Harddrive43228 wrote:
I'm spoiled as I get mask, pillows, tube and filters free every few months with Medicare. I wonder if I could have them shipped to a friend and forwarded. Shipping would probably be a lot more.
I have tried those routes and while they worked, the costs were higher, shipping was longer, and clearing customs was sometimes much longer. The more people involved raise the costs and complexity. Buddies can recieve and send for you, but that can involve your buddy, US Customs, International Shipper, CR Customs, and a local deliverer. Third party shippers can help by ordering any legal product for you, consolidating the shipping, clearing various customs at both end, selecting an interntional shipper and finally facilitating local delivery.
In my example, all of the costs were known up front and a general delivery date was given at the time I ordered. Clearing customs was seamless. Here in CR my items reached SJO at 2:30am . They cleared customs and were on a DHL delivery truck my 9:30am. I had them that afternoon. My thought is that by ordering and paying on the Amazon site the entire transaction was coordinated. Everything was known to be legal, appropriate customs duties were known and collected in advance, everything shipped via DHL on their own planes, so transit was effecient and secure. No boxes needed to be opened, nothing needed to be inspected, no cash needed to change hands.
I will point out that not everything on the Amazon site is eligible for International Shipping, or at least not from every Amazon vendor. For the nasal pillows, only one source on Amazon could ship internationally and they only had 3 units. I checked a specific cosmetic item for my hovia and her $18 eye cream would have cost $120 shipping. Needless to say, she isn't getting it.