A short update to Pib's original post. We followed her advice just about to the letter and our first container arrived in the Pisano free zone safely, locked and secured.
We initially interviewed a few custom's brokers and eventually decided to go with the brokers that Pisano's management recommended to us. Their quote was $25.00 higher than the next quote, but we felt comfortable with them. When payday came around, they stuck to their fixed price even though they had some problems clearing the container. Our tax number did not get into the right computer at the right time, and it took three weeks to sort out this snafu. Pisano's management was very helpful and eventually got their Attorney involved, speaking to the head of customs. Then, magically the number appeared where it was supposed to appear. It may have been that someone along the line wanted some money but we simply out-waited them and kept calling in bigger 'guns'. The brokers were very helpful, communicative and gave us daily updates.
Once the container reached Pisano, a fairly friendly fellow from Aduana came around, cut the security locks, and waited around while the pallets were unloaded. He checked out a few boxes between the commercial invoice and the actual goods, grabbed a jar of Blue Lagoon body mousse, opened it, stuck his finger in there and just stood around for a little while enjoying the nice fragrances of our products. I promptly handed him the jar as a little gift (well, what could I do? I could not sell it after this), and he has been helpful in preparing the paperwork for getting the local DR orders out of the zone and also the export orders. We've been warned that he will come around in a week's time with an invoice for payment for his services. No idea what this will be but it seems to be an expectation that we should pay it. I am not against this payment as it seems to me that I'm tipping for a good service. If anyone wants to advise me differently, now is the time...!
We've been assured by the Customs Brokers that the next containers will come through the port like greased lightening now that everything is in place. I'm still waiting to see what happens when the products leave Pisano today and tomorrow.
After this nailbiting episode, I echo Pib's statement - deal with reputable people only! This is the only thing that kept me sane while a very costly container of products sat around in customs for three weeks. I could at least pick up the phone and talk to someone knowledgable on the other side - someone who knew what was going on. Also, we started off with a smaller container thinking that we'll first prove out the process before we bring products in in bulk.
So far, so good - not too painful, just a lengthy process.
Pam