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The current weather in Culebra
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Amazon Prime
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeff W (---.hsd1.ut.comcast.net)
Date:   03-06-15 18:29

Can I ship items purchased from amazon.com to a house on Culebra using Amazon Prime? If so, do items ship via UPS or another service? When I select Prime items with shipping to 00775, it provides a timeline but it does not specify a shipping service:

> FREE Standard Shipping (3-7 business days)

Thanks!
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Re: Amazon Prime
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Donna Pickard (---.bstnma.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-07-15 11:45

FREE Standard Shipping (3-7 business days) can translate into 3-7 WEEKS!!
How long are going to be on Culebra to receive your order?? If it's shipped UPS keep checking the tracking daily. Tracking usuall stops once it reaches San Juan. It goes on VAL from main island to Culebra. Then you go to the airport daily to see if it has arrive. Depending on what you are purchasing? size? weight? It is sometimes best to have purchases send to your home then use the USPS priority (it will still take longer than the 3-4 days they say) but it works...
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Re: Amazon Prime
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeff W (---.hsd1.ut.comcast.net)
Date:   03-07-15 12:00

Thanks very much for your response Donna.

It sounds like Amazon Prime will work for shipping but the time it takes and the place the package shows up will depending on the shipping company and service.

I will be on Culebra for a month for my next trip. I am purchasing items for a new-to-me house. I have a lot of things to buy and I thought Amazon Prime might be a good way to get them to the island.

Do items shipping to culebra via USPS/UPS/FEDEX come via plane? If so, is there a size/weight restriction?
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Re: Amazon Prime
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Donna Pickard (---.bstnma.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-09-15 11:05

AS far as I know everything from main island to Culebra goes by plane. If you send something USPS parcel post which goes by boat from the states to main island it goes by plane to Culebra. You can check parcel post rates by going to USPS and "plan around" with different size and weight packages. We have found in sending pkg. to Casa del Sol for the past 20+ years that it sometimes less to tape two pkgs. together than send them alone. The balloon charge is something to avoid. We usually figure 3-4 weeks for parcel post. Before you order/ship with Amazon Prime get as much info you can from them....UPS might be the only way they ship.
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Re: Amazon Prime
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: John W. (---.hfc.comcastbusiness.n)
Date:   03-09-15 12:25

I have used Amazon Prime in the past and they typically ship to our PO Box using U S Postal Service.

Household items I have had shopped at some point include backpack beach chairs, small appliances (coffee grinder, coffee maker, a blender, coffee beans etc). a scooter battery, small tools etc. I almost always receive in less than 7 days.

Beware though - Amazon prime though does not ship that many items and you have to try different vendors to find those that will ship. Large items will often show as not available to ship to your area.

Donna is correct about USPS and different weight sizes. At some point it does become cost prohibitive to ship some items and you are best taking ferry over to big island and shopping at Sam, Costco etc.

Good luck with your move,

John
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Re: Amazon Prime
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeff W (---.hsd1.ut.comcast.net)
Date:   03-09-15 13:26

Very useful information Donna, thanks again. This explains why large items are not available for Amazon prime shipping - I guess they would have to ship via parcel post.
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Re: Amazon Prime
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeff W (---.hsd1.ut.comcast.net)
Date:   03-09-15 13:34

Hi John - that's perfect. In your saved addresses in Amazon, do you enter your Culebra PO Box number, your house address, or "general delivery"?

Less than 7 days is great! Do you select the standard "FREE Standard Shipping (3-7 business days)" option? The reason I ask is that they offer two other options for a fee. For example, for a 52 lb toolbox (Excel TB2105X-Blue 26-Inch Steel Top Chest, Blue) I am offered these options:

FREE Standard Shipping (3-7 business days)
$18.99 Expedited Shipping (2-5 business days)
$24.99 Priority Shipping (1-4 business days)

If that thing will ship all the way to Culebra in less than 7 days for free then I anticipate using Prime quite a bit :)
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Re: Amazon Prime
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: John W. (---.hfc.comcastbusiness.n)
Date:   03-09-15 15:23

Jeff,

You have to play around with your shipping destinations depending upon item. For smaller items Amazon Prime accepts my PO Box. However, bigger items often show as not being able to ship to PO Box.

You gave the example of the tool box - when I tried using Amazon prime and "shipping" that to my PO Box - it sent me this message:"Sorry, this item can't be shipped to your selected address". However, when I put in a Culebra street address it shows me the shipping options you described.

What that means is smaller items are shipped USPostal Service and larger items are coming via slow boat or UPS (which have different delivery standards and may lengthen delivery time).

So getting back to Donna's concern:

When Prime accepts your PO Box it means it is most likely coming express mail and via air. Definitely less than a week for these smaller items.

If you have to input a street address (I used a friend's in town), it is coming UPS and may arrive in probably the seven to 10 day period they describe. The expedited and priority shipping are probably UPS second day air services which can get pricey.

Again, If in doubt call UPS with dimensions and weight of package and get a confirmation on estimated time.

John
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Re: Amazon Prime
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeff W (---.hsd1.ut.comcast.net)
Date:   03-09-15 15:48

Ah that makes sense, thanks John. Ok, so I'll enter both my PO Box and the house address in my Amazon address book and pick the PO Box whenever it is allowed for Prime shipping. I'll know that anything that will only ship to the house address may take longer and will probably ship via UPS.

It's clear that equipping this mostly-empty house will be an interesting exercise in logistics :)

Cheers,

Jeff
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Re: Amazon Prime
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.netvisao.pt)
Date:   03-12-15 03:46

once you get to know the guy at the airport, he will call you upon arrival of items or even deliver. I had my phone once delivered to 'outside Zaco's'. when I was having lunch and he called me ;)

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael
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