posted
Hi everyone, I hope someone can enlighten me on this dilemma...I wish to send some packages to my spouse in Egypt consisting of things such as clothes, body care products, packaged snacks etc and some small household supplies such as dish towels, kitchen utensils and so forth...my spouse mentioned that when somebody receives a parcel in Egypt they must pay hefty taxes or customs to receive the package..this is what he has heard anyways. Can anyone please inform me about this subject? I was also wondering because I would liek to start sending boxes by surface mail (insured) to him in Egypt so that I can have it there for when I arrive. Anyone who has experience in these matters please give as much details as you can...much thanks to all. Posts: 29 | From: florida | Registered: Sep 2006
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quote:Originally posted by schoolbound: Hi everyone, I hope someone can enlighten me on this dilemma...I wish to send some packages to my spouse in Egypt consisting of things such as clothes, body care products, packaged snacks etc and some small household supplies such as dish towels, kitchen utensils and so forth...my spouse mentioned that when somebody receives a parcel in Egypt they must pay hefty taxes or customs to receive the package..this is what he has heard anyways. Can anyone please inform me about this subject? I was also wondering because I would liek to start sending boxes by surface mail (insured) to him in Egypt so that I can have it there for when I arrive. Anyone who has experience in these matters please give as much details as you can...much thanks to all.
Give it a couple of hours and some freak of ES will jump in and tell you in boring details about her eternal saga on why this is not a good idea.
And we warned the dumbass ourselves .
Only take stuff in your luggage or send it with people you know who are travelling to Egypt.
Otherwise you will end up paying fortunes.. Either for shipping, or for taxes, or even bribes.
Posts: 8756 | From: Tax-Free Zone | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
The charity I contribute to (Plan International) won't allow us to send gifts of clothing to our sponsored child because of the large customs fees in Egypt on imported clothing. But that's all I've heard about.
Posts: 8794 | From: 01-20-09 The End of an Error | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
How did it cost you $50? I thought customs were paid in Egypt on the receiving end...
Posts: 8794 | From: 01-20-09 The End of an Error | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
I have no idea. I went to Fed Ex, gave them the package, had to fill out two slips, one just for the package itself and one to describe the pen. lol. Then they said you can either have it get there Sunday or Tuesday, and Sunday is actually cheaper. (this was on Monday). Then they asked me for the $50 (it was in the high 40's but I can't remember the exact amount.)
Did I get ripped off?
Posts: 1808 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
I only take stuff over to Egypt in my luggage..like MK suggested. Why would anyone pay more to ship something than that something is worth in the first place?
Posts: 2735 | From: my desk | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote:Originally posted by doodlebut: I have no idea. I went to Fed Ex, gave them the package, had to fill out two slips, one just for the package itself and one to describe the pen. lol. Then they said you can either have it get there Sunday or Tuesday, and Sunday is actually cheaper. (this was on Monday). Then they asked me for the $50 (it was in the high 40's but I can't remember the exact amount.)
Did I get ripped off?
Oh, I don't know for sure. I've never sent anything but cards to Egypt.
But I guess if it's FedEx, it would be pretty expensive. I was thinking regular U.S. Post Office postage....so I don't think you got ripped off.
Posts: 8794 | From: 01-20-09 The End of an Error | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
I just got a quote online and it was a little over $44 to be exact.
Yeah I had no idea I could just put a regular stamp on it!! That would have been a lot easier. Oh well, live and learn I guess.
Posts: 1808 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2006
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quote:Originally posted by doodlebut: I have no idea. I went to Fed Ex, gave them the package, had to fill out two slips, one just for the package itself and one to describe the pen. lol. Then they said you can either have it get there Sunday or Tuesday, and Sunday is actually cheaper. (this was on Monday). Then they asked me for the $50 (it was in the high 40's but I can't remember the exact amount.)
Did I get ripped off?
I knew you would say FedEx or DHL. They are thieves!
But hey.. Excellent service or not? Posts: 8756 | From: Tax-Free Zone | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
You didn't get ripped off...Fedex is expensive. My husband paid 325LE (about $60) to send me a few photos and some documents through DHL. That's highway robbery to an Egyptian. That was nearly half his monthly salary for cripe's sake.
Posts: 2735 | From: my desk | Registered: Jul 2005
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Just did a quote using US Postal Service airmail with registered delivery and that would have been $15, so I guess I will go with that for now on. It's not that much more than doing the cheapest way which will take about a month rather than the 4 to 7 days that they quote.
Posts: 1808 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
The problem with USPS is that you have a higher chance of things getting lost or not getting there for several weeks. It's really not worth while to send gifts through the mail. You're going to Egypt in a few months..bring the gifts with you. Hey what are you doing sending a man gifts anyways?..he should be sending them to you Posts: 2735 | From: my desk | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
i plan to ship by regular postal surface mail with insurance just some kitchen items etc...i called the consulate who directed me to another agency who called me back and said that if im sending used personal goods he wont have to pay to receive it. any comments?
Posts: 29 | From: florida | Registered: Sep 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Madame M.: The problem with USPS is that you have a higher chance of things getting lost or not getting there for several weeks. It's really not worth while to send gifts through the mail. You're going to Egypt in a few months..bring the gifts with you.
I totally agree
quote: Hey what are you doing sending a man gifts anyways?..he should be sending them to you
Moahahahah.. MM please start a thread about this one..
quote:Originally posted by schoolbound: i plan to ship by regular postal surface mail with insurance just some kitchen items etc...i called the consulate who directed me to another agency who called me back and said that if im sending used personal goods he wont have to pay to receive it. any comments?
Yes he will have to pay. But the money won't go to where it should. Posts: 8756 | From: Tax-Free Zone | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
He did send me something. I just haven't got it yet.
He really really wanted a "zippo" lighter because they dont have them there...they have mostly Bic, and it's hard to light up a cigarette when it's windy with a Bic,
I searched high and low for a zippo but could only find Bic here too and he said never mind I just want a souveneir so I figured a red sox pen would be good since he likes different pens.
Anyway I won't be doing that again. lol. Thought it would cost $10!!!!!
Posts: 1808 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
I'm of a firm belief that men should do way more for women than we do for them as far as gifts and financial responsibility is concerned. I get extremely frustrated with women who send men money and gifts. I want to yell...What are you doing?!!!! Are you desperate???? I'm not talking about token gifts I'm talking about the women who send their "bfs" fancy cell phones and what not. Can you say..sugarmama? My husband is not rich by any means. Both times I've been to Egypt he's saved his money to use for my expenses and gifts. How I love Egyptian gold That's not to say I would never give him a gift or spend my money on the household but it's mostly his responsibility.
quote:Originally posted by MyKingdomForATaba2Koshari:
quote: Hey what are you doing sending a man gifts anyways?..he should be sending them to you
Moahahahah.. MM please start a thread about this one..
posted
he is not a milfhunter he is my husband and the father of my children...i am sending him a gift...and also my own personal stuff for when i return back to egypt to live with him for the next year.
Posts: 29 | From: florida | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
I was referring to those with the "bf's" not husbands. It's perfectly normal to send your husband a gift. Just not too extravagant! Just kiddin'
Posts: 2735 | From: my desk | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
oh ok...yes, women can be suckers for poor egyptian men ... its a shame really but it happens everywhere.
Posts: 29 | From: florida | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
Oh well my bad. lol. I have offered to send TONS of things and he gets sooooooooooo mad when I do this and adamantly says NO. lol
Posts: 1808 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2006
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quote:Originally posted by schoolbound: he is not a milfhunter he is my husband and the father of my children...i am sending him a gift...and also my own personal stuff for when i return back to egypt to live with him for the next year.
Oh God I didn't mean you/your husband at all.
We're just a bunch of gigolo haters in here. Posts: 8756 | From: Tax-Free Zone | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
can someone plz tell me where i can find an online photo gallery of furniture sets for every room ? i mean one with thousands of photos of just bedroom dining room living rooms etc? especially egyptian style furniture? but not gold leafing kind.kwim.
Posts: 29 | From: florida | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
I receive packages from the states via regular post. Have to admit it is hit and miss. Sometimes they arrive after one week, 3 months, or not at all. All packages go through Egyptian customs, everything is opened and inspected. The tax has come down a lot. I have noticed that smaller packages without any clothing items arrive much faster. I wouldn't send anything of value.
Posts: 40 | From: cairo | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I receive a few packages now and then, mostly with no problems. The most I've had to pay was 60LE, but usually it's more like 20. Sometimes I have to go and pick them up, and sometimes they come to the door. Always inspected completely and ruthlessly.
I wouldn't try posting a box of stuff, and couriers generally don't handle household/personal items. An unaccompanied bag shipment is an option, but will a few hundred dollars to send, and your hubby will need someone to help him clear it (not much fun either). He'll also have to pay about 200LE per $500 worth of declared value.
-------------------- Happiness is a choice! Posts: 177 | From: London | Registered: May 2006
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posted
like where? maybe he's not looking in the right place in cairo. I know I went to a ton of stores here and couldn't even find one.
Posts: 1808 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
In city stars, the Virgin Megastore, Bakier Stationary in Maadi, possibly Alfa market in Maadi, the smoke shop in El Sarag mall 2, and a few others I can't think of now. Sure, 2 years ago they weren't here, but now there's quite a following.
-------------------- Happiness is a choice! Posts: 177 | From: London | Registered: May 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Madame M.: I'm of a firm belief that men should do way more for women than we do for them as far as gifts and financial responsibility is concerned.
[/QB][/QUOTE]
-Being a man Or -Deciding to marry
Which of the above made us -men- deserve the above quoted punishment?
Posts: 1539 | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
I get sent greeting cards with photographs all the time. Its only 2LE at most 10LE to send a greeting card with 6 photographs.
I have sent envelops to Egypt with documents and other things for less than $10 via USPS and no problem.
We sent our passports over uninsured and everything got there in less than a week. On the way back to us via Egyptian postal then on to USPS we did get a call from customs verifying we were expecting our passports. They called King Kong and basically the guy sounded like he had just averted a heart attack (US customs). But US customs were very nice about it.
Regular postal is no problem, we have used DHL and they f*d everything up.
Posts: 991 | From: My daughter is a stalker | Registered: Jul 2006
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"There's a lot of places that sell zippos here BTW." what does "Zippos" mean?
Posts: 2728 | From: جمهورية مصر العربية | Registered: Sep 2006
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Zippos, well then I know you are faking it. 97% of Egyptian men smoke and they all know the gold standard of lighters, the zippo.
Posts: 991 | From: My daughter is a stalker | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
well so much for fed ex. It was supposed to be in Cairo by Sunday at the latest. They said that they tried delivery on Saturday but no one was home. He said they were home all day and I even double checked the addy to make sure I didn't goof.
Now I find that it went back to the US to some place in Georgia and just got sent back to Cairo again as of today.
What sense does that make????? they send it aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall the way back here to be resent aaaaaaaaaall the way there again? lol. From now on I'll go to my regular post office 'cause this is giving me a headache!!
Posts: 1808 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2006
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I thought customs were paid in Egypt on the receiving end...
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