Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa Message Board - No good deed goes unpunished.

No good deed goes unpunished. (reply)

HolyMole — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 05:00:04 +0000

A few years ago I brought down some cooked game sausage. They grabbed it.

US Customs grabbed my Chata cochinita pibil during the swine flu fears a few years ago.

No good deed goes unpunished. (reply)

frostbite — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 03:09:12 +0000

A few years ago I brought down some cooked game sausage. They grabbed it.

No good deed goes unpunished. (reply)

Quadra Paul — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 00:32:50 +0000

My rule of thumb when you go thru Customs: Tell them nothing! Volunteer nothing! Answer yes or no! Move on!

No good deed goes unpunished. (reply)

Craig AKA the cruise ship guy — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 23:07:34 +0000

Maybe it didn’t happen to you but these are the rules:

The following items are prohibited or restricted:

Narcotics
Live fish
Predators of any size
Images representing children in a degrading or ridiculous way
Used clothes that are not part of your personal luggage
Firearms and ammunitions.

No good deed goes unpunished. (reply)

cd69 — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 04:35:38 +0000

A lot of what I brought is used as all the glasses as they were donated and a good part of the clothing is used but in like new or very good condition. Never had an issue at that airport ever and same goes to PV where I landed a few times with the same set up.

No good deed goes unpunished. (reply)

Craig AKA the cruise ship guy — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 04:29:42 +0000

I believe that the problem is that they are used. I have read somewhere that you cannot bring used clothing to Mexico. I have been questioned about school supplies and glasses. Once I explain that they are for the church and show my receipts I was let through. Never brought anymore than 40 pairs of glasses and a couple of suitcases of school supplies. Last thing I would do is say that I’m taking them to Lupita or Rob.

No good deed goes unpunished. (reply)

cd69 — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 00:22:35 +0000

It looks like they have received different orders at customs in the last year or two as I had no issue when I brought in glasses and the last time I had about 75 of them. They x-rayed my bag and asked me to open it as the box with the glasses was in the middle and they were curious as to what it was but when I explained it was for donations, I had no issue. Same with my large hockey size duffle bag full of clothing and shoes I bring every year. I come in with usually 2 large duffle bags and a large suitcase and my laptop bag that is not small either and they will inspect but never been asked for paperwork or threatened with a fine.

No good deed goes unpunished.

frostbite — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 22:52:38 +0000

Background: Last year I brought down a large number of used glasses for Lupita to dole out to folks who couldn't afford to buy them, at Rob's request. Customs at the Zihua airport insisted that they were merchandise and that I needed to pay a US$350.00 import fee, which I declined and abandoned the glasses. I was told to get the appropriate importation paperwork at a Mexican consulate.

Chapter 2: In preparation for this year's trip down, I contacted a friend in Oregon, who was going to join us, to visit the consulate in Portland, since there isn't one in Montana. I also sent him 100 pairs of used glasses; I would also be bringing down 100 pairs. He was informed that consulates didn't provide that kind of paperwork, but that we should have the entity doing the distributing hook up with a church that could provide an official letter, or have themselves declared a non-profit and write the appropriate letter. I sent this info to Rob who, understandably, didn't want to go through all the necessary bureaucratic BS, since they had a business to run. 2 requests for a simple letter went unanswered. My next step involved contacting Rogelio Grayeb MD, figuring that a couple of capital letters behind his name would impress the pencil pushers at customs. He declined and suggested I contact Rob, presumably because he was too busy posting pictures of himself on Facebook. For my next attempt I wrote to Rocio Roman DDS explaining what I was trying to do and asked for a letter from her. She was most gracious and complimentary in her response and provided a letter for both of us.
Customs x-rayed my bag, asked to see the contents, were not pleased to see the contents and insisted that the letter was meaningless, because it needed to be issued by Customs. After arguing with the inspector at length, he finally gave in and let me close the bag and go on. Jim was not so lucky. His bag was inspected by a different person. He was dragged into the Customs office where the boss insisted that he had broken the law by not declaring the glasses as merchandise. He paid a 1000.00 Peso fine and was allowed to proceed. the glasses have been delivered to Lupita.
I still have around 150 pairs at home that need to come down, but I'm not too keen on getting hassled by Customs again. Since small numbers of glasses have made it through customs without any problems, I'd love to hear from folks willing to bring down a few pairs next time they travel down. I can mail them to you after I return to Montana on 12/30.