Mail order to the Ionion

[BurnitBlue]

My catamaran is in Cleopatra marina and I intend to upgrade lots of stuff. I will use chandlers in Levkas but some stuff might be better using Amazon or other mail order companies. My question is whether any of these mail order companies have drop boxes in the Ionion. Cleopatra charge outrageous prices for receiving stuff. Last year I was charged 68 euro for effectively a piece of plywood delivered from UK. Any tips about other ways, chandlers etc. Thanks.

 

[Irish Rover]

I bought my current boat in Croatia last year and I needed to buy a lot of stuff in preparation for my trip back to Türkiye. I ordered most of it from SVB24.com in Germany. When you put the stuff in the basket and go to the check out section it gives you a planned delivery date so you can coordinate with the dates you're on the boat. Everything I ordered came on the planned date. The DHL charges prepaid to SVB were not excessive.

 

[BurnitBlue]

I will certainly give SVB24 a try. This is just what I need. My previous method was to buy from my home in Sweden and pack the goodies in a suitcase when traveling to my boat. The problem with that method is that I don't really know what I really need and what size, flush mount or bracket mount. That sort of thing is better decided when on the boat where I can choose exactly what I need and what will actually fit. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Davy_S]

When we lived in Kefalonia Amazon deliveries such as books etc were no problem, but larger items caused problems, ACS delivery vans are everywhere, but we found that they did not like to deliver to private houses and would take it back to a local depot and leave it there, so you had to chase up the delivery to find out where it was, we ordered a log burner from Priti stoves, we knew it would arrive on the ferry, but instead of them delivering it to our address they took it to a depot 25 miles away! our solution was to use our local bar/taverna address, they always delivered it here without fail, may i humbly suggest that if you can do similar, you will have no problems.

 

[dgadee]

SVB24 was what I used when in Greece. Cheaper than the locals, even when you take carriage into account. But not competitive with taking things out from UK.

 

[BurnitBlue]

When we lived in Kefalonia Amazon deliveries such as books etc were no problem, but larger items caused problems, ACS delivery vans are everywhere, but we found that they did not like to deliver to private houses and would take it back to a local depot and leave it there, so you had to chase up the delivery to find out where it was, we ordered a log burner from Priti stoves, we knew it would arrive on the ferry, but instead of them delivering it to our address they took it to a depot 25 miles away! our solution was to use our local bar/taverna address, they always delivered it here without fail, may i humbly suggest that if you can do similar, you will have no problems.

Yes. Amazon are good for the smaller items that are difficult to find in the Ionion. For instance I once spent all day trying to buy a a die to clean the threads on some stainless bolts that got epoxy on them. Lots of taps but no dies. One hardware store finally understood what I wanted and ordered it from Athens.

 

[BurnitBlue]

SVB24 was what I used when in Greece. Cheaper than the locals, even when you take carriage into account. But not competitive with taking things out from UK.

I can understand that it is sometimes better to carry things from UK because cheaper VAT and a bigger selection. But for me in Sweden hand carry is a hassle. From my home to my boat takes at least 6 transfers with one flight, two taxis three busses, a train and some walking. Also the journey can take two or three days depending on connections. Add in the changing baggage rules this year it is better if more expensive to buy from the boat.

 

[dgadee]

I can understand that it is sometimes better to carry things from UK because cheaper VAT and a bigger selection. But for me in Sweden hand carry is a hassle. From my home to my boat takes at least 6 transfers with one flight, two taxis three busses, a train and some walking. Also the journey can take two or three days depending on connections. Add in the changing baggage rules this year it is better if more expensive to buy from the boat.

Post a picture of where you live. Sounds a bit out of the way.

 

[Paddys milestone]

I disguised a holding tank as a suitcase and carried it checked in via Easyjet to Cleopatra. Stuffed full of clothes and etcs.

 

[dgadee]

I disguised a holding tank as a suitcase and carried it checked in via Easyjet to Cleopatra. Stuffed full of clothes and etcs.

I took a gas bottle out (one of the refillable ones). It was new and empty. I have also taken out air cylinders. It usually causes a hold up at the special luggage section, but after a phone call or two they let me leave them.

 

[BurnitBlue]

You want me to post a picture of where I live? On a site where I also post my absence for months at a time? I believe Google can pin point a picture to a location.

 

[kingsebi]

Remember to use a courier service in Greece. Don’t use the Hellenic Post. A Greek told me.

 

[dgadee]

You want me to post a picture of where I live? On a site where I also post my absence for months at a time? I believe Google can pin point a picture to a location.

No, just meant rough area. But you are right. Google would find you.

 

[Davy_S]

Remember to use a courier service in Greece. Don’t use the Hellenic Post. A Greek told me.

ACS Courier - ACS in Numbers

 

[BurnitBlue]

No, just meant rough area. But you are right. Google would find you.

South West Coast of Sweden. Ryanair fly twice a week from CPH Copenhagen in Denmark.. Ryanair fly to Thessalomiki where Ktel run one bus a day to Preveza at 10am. So example. The Ryanair leaves CPH at 11am or earlier. To catch that flight I must get the taxi then train over the big bridge the previous day. First night in hotel. Arrival in Thessaloniki is of course after the only ktel bus to Preveza has departed. Second night in hotel.. Next day 5 hour ktel bus to Preveza.

That is when times line up. Sometimes the Ryanair flight leaves CPH later so I can cross the big bridge same day as the flight. So two or three days from home to boat. Carrying a 20kg suitcase through that hassle is now too much for me.

 

[dgadee]

South West Coast of Sweden. Ryanair fly twice a week from CPH Copenhagen in Denmark.. Ryanair fly to Thessalomiki where Ktel run one bus a day to Preveza at 10am. So example. The Ryanair leaves CPH at 11am or earlier. To catch that flight I must get the taxi then train over the big bridge the previous day. First night in hotel. Arrival in Thessaloniki is of course after the only ktel bus to Preveza has departed. Second night in hotel.. Next day 5 hour ktel bus to Preveza.

That is when times line up. Sometimes the Ryanair flight leaves CPH later so I can cross the big bridge same day as the flight. So two or three days from home to boat. Carrying a 20kg suitcase through that hassle is now too much for me.

We didn't have things too bad when we were there - could fly from Edinburgh/Athens and make Preveza late that same night with the Ktel bus. If things went well, we could have caught the afternoon bus but timing a bit tight. Now in Rome beside the airport.

 

[andrewAB]

Prior to Brexit I used UPS to ship a 30kg cardboard box stuffed boat bits from colection in my UK home to Ionion Marine every year. Purchased through Transglobal Express it was about the same cost as an Easyjet checked bag.