This is for expats 'thinking' about coming to Nicaragua and 'thinking' about what to bring, if anything, besides their clothes, shoes, personal hygiene items and passport. We moved here June 28/29 respectively.
(1) We decided to ship 'small' and had approximately 25 apple size boxes and 5 suitcases and 1 wicker trunk. We declared $8000. value on the load. We shipped from Miami to Nicaragua. A friend drove our stuff from Marietta, Georgia to Miami June 26th, at no cost ... just as a favor / out of kindness. COST OF SHIPPING: $2500. including insurance against damage/loss.
(2) Our load was 'partial' ... not a full container. Sooo, it sat in Miami port from June 27th to Aug 8th, until it could be loaded with another 'partial' load(s).
(3) It finally left Miami August 8th and arrived at the port of Managua August 10th. TransCargo called us and asked us to come in, on a Monday, to discuss our cargo and set date for import tax inspection. We set the date for 2 days later (Thurs). During this meeting, the TransCargo agent 'guestimated' a tax of $1200. The tax assessor was present, and he reviewed the shipping list, using a gigantic reference manual on values of import stuff, and estimated $600 to $650. At this point we were relieved and almost pleased.
(4) Thursday, we 'stood' in an extremely / miserably hot warehouse (SEMMA), with no ventilation, for 3 1/2 hours while each and every box was opened and contents examined thoroughly. Finally, we asked for chairs stating we were abuellas and couldn't stand so long. We got the chairs. Thank You! The same tax assessor that was present at our above meeting was the one assessing our goods. He placed no value on used sheets/towels/blankets/clothing/shoes/picture albums/paperback books. When he got to the second pallet (we had 2 pallets), he explained that electronics were expensive items (i.e., computer, DVD player, modem etc) but he did not tell us the final bill. We had to wait for the inspector to pass his assessment onto his supervisor and then back to TransCargo.
(5) 12 days later .... (NOTE: they took a siesta. LOL) we get a call from TransCargo saying that we owed $1013. USD. Holy Mary, Sweet Mother of God!!!! WHAT!!!???
It turns out that the tax really was only $650. for our cargo. BUT, we now owed SEMMA warehouse for storage of our cargo for the 12 days (August 10th to August 22nd) and for insurance (i.e., in case of fire etc) while this whole tax process (slow / laborious) was taking place. THAT is the "HIDDEN COST" that we read about but didn't understand. Oh boy! Can we say "beans/rice" for breakfast / lunch / dinner? How about an occasional egg or hot dog? Peanut butter! That's Cheap! LOL
Ya gotta love this adventure or you gonna cry baby!!! This whole moving business is LOCO .... Mucho loco!!!
(1) We decided to ship 'small' and had approximately 25 apple size boxes and 5 suitcases and 1 wicker trunk. We declared $8000. value on the load. We shipped from Miami to Nicaragua. A friend drove our stuff from Marietta, Georgia to Miami June 26th, at no cost ... just as a favor / out of kindness. COST OF SHIPPING: $2500. including insurance against damage/loss.
(2) Our load was 'partial' ... not a full container. Sooo, it sat in Miami port from June 27th to Aug 8th, until it could be loaded with another 'partial' load(s).
(3) It finally left Miami August 8th and arrived at the port of Managua August 10th. TransCargo called us and asked us to come in, on a Monday, to discuss our cargo and set date for import tax inspection. We set the date for 2 days later (Thurs). During this meeting, the TransCargo agent 'guestimated' a tax of $1200. The tax assessor was present, and he reviewed the shipping list, using a gigantic reference manual on values of import stuff, and estimated $600 to $650. At this point we were relieved and almost pleased.
(4) Thursday, we 'stood' in an extremely / miserably hot warehouse (SEMMA), with no ventilation, for 3 1/2 hours while each and every box was opened and contents examined thoroughly. Finally, we asked for chairs stating we were abuellas and couldn't stand so long. We got the chairs. Thank You! The same tax assessor that was present at our above meeting was the one assessing our goods. He placed no value on used sheets/towels/blankets/clothing/shoes/picture albums/paperback books. When he got to the second pallet (we had 2 pallets), he explained that electronics were expensive items (i.e., computer, DVD player, modem etc) but he did not tell us the final bill. We had to wait for the inspector to pass his assessment onto his supervisor and then back to TransCargo.
(5) 12 days later .... (NOTE: they took a siesta. LOL) we get a call from TransCargo saying that we owed $1013. USD. Holy Mary, Sweet Mother of God!!!! WHAT!!!???
It turns out that the tax really was only $650. for our cargo. BUT, we now owed SEMMA warehouse for storage of our cargo for the 12 days (August 10th to August 22nd) and for insurance (i.e., in case of fire etc) while this whole tax process (slow / laborious) was taking place. THAT is the "HIDDEN COST" that we read about but didn't understand. Oh boy! Can we say "beans/rice" for breakfast / lunch / dinner? How about an occasional egg or hot dog? Peanut butter! That's Cheap! LOL
Ya gotta love this adventure or you gonna cry baby!!! This whole moving business is LOCO .... Mucho loco!!!
