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Hi-
From what I am seeing on Google, I can not bring a drill onto the plane. Is there anyway else I can get my friend a drill over in Jamaica? We are from the states and was hoping to bring it over in November on our next trip but it looks like I'm not going to be able too...
Just looking to see if anyone has other options.
Thanks
You can always put a drill in your checked baggage and not declare it. Even if it is found, they are not so expensive that it would be a big deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbynh
However.... there are plenty of hardware stores in Jamaica that sell them as well. Why don't you just consider buying one there?
there are three hardware stores in Negril, one on the west end looks pretty comprehensive. google is your friend !
thank you man, I thought about buying a drill there but I am unsure of what to expect for prices and quality. I will check it out. Is it better to go a hardware store in Negril or on the way in?
I don't know but your question reminds me of this story. I was asked to bring a bicycle for a 8-year-old pickney (child of a close friend). Obviously I didn't want to carry one on the plane. So after arriving I stopped in MoBay. As soon as I got out of my rental car, one of those higgler types approaches and asks if I want weed or a girl or anything. So I said, no but I'm looking for a bicycle for an 8-year-old. Without missing a beat, like it's the most normal request in the world for a tourist to make right after arriving, he says "no problem, follow me" and guides me to a store where I can buy one.
Moral of story: "No problem" :) I'm sure there are plenty stores in MoBay where you buy a drill and plenty folks who can help you find one.
Have a great trip!
There was a time when I used to bring items to Jamaica for friends. They would pay me for the items upon arrival. Sometimes these items were either unavailable on the island or too expensive. Mostly it was high tech stuff that was not easily available on the island, but in some cases they wanted a specific make or model of an item that wasn't available on the island. I would always pack the items in checked luggage and remove them from the packaging. I was fortunate that customs never questioned what was in my checked luggage.
Good luck!
Enjoy,
VVHT
Yes, "there was a time" and then payments often became "soon come" and often not at all. Jamaica is different now. Almost everything is available on the island and it just comes down to whose money is going to buy it. Yes, things are a little more expensive on the island but it helps the economy to buy it there.Quote:
Originally Posted by VVHT
bobbynh. There is a True Value Hardware in the Fairview Shopping Center as you leave Mobay. They carry Black and Decker.
Too funny.Quote:
Originally Posted by rtitle
I'll play. Reminds me of a story...
At a red light in Mobay after airport pick up. Guy walks up selling all kids of car accessories, steering wheel covers, air fresheners, floor mats, you get the picture. My driver says you could probably tell him you need a transmission and he'd have it for you here tomorrow. :biggrin-new:
So Rtitle, did you end up with a girl, riding a kids bike, smoking a joint.... all for $20 US!
Oh, and my opinion is the joint will probably last longer than anything Black & Decker.
I brought a drill for a buddy a couple of years ago in my checked bag, if it has lithium battery the battery needs to go in your carry-on. I'm planning on bringing another one this year.
Accompong, I consider myself lucky, most of the requests to bring stuff were business owners and needed the items for their business, so payment was never an issue!
There were other friends on the Island that became too needy as time went on and I had to back away from that "friendship".
I understand and I hoped (after writing what I did) you wouldn't take it like I was disrespecting what you were doing. I, too, have brought hundreds of items for people and have been paid many times over for them but, yes, as the economy went down so also the reluctance to pay went up.Quote:
Originally Posted by VVHT
I have tried to live by the mantra. "If you can't afford to lose it, don't take it to Jamaica" I am always prepared to make a gift out of it if I have to.
The other problem is with the "quality" such as the remark about Black and Decker. I know Porter/Cable is preferred but Black and Decker does the job. If I give a watch, it is a Timex and not a Rolex. or a flip phone and not an I-Phone. I don't give a gift to impress I do it to help.
I agree that some time ago if you needed it, you had to bring it with you in checked or carry on luggage. Now a days, just about everything you want or need is available in Negril or close by. Brumahlia House in Sav has a great selection of power tools. If it is just a small job and the drill is not needed after, might I suggest renting one. I have a name and number of someone up in Red Ground that rents tools and construction equipment. One more option is to buy a used one here. On the way from the airport to Negril, stop in Sandy Bay. There is a guy there with a shipping container full of used tools, equipment, bicycles, fishing stuff, etc. It's like a yard sale and Canadian Tire clearance aisle all rolled into one. Have your driver stop at the Seaview Bar for the coldest Red Stripe between MBJ and Negril and then walk back a half block to the shipping container. One more option is these guys;
https://rtabiz.biz/shipping/
Just buy it on eBay or amazon and use their location in Miami as the shipping address. They will ship it to Jamaica and then email you the shipping and customs fee's. Once they are paid they ship it to Negril via the Knutsford Express. Surprisingly easy and actually fairly inexpensive.
No I just bought the kids bike and drove up to where the kid lives in Hanover and gave it as a gift. This was a pickney who is like an adopted daugher of mine (she's in her 20's now). She was thrilled with the gift. Though by the next time I visited, the bike was mashed-up. Sigh.Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnNYC
I'm guessing that the 50 Hz current in JA would not affect a drill from the USA with our 60 Hz current - maybe turn a bit slower if plugged and charge a bit slower if rechargeable?
Once, we bought and brought down a Dremel for a "jeweler", no problem in our checked bags. But I agree with Accompong, drills are available in JA, why not buy it there. We gave ours as a gift anyhow , so its one less thing you have to worry about toting down there.