Gringoes.com: Sending a container to Brazil

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   Today I spent ten hours at the port in Rio, getting warm and cozy with the boys in charge of my container.  I thought I'd share a few comments about the experience that might help others-
+Brazil inspects EVERY container that lands, at least at Rio. They don't pick and choose or do random inspections-ALL are inspected. 
+They will entirely unload the container, put it on pallets for inspection, and then reload the container.  And I mean EVERYTHING.
+When you are asked if you want to be there during the inspection-ALWAYS go and watch from the time they open it to the time they close it.  Put on your own padlock when it leaves initially and be there to open it for them, then slap it on again for delivery.  They will treat your stuff better, less chance of breakage, and nothing will go missing.
+Your personal inspection lies ENTIRELY at the hands of your particular inspector.  Today I watched four inspections with three different inspecters in the same area as mine.  Some politely open the box and have it taped back up. Some cut holes in the side of boxes and destroy the sturdiness of the box.  Some open every box.  Some open just a few boxes.

Forget the insurance when asked by the moving company if you want it.  Its only good while the container is on the boat.  Save your money for the other charges.

You will need a broker in Brazil to run the paperwork for you.  The moving company doesn't do it.

Don't ask the moving company what kind of list you need of items you are sending, what kind of log to keep, or how to mark the boxes.  Ask the broker you are using as they deal with the customs office.  The moving company is clueless and will tell you something wrong.

Be prepared for all charges and ask a lot of questions when you find a moving company.  You will pay for the move, charges at the port, broker's fee, and storage of the container at the port-usually from day one (most moving companies leave this part out)  And its all cash or credit card...forget checks.  And if the inspector finds something he doesn't like, be prepared for even more.

If you ship just a few items by a moving company, and it goes on a boat-chance are they are putting it in a container shared with someone else.  These are nightmares.  More than half the time you will be delayed because something in the container, that is not even yours, is wrong.  Your stuff will also be delayed.  Try to take a whole container if you can.

As been discussed on this forum before---you can NOT ship anything with a gas engine.  Chainsaws, mopeds, cars, etc--will probably be found.  In the warehouse where I was, there was a scooter, two jetskis, couple of chainsaws, string trimmer-that were set aside.  When found, they are auctioned off.  They boys told me even cars that are put in the containers are auctioned off...and the port keeps the money!

We have a very strong relationship at the port and still had the container unloaded, inspected, and reloaded.  And I have to ad that they are really good at reloading.  They do so many that it will be better packed then it was originally was.  But most have no regard to fragile stickers, keep upright, or breakable written on the box!!!  Another reason to be there...

(also learned that you can ship two containers, or more, if you ship them at the same time-so they go on the same boat.  AND, every three years you can ship more stuff tax free)

Just some helpful hints...

Edited by MovingSoon - 09 July 2010 at 00:58

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