Mercado Libre
Mercado Libre is very similar to eBay. We use eBay a lot, and make our living selling there. This year we found two items that we needed or wanted, were not available here in Zihuatanejo, and we were unable to find any business that could order or get them for us. We'd like to share our experiences with Mercado Libre. Hopefully, someone else will share their experiences with Amazon Mexico.
We wanted a weimaraner puppy, and there were none available in the area. We checked Mercado Libre, and found quite a few. They ranged from puppy mill animals to a special pet, bred once. Some included shipping, others did not. A lot like buying a puppy anywhere. While going through the listings, we noticed that the puppies that were being presold from a once only breeding had the phone number "concealed" in the listing. Fortunately, we were able to record the number before the listing was pulled. That kind of contact information is strictly prohibited.
We ended up with an amazing girl, whose two owners had bred her mom at 4 years of age, and it ended up being so traumatic for them that they were seriously screening homes and having her spayed. They even drove our puppy from Puebla at our suggestion, for a very very reasonable price, so she wouldn't have to be shipped.
First experience with Mercado Libre, although technically not through the site, was a 10+. Extremely successful.
We have been having so many issues with the varying voltages here that we did the homework and decided we needed a whole house voltage regulator. Decided on the make and model, and spent a week trying to find someone here who could get it for us. No joy. Back to Mercado Libre.
Found exactly what we wanted at a good price, to be delivered in 3 days via DHL. Perfect! Used my Capital One credit card and paid for it. We immediately received a query from CapOne, asking if this was our charge, and if so, to have the vendor run the card again, and all would be well. We couldn't figure out how to do that! So, waited 3 days, and ran the card again. Mercado Libre didn't recognize this attempt. So, printed out the page, and went to OXXO to pay cash. Easy, and only a 9p fee. All is well!!! However, the payment didn't post. It took many many chats and e-mails, and 10 days until Mercado Libre worked it out with OXXO. Bing translator is our friend!!!! By then, too much time had passed, and the vendor had the right to relist the item. Fortunately for us, we kept him posted as to our trials, and he waited for us. Finally, Mercado Libre posted the payment to Mercado Pago (who knew) and told me to pay the vendor. My second attempt, I was able to transfer the funds to his Mercado Pago account. All is well! Nope. He was unable to print the shipping label because I transferred the funds, didn't actually pay for the item, because it was too late. It took 8 more days for Mercado Libre to explain this (we had figured it out from our eBay experience) and tell us to work it out with the vendor. He was displeased with the entire transaction, and felt that we had been abused. He shipped the voltage regulator last Thursday, and it arrived today, FedEx, exactly 4 weeks after it would have arrived if all had gone well.
Overall, Mercado Libre is a good thing. Will we do it again? Yes, if there is something we really need or want that we just can't get here, and can't wait for until we get to the US. The voltage regulator just is not available out of Mexico.
Now to figure out the wiring!
We wanted a weimaraner puppy, and there were none available in the area. We checked Mercado Libre, and found quite a few. They ranged from puppy mill animals to a special pet, bred once. Some included shipping, others did not. A lot like buying a puppy anywhere. While going through the listings, we noticed that the puppies that were being presold from a once only breeding had the phone number "concealed" in the listing. Fortunately, we were able to record the number before the listing was pulled. That kind of contact information is strictly prohibited.
We ended up with an amazing girl, whose two owners had bred her mom at 4 years of age, and it ended up being so traumatic for them that they were seriously screening homes and having her spayed. They even drove our puppy from Puebla at our suggestion, for a very very reasonable price, so she wouldn't have to be shipped.
First experience with Mercado Libre, although technically not through the site, was a 10+. Extremely successful.
We have been having so many issues with the varying voltages here that we did the homework and decided we needed a whole house voltage regulator. Decided on the make and model, and spent a week trying to find someone here who could get it for us. No joy. Back to Mercado Libre.
Found exactly what we wanted at a good price, to be delivered in 3 days via DHL. Perfect! Used my Capital One credit card and paid for it. We immediately received a query from CapOne, asking if this was our charge, and if so, to have the vendor run the card again, and all would be well. We couldn't figure out how to do that! So, waited 3 days, and ran the card again. Mercado Libre didn't recognize this attempt. So, printed out the page, and went to OXXO to pay cash. Easy, and only a 9p fee. All is well!!! However, the payment didn't post. It took many many chats and e-mails, and 10 days until Mercado Libre worked it out with OXXO. Bing translator is our friend!!!! By then, too much time had passed, and the vendor had the right to relist the item. Fortunately for us, we kept him posted as to our trials, and he waited for us. Finally, Mercado Libre posted the payment to Mercado Pago (who knew) and told me to pay the vendor. My second attempt, I was able to transfer the funds to his Mercado Pago account. All is well! Nope. He was unable to print the shipping label because I transferred the funds, didn't actually pay for the item, because it was too late. It took 8 more days for Mercado Libre to explain this (we had figured it out from our eBay experience) and tell us to work it out with the vendor. He was displeased with the entire transaction, and felt that we had been abused. He shipped the voltage regulator last Thursday, and it arrived today, FedEx, exactly 4 weeks after it would have arrived if all had gone well.
Overall, Mercado Libre is a good thing. Will we do it again? Yes, if there is something we really need or want that we just can't get here, and can't wait for until we get to the US. The voltage regulator just is not available out of Mexico.
Now to figure out the wiring!
