UPS vs. USPS vs. FedEx

stay away from knoxville its evil ha ha Go VOLS!!!!

In my experience you have to weigh the lesser of evils. USPS is cheaper because the VI are considered domestic. UPS and FedEx consider it international so the rates are higher so it can be pretty pricey. As far as how long it will take and quality of service, I only have experiences with USPS and haven't really had the greatest. The package can take a long time to get here if at all. I had care package sent down by my family and a month later when I finally got it the package looked like someone played soccer games with it.

If on STX

For large items you can have it shipped to VI Cargo in Medley Fl. They will take care of everything and call when it arrives on St. Croix. If they get it by wed. afternoon you'll have it the following Thurs.
They are also my solution when a company refuses to ship to the VI. I simply use the VI Cargo address and wait an extra week. Never had anything damaged. Shipped items as big as a 16 foot gate down to a small envelope.
There phone # on STX is 340-778-6331
Shipping address is: Your name, C/O VI Cargo 9793 NW 91 court, Medley Fl. 33178

USPS priority or express mail is best for "mailable" size packages but some places refuse to even ship here.. Depends on how much of a hurry you're in.
FedEx and UPS are expensive and can never find my house.

I've had good luck with USPS, particularly priority, but even non priority usually gets here in about 9-10 days. Also, as I have said before, if it's expensive or important, don't ship it to a P.O. box. If you don't have a physical mailing address, use one of the mailbox services, like MailBoxes, Etc. on STX or Red Hook Mail Service on STT.

JasonMonty,

So Sorry for the inconveinence of being a U.K. fan, UT was #3 until the worst big blue team in recent times showed up to take them down. Just kidding, we are huge SEC fans and actually Chris Lofton is one heck of a player. How does someone that good go across state lines?? My wife and I drive through Maysville and Mson Cnty at least 5 times a year. U.K. with Tubby was good, Hopefully we can be as good and back on top within the next few years!!

Your Blue Blooded Neighbor,

EnJaP

A co-worker ordered from Wal-Mart with the new shipping offer they have so you can get a fast shipment using the first half with Fed-Ex and the last half USPS so it would ship fast to a PO box. Her Fed-Ex tracker showed her it stayed in Puerto Rico for 5 days. Her internet order with her new techno gadget worth $70 was replaced with another box inside hers. It was a facial kit for another recipient that was just the perfect size that fit inside her box.

DO NOT SHIP FED-EX OR ANY OTHER SOURCE BESIDE USPS!!!!!

This is why most company's won't ship to us because they know it will not make it past P.R.

Marlene

Marlene, you have it right about Puerto Rico.

Half of the island should be put in jail for grand theft.

Both USPS and private shippers steal us blind in Puerto Rico.

Maybe Arlen Specter can investigate that.

That's why I avoid flying through PR whenever I can. Your luggage can be lightened by the time you reach your destination. Not always but often enough.

I shipped 63 boxes of my stuff to San German Puerto Rico in October. 20 boxes were of scuba gear, the rest was tools and artwork and personal effects. We had very little problems. The only problem I had was because I put 35 pounds of stuff in a flat rate box and didn't rap the box very well. It split apart and a few things were lost but when the box burst open someone took time to wrap the box with tape. I have been living in PR now for 4 months and hear all the stories about theft. We have not encountered any of it.

I am very interested in this subject as I hope to need it soon.
I investigated the suggestion of "SkysTheLimit" and found their website:
http://www.vicargo.com/
Might come in handy some day.

Is there a company like VICARGO that delivers to St. Thomas or is there a cost effective way to get a VICARGO shipment from STX to STT?

I am going to be shipping some mostly boxed items to STX. Since I'm going to be driving my car to Miami to have it shipped via Tropical, does it make sense just to pack the car with the boxes and drop them off at VI Cargo first?

That seems like a much more cost effective alternative than shipping them USPS. What do you all think?

I don't know VI Cargo's rates, but that sounds pretty clever to me.

yes, that should save you some $$. I recently sent 4 pallets of things to STX via VI Cargo and it cost me LESS than the same quantity via Tropical did a little over four years ago. Certainly less than USPS.

we bring things to VIcargo ourselves all the time. biggest issue is that if you transport it yourself you have to pay the sales tax--if, say, we are on a buying trip to FL. If the store delivers, we save the tax. Of course when we bring things that we already own, it doesn't matter. We even moved our stuff to VIC with a U-haul when we sold our house in FL and took everything we kept to stx, furniture and all! You want it to go as one shipment, so you only have one set of paperwork fees.

beachy you mentioned saving on sales tax on new items shipped to you but have you ever been assessed with the Customs duty? I ask because I've only been here a month and my first item (navi system) I had shipped to me from an online retailer was hit with a 6% Customs duty.

From what I've read this is less likely to happen if you use USPS (which I didn't.) If you haven't been hit with duty charges can I ask which service you've used for new items (FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.)

Thanks.

I am unaware of any private individuals being assessed customs duties on things entering via the USPS..Have heard of commercial businesses being so charged, though. Not to say that private recipients haven't been charged when using the USPS, but I've never heard of it. I think any other method goes to customs for review automatically, with an amount due if it is of foreign mfg.

Good day all.

I wanted to let everyone know Deliver It are agents for www.Caribtrans.com in the USVI. They also can clear and deliver your cargo if requested.

I know on St. Croix cargo arrives on Sunday and is available mid day Monday. On St. Thomas cargo arrives Tuesday with pick up on Wednesday. They deliver to St. John as well.

This is just another option to VI cargo on STX to compare rates and Tropical on STT.

STX office 340-719-5272
STT office 340-776-8660

we tried Caribtrans and DI--we're back to VICargo.

A tip.....learned when we shipped a container crammed full of stuff via Crowley to STT. If you have NEW stuff and are managing the shipment yourself and will get it out of "customs prison" yourself......open the box, turn it on, whatever before you pack it/ship it. When it arrives in STT, the goods are then considered USED. I'm not going to say what official provided this guidance but it is a totally legal and accepted work-around to NEW versus USED where Customs is concerned.

RE: new vs. used--

I got different answers from different people when I brought stuff down here. Some agents considered "new" to be less than a YEAR old even if had been used during that time. Other considered it "new" if it had never been used.

Guess it depends on who is working customs that day.

Another factor may have been that after numerous visits to Customs PRISON (each time being turned away and told to go someplace else to get this, that, and....oh yeah!....that OTHER thing is required too!), time was running out as we had scheduled the "dance to Water Island" the following morning (guy with truck that was going to pick up the container, barge to take the container truck to Water Island, "heavy lifters" to help us unload the container, guy with the big tractor to help steer the container into it's permanent resting place on our adjacent lot......). We were singing that song "....It's NOW or NEVER...." as we entered Customs 15 minutes before they were supposed to close for the day. Disappointed that she couldn't find one more policy, rule, loophole to turn us away, she reached deep into her bag for one her remaining weapons.....TAXES & FEES.......now.....I think she's already a bit miffed because the govt took back the Personal Use Tax.
Customs: 'how much of that stuff you got in there is new?'
Answer: some is new and some is used......see the itemized list and that 1 inch thick folder full of receipts that you made us go back to Water Island for the fourth time and bring back to you yesterda?
Customs: 'you gon have to take all that stuff otta der so we can check it'
Answer: ok. Let's get started.
Customs: ......non-verbal response.....just an astounding moment when the person looks up from the desk and actually makes eye contact with my husband for the first time.
**My husband is retired from sales and he would be the first person to tell you that sometimes in a situation the best thing to do is keep your mouth shut so that reality has a chance to scream into the "customer" head.
Customs: ......well, it gon cost taxes here
Answer: How much?
Customs: $$$
Answer: I don't think we have that much NEW stuff in our container. Proceeds to reach over the desk and point at items on the list (clearly further annoying the official) stating what's new and what's not "new".
Customs: ......ok.......$$
Answer: Done.
Customs: ok. that will be cashiers check
**CRAAAAAAPPPPPP (Didn't say it. Just thinking it.) I keep Customs prison guard entertained while husband dashes out, gets cashiers check, races back.......it is now 5 minutes after closing. Customs guard has already come around from the desk with door keys and body language indicating I can leave quietly on my own or they will help me leave. Husband's hand reaches the door. Yes! Check in hand! Customs body language indicates disappointment. ......final release paperwork in hand and we are all smiles seated at Tickles clinking our plastic cups filled with rum punch together in disbelieving joy.