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Shipping to Buenos Aires - local charges
Have posted this one hour ago in the South American section - perhaps this one is more adapted. Thanks
Buenos Aires destination charges Hi there. I have written to some of you who are based or just travelled through Buenos Aires, but am also posting as others may be able to reply. I am shipping from Montreal to Buenos Aires and have been quotes US$1300 of port fees (obligatory) and US$1000 for a local customs broker. Can you confirm whether these are normal fees? I would greatly appreciate advice as we are meant to ship on 1st November. We have also been in touch with others who have not used local agents, some have found the experience difficult recently. Can you thus confirm whether an agent is necessary for Argentina? Many thanks in advance |
Hi Cruz,
We (wife and I) are currently getting our motorcycle released from the port of Buenos Aires. From what I gather, you are shipping a 4x4 so some charges would be higher for you but... It seems to me that both charges are unusually high, one more than the other. The quoted price of 1300$ for port fees should probably be more in the range of 600$ to 900$ max. I base this on what I have heard about others getting their vehicles out of the port. But the 1000$ fee for a local customs broker is ridiculously high. I would guess that you could get away with paying half of that amount or less. I recommend asking Sandra from Dakar Motos to help you out with this. She has very good rates and has been doing this sort of thing for a while. Hope this helps and I am sure you will have a blast once you get down to South-America. It will all be worth it! |
Thank you Brian for confirming this. I am in touch with Sandra.
Will let you know the conclusion when all is sorted. Happy travels to you too! |
Brian and Marie, you're from Montreal too?! ;)
I'm there now. |
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Slowly heading back up there once we get our bike out of the port. I suspect we shall meet somewhere on the road as we expect to be in Argentina for another 2 months. Cheers, |
... make it a slowly head back, and enjoy!
My husband John has just read your website and is impressed. Says there is some buddhist philosophy in there! We'll be happy to meet up. Arriving in BA mid-November, probably staying in the capital for a while, getting the vehicle released and all. Let's be in touch. Isa & John |
Take this advice from a porteño who lived abroad quite a long time, has travelled through Latin America on a vintage bike and has shipped his own motorcycle doing all customs and shipping paperwork myself.
Ah and I forgot, I shipped and imported all my personal belongings into Buenos Aires and also imported another of my motorcycles and nationalized it paying duties, and getting Argentinian number plates. Are you ready for the advice now? Here it goes: AVOID BUENOS AIRES AT ALL COSTS AVOID ARGENTINA AT ALL COSTS You have been warned. Ship to Uruguay instead, a more progressive country with less red tape and less corruption. Or Chile. Your better and cheaper option for shipping worldwide is Wallenius Willhelmsen Ro-Ro, there are heaps of them and you can get as far as Rio Grande Brazil, great place to dig your vehicle out of customs, easy relaxed port, honest people, simple paperwork, cheaper port fees and cheaper cost of living. Hope this helps. Ah and one final thing, in caps again: WHILE IN OUR COUNTRIES PLEASE NEVER EVER BRIBE! You will get arrested in your country if you try to bribe an officer, so don't do it here, not even for fun. If you bribe you are helping perpetuate this practice. You would not like me going to your place in the world and and do something illegal there. BRIBING IS SERIOUSLY UNCOOL |
Thank you for your reply.
May I ask for the details why you so strongly disapprove using Buenos Aires? |
Hi Cruz,
Just came back from dealing with the co-loader and customs here in Buenos Aires. The co-loader is the company usually chosen by your shipper to take the container with your vehicle from the ship to a warehouse. In BA, some warehouses are free while some charge you a substantial fee (1000 pesos is a figure I have heard thrown around). The co-loader gets to decide where they store your vehicle while you do the paperwork (2 to 5 days from the moment you are notified of arrival, notification is done by both co-loader and shipper to the e-mail and phone number you provided your shipper as it appears on the Bill of Lading). Customs will cost you nothing here in BA. It is the co-loader and the warehouse that will cost you but it is par for the course. We ended up paying the co-loader 425 USD (in our opinion too high for a motorcycle, we have been told this is what you can expect to pay for a truck) and we expect to pay another 300 to 500 USD in warehouse fees. Depends on their mood tomorrow morning when we go get the bike. Customs were very friendly and helpful. We shared a few good laughs with them. But they are a little slow with the paperwork. The co-loader made mistakes on the Bill of Lading (they provide you with a new one once you go pay their fee) which we had to correct. We speak some spanish so it went well. One last thing, we met a couple from Austria who were getting their Landrover and starting a big South-America trip. The process seemed to be going well for them. Hope this helps, |
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Here you will pay more have more hassles, be actively enticed to bribe your way out of inefficiency and delays. They want your money, badly. Feel free to try... |
Posted yesterday in the South American section
I just come back from the Grimaldi office in Buenos Aires and the port. 3 years ago, i shared a container and getting things sorted cost us one week and 600 USD, which was already unjustified. The "free parking" used to be 5 days, so you had time to do it on yourself, even tho clerks were not very cooperative with foreigners. Today, getting the vehicules out cost us 1360 dollars. They changed the 5 days rule to include non worked days like the weekend. Since they need one day to unload, unless the ship arrives on Monday, you just dont have enough time to do it alone, getting an agent to accelerate the process is simply compulsary. You will then have to add 320 dollars to the 1360. Total damage : 1680 dollars to use a crane to move the container and get the vehicules out. Add to this that if you want to do it on yourself, you will need to give a "warranty" of 5000 USD to your agent CASH till the process is finished. Paying in pesos will cost you 3% more than in dollars or euros. This is a plain nonsense, totally uncorrelated to real costs, i would strongly advise you to ship to Brazil, Uruguay or Chili, Buenos Aires has become simply unaffordable unless you send a container with 10 motorcycles and share the cost between all the people, but then good luck with the organisation.:nono: Here are the details as of 10/28/2009 for a 20 ft container : Port charges : Handling (5 dias) : 196,60 USD AGPxTN4 : 15 USD Desonsolidado : 450 USD Cargo ISPS : 8 USD Gate : 25 USD Total : 618 USD IVA : 62 USD Total+IVA : 880 USD Agent charges : THC : 221 USD TOLL : 90 USD BL : 35 USD Handling : 25 USD Delivery order : 45 USD Logistic fee : 25 USD Gastos Gravados+IVA : 169 USD Total : 480 USD Total compulsary : 1360 USD Optional but compulsary due to lack of time : Agent broker : 320 USD Total of total of total :1680 USD/1142 Euros. |
Hi Cruz,
Yesterday we got our motorcycle out of the warehouse so we can give you a better idea of costs (at least for a bike) and difficulties in getting our vehicle. In the end, we paid the warehouse 425 USD, the exact same price as what we paid the co-loader. The process to retrieve from the warehouse was fairly easy but we did feel we were taken advantage of by about 300$ (based on what others have paid). As for total costs to get our bike from Malaysia to BA: Shipping fees (Wilhelmsen Ships Service): approx 1000 USD Co-loader fee (PlusCargo) : 425 USD Warehouse fee (Gemez 1) : 425 USD Total cost : 1850 USD. If I were to start over, I would do it the same way. Send the bike by ship. I hope all goes well for shipping your truck and look forward to seeing you on the road! |
Do these charges apply to Air Frieght?
Wow! This thread scares me. I'm planning on shipping my bike by air on LAN Cargo from Miami to Buenos Aires in 20 days and had not budgeted the cost desribed in these post. Can anyone tell me if there will be simulat "port" cost with my air frieghted motorcycle? Thanks in advance.
:mchappy: |
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We will see you guys in two weeks in BA. Will PM you. Cruz was loaded into container this morning and should get there in four weeks roughly. Hope all goes well and we get the best option this time with prices, customs and all. We hear the comments about how expensive it can be, but also hear the good stories and need to believe in them now (Brian&Marie, Coen&Karin from Landcruising and others). PS We had to get three guys to stand in the back of the car to lower it so it would fit in the container with roof rack and tent! We hope to be able to get help on the other side too. |
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Vancouver to Buenos Aires
I am sending two bikes to BA from Vancouver in mid November. The bikes should be there around 6 January 2010 for pick up. Agent from Vancouver told me that the fees I'll have to pay in BA to get the bikes will be around $150, I hope he is right ... after reading all the posts above I am getting a bit scared ...:rolleyes2:
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Shipping process at arrivals in BA
This is running on two threads, so will post it here too. (Is also in South America travels).
Hi all, So we are in the week preceding the arrival of the container in Buenos Aires. Here are some questions I hope you can advise on. Thank you. 1) Is the warehouse compulsory? We are hoping to drive the car out of the port straight away. 2) Can we be there when the container is being opened? The car does not pass through without us putting some weight at the back (we had three men putting their weights on the back in order for the car to fit into the container when loading) - because of the roof tent, which is carbon fiber, and thus fragile. (even with tires deflated) So far, here are the costs for a '20 container 1 vehicle + personal effects: Step 1: The shipping cie in BA, Mediterranean MSC (in $USD) River plate toll: $90 THC destino: $140 Logistics fees: $25 Delivery order: $73 ($60+$12,60 tx) * Handling: $35 * Carta de garantia/Escribano: $20 (paid 60 pesos) TOTAL: US $383 Same day transfer made to the shipping cie to their account in a specific bank (far from the office of course). * Those items do not seem to appear for all shipping cies, or could simply be new. The carta de guarantia had to be done through a public notary, the escribano. We thus finished the paperwork with the shipping cie on Tuesday, and now have EMBA and TRP to deal with. It seems EMBA does not want to deal with us until the day after the car arrives (meant to arrive Thursday, so Friday with EMBA)... this is perhaps to extend our stay, we are trying to circumvent this. 3) Does anyone know about this? We know some were able to do it before, but this is not recent - perhaps it has changed. Thank you for your quick advice. John & Isa |
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No way you ll get your bike off the port for 150 USD. The minimum if you do all the work, negociate with everybody, manage to do it in less than the 5 days time limit, is 800 USD. I paid 450 USD (roughly 900 USD total) 3 years ago and there were 2 motorcycles in the container. This year, i paid 850 USD and i was sharing the container with a vw combi, this is 700 USD without the agent fees (roughly 1400 USD total). Experience in 2006 : http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...rgentina-24732 Experience in 2009 : http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...050#post262084 Philippe |
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Cont 20´ Port charges: usd 810 Agency Charges: usd 420 Customs broker: usd 320 [/quote] We paid a total of 1680 USD and your total is 1550 USD. Where does the 130 USD difference come from? Regards A Mafra customer. |
Thread continues in South America travel section
Please find more on this thread in the South America travel section, same thread title.
More costs posted. |
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This would have been nice to get some more informations about the costs in Argentina, for both of us, contractor and the one sharing the costs, this obviously this is a very important information in shipping budget ( it costs more to withdraw vehicules than shipping them). What if we didnt have those 1680 USD on our accounts?
As far as i understand, we have been charged much more than other people using other companies than Grimaldi to get the vehicules out. A total bill without agent 1360 usd against around 850 USDfor others without agent.We are trying to understand the reason for the surcharge of 500 USD. The price quoted by the agent was the same. 320 USD. The difference comes from Port and Grimaldi fees (we went to Grimaldi offices). Another point is that with the 5000 USD cash warranty needed to do the paperwork by ourselves, we were not given much option for the agent, since carrying so much money is a huge risk. Other companies don t seem to requiere a warranty. If you add the 500 USD to the 320, it basicly doubles the exit budget!! Now people on that forum have the information we missed, and can make knowledgedly a choice between between using Grimaldi or other companies, since they are capable to calculate the total costs including costs in Argentina. |
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1/ The lady has to be a good actress since she seemed extremely shocked when the 1680 USD were shown on a bill and asked is the bill was in pesos.
2/ Since those fees are claimed by the port, nobody understand why Grimaldi asks 60% more than other shippers for opening a similar container (see reports here). We were confirmed the prices were per container, not per weight (5% depend on weight). 3/ Since this is a new set rule, why people who claimed their vehicules AFTER us were not asked for that warranty when they decided to make the paperwork by themselves. That warranty is IMPOSSIBLE to gather in a few days. People have problems getting 500 USD from ATMs to pay their rent here. Walking around with 5000 USD in cash makes you a perfect taxi and motorcycle kidnap target. This FORCES the customer into buying assistance. |
Where's the money?
This information is directed to Vorteks, but others may find it very useful.
I have been following the two threads running on the topic of port fees and processes for a foreign tourist who has shipped their vehicle/moto to Buenos Aires. I know very little more than I have read here with the exception of the following useful information. Several of the Hubb have flown into Buenos Aires and purchased new or used Argentine registered vehcicles or motorcycles. This is legal for a foreign tourist, with the restriction that as the law is now interpreted the foreign tourist cannot leave Argentina with his/her legally purchased Argentine registered vehicle or motorcycle. There is a similar in Chile. There is a legal way for a foreign tourist to exit Argentina on his or her Argentine registered vehicle, but it requires the assisance of an Argentine or a permanent foreign resident of Argentina. A foreign tourist may legally sell his/her Argentine registered vehicle or motorcycle in Argentina or park it in Argentina forever without any special permit. In order to purchase an new or used vehicle/moto in Argentina a substantial amount of US dollars or pesos is needed. I have discovered two banks in Buenos Aires that will allow the withdraw of cash up to the limit on a credit card. Elisa and I have used this service many times and I have sent more than 20 people to one or the other of these banks and no one has reported a problem withdrawing cash up to the limit of their credit card Please e-mail or private message me for the names and locations of the banks. Vorteks is right on that it is a very bad idea to carry substantial cash on the streets of Buenos Aires. Here is what I suggest. Take your cash from one of the two banks I suggest, in the form of American Express travelers checks, yes there is a fee. Then when buying a vehicle or motorcycle here have the seller meet you at the heavily guarded American Express office downtown Buenos Aires and there you cash your travelers checks and hand over the cash to the seller. One caution here, American Express travelers checks are not, repeat not, widely accepted in Argentina. They are always accepted at the American express offices and at some banks. Forget trying to use an American Express travelers check at many hotels, gas stations etc. I hope the above information helps anyone who has a need to withdraw more cash than the normal $300.00 USD per day limit imposed by most Argentina ATM machines. Eat, Drink, and Be Careful xfiltrate And, take Vorteks advice, do not carry cash you cannot afford to lose on the streets of Buenos Aires. |
What is the cost of this security solution you are offering, Xfiltrate?
If we take 5% of 5000 US, this is 250 USD to add to all other fees. Since the agent cost 320 USD (and you can find cheaper), once again, the company is forcing you to buy his "cost package" including the agent. It s never pleasant to feel as if you were treated like a milking cow, but at least by exchanging informations, we can get them to milk just what is legally necessary. Having to pay more to leave a port than to ship just doesnt make sense. Ah, good old time when you could send a motorcycle throught the atlantic just riding it inside the boat (without you), with no more paper process, insurance and other "helpers" artificial costs, for half the price an agent is asking to deal with all that legal thievery. This is not that far away, only 15 years. This was a time before the emergence of China as second global economic power made of shipping a juicy business. Exporting agent, shipping companies, governements, local agents, public servants, banks, insurances, adding fees to fees, feel like an army of fleas pumping your blood "because there is a price to pay" for your freedom of movement. After all, very few have the chance to travel around the world for leisure (an excuse given by a brazilian clerk while fining me for a visa problem in Manaus). PS : the shitty weather today in Buenos Aires certainly has something to do with me dropping the politically correct smiling mask. |
Cost of doing business?
Vorteks, we have paid NO FEE to .01 or 1%, that is one penny on the dollar, for Am Express Travelers checks in Buenos Aires.
If you use the bank where you have an account, they are usually free, or if you have an American Express card, they are sometimes free and sometimes not free, but even without using our bank or Am express card I have never paid more than a penny on the dollar. This seems very reasonable to me. Who advised you American Express travelers checks cost 5%? Was it your shipping agent? Yes, it was light showers all day, Elisa and I walked over to the Kansas Steak House on Libratador, met with friends and celebrated the graduation from high school by correspondence course from the States, of the precocious 16 year old daughter of a close friend. This morning Elisa was looking out our bedroom window and saw a very large cat on a roof across the street. She called for me to bring the binoculars. When I looked, I saw what appeared to be a black panther or a large jaguar. No kidding, I called the nearby zoo to find out if they were missing any of their big cats, but couldn't get passed the auto answer, so I called the police and after showing them the video I shot, spent the next hour waiting, while the police accessed the roof top. The cat was long gone, the rain did not bother me at all. The sighting of this cat reminded me of being in the Yucatan and learning from a shaman what such a sighting meant. Maybe, this time, it was just to share this story with you. Adventures don't need umbrellas, nor do we, really. Eat, Drink and Be Careful xfiltrate |
Shipping to BA w/o any problems!
Dear all,
yesterday I collected my bike from the BA harbour authorities
To me it seems to be crucial that your shipping company clearly states all services and cost included. Analysing the offers I obtained, this was the exception. So, just going for the cheapest offer may not be wise. USD$1000 for an agent is an order of magnitude (!) to high. Even A$1000 is too expensive. I had a quote for an experienced local and external agent for USD100. Regards Dom (preparing to set off to Mendoza on Xmas day) :scooter: |
Hi TurboDome
Please can you post name of shipping company that you contracted for this adventure and how about sharing some tips on picking your bike in BA. Thanks |
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