Circulation: Money Transfer and Barrel Goods

From Seminar 2: The Peopling of New York City

In the area we surveyed, there were three money transfer businesses, two of them on the same block! All were busy as customers sent money to locations in the Caribbean or the United States. Through the use of money transferring sites, West Indians can send money home to help support their families and pay bills. Some businesses, like Western Union, also offer to pay utility and phone bills directly to companies based in the Caribbean.

Many West Indian families also send clothing, toiletries, food, and other items back to the Caribbean in barrels. This is another way to support their families financially, as the items they send are more expensive in the Caribbean.

Barrels are often preferred for their durability to survive the shipping process. Among the various kinds of barrels, super jumbos are the most commonly shipped. Beside barrels, there are also other less popular containers, such as crates and boxes. In general, people send goods, such as clothes, food, and household items, depending on the needs of their families in the Caribbean. The cost of barrels varies with size and materials. The price usually rangess from $16 to $30, and the material is either plastic or thick cardboard. However, the shipping and handling cost of barrels are relatively inexpensive. Since shipping companies charge by the number of barrels, and not weight, customers pack in as many items as possible until the barrels are completely filled up.