Could someone please suggest the best way to send a box to St Maarten from Erie Pa? It will weigh in the neighborhood of 20 lbs. Director chair covers so not fragile. How is duty collected on receivers end? I know DHL is an option. Thank you in advance for any ideas.

Here's what we do:

- Call Four Star Cargo (get there phone # from their website) and set-up an account with them
- Use UPS Ground to ship the box from Erie to Four Star Cargo's location in Miami (Four Star address is on their website). The UPS ground arrangements can all be done on the UPS website.
- While the box is being shipped to Four Star in Miami by UPS, go to the Four Star website and create a "booking" for your box. Enter the UPS shipper # and other info regarding your box so that Four Star will know what it is when it arrives in Miami and they will also know that it is yours and where it should be shipped to (SXM).
- Four Star will let you know when they receive the box in Miami, when they ship it from Miami, and when it arrives in SXM. Four Star uses Safe Cargo services in SXM to deliver the box from the port to your SXM location. There is no extra charge for delivery from the port in SXM to your SXM location.
- You can pay the shipping costs by cc on the Four Star website once you receive the bill of lading from Four Star electronically (when the box is being shipped from Miami to SXM).

You could also just use the Mailbox in Cole Bay. They'll do the same without all the hassle. Simply ship to their Miami address. They do the rest

+1 721-545-3890

Mailbox comes via Fedex. Very expensive

Just buy a round trip ticket. Check the box. Deliver it your self and write the trip off with an enjoyable time on SXM. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Personally, I would try and find someone going down and possibly send it with them. You might have to pay for an extra piece of checked luggage but probably your best option.

What is your budget?

Haha!!! Yes. I wish we were able to deliver it ourselves! We don't know anyone locally that goes to SXM other than us! Thank you for all of the great suggestions! I truly appreciate your help. What if the business has a Miami address already? I don't want them to have to pay a bunch to pick up the box? It's about 16 pounds.

Typically you are charged dimensional weight, not actual. Size of box is important. It needs to go cargo if you don't want to pay an arm and a leg. Getting stuff here is not easy or cheap.

Sorry, I guess it's none of my business, but you're sending a box to a business on SXM? If so, why aren't they paying for the shipping up front?

Blackmercedes,
You need to be more clear about what you are asking. Are you sending the box to SXM or just to Miami? If you are sending it to Miami, is it a Mailbox type thing?
I have friends on island who order Amazon through Mailbox all the time. I'm not sure what you are trying to do?
And when I lived there a long time ago, Mailbox didn't ship FedEx unless it was paid for so that must be new...
Good luck.
irina

I'm so confused. But you guys have been a great help. I don't want my friend to have to pay to pick up the box so I am trying to send it in a way that there are not charges on their end. As you can tell, I have no idea. But I did contact 4star Cargo as suggested by several members. Thank you again. I am sending from PA to SXM through Miami Cargo. Taking it to ups today. I don't want to spend a fortune...so that is where I'm at. I'm sure the next time I send something, it won't be as confusing!

I contacted Four Star Cargo from your advice. My agent, Damian Chong, was the most helpful customer service person I have ever dealt with. Package should be there tomorrow! So excited! It was so easy to figure this out with Damian's help. It's nice to give kudos to someone like him and Four Star Cargo.