Updated Sep 2021
This first part assumes you have your own credit card. The credit card can be from any country as long as the website you are purchasing from accepts it.
Currently TT Customs has a large backlog and takes days to weeks to clear items. Expect items to take a long time to clear local customs even if it gets delivered to the skybox address in Miami quickly. Save yourself as much headache by pre-alerting your deliveries and providing invoices as soon as possible.
1. Choose your provider. There are many to choose from. A quick search on the internet shows a long list. I suggest one with free membership and that charges you on weight rather than volumetric size. Many things ordered online come in over sized boxes. This means you may be charged a lot for a large box which is very light because it has a small item in it. Ask your friends to see what they recommend because there are many factors to consider such as your location, delivery schedule, customer care attitudes etc. Some do not deliver or charge extra to deliver to 'remote' areas or on certain days only.
2. You will receive an address within the US, Canada, UK etc from the provider.
Important! -> This foreign address needs to be added as a secondary address to your credit card. If this is not done the purchase is likely to be declined.
1. Choose your provider. There are many to choose from. A quick search on the internet shows a long list. I suggest one with free membership and that charges you on weight rather than volumetric size. Many things ordered online come in over sized boxes. This means you may be charged a lot for a large box which is very light because it has a small item in it. Ask your friends to see what they recommend because there are many factors to consider such as your location, delivery schedule, customer care attitudes etc. Some do not deliver or charge extra to deliver to 'remote' areas or on certain days only.
2. You will receive an address within the US, Canada, UK etc from the provider.
Important! -> This foreign address needs to be added as a secondary address to your credit card. If this is not done the purchase is likely to be declined.
Only after this then make a purchase online and ship the items to this new address. The billing address is also the new skybox address. Leave the address format as it was given to you, do not let the shopping site auto-correct or edit the addresses. This could make the address wrong and you can lose your package.
3. Pre-alert your package if you have the option of doing so. You can notify some couriers of a purchase you made and they would supposedly have its processing in a more advanced state than if you do not pre-alert. This is supposed to cut down the time it takes to get to you. Notify them of the same value that you spent and not less otherwise you would be breaking the law.
4. Track your packages. You should track your packages to ensure they are delivered to the correct address or if they are late. Some delivery companies within the US deliver goods to a collection facility before their final destination and still mark the item as delivered. The item may stay there a whole week or more until a substantial pile collects and is then carried across to the courier's facility. Do not be upset with the courier for this as it is out of their control. The US postal service regularly does this. The courier may notify you that a package was received at their US facility when it is actually received.
5. Wait for item to land in Trinidad. Most companies notify you a package was received in Trinidad and the cost to you. The cost may be broken into separate sections such as shipping and then customs or may be combined into one single figure. I have noticed that customs charges are very erratic, sometimes you get a low charge and sometimes high for the same type of item. I am wondering if it is just based on the customs officer at that point in time and how thorough they may choose to be.
6. Wait for delivery. It may take a couple days after the item lands for it to come to you. This depends on the volume of goods received as well as traffic conditions. You pay the courier on receiving your item. If your courier does not deliver or you choose to collect at their office you can go in as soon as your get notification of it being in Trinidad. This may be quicker than waiting for them to deliver.
If you do not have a credit card or prefer not you use your own, some freight forwarders offer the service of purchasing the item for you as well as importing it. After they purchase it the process is similar to what is explained above.
If you like this post please support the blog by clicking on ads. Please comment about what courier you use and how it is working for you.
Topics-
How to set up a skybox for myself
What is freight forwarding coureir address
How much is a skybox
Ship amazon things to trinidad
How to get amazon goods without a credit card
How to shop online
Who is best skybox company
3. Pre-alert your package if you have the option of doing so. You can notify some couriers of a purchase you made and they would supposedly have its processing in a more advanced state than if you do not pre-alert. This is supposed to cut down the time it takes to get to you. Notify them of the same value that you spent and not less otherwise you would be breaking the law.
4. Track your packages. You should track your packages to ensure they are delivered to the correct address or if they are late. Some delivery companies within the US deliver goods to a collection facility before their final destination and still mark the item as delivered. The item may stay there a whole week or more until a substantial pile collects and is then carried across to the courier's facility. Do not be upset with the courier for this as it is out of their control. The US postal service regularly does this. The courier may notify you that a package was received at their US facility when it is actually received.
5. Wait for item to land in Trinidad. Most companies notify you a package was received in Trinidad and the cost to you. The cost may be broken into separate sections such as shipping and then customs or may be combined into one single figure. I have noticed that customs charges are very erratic, sometimes you get a low charge and sometimes high for the same type of item. I am wondering if it is just based on the customs officer at that point in time and how thorough they may choose to be.
6. Wait for delivery. It may take a couple days after the item lands for it to come to you. This depends on the volume of goods received as well as traffic conditions. You pay the courier on receiving your item. If your courier does not deliver or you choose to collect at their office you can go in as soon as your get notification of it being in Trinidad. This may be quicker than waiting for them to deliver.
If you do not have a credit card or prefer not you use your own, some freight forwarders offer the service of purchasing the item for you as well as importing it. After they purchase it the process is similar to what is explained above.
If you like this post please support the blog by clicking on ads. Please comment about what courier you use and how it is working for you.
Topics-
How to set up a skybox for myself
What is freight forwarding coureir address
How much is a skybox
Ship amazon things to trinidad
How to get amazon goods without a credit card
How to shop online
Who is best skybox company
This was very helpful Ryan thank so much.
ReplyDeleteHi Ryan, very helpful.I usually order stuff from US,and via FedEx, it comes to my home,how is having a skybox address an advantage (if it is? I' very new to the idea)thanks...fatims
ReplyDeletea few months ago the shipping was usually cheaper, eg amazon can have free shipping to your skybox in florida then you pay customs cost, although recently the government has increased the taxes.. so if you do try it please let me know how it compares now.
DeleteThank you so much
ReplyDeleteHi Ryan. this is very helpful but i dont have a credit card can please suggest some places that will order it for me and i could just pay it when its shipped down to trinidad??
ReplyDeleteThis is very helpful. Great job Ryan
ReplyDeleteWant to order stuff but i dont have a credit card what can i or have to do
ReplyDeleteRyan, I'm trying to order an iPhone but upon checking out, I entered my Shipping Address (JetBox) but when attempting to enter my Billing Address (the address attached to my card, I believe. In other words, my Trinidad home Address, there wasn't an option to do so. Seems like Apple doesn't cater for it. Do I then enter my Jet Box address as the Billing Address also?
ReplyDeleteFor this, first you need to tell your bank to add the Skybox address to your credit card.
DeleteThen on the apple (or any) website you would put in the skybox address as both your billing and shipping address and it should go through.