O.K., so you thought that it was bad to stand in line at the post office for the Christmas rush. Here in Ecuador, the experience is like that all the time. If you receive a package or a box that does not fit in your mailbox (a standard manilla envelope or small box) then they put a slip of paper in your box advising you that you have a package. The only day to pick up your package is on Wednesday mornings because that is the only time that the custom officials come to inspect the packages. Here is how the system works:
1. Make two copies of the package advisement slip and your passport for identification.
2. Stand in line to wait to identify your package (normally over an hour).
3. Walk to the back room, give the post office lady your copies and sign a huge entry book stating that you identified your package.
4. The post office lady carries the package to another room to the custom officials.
5. Stand in line again (another hour) and wait for the custom offical to call your name.
6. The custom official opens your package then uses a formula to determine the taxes to be paid in order to claim your package (weight + value of contents + cost of postage paid) .
7. You pay the taxes in cash to the custom officials and you leave with your package in hand.
We have received mainly small to medium lightweight boxes and have paid anywhere from $2 to $23 in taxes to receive our packages. These are minor compared to what some pay depending on the weight, etc. of their packages.
The only way to avoid all of this is to receive packages via Global Priority -- you can ask at your local post office what the requirements are for sending these type packages. Or you can send shoe-box sized lightweight packages 2 pounds and under -- these can fit in our box and cost us nothing to receive. Large manila envelopes also fit in our box. Happy mailing!!
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