26 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

John I would personally be reticent to ship my gear anywhere. The airlines have a hard enough time getting stuff to its final destination and they do not have to worry about customs, poor local transport to and from the resort, the days or weeks it will take, the potential for theft, loss both during and after it has shipped, etc.

And I would think the cost would be equal if not exceed what the airlines are charging for an extra bag.

Having a former transportation back ground and being a US Licensed Custom's Broker...I would NEVER go this route unless it were the last resort i.e. I was stuck someplace and had to ship my things back to the US or lose them. THEN and only then would I try it.

Look at it this way. Almost every trip I make I am asked to bring something for the resort and almost always for a liveaboard. Why? Because the mail/courier services take too long and are too expensive and are NOT reliable.

Shipping to Australia another first world country may be ok. Shipping to most of the places we visit... NOPE!

[WreckWench]

I would agree if shipping to the US or even a first world country. I would disagree shipping to most of the places we go diving.

But I'm eager to see how people fare with this option as they attempt to find alternatives to rising airfare options.

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

As far as gear insurance goes, there are several options that many of us already have. I have both DAN and homeowner's insurance that covers my gear, but you have to watch the deductible. Airlines will not cover the true replacement value as far as I know. I don't know about credit card insurance on purchases, as I've never used that benefit of a credit card.

[peterbj7]

When you take something into a country Customs is dealt with on the spot. When you ship something the same Customs procedures are applied as to large commercial shipments. Someone thought he'd be clever and shipped his CCR to me in Belize a couple of weeks before he was due to come for a week's rebreather diving. To cut a very long story short, his CCR had not reached me by the time he ended his trip and left for home. It actually arrived almost a week after his departure and I had to ship it back to him, a major exercise as he had addressed the package to himself and Customs refused to clear it for export unless he personally signed the shipping documents (and he had already left). I had to deposit a sum of money equal to 150% of the purchase cost of the CCR when it entered the country, and then submit a claim for reimbursement when it left again, just a couple of days later. It took me six months to get my money back, and I didn't get it all. I had to loan him a CCR while he was here and he refused to pay me any rental for it. Overall it was a nightmare that cost both of us a lot of money and lost me a customer as he blamed me for the debacle.

So far as Belize is concerned, DO NOT ship items you'll want to use whilst here. If I were the dive operator I would refuse to accept any such package.

I imagine much the same must apply to many other third world countries, the countries you're most likely to want to visit to dive.

Edited by peterbj7, 08 January 2011 - 10:37 PM.

[WreckWench]

Peter I knew customs issues would be an issue both ways...but I did not realize how ugly it could be for the inbound operator in certain countries.

While this may not occur with other first world countries...I was fairly confident they or similar problems would occur with many of the countries we dive in.

A year or so ago a diver brought a TON of school supplies for our orphanage program. She put them in a box and shipped the box as part of her luggage on the plane. Despite notices stating they were for children and the orphanage, they insisted she was importing them for resale and charged her $150 US for import duties (more than the price of the supplies) and held her up at the airport for almost an hour. She paid the money but ever since then we've advised people to just bring what they can stick in their suitcases.

NOTE: This post is not meant to construe that all countries will have the same issues as Peter had in Belize. So John's ides of creating a list of countries you can ship your gear to before a trip and those you should not ship too is a good idea.

[WreckWench]

John depending on where you are shipping too you will need to ship as much as 3-4 weeks prior to your arrival. You will need to send an invoice with the goods stating value and that the goods are used and personal property to be used by you on a dive trip in the country.

I see you are getting more and more comfortable with this option but I think the cost will be prohibitive once you insure it for the value you want to recover and you will find it will take longer to clear customs than you imagined.

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

One of our members is currently on Oahu for a 2 week vacation, and still has not received the dive gear she shipped ahead. Her vacation is almost over, too.

[WreckWench]

Not sure how far in advance she shipped it but I just can't warn people enough that this is NOT a reliable option unless shipping US to US and even then....apparently that does not count if you are shipping to Hawaii.

[peterbj7]

Don't forget that it's common practice even in the first world for Customs to require a deposit of money at least equal to the duty that would be payable if the item were never to be re-exported. Who pays that?