Shipping UK to USA

[JunkTardis 183]

10 hours ago, NicolaBolton87 said:

I know this has been asked a few times and I've searched the forums extensively but have only found a few posts here and there.

 

Can anyone recommend a company to ship belongings to Pennsylvania?

 

I'm still in the process of going through my things but I think I'll have about 5/6 boxes. All the online quotes I've had back are between £700-£1000!!!!! At this point I'm thinking of just leaving everything.

 

For information - it will be things like clothes, shoes, personal documents, couple of electrical things like hair straighteners/hairdryer and toiletries such as shampoos/conditioners/shower gel etc (Lush is very expensive so I want to send it over rather than buy it all again!)

 

Any advice/experience is appreciated. I move on the 25th August.

https://www.parcel2go.com/

I have used this website to get reduced priced UPS shipping on all of my belongings ahead of my move. I average about £40 per large box at around 10-13kg per box. It's far cheaper and quicker than ParcelForce and generally my fiancee has my package in 3 working days with UPS Super Saver, which is great because they even pick up from my house. The most I paid was £70 to ship my 40" HD TV. I only sent that over because she did not own a TV in her apartment, and I bought her a Roku Stick to use with it. I used this service to ship my vintage turntable, soundsystem, computers, various electrical items, glasses, mugs and a lot of random ####### I own and nothing has broken at all during some 12 odd packages. 

[LeesaMarie 206]

5 hours ago, JunkTardis said:

https://www.parcel2go.com/

I have used this website to get reduced priced UPS shipping on all of my belongings ahead of my move. I average about £40 per large box at around 10-13kg per box. It's far cheaper and quicker than ParcelForce and generally my fiancee has my package in 3 working days with UPS Super Saver, which is great because they even pick up from my house. The most I paid was £70 to ship my 40" HD TV. I only sent that over because she did not own a TV in her apartment, and I bought her a Roku Stick to use with it. I used this service to ship my vintage turntable, soundsystem, computers, various electrical items, glasses, mugs and a lot of random ####### I own and nothing has broken at all during some 12 odd packages. 

thank you for this

[JunkTardis 183]

1 hour ago, LeesaMarie said:

thank you for this

You're welcome! The only things you'll really need is a tape measure, and some form of scales. I actually just used my cheap Aldi digital travel scales which gave me no issue. I prepped early on this one as I saw the cost of cargo services and was mortified 😂

[LeesaMarie 206]

6 minutes ago, JunkTardis said:

You're welcome! The only things you'll really need is a tape measure, and some form of scales. I actually just used my cheap Aldi digital travel scales which gave me no issue. I prepped early on this one as I saw the cost of cargo services and was mortified 😂

Yeah it was a bit daunting when I was first looking at it, then you have the added worry of if the company is trust worthy. I don't have a lot of possessions I'd like to relocate with. The only thing I'm fighting with right now is my PC. My brother has suggested taking it apart and shipping it (we built it together), but I just don't know if I want to try and ship the whole thing together or not. I guess we will see!  

[JunkTardis 183]

1 minute ago, LeesaMarie said:

Yeah it was a bit daunting when I was first looking at it, then you have the added worry of if the company is trust worthy. I don't have a lot of possessions I'd like to relocate with. The only thing I'm fighting with right now is my PC. My brother has suggested taking it apart and shipping it (we built it together), but I just don't know if I want to try and ship the whole thing together or not. I guess we will see!  

Your PC would be okay to ship with UPS! I build PC's too, and have shipped over quite a lot of PC related hardware. The only thing I'd advise, is if you have Hard Drives (not SSD's), ship those seperately with more padding in the package or do what I did, pack those in a smaller box filled with bubblewrap and pack the box inside the large box you're shipping so it has some protection. Most importantly, remember to change the voltage on the switch on the power supply! If it has no switch, you'll need to replace that part.

[LeesaMarie 206]

5 minutes ago, JunkTardis said:

Your PC would be okay to ship with UPS! I build PC's too, and have shipped over quite a lot of PC related hardware. The only thing I'd advise, is if you have Hard Drives (not SSD's), ship those seperately with more padding in the package or do what I did, pack those in a smaller box filled with bubblewrap and pack the box inside the large box you're shipping so it has some protection. Most importantly, remember to change the voltage on the switch on the power supply! If it has no switch, you'll need to replace that part.

Life saver, thank you! I don't think it does have the voltage switch but I'll check when I get home and talk it over with my brother about the hard drives. Thanks again!

[JunkTardis 183]

5 minutes ago, LeesaMarie said:

Life saver, thank you! I don't think it does have the voltage switch but I'll check when I get home and talk it over with my brother about the hard drives. Thanks again!

Anytime! Replacing a power supply is cheap and easy, having it conk out after you move would be a nightmare if it damages anything else. Good luck! 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, LeesaMarie said:

Yeah it was a bit daunting when I was first looking at it, then you have the added worry of if the company is trust worthy. I don't have a lot of possessions I'd like to relocate with. The only thing I'm fighting with right now is my PC. My brother has suggested taking it apart and shipping it (we built it together), but I just don't know if I want to try and ship the whole thing together or not. I guess we will see!  

I took my PC apart and packed everything in my luggage or rucksack carry-on. Left the case. I bought a new case with power supply included straight after leaving the airport and was back in business before bedtime. 

[yuna628 9,700]

3 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

I took my PC apart and packed everything in my luggage or rucksack carry-on. Left the case. I bought a new case with power supply included straight after leaving the airport and was back in business before bedtime. 

Yep some people are surprised how simple it is to transport something as large as a PC once it is taken apart.

 

From a personal standpoint I cannot recommend Parcel2go, my inlaws have used them and they have repeatedly lost packages, stolen packages via the couriers, and have done other shady practices. If sending any food type item like chocolate or other specific valuables, they will refuse outright to ship them (even though there is no customs ban against sending these items). There is no guarantee against items becoming lost or broken and good luck getting $'s/£'s back if it happens.

[JoannaV 174]

I used Excess Baggage back in 2010, for 14 boxes. Quote process was easy.

My hairdryer still works great! (It has a frequency switch. But, it's hardly ever used. I had another device which stopped working after a little while. Meanwhile, um, don't try to use a British electric kettle. 😂)

[MLR14 37]

Like others, I'm just going with one extra checked bag then I'll have my and friends bring some more bits and bobs when they visit me. I'm not that materialistic and have travelled a lot recently so don't have as much stuff as some people. I'll be bringing anything sentimental in my hand luggage.

 

I agree with not bothering with small electrical items that you'll be able to pick up cheaply once you arrive.