So here is some correspondence that we were having back and forth with our offices in New York and Nicaragua.

• XXXX can you call DHL and find out if we are ready to go and pick up the machine? We have produced all the paperwork and paid all our bills and even a fine so that we are clear and able to import the machine. We are waiting on DHL and we have sent two messages and called twice as well.  

• Spoke with Ginny (sp?) at DHL JFK.  She said she needs to contact Managua (by email) and will get back to me on it.  Will keep you posted...

• Please have your party in Nicaragua contact Maria – reference hawb (house airway bill) 6ry4606 JFK/MGA.

• Note the prepaid airfreight was DAT (delivery at terminal) meaning door to airport only.
• To be cleared thru Nicaragua customs the consignee needs his own customs broker or they can work with DHL Global Forwarding Nicaragua to have the shipment cleared.

• Please note the Customer has not complete the required documentation in order to DHL NI can be their broker at destination

This is how it starts and if you can't provide the documentation they seize your package.  So the proper documentation is a very loose term. What does that include? So as we found out, it includes anything they ask for.  Even things that can be impossible to prove or provide such as you will see in the following posts.  

Customs in Nicaragua

       So this is going to be a continuation of a series of posts here on Blogger about doing business with customs here in Nicaragua. If you have an import broker or another means of importing things into the country this post really isn't for you. This is a description of my personal experiences with customs here and how they run the show of importing items into this country.  I'm constantly getting emails and messages about people who "know" somebody who can get goods into the country with connections. This is for the average working guy or gal trying to import things into the country. If you have done this in the past with great success god bless you. My experience has been different.

In December of 2015 I bought a 50 year old Consew leather sewing machine off of Craigslist for $400.  The company I bought the machine from had many for sale. The owner of the company where  I bought the machine from was a really nice and specialized in motorcycle leathers. The company was located in New York City.

I purchased the machine with 4 $100 bills and put it in the back of my truck and headed home.  The owner of the company printed a receipt for me and a bill of sale with logo and company address which you will see below.  I had to pay a guy to crate it up and protect the contents. The box was about the size of a small coffin and was packed well.  We included the table that the machine came on and the small electric motor.  The motor is small and not the typical big heavy motor that comes on such machines. This motor allows the machine to work slowly so that a precise stitch can be achieved.  The crate cost me another $200 because it had to be made special for the size of the machine.  I had to pay the guy that built it out of that money and he did a great job.

My office called DHL where we have an account and ordered a pick up. DHL came out the next day and loaded the machine into one of their trucks and it was shipped off to Managua which is the capital city in Nicaragua.  Surprisingly the machine arrived in Managua within a few days. I then flew to Nicaragua to receive the machine and sign for it then pay my import taxes etc.  I knew it would take some time and money to get it. I wasn't thinking that it would be an easy task. I also never thought it would take months and thousands of dollars, attorneys, tax attorneys, letters, bank statements and Nicaragua IRS statements as well.