Better yet, I ordered on eBay 10 black hot pads that I really wanted, US 17.49 including free FedEx shipping. They were shipped on the 6th from Bopal, India and arrived today. Unbelievable.

Now to go to the post office and get our snail mail straightened out!

We get a fair amount of things sent via the local post as well as mailing items to the USA and we have had no problems there. We always go to the post office with our tracking number around the date the item should arrive.

We couldn't give you the number of the amount of expats that are down here but there are a lot. This number swells of course over the winter months.

Guess we'll just have to go to the post office, wait in line and make our presence known.

Anyone know their hours?

Any suggestions? Our house is very clearly named and numbered (correctly). DHL and FedEx have had no issues.

If you aren't on a normal postal route then you may have mail waiting for you at the Oficinas de Correos. I don't believe La Ropa has a postal route or even a mailman. Just because your house has a name and number doesn't mean the post office knows you're there. Have you ever seen a mailman in La Ropa? You should ask at the Oficina de Correos if you can receive mail at your home.

Suggest using hi tech (email, scans, etc) or DHL which is pricey.

In 15 months we have not successfully received any mail here. The US Social Security Medicare people in Mexico City called yesterday, a Sunday with questions and said they had mailed me things. Nothing yet.

Of course, we don't expect any either.

I get my mail from the USA just fine. Not much. But all the mail I expect has always arrived. At first I shared an APDO with my mother but soon after I had my own street address that's only changed twice in 30 years.

Of course, we don't expect any either.

eBay is easy (selling on eBay bought us our house here). Many, most sellers offer shipping through eBay's Global Shipping Program. If they aren't using it just ask, it costs the seller nothing. Here's how it works: The seller ships to an eBay authorized vendor in Kentucky. From there the seller is clear of the sale. The vendor ships the items via the most reliable fastest method possible while taking care of customs and another fees that may be involved. When you are here wanting an item on eBay make sure your Mexican address is shown. Then the actual shipping costs are shown. Last thing we had shiped from eBay in the US was a down tube for a Hunter fan. Even with the fees it was less expensive than buying it on Mercado Libre and it was here in 3 days.

Last week I ordered a 14 inch stainless steel hook from Amazon. It's being shipped from the US via DHL for $3.69 and is supposed to arrive the 18th.

Lots of items on eBay that aren't based in the US are shipped free to Mexico. I have had lots of little weird stuff shipped from China, India and Thailand with great success. Remember with eBay if you don't receive it, you are 100% covered.