We attempted three weeks ago to have a Fedex package delivered to Mail Boxes Etc. in David (we do not have a box there, but had requested permission to send one time and they said we could). When the package was late, we called the Fedex Panama City office several days in a row, and were told each and every time the “address was incorrect.” So each time, we restated the correct address (which was written correctly on the package by the way) and phone number, and requested package to be resent to David. After several days of no package, I finally asked to speak to a supervisor, they dropped the call. I called a Fedex international agent in the U.S. They said they would send a message to the Fedex Panama office asking a supervisor to call me with the eta on the package. Nada. Finally the sixth phone call to Fedex Panama I asked if the package was lost, surely something else was wrong? The representative finally stated the real problem: “we cannot ship to Mail Boxes Etc., it is a political issue.” Okay fair enough, but why was I told it was an incorrect address, I asked? He didn’t know, but said I had one day to provide an alternative address to send it to, or the package would be shipped back.
Understanding I’m on my own now, I got online and found an old post from 2011 on Boquete.ning concerning Fedex shipments to David. This thread named the “subcontractor” for Fedex in David as "Multiservicios Int. de Chiriqui." Upon contacting Multiservicios, come to find out they had my package all along! Why, I asked, didn’t they notify the Fedex office in Panama City? The woman running the office said: 1)Fedex Panama “doesn’t know” about their office so they wouldn’t have communicated with each other; 2)There was no packing slip; 3)There is a competition between Multiservicios and Mail Boxes Etc.
We went in the next morning to pick up our package and found not only that there was a packing slip, but the package had been slit, the contents gone through, and the outer packaging taped back together. When I tried to file complaint with Fedex, they said we would have to call the Fedex Panama office. Ahhh….
We were surprised at such poor service from Fedex, and will not be using them again for mailing into Panama. If you have a good shipper, stick with them! (Previously most all our shipping in we have done through Eshop, and have had no issues; thanks Eshop.) And thanks to Ning for the informative service you provide to community members. It helped us find our package!
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I used to get shipments to Thailand from the US a lot (what's up with equator countries?), shipped by UPS (United Parcel Service) & the delivery guy always had his hand out for some "customs fee" that went straight into his pocket I'm sure.
Ah well, it went on the expense report.
Walter
I didnt have to pay anything. I received it at my front door. With small packages and small boxes I havent had to pay any customs taxes or any customs clearance fee. As I can recall only a couple of times I have had to pay some fees because the amount of things were larger, the box was large. The literature, catalogs and free samples are declared with only a symbolic value for customs purposes and havent been charged for anything.
It is funny. Today I received a sample package from Lake Orion, MI. When the FEDEX guy stopped at my door I couldnt stop laughing. It came to my mind this very special thread. The Fedex guy stood looking at mr surprised by my laugh. Sorry, I have to tell him why I was laughing.
By the way the package was samples of some construction products to waterproof parking decks and it arrived at my office unopened. NO taped, not resealed by anybody, even customs.
Have a happy day.
Walter
That is totally correct. We never stop learning. But some people thinks they know it all.
Your best courier service to Boquete is DHL. They have an office in David where you can go pick up your package if you prefer or they will call you and ask for delivery instructions. I simply put the street name and area on packages and have no issue with delivery as long as you include your phone number.
Yes Santanmaria. I got car parts by DHL to Boquete in 5 working days, including custom clearance, paying duties and tax to the DHL delivery man.
Thank you. We will use DHL next time. And by the way, we LOVE Panama!
I might be missing something but how does the U.S. or USA country even fit into this discussion?
I know that there are a lot of American bashers on this forum but why bash for no reason?
Silly, everything wrong with the world is the US's fault!
There are a few US citizens in Boquete who live off of the US taxpayers on disability due to psychological issues who constantly bash the US and repeatedly state that they hate gringos.
Go figure!
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