For the Italians here: international shipping

[Max1gk 68]

Hey guys,

how did you move your stuff and items from Italy to the US? did you use any particular international shipping transport company? I actually have to move only few packages full of old college books (a total of 120 pounds I'd say), but shipping them via air is prohibitive. The rest of some selected stuff like clothes etc. I'll carried them with my luggages. I'd appreciate any feedback on the matter, thanks a lot

[ghepardo 8]

ciao,

We are still going through the NVC process, so we (my spouse) has not yet immigrated to the States yet (from Roma), but I have few suggestions. I am frequently going back and forth. I haven't yet checked into shipping via ship.

1) Poste Italiano. Yes, you are correct it is expensive. I've shipped 15kg (~33 lbs) of road bike (bici di corso) equipment from Roma to the States for 130 Euro this past June using Paccocelere. It arrived unopened by customs, in 4 days via UPS (who charged me $20 for a "broker fee"). No problems. Expensive, but an option. I think there is also a book rate, but I may be wrong??? I do know that Fed EX and UPS regular international package shipping is over the top, and way to expensive.

2) When you fly, maximize your luggage. On most airlines (economy seats) to and from Europe and the States the 1st bag is free, and the 2nd bag is usd $50-75. This is the online fee-not the counter fee which is more, although double check the airline as I noticed this has been fluctuating. Further a 3rd checked bag is now averaging $200 (usd) (actually 3-10 bags).

Each bag can weigh 23kg (50lbs). So for Delta airlines for example, flying regular coach with no "free extras" in theory if you had 3 checked bags it would cost $0 for the 1st, $60 for the second, $200 for the 3rd. Total = $260 for 69 kg total (each bag is 23kg).

As far as text books, would it be better to buy them used here in the States? (bookfinder.com for example). Also, what I do is carry-on my heaviest items, and then stuff wine and oil in the check in. Just a suggestion, as I know it would be obviously hard to carry on 120lbs of books at once, but maybe over several trips.

Note that on American Airlines that Business and First now allow 3 free checked bags. Not that most of us can afford Business class, but if you have frequent flier miles you may want to cash them in.

Also if your spouse is returning back with you, can they travel light coming to Italy, and then come back with several pieces of luggage? It may be cheaper overall...

good luck!

[arwen 8]

Hello, I am inquiring about the same thing. I too will have just a few boxes (maybe about 4) I went to the post office to ask how much it would cost to send my stuff and the guy told me that sending it by ship (20kgs) would cost 95 euros. To send by air (20kgs) 145 euros. If you find another alternative please let us know.

[Max1gk 68]

Ciao Gheparto lento,

I'm from Roma too and now at the NVC stage of our K-1 visa Thank you very much for you reply; I decided to be extremely selective about which text books or other things I will TRULY need and which I can wait or don't need that much..by doing that I noticed that the list is narrowing down. I still sent a couple of inquiries to few international moving companies and wait for them to answer me but after some thoughts I think that what I will do is this:

I have a classica plus award ticket with Alitalia and they let me take 2 luggages for free..I'm thinking of upgrading to Magnifica class( luckly I have just about the right amount of millemiglia points to do that) so that the luggages allowed for free would be 3,and than I'd pay 75 euros for the 4th luggage. In this way I'd be more then fine..my parents will come visit me in March of next year and eventually they could bring me anything else I'd urgently need.

In bocca al lupo per tutto,chissà che non ci si beccherà a Napoli lo stesso periodo!

Edited July 24, 2011 by Max1gk

[Max1gk 68]

Arwen,

I will let you know what those companies will reply to me

[Bugsey34 0]

Please post the replies here for me, too. We are taking a small (10 kg) box to Poste Italiane today to see how expensive it will be to ship, I was hoping to be able to ship some things, even if at book rate making them take a while. We are moving from Firenze.

[ghepardo 8]

Ciao Max,

JUst checking if you ever found out any information about relatively inexpensive shipping? I've heard, but yet to follow-up, that DHL in Italy has relatively inexpensive rates (note use of "relatively inexpensive"). I need to follow-up on that soon...

Please let me know if you hear of anything and I will do the same.

[arwen 8]

Ciao Max,

JUst checking if you ever found out any information about relatively inexpensive shipping? I've heard, but yet to follow-up, that DHL in Italy has relatively inexpensive rates (note use of "relatively inexpensive"). I need to follow-up on that soon...

Please let me know if you hear of anything and I will do the same.

I went into one of those mail box places here in Milan and they ship boxes to the USA. They have boxes of various sizes you can buy there.The biggest costs 150 euros for 23 kg.Unfortunately, it is not exactly a huge box because they have to calculate the volume too. They use Fed- ex and it will arrive in about a week. The post office is not much cheaper I'm afraid, so I'm just taking only the things I really like and getting rid of the rest!

[ghepardo 8]

Ciao Arwen,

Just an update on some info on shipping from Italy. We just spoke with DHL, and the price (from Roma) for 25 kg is 193 euro. The Pacco celere internazionale is 250 Euro/30 kg and 130 Euro/15kg. Apparently poste italiane also has another international service called EMS which is somewhat cheaper at 185 Euro/30 kg. I do know pacco celere arrives in 4 days (if U.S. customs has not problems with it).

I think you mentioned that Mailboxes etc utilizes Fed-ex when it arrives in the States. I can believe that Fed-ex in particular is really expensive.

It still seems to me that paying for a 2nd and 3rd check-in bag on whatever airline you are flying may be more economical, especially if you pay for it online-not at the airport which more expensive.

As I said in the earlier post, economy (i.e "cheap seats")for Delta airlines for example, is currently charging $60 usd for the 2nd checked bag and $200 usd for the 3rd if you pay online. That's 2 bags x 23kg= 46kg for $260 usd or ~183 Euro (I assume they do a conversion to USD and don't charge you the $260 Euro-but maybe they do in Italy! hahaha!)

ciao!

[arwen 8]

Thanks very much for the information.