Shipping goods overseas

[photomile 101]

I'm not sure if I'm in the minority or the majority, but as far as my possessions go to ship over? Well, it's not really THAT much. I could probably fit everything I own in the back of an estate car minus the bedframe (It's kind of a family gift that I actually want to take with me since we're building a brand new apartment but more on that later oh, and I'm basically obligated so... yeah)

But how does this work? There's plenty of companies for international shipping bust most of them want telephone consultations, and well, I'd rather hear it from someone who isn't going to give me a sales pitch and necessarily push me into things I do and don't want. Plus, how much would it cost? I've seen some stories of people basically being given half a container to fill, and someone here mentioned £900 to move his / her stuff.

Also, what about shipping boxes separately myself? How does this work with regards to customs, is it even possible for me to send a number of boxes through the cheapest possible method but still avoid being taxed for them as they are personal items? or does it all have to go in one big hair lumpy shipment?

Oh and lastly, is it more a 'weight' thing, or a 'size' thing with these international removal companies? (hence asking about the bedframe)

[Gosia & Tito 199]

I'm not sure if I'm in the minority or the majority, but as far as my possessions go to ship over? Well, it's not really THAT much. I could probably fit everything I own in the back of an estate car minus the bedframe (It's kind of a family gift that I actually want to take with me since we're building a brand new apartment but more on that later oh, and I'm basically obligated so... yeah)

But how does this work? There's plenty of companies for international shipping bust most of them want telephone consultations, and well, I'd rather hear it from someone who isn't going to give me a sales pitch and necessarily push me into things I do and don't want. Plus, how much would it cost? I've seen some stories of people basically being given half a container to fill, and someone here mentioned £900 to move his / her stuff.

Also, what about shipping boxes separately myself? How does this work with regards to customs, is it even possible for me to send a number of boxes through the cheapest possible method but still avoid being taxed for them as they are personal items? or does it all have to go in one big hair lumpy shipment?

Oh and lastly, is it more a 'weight' thing, or a 'size' thing with these international removal companies? (hence asking about the bedframe)

My now wife came with 2 suitcases filled to the max and shipped everything else (clothes and personal things, no furniture) by regular mail, the cheapest possible, in boxes. Each box about 24x18x12 (inches, standard Polish Post issue). It takes about 10 weeks in transit but there is no rush. Her son ships them out every other week. Every couple of weeks we get one or two boxes. She's already 'taken over' 2 large walk-in closets at the house and boxes keep coming . Where did she have all that stuff? Her flat was not that big. None of the boxes has been taxed as they are all personal stuff. And the time in between boxes allows to put things aside in a more or less orderly fashion, rather than piling up boxes and not knowing where to start.

I myself have moved across countries and done the half/full container thing and also the full service moving service (when the company paid for it). On the half container or full container, there is a customs inspection and depending on the port, they might be more detailed and picky. Keep in mind that you then need to arrange pickup at the port and delivery to your home. In some unionized ports, you are at the mercy of the union drivers/staff and will cost you more.

The best is the full service, but it is a small fortune, 10K+ easy and it is based on volume (how many rooms; they have this down as a science). They will pack your stuff, take it here, deliver and unpack at destination. It is possible to have special insurance for those hard to replace items.

Edited January 21, 2012 by Gosia & Tito

[david'sgirl 134]

My husband brought over a couple of very large suitcases and a backpack and laptop bag when he came. We get more stuff from his mum's house every time we visit. We sold the cars,the house, the caravan and gave away the furniture,large electronics not compatible with US electricity. Small stuff works with an adaptor. Ditto for the laptop. We did look into cost for shipping but even sharing a container was a couple thousand plus it only gets your stuff to port where you have to get another mover to collect it and deliver it. I have a friend who works for the government who has moved overseas several times. She told me about how the containers can wind up in the water. The airlines will ship boxes as freight but it was expensive. Try checking British airways site. We finally decided to keep the personal stuff and replace the things like furniture. The large hardsided suit case is great. We each take max checked and carry on to get it all packed and we weigh it to be sure to avoid a fee. We were able to pack his tools and metal tool box, clothes,shoes, jackets,books, a huge wok and other kitchen things,photographs,framed paintings, our wedding album and other personal stuff but we have not managed to fit the stepper, bike or guitar yet. I don't know if the bed frame can be sent by freight or checked as oversize. Check with airlines. Does it weigh a lot? They charge a lot for weight. I sent a basket of goodies and it was more to ship than I spent to make it.

[Boiler 45,516]

Cut it down to what you can carry.

[photomile 101]

.. Her son ships them out every other week. Every couple of weeks we get one or two boxes. ... None of the boxes has been taxed as they are all personal stuff...

This looks ideal for me since I've got quite a few good, ultra cheap shipping options available to me. How are you doing the customs declaration for this to report it as personal effects? Do you just attach a 6059B to the outside as well as the UK green label?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

This looks ideal for me since I've got quite a few good, ultra cheap shipping options available to me. How are you doing the customs declaration for this to report it as personal effects? Do you just attach a 6059B to the outside as well as the UK green label?

Household goods you have owned 1 year are free. This is to keep you from packing 100 new iPods in boxes and trying to import as your personal items. The customs form is not the one you fill out on the plane for your luggage. It is this one http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_3299.pdf

Overly simplified example of how rates are determined. Two 12 in. x 12 in. boxes. One full of feathers. One full of rocks. Same price as freight on a ship because they take up the same amount of space. Feathers cheaper on air freight than the rocks.

Most UK international removal companies have online estimator tools. I find it kind of hard to guess because how do you know if you'll have 6 small boxes, 5 large boxes, etc until you pack up all your stuff??? The weight limits per box are usually about what a worker can pick up without breaking his back.

Most provide free boxes, bubblewrap, and tape. Most quotes are door to door price... meaning they take care of picking up, getting it on the ship, arranging customs clearance, and a truck to pick up in the US and deliver to your door. Part of the quote would be that land transport from something arriving in New York and having to be transported to the midwest, over just going to Jersey for example. Insurance costs extra and can be a significant chunk of change. You don't have to fill a container or a half container. Most determine charge by how many cubic meters of a container your stuff will take up.

Here's some UK threads. Not all are about going on a ship:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/128548-yes-its-another-shipping-thread/page__p__1852413__hl__shipping__fromsearch__1#entry1852413

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/250309-shipping-air-mailing-of-possessions/page__p__3847749__hl__shipping__fromsearch__1#entry3847749

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/320076-shipping-from-the-uk-to-the-usa/page__p__4787533__hl__shipping__fromsearch__1#entry4787533

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/316778-shipping-goods-to-fiance/page__p__4746769__hl__shipping__fromsearch__1#entry4746769

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/205621-cheap-shipping-from-uk-to-usa/page__p__3084829__hl__shipping__fromsearch__1#entry3084829

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/264688-shipping-advice-needed-particularly-on-parcel-monkey/page__p__4058778__hl__shipping__fromsearch__1#entry4058778

Edited January 21, 2012 by Nich-Nick

[wee carrington 33]

We're moving back to the US in 12 days. We went with All Freight to ship our stuff- 142kg cost us £545.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

The reason these companies want a phone consult isn't to pitch you. They need to find out the specifics of what you have and where it's going. Cost varies widely depending on lots of things. The more "isolated" you are (or going to) plays a lot into it. I've talked to international movers before and never been pitched. In fact I found what they had to say really helpful.

I think it would be a good idea to call.

Edited January 21, 2012 by Rebecca Jo

[GCPony 14]

As silly as this sounds, me and my wife took LOADS of stuff down to a Fedex shipper in Bath.

They boxed up between 50-75kg of stuff and it arrived here in a little over a week. Cost something like £220 (insured for £2000), but we were very happy with the results.

No furniture, obviously, but more books, cd's, "soft toys" and personal belongings than you could shake a stick at!

[Gosia & Tito 199]

This looks ideal for me since I've got quite a few good, ultra cheap shipping options available to me. How are you doing the customs declaration for this to report it as personal effects? Do you just attach a 6059B to the outside as well as the UK green label?

Yes, the forms are universal; whichever form you have in the UK is same her or in Poland; just list what's in the box and ensure it is noted as personal clothes, shoes, etc. Note that when I said not taxed I did not say it would not be opened. The postal office might check things at random. None of these boxes has been inspected but I get a lot of stuff from out of the country and I had stuff inspected before, though coming from South America and from areas that are known as drug sources and maybe that is why.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

As silly as this sounds, me and my wife took LOADS of stuff down to a Fedex shipper in Bath.

They boxed up between 50-75kg of stuff and it arrived here in a little over a week. Cost something like £220 (insured for £2000), but we were very happy with the results.

No furniture, obviously, but more books, cd's, "soft toys" and personal belongings than you could shake a stick at!

For the really fragile or high sentimental value, we bring it over in one of the trips to visit and it comes in the cabin as carry on.