Anticipating the move

[suenpaul 4]

Hi follks. While we are patiently awaiting the NOA2, I was wondering if anyone had some advice regarding shipping belongings to the US from England. My fiance has been sending boxes over from time to time but I was wondering if it would be cheaper and safer to have an international mover help. We don't want to spend a fortune, but there are some belongings he would like to have here and not be smashed by the postal service. He won't be sending large items (furniture) but more like personal momentos.

Thanks for your help!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi follks. While we are patiently awaiting the NOA2, I was wondering if anyone had some advice regarding shipping belongings to the US from England. My fiance has been sending boxes over from time to time but I was wondering if it would be cheaper and safer to have an international mover help. We don't want to spend a fortune, but there are some belongings he would like to have here and not be smashed by the postal service. He won't be sending large items (furniture) but more like personal momentos.

Thanks for your help!

If it's really important, then it should go in carry-on luggage. Second choice is an extra suitcase and pay for the overage. Anything going from place to place can get smashed enroute. Even those containers international movers use can fall off Into the sea if they are stacked high and the sea is rough. Have a look at this photo http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/containers-falling-rena

[suenpaul 4]

Good point....scarey picture!!! And to pay for the extra bag is probably cheaper by far. Although the airlines are probably just as rough as the cargo ships! lol

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

We did the extra bag thing.

Mostly it went well. It was amazing what DID get broken. There was a Cries of London print we took from the wall in my husband's house. I wanted it mostly for its kitschy antique presence. It's about 9 x 12, not large. I buried it deep in the center of a suitcase full of clothing. When we opened the case, we were quite surprised to find the glass was completely shattered. We still have the print in the original frame - it just "glass-less" now.

Fortunately, his father's nursing certification from the Royal Medico Society, framed under glass in 1947, survived.

We brought china and figurines in hand luggage. It went fine but was nerve wracking. My husband hand carried his dismantled computer. It was "gone through" by security at every security point.

We mailed over only one box - DVD's and CD's. It must have been dropped on a corner because all the plastic jewel cases on one end were shattered.

Edited May 11, 2013 by Rebecca Jo

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Yep, it could get lost, stolen or smashed even by the airlines. The only real irreplaceable item my husband shipped was a family wall clock presented to his great grandfather in the 1800's. We paid the shipper an extra 100 pounds to custom build a foam-lined crate for it. But it still could have fallen off the ship.

This is the company we chose because we liked what they said about their wrapping and strapping of boxes (and custom crate). Our shipment looked about like the one in the photo, but maybe a foot shorter. It was still sealed, so we knew nobody had pilfered through the boxes enroute. We picked ours up at the port, so actually saw it before cutting open to load in the pick-up truck.

http://www.shipit.co.uk/Packing_Overseas_Removals.htm

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Yep, it could get lost, stolen or smashed even by the airlines. The only real irreplaceable item my husband shipped was a family wall clock presented to his great grandfather in the 1800's. We paid the shipper an extra 100 pounds to custom build a foam-lined crate for it. But it still could have fallen off the ship.

This is the company we chose because we liked what they said about their wrapping and strapping of boxes (and custom crate). Our shipment looked about like the one in the photo, but maybe a foot shorter. It was still sealed, so we knew nobody had pilfered through the boxes enroute. We picked ours up at the port, so actually saw it before cutting open to load in the pick-up truck.

http://www.shipit.co.uk/Packing_Overseas_Removals.htm

Interesting. I see they ship US to UK.

I admit to not heavily researching this all yet. Even after eight years of reading how you should sell most of your household off and start fresh (and truly believing in that concept), I still have trouble imagining getting rid of most everything we own.

[suenpaul 4]

To me, this is the most nerve wracking part of the whole process. He is coming with his 12 year old son and I want him to have as much with him from England as he cares to bring. The down part is that most of what he values is glassware that he has collected over the years. (He's from Sunderland). I suppose that will be packed in a carry on but knowing how stressful the trip in itself will be for them, I'd like to make that part as easy as possible.

We have time,but I'd like to be prepared....