Shipping to Chile
After shipping my bike from Singapore to Chile I flew through Europe to Santiago (cheapest route!!!). Along the way I ordered a new waterproof jacket which got lost in the post. The vendor agreed to supply a new one but there was no time to send it to Europe so they sent it to a friends place in Santiago.
Chile customs wanted U$65 for the parcel which was valued at U$110. I spent AGES explaining the above and that had it not been lost in the post I would have arrived in the country with it as my personal belongings and therefore there would have been nothing to pay. I explained that I was a tourist and that the jacket would leave the country with me.
All the required two explanations to two different Customs officers over the course of 2.5hrs. Eventually he grasped what I was saying, took his thick book of rules/duties, reclassified my parcel and gave it to me!
I then caught the bus back to Temuco where I'd left my bike - 670km away. It was a real pain in the arse.
Depending on what you need it may be cheaper/easier to pay the overinflated prices in Chile.
Or, as gatogato says ship to Bolivia. I've had stuff sent to me 'Poste Restante' at the main Post Office in La Paz twice now without problems.
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