Best way to move stuff long distance?

[QC2CO 1]

Hi guys,

this was probably asked many'O times. But the search options is a pain in the

Just preparing in advance, when I will have to move my stuff. I'm moving from Ottawa to Colorado. I will be flying out there and I wanted to ship some of my stuff. I don't have any furniture that I will bring, except my TV (27") if possible. So lets say, PC (without monitor), clothes, box of pictures, guitar, some small personal items. So maybe 2-3 boxes.

I just called a moving company and the minimum is 1200$ US. Jeez. So i'm thinking, there must be another economical options.

Any suggestions or options that you have used??

Thanks,

Dom

Edited September 1, 2006 by QC2CO

[cmartyn 0]

UPS perhaps? I moved a 4 bedroom house 500 miles for 5000.00 US. What can you do. Sometimes its cheaper to just replace it all.

[Jersey Girl 2]

This may not be what you want to hear, but I when I moved from Toronto to New Jersey, I left everything behind except what I could fit into the trunk of my Civic. It was better to give things away or sell them and start fresh. Cheaper, easier, less worry. Have you considered renting a station wagon or van and driving with your stuff? It could be a wonderful adventure.

[Waiting in Vancouver 6]

I shipped 5 boxes from the Vancouver BC area to Chicago Illinois area via UPS ground and it was only a few dollars short of $200.00 CDN ... It took about a week and a half to get my stuff ...

I paid the money up front and the UPS store held my boxes at their store until I crossed the boarder and the following day I faxed a copy of my K-1 Visa and the I-94 and they attached it to my shipment ...

I printed out a detailed list of what was in each box and also supplied that to the UPS store and they attached that info as well with the shipment ...

[incogkneeto 0]

I shipped 5 boxes from the Vancouver BC area to Chicago Illinois area via UPS ground and it was only a few dollars short of $200.00 CDN ... It took about a week and a half to get my stuff ...

I paid the money up front and the UPS store held my boxes at their store until I crossed the boarder and the following day I faxed a copy of my K-1 Visa and the I-94 and they attached it to my shipment ...

I printed out a detailed list of what was in each box and also supplied that to the UPS store and they attached that info as well with the shipment ...

Thanks! That's very helpful.

[QC2CO 1]

Thanks guys!!!

And yeah, I was thinking of renting a car, but you can't rent a one way car from Canada and drop it in the US. They said they can do it with a van, but then it was going to cost in the thousands... So it wasn't worth it. Thats why I just want to ship a few boxes out there. The tv was a bonus if I could get it over there, but it is not critical

[KarenCee 3]

Joel shipped his things a bit at a time, over the course of a few months by UPS. Then when he made the trip home his mom shipped things by UPS, except for the things he could fit into his luggage. When you do move to the US and decide to ship your things, you'll need a copy of your I-94 to avoid paying duty.

Edited September 2, 2006 by KarenCee

[Reba 2]

TVs are cheap enough these days that it would likely cost more to ship it than buy new anyway.

[girl 37 7]

One thing that might be worth checking out is USPS's media mail.

Media Mail

Media Mail® service is a cost efficient way to mail books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, and recorded computer-readable media (such as CDs, DVDs, and diskettes). Media Mail can not contain advertising except for incidental announcements of books. The maximum weight for Media Mail is 70 lbs.

I shipped about 10 boxes of books and papers from Blaine, WA, and they cost about $12 each. Boxes of CDs were much cheaper.

Edited September 2, 2006 by girl 37

[Jo and Gordie 0]

Hi guys,

this was probably asked many'O times. But the search options is a pain in the

Just preparing in advance, when I will have to move my stuff. I'm moving from Ottawa to Colorado. I will be flying out there and I wanted to ship some of my stuff. I don't have any furniture that I will bring, except my TV (27") if possible. So lets say, PC (without monitor), clothes, box of pictures, guitar, some small personal items. So maybe 2-3 boxes.

I just called a moving company and the minimum is 1200$ US. Jeez. So i'm thinking, there must be another economical options.

Any suggestions or options that you have used??

Thanks,

Dom

I spent weeks getting quotes from moving companies, all outrageously expensive. I only have about 30 boxes to move weighing less than 1,000 pounds. Most companies want about $1300US. The rub was, as it is such a small move, they can't guarantee delivery for at least three weeks because they would amalgamating it with another (larger) move. I checked into shipping my stuff (UPS, Purolater, etc.) but that was a worse option. One packs differently for shipping goods as opposed to moving them. If you ship stuff, you can guarantee the boxes will be thrown and turned upside down even if marked 'fragile'. This guidance came from UPS! In the end, I have rented a U-Haul truck and for about $1,000 including taxes and insurance, I'll drive it from Toronto to Charlotte myself! I'd really rather not, but I don't see a viable alternative. The smallest truck one can rent from U-Haul is 10' so I have room to spare, in fact, too bad we aren't going to the same place!

Jo

[QC2CO 1]

Hi guys,

this was probably asked many'O times. But the search options is a pain in the

Just preparing in advance, when I will have to move my stuff. I'm moving from Ottawa to Colorado. I will be flying out there and I wanted to ship some of my stuff. I don't have any furniture that I will bring, except my TV (27") if possible. So lets say, PC (without monitor), clothes, box of pictures, guitar, some small personal items. So maybe 2-3 boxes.

I just called a moving company and the minimum is 1200$ US. Jeez. So i'm thinking, there must be another economical options.

Any suggestions or options that you have used??

Thanks,

Dom

I spent weeks getting quotes from moving companies, all outrageously expensive. I only have about 30 boxes to move weighing less than 1,000 pounds. Most companies want about $1300US. The rub was, as it is such a small move, they can't guarantee delivery for at least three weeks because they would amalgamating it with another (larger) move. I checked into shipping my stuff (UPS, Purolater, etc.) but that was a worse option. One packs differently for shipping goods as opposed to moving them. If you ship stuff, you can guarantee the boxes will be thrown and turned upside down even if marked 'fragile'. This guidance came from UPS! In the end, I have rented a U-Haul truck and for about $1,000 including taxes and insurance, I'll drive it from Toronto to Charlotte myself! I'd really rather not, but I don't see a viable alternative. The smallest truck one can rent from U-Haul is 10' so I have room to spare, in fact, too bad we aren't going to the same place!

Jo

yeah, I hear ya. That would be the ideal if 2 people were going to the same place. I also called a bunch of places and its all too expensive for the amount i'm bringing. And now i'm hesitant on using UPS I guess you are renting the van with Uhaul. I looked into that one too.

i'm going to go crazy trying to figure this out. ... this is zee part of the show vhen vee dance

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Check if there is a grayhound bus terminal that might deliver from Canada to the US. You would probably have to find out about customs forms from the bus company, and you might have to pay duty since the bus terminal wouldln't be able to verify your I-94 but it might be an option. I have shipped stuff across Canada by bus including Christmas gifts without a problem and substantially cheaper than using a courier. You would have to pick up the items at the terminal rather than having them delivered but for a small number of boxes it might be an option.

Edited September 2, 2006 by Kathryn41

[girl 37 7]

That's a great idea. You could drive across the border with the stuff, then ship it. I've read about some Canadian sellers doing that on EBay.