We are from Halifax Nova Scotiia

First of all,,,,be prepared to have ALL ,,,I repeat,,ALL YOUR BOXES,,, rifled through....they will go through every box and steal what they want. The longer your container is in the port (customs), the more time they will have to steal. After they go through your well packed boxes and take what they want,, they will throw everything back into whatever box they want. In other words, your kitchen articles will end up in your bedroom boxes.....and I repeat,,,,,THEY WILL STEAL EVERYTHING YOU HOLD DEAR TO YOUR HEART....

Was not my experience. I shipped ten boxes from Toronto. All arrived with absolutely everything I sent, no damage and no theft.

With all due respect Bob, I don't think you can compare shipping 10 boxes with shipping a container.

We have shipped 100+ boxes over the years, never missed a thing. But we shipped door to door, it didn't sit in customs for anyone to go through it the way containers do.

I ended up doing door to door, my stuff has been in Santo Domingo for a week. Company says I should have it this week. Will let you guys know.

SHALENA

According to my shipper - Customs open every box

Well, we cover every box in clear, tearproof shipping film, and our shipper then puts straps around the boxes and when we get them the straps are intact and so is our film. Maybe we've just been lucky.

A few weeks ago there was a big hoopla on the north coast when customs wanted to go through several containers of door-to-door boxes, there was even a strike by the shippers over it. I never did hear what the outcome was.

My experience was that you have to be very much on top of the whole process, especially at inspection of the container. They try all their tricks to steal from you. It starts with the 'aduanero' the moving company assigns to you. He started saying to tell him where the flat screen was , while that's having duty and he would 'help' me avoid that. I was sure I didn't need to pay duties so I didn't listen to him (and happily also brought my own aduanero. Than the 'verificador' comes along with 5 or 6 other guys. They took out all the boxes from the container and opened them. The big stuff they would check inside. They have an attitude that makes you think you are importing weapons or drugs. My aduanero told me before no to come alone while I would need at least two pair of eyes to keep an eye on things. They are capable of throwing items on the roof of the container or hide it behind it when you are not watching. They start placing items in both sides, keep an eye on that. At the end they packed everything (read: throw it back in the boxes and shove it inside the can). Than it needs to be sealed again. That took a while and they told me to go home that the guy with seals was on the other side of the port. When they noticed I wasn't leaving until the seal was placed the guy appeared rather quick. In the end they noticed that there was nothing to do, I gave they verificador 2000 pesos (which I later regretted) and we could go.

In the meantime they were treating candies of a container next to mine that was open (no owner or aduanero to be seen).

After that experience I thought whatever business I'm going to start here it's not going to be importing stuff. Actually it happens to be that one of my activities now is dealing with multiple container imports weekly, but at least I'm no the importer.

Be prepared and don't let them fool you, make sure in advance why you should pay and dont let them charge you more.

By the way, I did door to door too, but you (in my case my wife) was still the responsible for the import.

OK, you're already at a port.
Just find a freight forwarder in NS and another at the RD end.

They decided to open all my boxes and along the way few boxes and items disappeared. I had bought my used but still in the box compressor and box containing DVDs, Husky cordless drills and other boxes containing household items. They charged me taxes on few things but they really got me on our used golf clubs and balls. They said Golf items are considered to be luxury items and they wanted to charge crazy amount of taxes on them. I had bought Noodle+ balls when they were on sale, I paid $115 for about 10 dozens of balls and shipped many used balls I collected going around courses. They charge me CRAZY amount of $2000US+ for clubs and cheap and used golf balls. Needless to say I have them "dump" the golf balls and paid like $600 for two sets of golf clubs, shoes and other golf gears. I still ended up paying like close to $2000 of "luxury" item taxes. I just want to forget but I still remember the broker saying. "You sir is extremely unlucky to have your items shipped during the election month, they want extra money anyway they can."

Negative with my company, I have had no contact with Aduanas or customs or whatever., I paid to the company and my stuff will be here this week without ever paying another penny. I did this with 2 LCD Tvs before with the same company and never had a problem, never paid another penny other than what I paid the company in New York.
Check either your company or your wife :-/

SHALENA

Shalena, who did you use??

Ditto, never opened, never talked to anybody.
And remember, I had not only boxes but two big wooden crates 4'x4'x8' jammed full.

Straight to my door.

This last shipment , I paid a lot for - 40" LED TV, Blu-Ray player, sound bar, coffee maker, trimmer, etc.
$750 for one tanque and 7 other various sized packages.
Luxury/Electronics was the explanation.

I use Montero Shipping in the Bronx, NY but I think they have New Jersey and Miami locations also. This is my second time using them and I've never had a problem except to expect your items about a week AFTER they say they're going to be there.
I had shipped 2 LCDs (36" and 42", I believe but I'm not good with keeping up with that type of stuff), anyway, I shipped both to Sabtiago and the cost of both (including shipping) was less than the cost of the largest one in Santiago. And I never paid anyone other than the company when I signed the papers

SHALENA

Shalena, did you ever figure the Great Dane shipping?

I think a container door to door is different than some boxes door to door (which come consolidated and you probably pay a customs management fee). Anyway, in our case my wife had to go to customs for the duty exemption and we chose to go to the verification process in the port, that's not obligated, the moving company can handle that for you, but I wouldn't leave that to them.

Definitely, SKing didn't have a container.

I had a 40' one and went to the port . They wouldn't open the container without me. It was sealed.

And yes, you take your customs broker with you for the process.
Caucedo is the best - at least was in 2009.

I had no problems.

No. had to sell her :-(

SHALENA

You bought too early - too big to ship when the time came.

I know a nice litter here in Canada... all black, one month old today.