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Shipping household goods back from DR to the U.S.

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lmclmf2009
Hi everyone.  I wondered if anyone has had experience shipping their household items back to the U.S. (Florida).  If so, may I ask the following:
1. What company did you use?
2.  Did you ship furniture, electronics, and personal items or a car?
3. Was it very costly?
4. What was your experience? (lost/damaged items, etc.)
5. Would you do it again if you had to?
6. How did you ship them? (someone packed for you or you packed, etc.)

Thank you in advance for the information.
olgaglenn

Hi. We relocated from Florida to Las Terrenas. Used to live in Bradenton/ Sarasota.

We used a Company from Miami. They came and spent 2 days packing everything, including my car. It took a couple of weeks to arrive and then a week more to clear customs.
All we did was hiring them, they transport everything and dealt with customs in Miami and here. They even got the tag and registration for my vehicle. They also bring it here to Las Terrenas and set up all the heavy furniture and put the boxes where we told them.
1. Company name and information: I will send you a private message as, I understand we are not allowed to provide information on public link, like this.
2. We shipped living room set, master bedroom set, 1 extra bed, kitchen stuff, linens, towels, my husband tools, 3 big TV's as they are extremely expensive here, gas generator, dog’s beds, food and their toys, mics stuff and my car. We decided to bring my car because it was over 1 year old, excellent car, brand Kia, which we know we will find parts here and, because buying a car like the one we have it will cost a fortune here. There was no reason to bring my husband hot ride as the streets here are not set for that kind of car, se we sold it.
3. Just like everything it will cost. We chose this Company as we were looking for quality and sincerely, wanted out stuff to arrive in one piece. You can call them and talk to them about prices.
4. Nothing came broken or lost. I was very worried about my car. It didn't even have a scratch.
5. Yes, I will, except I will NOT bring the amount of clothes and shoes. This is the tropic, and you live in shorts, t-shirts, bathing suits and tennis/ flip flops. at least where we are. Don't know about Santo Domingo.
Advice: leave all winter stuff behind, just bring 1 or 2 sweaters in case. Bring linens, towels, pillows, pots/ pans, cutlery, kitchen stuff
This Company is good, they know how to pack and what they do. They will not waste time so, when they tell you they are coming, be ready. I will do it again with them. The guy in charge, always keep communication with me and even answer his cell at night wen I called him panicking with more questions.
Good luck and Welcome here 😊
UncleBuck

@olgaglenn I believe you've misunderstood the directions.  They're looking at moving from the DR to Florida.

olgaglenn
@UncleBuck
Yes, that is what happens when you fly thru everything.. 1f602.svg1f602.svg1f602.svg
olgaglenn
@lmclmf2009
Same Company will work for DR to Florida 1f600.svg
planner
Lets clarify - you are not allowed to post YOUR personal contact information.  If you are recommending a service then post their business contact information. Same for business professionals, post their business contact info but only with permission.
lisawinkler
@lmclmf2009

Could you please send me the info as well.
planner
You can post the shipping company info here! Then everyone can access it
olgaglenn
We used 1Relocation Worldwide.
They move people all over the world.
My contact in is Miami.
His name is Manny
Cell number (305) *
Email address: ****@**.com

Best customer service and experience I ever had. Like I said, nothing came broke, and my car was intact

Good luck
Moderated by Veronique Da Silva 2 years ago
Reason : Contact details should not be posted on the forum but rather exchanged through the private messaging system. Thank you
We invite you to read the forum code of conduct
lmclmf2009

Thank you.

dlreilly18

@olgaglenn

I have been trying to figure out if it is more cost effective to bring furniture from states or to buy it there. we are currently building in the DR. Can you give me an idea of what $$duty they charge you for household items in customs when you entered the DR. I have heard that electronics and cars are expensive to import there but I'm wondering about furniture.

thank you

WillieWeb

It is free when you get residency...... within the first 6 mo.... furniture and discounted car

planner

Without residency it is rarely worth  shipping! Its expensive to ship, expensive to get out of customs and it takes time!


Almost everything is available here now.

GuestPosterR2506

  • @dlreilly18  I can tell you experience moving to La Romana. I don’t have my residency yet but I still moved my stuff I bought those 55 gallon plastic drums blue and packed them with all my personal items microwave,toaster dishes ,clothing. Etc and cost me $150 each to shipped to La romana

i also bought a new refrigerator from Lowe’s a Whirlpool more efficient and a good quality name .that did cost me $750 which included the shipping and the taxes  with customs because was brand new.I also bought a 75†Samsung television paid 750 on sale at Walmart and cost me $750 for shipping and taxes for customs.

i also shipped a sofa and love seat brand new with a recliner  good quality furniture which I couldn’t find here in La Romana

To me was worth it  bringing my own stuff from Boston

only items I bough here was dryer,washer machine and cooking stove and bedroom sets .

I am from Boston and there is a large Dominican community and there are lots of Dominicans that have their own business of shipping stuff to the DR  what they do is rent a container and load it up with people’s items and every drum is mark with a number and last name so they know where to bring it once the items arrive at their warehouse.never missed anything never had an item stolen.

and I know the barrels were fully inspected by custom’s  my stuff showed up at my house all messy nothing like I packed myself lol .

As far as a car  I don’t recommend bring one here is way more expensive better off buying vehicle in DR.


hope this helps you with something maybe you can decide how to send items to DR

not sure where you from but if you need some recommendations to shipp I can give you reputable people from Boston .


sincerely


rich

GuestPosterR2506

@UncleBuck  lol I did same thing missed understood.

GuestPosterR2506

Whatever. I am sure some people can use my experience if they want to shipped items to DR

crabelramble

You're in good shape IF you live in an area that has a substantial Dominican presence. Over the years I've shipped many cartons of household goods out of both Newark and Miami. The key is that the businesses often drop the shipping boxes to your house, pick them up when full, and then deliver them to your RD home.


Much of it was used but there were many new items scattered among the used items. I never paid customs.


One glass shelf on a vitrina was broken. Not bad service at all!

GuestPosterR2506

@crabelramble yeah to me is worth it. Like I said only two items that I had to paid customs TV and fridge. and I still save money on both items. Here in DR a 75†screen TV go for almost 3k. Insane !!

crabelramble


Almost everything is available here now.
-@planner

You're lucky to live in the area that you do! I wish I could say that I've had that same shopping experience!


And then there's the price issue. For example, my wife was looking for a new kitchen sink faucet. She picked out one on Amazon. For giggles she took a screenshot of it when she went to a local ferreteria. She found the same faucet! At a price 50% higher than Amazon. She's bringing one from Amazon back with her when she comes back from a trip to see our grandchild in Miami.









and

DRforme

I have to agree on shipping household items from U.S. having built a small house last year I shipped about 20 standard boxes filled to the brim with everything you could imagine. We paid 175.00 for every 3 boxes which includes a bottle of oil with each box so we have plenty of that. We also sent an LG stove, LG refrigerator, LG washer, LG microwave, LG 65†tv all brand new items for about 1000.00. We even jam packed all the appliances with household items never had to pay any extra charges and everything arrived pretty much intact. Once you see the prices of what these items would cost you in DR you will still be way ahead by purchasing and shipping from the states. I will say make sure you shop around as shipping prices can vary greatly.

fleurdor

@Rich1162 Hi Rich, I'm also from Boston and currently leaving in Sosua, Puerto Plata. Can I have the shipping company 's name please?

dlreilly18

@DRforme thank you so much. What did they charge you in customs to bring this stuff in? Also how long does it take for items to arrive in the DR once you ship from the US?

Thank you

planner

When looking to ship in or ship out,  factor in ALL the costs as well as your time.


Its easy to say its 50% cheaper until you add in the cost of shipping and taxes if any. Then you may realize its only slightly cheaper and you have ZERO guarantee. 


I do this all the time, I  evaluate the total price and time vs buying it here. Sometimes it is well worth it and sometimes not! 

DRforme

@dlreilly18

I just wanted to clarify with you that I’m not sure if you want to ship to DR or out of DR as I just realized your post was about shipping back to the USA. If it is back to the USA I have zero experience with that as everything I ship is a one way trip. Now if you are inquiring as to how much I pay for customs for shipping to DR I do not have a figure for that as that is all built into the price when you pay the shipping company to ship your goods. This is exactly why we ship everything with a shipping company you pay them to pick up, ship and deliver to you in the DR. Does not get any easier than that and they pretty much take anything you want to ship. We have a lot of household goods getting picked up tomorrow and I expect they should be delivered to the DR by the end of April. It’s pretty much a guessing game on delivery as sometimes they do hold some items at customs. Hopefully this helps you.

crabelramble

@olgaglenn
I have been trying to figure out if it is more cost effective to bring furniture from states or to buy it there. we are currently building in the DR. Can you give me an idea of what $$duty they charge you for household items in customs when you entered the DR. I have heard that electronics and cars are expensive to import there but I'm wondering about furniture.
thank you
-@dlreilly18


My experience tells me that the answer to the question, "What duty do they charge you?" is "It all depends!"


I've shipped dozens of boxes filled with new and used clothes, household goods, tools, and kitchen equipment over the last 20 years. I've never had to pay duty.


I shipped a bunch of used furniture, stereo equipment, a set of big surround speakers, a "vitrena", a glass table, sofas, etc.,  and paid no duty.


I'm sure that many people shipping the same things did get charged duty. Why the difference? Who knows!

fleurdor

Hi, can you guys  give me the shipping company's name? From Boston. Thanks!

dlreilly18

@DRforme Very helpful thank you. I am looking on shipping from the US to the DR. 

If I am understanding correctly, the shipping company will give a quote and price and that includes everything. No extra Duty at the port once it arrives in the DR?

Thank again

WillieWeb

Yes.... look up 'Mundanza'............ that's what you want for 'all in one' shipping

DRforme

@dlreilly18

Yes correct your goods are picked, shipped, delivered all for a quoted price. I just had a lot of stuff picked up today from my house for shipping to La Vega. A little tip for you if you are sending large appliances like refrigerators, stoves or washers we pack as much stuff as we can inside them saves you from paying for probably 2 boxes. My wife even squeezed a new ninja blender in the microwave.

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