Customs Question

[beccajean_ca]

Rob, good advice. I'm thinking of just buying 'vacation essentials' at the MegaMart and skipping the checked bag altogether. We'd have to use Wal-Mart for those purchases and that opens up a whole 'nother can of worms, lol. I'm all for shopping locally, but when on vacation I much prefer to put my dollars into their economy.

Tfw that's funny about wall mart......I hate that place.It is pact and the tills are slow.grrr I would rather pay more then to shop there.

[beccajean_ca]

I'm also noticing that this thread is getting heated. I enjoy giving my money to the locals..you get better service,they remember you..and its nice to see them smile when you give a little to much

[Ohio_Buckeye_1]

I didn't think my last post would be that offensive. I thought I was actually conciliatory on most points and especially compared to my earlier posts where I DID slam the JA gov't on bureacracy and corruption. In the last post I was just trying to fill in the holes of generalizations in my earlier posts and personalize it with details of my actual experience. And use that to argue just my position that charging duty INSIDE the country (as opposed to airport tourist duty) was harmful instead of helpful. It's a political argument but I didn't think it was offensive - even now going back re-reading that last post - I thought it was mild. I am confused why you seem so offended by it.

I think sending pics to people who were in them is normal activity both here and in JA - my fiance and her friends take dozens of pics when I am there and share them with each other. I see all kinds of pics on their FB walls, and many other JA FB friends. My point about saying normal in the US in that sentence was that mailing an SD chip was normal way to share pics in US and something noone even thinks twice about. Not a commentary on what's normal in JA. I offered it only as explanation of why I didn't think twice it would be any problem in mailing them to JA.

The same with calling it a sour experience and relating the prices. As I said, I was completely ignorant of JA Post Office duty before that. I didn't think relating my experience and calling it a sour experience - because it was completely unexpected - would cause offense. It was late 2010 when I got those SD chips in USA - shortly before the 5-week trip listed in my signature. Soon after I know they were triple that price when I was in Negril because I priced them at several places because my then-GF wanted copies. The SD chips that go in electronic frames are the same SD chips that go in cameras and computers. It's not that they were rare or new in JA - they had them all over and I had bought them there in prior trip - they were just very expensive. I'll just make a guess it's your explanation that maybe the JA gov't no longer considers them luxury goods - so prices are same now? You seem to imply I am making it up about the price difference - why would I when it would be simple to ask a merchant who sells them what they cost 15months ago or so.

I didn't say the JA gov't was ripping off it's people because of difference in certain activity - but difference in price gov't artificially inflates and makes their own people pay. I was relying on your info that higher price is due to duty on what JA gov't deems luxury goods - like TVs. And if someone charges inflated prices - don't we all commonly refer to that as a rip-off. Tourists would rarely have a reason to buy a TV, mainly JA people do. But I don't think it matters whether it is luxury goods or everyday goods - TVs or SD-chips or suntan lotion or bug spray or batteries or other things I have seen with inflated prices - having a policy that artificially inflates prices hurts sales and therefore hurts the economy and therefore the JA people. I know that is debatable opinion because is economics. So that paragraph might be controversial - but I don't think it was personal, just political.

Regarding having to mail the gov't for the duty schedule. I didn't just criticize them for that - I also said they did a good job with online visa info. I only asked why if they could do one - why not the other. Most places I have seen where info is in both printed form and online - even the JA visa info - they tell you to rely on the online info because printed info that gets distributed is almost impossible to ensure it is current. You only have to update one form electronically vs having to print and distribute new paper forms and collect out-of-date ones.

You asked why I don't bring just a checked bag, and buy the liquid goods there. I brought it up because I think it reinforces my reasoning of why I think the JA internal duty (as opposed to airport duty) hurts the JA economy and so the JA people. If you can so easily, and completely within the tourist duty rules, bring in goods like suntan lotion, bug spray, shampoo, lotion, batteries, etc that are half the cost in US vs JA - it's only human nature to do it. Maybe it's only me, but I don't think so - I see alot of people posting questions about what things like this cost in JA. And at least to me, it has nothing to do with brand names - I couldn't care less. I don't begrudge anyone for whom price isn't a concern - I don't know why you begrudge me for whom it is a concern. I would hope JA gov't would realize this and change their policy so it wouldn't be an issue to anyone.

Finally, why would you think I was planning to sneak a big-screen down there? I don't even think it's possible to fit a 30" TV in a suitcase. Is that where the source of the the animosity comes from - because I argued it's insane to have a duty law that depends "it's not what's in your bag if you have to pay duty, it's what's in your head" - and you apparently agree with that law? When I started asking questions about my own situation, I asked if anyone knew what the airport tourist duty would be - or what the other section of the duty laws that applied to people moving household goods down would be - so I could compare the US price plus baggage fee plus duty to the JA retail price. Later I even said that I came around to the advice given here to buy in JA, and don't get a flat screen and maybe to buy used - and asked for prices on gently used or new but 2010-or-so model. Hardly the questions/posts someone thinking about sneaking a TV in writes. I couldn't care less about brand name - just value - so if they have competitively priced goods, I'll buy them. But whenever I go shopping with my fiance - whether for household goods, clothes, kids toys, construction materials, and especially electronics - I am shocked at how much more expensive most things are there. Almost everything except JA food to cook at home. I wish they had more of local mfg base and more locally produced items. But I don't see that happening nor the JA economy improving much without huge change in their gov't - bureacracy, corruption, size, bank lending policies - and yes, one more time, tax/duty policy. But my criticism is not unique to JA policies - I think pretty much the same about US policies, too - just a likkle more so about JA.

I do like a lively debate, and think I try hard to stay civil doing it. I did discuss my own personal business because I thought it added to discussion - but I tried not to get personal about others business. If I fell short in that, and offended - I apologize. Sometimes it's hard to be passionate about a topic, and not be somewhat confrontational.

[Rob]

Dispensing accurate and helpful tourist information is purpose of this board and why it was created. The original poster's question was best answered by Sweetness in that there is no reason to bring down a tv for someone when you can get it here. There is never any reason to lie to the customs agents of any country to which you are entering. That is not sound advice.

To elaborate on the additional tourist related comments, you can purchase items such as shampoos, bug sprays, sunscreens, etc. on the island when you get here to make your air travel less of a burden. On the way from the airport, just stop in at MegaMart and you can find a wide variety of products you need at affordable prices. You can wait til you get to Negril and go to HiLo or Valuemaster to make these purchases, but the selection will be less and the prices slightly higher on some items.

Local brands and Caricom produced brands are the least expensive and are comparable in price to the North American brands that most of our visitors are familiar. North American brands tend to be more expensive.

So to save the hassle of carrying these items with you, you can purchase them on the island in an affordable fashion.

OB,

The fact that you are married to a Jamaican and building a house in Jamaica makes your situation different from tourists visiting the island. I understand that you are having problems understanding how and why the Jamaican government makes the decisions that they do, but I do feel that you need to take more time to understand the differences in the USA economy and the economy of the vastly smaller developing nation of Jamaica.

[Lola]

Perhaps its not relevant to compare prices in the US to prices in JA, hey, I didn't like the cost of things in England compared to the US when I went there... its based on their internal economy. The US has enormous land and people resources, thus many things cost less in the US, as profits are generated by selling many units of a thing.

As a future long-termer/resident, just compare prices within Jamaica, and you can do all right. It pays to look around and shop around, even in Negril. Prices vary from store to store and some will negotiate. Shopping can be more personal/in-person here.

[Bnewb]

I totally agree with you, Lola.
As a Canadian that lived near the American border...we would venture over to the US for certain products that were always much cheaper than buying in Canada. In one instance a friend of mine wanted to purchase a car radio that in the US would cost $100us. In Canada the item would cost around $400us...by the time we bought the item, paid for gas, paid a huge amount of duty...this product came out around a total of $300us...still much cheaper than we could have bought it for in Canada. I still see some items that are much cheaper in the US than Canada....but this is extremely logical as Lola & Rob have pointed out...the economies are different for each country.

OB...I've been reading what both you & Rob have written & if you think you've offended and/or you're debating Rob...I don't think you're getting the gist of his message. If you're truly planning on living down here....there's certain aspects of your preconceived thinking that you will have to let go and this is what Rob is trying to suggest to you....otherwise, quite bluntly...you won't make it & it'll cost you more in the long run.
As someone who has been living down here for 5 years full time now...Rob (and now I) have these questions asked quite often. We find by the way someone responds to the received info, predicts whether they will survive down here or not. I've heard Rob being called negative, anti-American, pessimistic and a buzz-killer when asked how to survive in Jamaica...but the reality is he has survived here successfully, full time for 20 some odd years...this has been no accident.
I've heard & seen many people trying to purchase property, build homes here, start businesses all without success...and it breaks my heart as I know this is a dream for so many people. My wish is that they would listen to someone that has actually made it here & why they have. It's sad when I hear the one's who don't make it, then blame either the Jamaican people or the government or both when the problem is obvious from the outset.

If anyone is trying to live down here and/or start a business...my simple advice is to talk with someone that has succeeded & is still living here successfully.

[Delta]

Soooo ummm, do they have gluten free items at Mega Mart????

[Rob]

You can get most everything at Mega Mart - here was a photo taken just before Christmas inside the store. I have seen many gluten free products on the shelves...

[Delta]

Wow! Looks like my kind of store. I'm trying to see how much stuff for Daniel I need to bring with as opposed to being able to get there.

[SweetSue]

Where exactly is the Mega Mart? Looks huge! I have heard so much about it but I never went there. Generally upon arrival, I get out of Mo'Bay pretty quickly. Either because I am on a Juta or my pickup wants to get away from the traffic. I have driven on the island - Negril to Mandeville was a good run - but never in Mo'Bay. That is a concern I will have to overcome & just do it.