Chile Forum

O.k., the title sounds like a shady setup and I hope it doesn't insult any of the true, good samaritan forum users, but here's the situation....I'm looking for ANYONE traveling from the U.S. coming to Chile soon who can bring me a small amount of over-the-counter specialty eye drops(aprox. 5-1 ounce bottles). The prices here for such are astronomical (nearly 5x the cost found in the US) and even the Chilean doctor I spoke to recently recommended I find someone to bring such products in from abroad. If any of the forum readers know of a trustworthy traveler who would be willing to do this, please get ahold of me via private message from this forum with contact info so I can call and speak with the person to discuss and arrange details. Of course, a token courier reward will be part of the deal. I thank you and my suffering dry eye thanks you!

It could be a problem to carry eye drops. I think it depends of the containers size. Not sure about the new regulations at the airport.

You're right that 5, one ounce bottles in a carry-on could be too much but not necessarily in checked luggage.

We are not coming until June. If the need persists and you remind me, I'd be happy to play a burro for such a modest item. Though I do not think that is what my wife means when she calls me un burro terco, hee-haaaaw.

JHYRE...Thanks for the offer to accomodate the need in June...I'll keep you in mind should I need a resupplier(i.e. burro) at that time.

For the rest of you Forum readers, thanks a million for the response...so far 4 offers from people coming this month have arrived to my email so it looks like my immediate need has been met (in less than 24 hours no less). What a great little community we have here!

Thats the Pony Express sytem I was talking about last month. Its nice to see it in action and Americans willing to take care of each other when one of us is need!

Any way they could be bought, put in a global priority envelope and then just mailed down there?

It costs $ 13.45 to do that. (USPS).

Ripsigg wrote:Any way they could be bought, put in a global priority envelope and then just mailed down there?

Unless I'm mistaken, those envelopes are for paperwork and "flat" things so I do not think that will fly with the USPS people. You will need to pony up more dollars for the small package service.

Then the problem will be Aduanas as they stop anything they think might be a controlled medication inside Chile. If they don't, you'll get it quickly the same or the next day upon arrival in Chile. If not, you will be notified to go to SEREMI Santiago to jump through some hoops for the underworked, overpaid, idiot, power tripping, "Doctor", bureaucrats there and then go to the airport to finally get your meds.

Unofficial courier or "mule" is the best and most reliable way to go if you do not have the time to experiment how Correos Aduanas will treat it.

EEUU....I had anticipated just such an outcome as you described, thus the format for my plea. Only those of us who have suffered the ruination of entire days out of our lives just to process some simple postal item should be sufficient for any inexperienced ex-pat to ever entertain the notion that bureaucracy runs smoothly here.....and then, on occasion, pain-free transactions DO occur and it leaves you wondering. Better to avoid those pesky nuisances since they ALWAYS spoil your day!

Picked up your items slim, see you next week.

SNOWMAN....you're a saint! Look forward to seeing you soon. Bring some of that fresh, Canadian air with you to cool us off down here in this summer heat!