Sending items from Russia to USA

[BTalley 0]

What is the best way to ship bulky items from Russia to the US?

My fiancee has an old sewing machine with sentimental value that used to belong to her grandmother. It is attached to a table.

She would like to ship this --- and many books --- to the US. But we do not know the best and/or most affordable way to do this. My one online attempt at finding a company came up with the reply, "We could not find a company to suit this request."

[mox 298]

What is the best way to ship bulky items from Russia to the US?

My fiancee has an old sewing machine with sentimental value that used to belong to her grandmother. It is attached to a table.

She would like to ship this --- and many books --- to the US. But we do not know the best and/or most affordable way to do this. My one online attempt at finding a company came up with the reply, "We could not find a company to suit this request."

I don't have an answer to your main question, but if the sewing machine or anything else are antiques, read this thread. It's possible she may not be allowed to remove it from the country.

[BTalley 0]

I believe the sewing machine was "examined" by the authorities several years ago when she moved from the Ukraine to Russia and was determined not to be an antique.

[slim 1,525]

I honestly do not know an answer to this question. Over the years it's been asked several times but I've never seen anyone post a good way to do it. 100% of what I've seen has been that it's more expensive to ship things like household goods than to buy new. A box of books, sure. Extra $100 or so. Lots of clothes and boots, same deal. But, sofas, chairs, big stereos.... no. And never anything like a table. Sentimental value goes a long way, but in a case like this, it's going to end up having a price put on it.

Good luck, and please, post results. I'm curious (as I'm sure others are) to see how this turns out for you.

[K1researcher 0]

Russia Post regiestered ...

But it will still be expensive.

[Satellite 1]

Sending items from Russia to USA

Don't.

That's my one word response to this thread. Why is the next one. Everything you need for life can be gotten here in the US and for a lot cheaper than shipping it. As for books, she will never read them here, assuming of course she is career minded and progressive like my wife who has not had the time to even read a Russian book, yet alone a whole collection. By the way, those books are available from libraries of major universities, most likely not to far from your home.

As for the sewing machine, find a relative who is staying behind to hold onto it.

[slim 1,525]

As for books, she will never read them here, assuming of course she is career minded and progressive like my wife who has not had the time to even read a Russian book, yet alone a whole collection.

By the way, those books are available from libraries of major universities, most likely not to far from your home.

My wife has read many, many books in Russian language since she's arrived. She's contacted anyone she can back home to send her more. For the longest time she couldn't find any here and even on Amazon.com or other sites they were prohibitively expensive.

She checked the library now and found one book. I guess they have two or three but the others were checked out.

I would suggest she bring a few books, maybe five or ten (not too heavy) and then have someone back home that will be her personal book buyer/shipper.

[mox 298]

And sending anything of value, especially sentimental value, through the Russian post is a bad idea.

Sat I don't think she wants the sewing machine to avoid having to buy one in the US, but because of the sentimental value, which is completely understandable. But I do agree...leave it in the care of a relative. Maybe in 10 years or so there will be better solutions to get belongings over here. But as slim said, there don't seem to be any good solutions right now.

[Old Dominion 26]

What is the best way to ship bulky items from Russia to the US?

My fiancee has an old sewing machine with sentimental value that used to belong to her grandmother. It is attached to a table.

She would like to ship this --- and many books --- to the US. But we do not know the best and/or most affordable way to do this. My one online attempt at finding a company came up with the reply, "We could not find a company to suit this request."

It can be done by UPS but it may take several packages at a high cost. Their maximum weight per package or box is 150 pounds. UPS services Russia. Go to their website and you can probably calculate the cost.

[Neonred 3,562]

As for books, she will never read them here, assuming of course she is career minded and progressive like my wife who has not had the time to even read a Russian book, yet alone a whole collection.

By the way, those books are available from libraries of major universities, most likely not to far from your home.

My wife has read many, many books in Russian language since she's arrived. She's contacted anyone she can back home to send her more. For the longest time she couldn't find any here and even on Amazon.com or other sites they were prohibitively expensive.

She checked the library now and found one book. I guess they have two or three but the others were checked out.

I would suggest she bring a few books, maybe five or ten (not too heavy) and then have someone back home that will be her personal book buyer/shipper.

Slim

Have your wife check out http://www.podpiska.us/ and http://russkieknigi.com/list.asp

Also check your local Russian store. Ours has a lot of used books for sale very cheap.

[PJB 0]

My husband will be bringing technical books that are necessary for his job and can't be found here. But most Russian language books, DVDs and CDs can be bought in America. Find a Russian Orthodox Church and check out the neighborhood. In every ethnic neighborhood you can find stores with books in the native language. In Los Angeles the Russian stores are in Hollywood, in New York try Brighton Beach, etc.

[slim 1,525]

Slim

Have your wife check out http://www.podpiska.us/ and http://russkieknigi.com/list.asp

Also check your local Russian store. Ours has a lot of used books for sale very cheap.

Thanks for the links.

My husband will be bringing technical books that are necessary for his job and can't be found here.

Unless he works for the Soviet Union, I'm pretty sure any technical books he needs for a job could be found here. Even in that case, I'm sure someone that used to work down the hall from mox translated them at one time or another and if they're decalssified now, they're probably on the internet somewhere.

But most Russian language books, DVDs and CDs can be bought in America. Find a Russian Orthodox Church and check out the neighborhood. In every ethnic neighborhood you can find stores with books in the native language. In Los Angeles the Russian stores are in Hollywood, in New York try Brighton Beach, etc.

We don't exactly have a "little Moscow" anywhere near here. The "Russian shop" does have a few books, but nothing that really caught my wife's eye. Now that she has a little free cash, I'm sure she'll be ordering more from websites.

[Lyuba 0]

There are a few companies in Moscow that can ship big stuff for you. I contacted them when I planned to move to the US 4 years ago. It isn't cheap but it can be done. I ended up sending everything by mail, everything arrived safely but I paid 500 dollars for shipping. I did bring some books, I am an interpreter and I need my dictionaries and specialized literature.

Edited November 12, 2008 by Lyuba