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Car: Brand new 2010 Toyota RAV4 4WD
Shipper: ShipcostaricaCost:
The cost of a new car, to buy in Costa Rica (from a local Toyota dealer in CR) was $37500, I am not sure if there would have been any other charges above that, we were not told about (I’m betting there would be). In NC it costs us $21,500, $1200 for shipping etc., import tax of $12,600, bank wire fee of $30 for a total of $35,330. There was also a gratuity of $60 for Barry of shipcostarica for using (borrowing) his car as the RAV4 wasn’t ready when we got here on July 12.
Car was dropped off at Crowley terminal on June 22 Port Everglades Ft. Lauderdale 8 AM. (it took a little over an hour to process the car)
Car delivered to us on July 17 at Atenas
Car arrival condition:
1-There were two keys on the RAV4 key ring that were shipped with the car, one of which was the valet key. The valet key is missing.
2- The car has a security lug nut on each wheel, the lug nut security removal device is missing from the car, meaning we can’t change the tires in the event of a flat. The device was with the original 5 lug nuts (spare tire has one too) in the glove compartment, these are missing too.
3- There was damage to the under carriage engine cover , it is partially hanging down and very noticeable. There is quite a bit of wood chips and chucks wedged in this area of the under carriage.4- The car exterior on arrival was pretty dirty, There was also a 1.5 L coke bottle with some liquid wedged under the drivers seat. The car did have a full tank of gasoline.
We alerted Barry to the obvious damage before we took possession and shortly after called him about the missing items. Barry stated, shipcostarica will take care of the damage and the lug nuts.
For our part: Now that the key is missing, we have to keep an eye on the car at all times, so it does not get stolen. Our plan is to give Shipcostarica until Tuesday morning to recover it. If its not found, we will have to bring the car to a Toyota dealership to get the car rekeyed. I’m sure this will be very expensive and time consuming as we have one of those cutoff chips in the ignition, there is also a remote alarm system built into the key, meaning we will have to change everything. Of course when we are there, we will have them check out and fix the damage as well as cut off the security lugs and replace those too.
So you saved about $2,000 but did not include the cost to drive to South Florida (and travel back?). Then there is the aggravation and unfinished business. Sounds like minimal if any savings.
I’ve heard of folks having similar minor problems transporting cars to CR and is probably the same anywhere. Things like missing auto emblems, knobs, gas caps anything small that could walk off in someones pocket. There are lots of little critical things that also could walk off. I’ve seen cars (in the U.S.) where oil filler caps, dip sticks and sun visors had been stolen. On late model cars a stupid plastic oil filler cap can be a $50 item that you can only get from the dealer (or not at all). Thus the thievery.
I’ve also seen the anti-theft lug problem many times in the U.S. (I once ran a service station). I think they are a hazard to you YOUR personal safety. If you can’t easily change a flat (and often the special tools do not work properly) you could find yourself stuck in a place you don’t want to be. Thieves are just as likely to take the whole vehicle as the wheels. . . Cutting the lugs off is a primitive process that often damages the wheels as well.
SO, maybe the next person will learn from your experience and not leave more than the minimum key (never one of the fancy electronic ones) and carry the special (often irreplaceable) wheel tools in their luggage.
You got to leave the anti-theft lug removal with the car, otherwise if they got a flat via transport they will be in trouble. We have a car with them in the states for about 12 years, and I have changed flats with it etc. Its never been an issue.
As far as the keys, When I was escorted in to the Crowley car shipping area by security, I thought about taking the valet key off and asked the guard about it and she said, it didn’t matter and that many of their cars get shipped with all the keys. She actually pointed to other cars that had a bunch of keys in the driver doors. You have to leave your keys in the door or the ignition. There were many brand new cars much more expensive than my Toyota sitting there with multiple keys on the ring. They ship to many countries, I’m sure that most of the cars were probably going to other destinations. I don’t believe Crowley has anything to do with the car issues.In any event, shit happens to the best of us, its just a matter of how the shipper handles a bad situation that will distinguish them as a company. I know what I would do if this was my company. I will of course keep this updated as events happen.
Does anyone know if it is quicker to ship from Long Beach/L.A. or San Diego than 25 days? How long did the ship stay in dock on each end after you loaded the vehicle? I am curious as to the time from in port in Limon to Atenas.
Thanks,
A car takes longer to get than household goods. I shipped my car in the container with my things (the best way) and it took weeks longer to get the car. I had several containers of Mobil 1 oil in the back of the car, and it all arrived. I left all the keys, and nothing was missing. ShipCostaRica drove it to my house with a full tank of gas, and even gave me a quick lesson on CR driving and signs (No hay paso) very important! 😆
You bought your Toyota in the States amd shipped it here. That voids the warranty. The Toyota dealer here will not honor your warranty.
So you saved $2,000? Really – what is the Toyota Warranty worth?
To me it is not worth it. And what about the time, damage and agravation of it all? Better to buy new here.
I would have never left a spare key. I think that was your negligence for sure. Only one key is necessary, and you shipped two – that was your bad.
Your points are well taken, 2BNCR, but would the car purchased here in Costa Rica be the same? There are many reports of cars of direct Asian origin being several hundred pounds lighter than the same makes and models imported to the U.S.
What do you suppose might be missing?
[quote=”2BNCR”]You bought your Toyota in the States amd shipped it here. That voids the warranty. The Toyota dealer here will not honor your warranty.
So you saved $2,000? Really – what is the Toyota Warranty worth?
To me it is not worth it. And what about the time, damage and agravation of it all? Better to buy new here.
I would have never left a spare key. I think that was your negligence for sure. Only one key is necessary, and you shipped two – that was your bad.[/quote]
1-We have never been able to use any warranty in all the years of owning our cars, the dealerships in the states simply say that…”that repair isn’t covered” not that we have had many repairs with our Toyotas or Hondas.
2- As far as the spare key goes perhaps if you were in the Crowley shipping yard and saw all those Brand new $50,000-$100,00 cars with multiple keys in the ring in the doors and you ask security about it and they tell you it doesn’t matter, then you wouldn’t be too concerned about leaving an extra key, and how do you now that only one key is necessary? There could be many reason why they may need a 2nd key. Of course if the shipper had said not to leave anything but one key on the ring, I would have done that, after all, I’m not the experienced one shipping, This is the first car, I have shipped.
3- Toyotas are not all the same, The US models actually weigh more, perhaps added safety features, who knows, but they are clearly not the same car.
You are right about one thing, With what I know now, the aggrevation and all, it wasn’t worth it, I now have a damaged new car that needs to be re-keyed, with security lugs that need to be replaced. On top of it all the shippers response now has turned to being less then helpful.
I will of course continue to post for the sake of all so perhaps you may avoid such an experience.
It seems to me that gzeniou’s experience shipping the car demonstrates one of life’s important lessons: Always have a backup plan.
I don’t mean to find fault, gzeniou, but had you thought to buy a second security lug “key” (or whatever it is) and a second “main” ignition key for the car, both to keep with you, a lot of distress might have been avoided. Yes, the car might still be banged up, but at least a couple of problems could have been avoided.
The worst part of this story isn’t that gzeniou will have some unwelcome expenses to cover but rather that some of what’s needed may not even be available here in Costa Rica. Especially when bringing anything that’s (1)essential to your functioning, and (2)possibly unavailable in Costa Rica, it’s always well to arrange in advance for a workaround or a spare.
Worth it to whom?
Well it seems it was not worth it to you. Nevertheless, it was worth it to me. I brought a car in because I wanted the extra safety features and the larger engine that was not available here. I wanted what I wanted and I paid about the same for it, and went through the hassle. And it was a hassle.
Really when I shipped I left one key. I did put a second set of floor mats which were stolen. But that was about it.
Regarding anything stolen I believe that is between you and the fright company that shipped the car. If you want to hold the CR people responsible for having a car rekeyed, I think you are out of line. Who is to say that someone could not have copied your keys? So a missing key is no big deal.
I think you are being too finicky. If you keep up this attitude of expectation here in CR, you will probably end up wishing you had not moved here.
You need to be realistic in the land where Pura Vida happens. Things go wrong here and I exclaim Pura Vida daily! And I am not talking about the tranquility and environment! Excrement happens frequently and you would be wise to take David’s advice regarding counter excrement measures! LOL
[quote=”2BNCR”]Worth it to whom?
Well it seems it was not worth it to you. Nevertheless, it was worth it to me. I brought a car in because I wanted the extra safety features and the larger engine that was not available here. I wanted what I wanted and I paid about the same for it, and went through the hassle. And it was a hassle.
Really when I shipped I left one key. I did put a second set of floor mats which were stolen. But that was about it.
Regarding anything stolen I believe that is between you and the fright company that shipped the car. If you want to hold the CR people responsible for having a car rekeyed, I think you are out of line. Who is to say that someone could not have copied your keys? So a missing key is no big deal.
I think you are being too finicky. If you keep up this attitude of expectation here in CR, you will probably end up wishing you had not moved here.
You need to be realistic in the land where Pura Vida happens. Things go wrong here and I exclaim Pura Vida daily! And I am not talking about the tranquility and environment! Excrement happens frequently and you would be wise to take David’s advice regarding counter excrement measures! LOL[/quote]
Please quote me where I said that I’m blaming the Costa Rican People. I dealt only with a Gringo with this company…No Tico.
Perhaps you can plan on your car being damaged but I have no way of foreseeing it.
Who here has an extra security lug removal or have ever heard of one? Its like a combination lock, 1 per set.
As stated in my previous posts its the valet key, not the back up key, don’t need to make a copy of it already have two master keys….Perhaps you don’t mind someone having a copy of your car keys but I do.One thing is for sure, this has nothing to do with Crowley or anybody else, its between me and the shipper.
I meant the we Ship CR people.
Regardless of your idignation, I think you are out of line to hold then responsible for an extra key to the point of wanting you car rekeyed. That US entitlemet attitude does not play here. If you think it does, than you just started your first Costa Rica university course “Head Banging Without Recourse 101.” Most people that take this course Ace it – and then return home.
BTW – They could have not stole your key and merely copied it! You never know is the point.
[quote=”2BNCR”]
BTW – They could have not stole your key and merely copied it! You never know is the point.[/quote]
No they couldn’t have as stated previously it has a chip, you can’t copy it.
Do you work for the the shipping company or something? As stated before, This is the first car we ever shipped the security Guard stated it didn’t matter if we left two keys as There were many cars in the shipping area that had multiple keys in there ring in the doors. These cars were very expensive compared to the RAV4. Again if the shipper couldn’t secure the car or the keys in a proper matter then they should have disclosed that to start with, they could have simply stated only send one key.
How much planning could I have done bought a backup dipstick, oil cap, oil filter, gas cap, viper blades, filters, pack the under carriage with bubble wrap etc. etc. etc. or perhaps as a backup I should have just shipped two of the exact cars and so I can end up with one….Some lame statements above, if you ask me.
The fact is that shipcostarica is responsible for the car when it leaves Crowley to when they give it to their owners. Nothing should be stolen or Damaged. They don’t disclose to you that your car could be damaged or parts stolen from it. The Owner should be made whole if this happens during their watch.
Furthermore, this has nothing to do with Costa Rica, It makes no difference where this car was shipped, even if this car was shipped to Kenya, if the car was given proper car and secured properly (this is the one of the prime jobs of the shipper), the car shouldn’t have been damaged with parts stolen.Just for the record:
I just found out last night that shipcostarica has [b]NO INSURANCE[/b]
Now I do feel like a dummy as I would never have shipped with them if I knew that. I should have checked on their insurance…one big error on me. My wife and I are now very happy with what we got it could have been much, much, much worse.
I think the important points have been missed.
A car was shipped hoping to achieve some savings despite what most people advise (buy it in CR).
The savings were minimal or not worth the hassle. However, there MIGHT be some question about differences in the vehicles compared to make the savings determination. But the evidence and experience is enough to help others make a decision. IT was a GOOD report.
There were issues with small items being missing from the car. I have heard the same from others that shipped themselves or used other companies. Everyone agrees the problems are in the port and customs, NOT the shippers. This is a Costa Rica bureaucracy and security issue that affects ALL shippers.
Lack of insurance is a serious issue. Containers are just big boxes and things happen to them. They get tilted, toppled, dropped and occasionally fall off the ship. Your insurance company probably would not replace or repair the vehicle once it left the U.S. This could be a financial disaster for many people.
My point about locking wheel lugs and the problems with them is based on a decade of working in the auto industry. I would not have them on any vehicle.
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