was not the issue really, as there is nothing to buy at the moment, the phone and power are on and off..water is a real problem for them, some people are getting sick ..
 hence the filtre. Yes they got hit hard.
I am trying to find a way to get stuff to them

[greslogo]

Gotcha...

Call Excel Cargo in Montreal. They have offices in Toronto. Ask them for the Toronto number.

514-631-0941
514-631-1240

They ship packages to Cuba. Used to be daily but when Cuba switched to charging recipients in cuc and not cup, Cubans pretty much stopped sending packages to Cuba. They now have weekly flights.

10 kilos/20 kilos

10 kilos or under is around $70 cad... Might as well fill it.

The only destination they ship to is the airports in Habana/varadero/holguin.

When the package arrives, they will inspect the contents, assess duty then they will call the recipient and they have to pick it up at the airport and pay customs. There will be duty charged in cuc.

If the parcel is under 3 kg... There is no duty.

We used to send lots of packages, including tv's when they charged in cup.

Even in cuc, depending what you send, the hit may not be that bad... It's an Emergancy... Understandable.

The only problem is that they will have to go to Holguin to pick up the package, in your case.

[LisaH]

Thanks gres! That is very helpful.

[greslogo]

I should add, the price for shipping is if you drop it off in Montreal. Toronto will probably be more expensive since Montreal is where they aggregate all the parcels, including shipments from the EU. They go via Cubana.

[vmmi]

Thank you so much. I can get packages dropped of in Montreal. I will find out what chance she has of getting to Holgiun and back, for water filtres it would be worth it for her and maybe a friend to go there. Do you think if l put a memory stick in there ( not politics or porn ) it might get through as well, or do they tend to "borrow " those as they inspect.?

[mctonedef]

Lushes. All of you. Hic.

[greslogo]

Thank you so much. I can get packages dropped of in Montreal. I will find out what chance she has of getting to Holgiun and back, for water filtres it would be worth it for her and maybe a friend to go there. Do you think if l put a memory stick in there ( not politics or porn ) it might get through as well, or do they tend to "borrow " those as they inspect.?

Never lost anything shipping that way.

[Mividamialma]

The water filer will get through no issues, however, the chicken stock may not...that will be up to the discretion of the immigration officer that receives the package. Food of any sorts is touch and go to get through customs. I sent you a PM.

[greslogo]

I think this type of caution, although worth mentioning, is often overblown.

We've sent Ramin noodles, spices, bullion cubes, and similar, many times in these packages. These packages always get opened and inspected before they call you.

My mil, here twice, in the last year returned with pounds of different spices, both times.

As long as it is in original packaging/container, unopened... You should be fine.