What's the best way to send gifts and stuff to my family in Colombia? I mean I'd rather not keep sending cash

Question

I live in the U.S. and every month I wire cash to Colombia using one of those well-known services. Not only is it expensive but I'm also unsure of what my family is doing with the money. I want them to have nice things but I would rather know what they're doing with the cash.

Can anyone suggest a better way?

Answer 1

If you send items to Colombia your relatives there will have to pay an import duty on them.

I really think that it's going to make it more difficult for them and it's not going to be any cheaper for you.

Do you travel to Colombia often? If you do, take those things with you when you travel.

I imagine you're not talking about huge things like kitchen appliances and that type of stuff.

If you don't trust them with your money, maybe the best you can do is save it here and when you go to Colombia buy something nice for them. You can buy just about anything there and probably less expensive.

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Answer 2

DHL, fedex, or UPS.

Answer 3

I recently heard of this new service called Avianca Express. I now people that use it in Florida, I do not know about the rest of the US. Its safe and cheap comparing it to Fedex or DHL (sending anything can be $$$$)

Answer 4

The above answers are well-meaning but somewhat impractical, not to mention expensive. I mean you can't just be sending stuff across borders all the time via UPS or Fedex. Your family will pay taxes on those items too, so it's really not much of a solution.

I recommend that instead of sending cash you send gift certificates to your family and friends in Colombia. That way you at least know where they will be spending the money you send, and they can get themselves some good clothes, groceries, gifts, etc. Also, sending a gift certificate is less expensive than sending cash.

Just log on to www.elregaloperfecto.com and choose gift cards from some of the country's best stores... Carulla, Jeans&Jackets, Totto, Pepe Ganga, Prodiscos, Crepes & Waffles, Carrefour, Exito and many more. I understand they will deliver to any Colombian city or town.