Shipping Items - best options?

Shipping Items - best options?

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v15ben

Original Poster:

15,794 posts

241 months

Friday 25th July 2014
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Hi Folks,
Looking to ship some personal items, a few boxes of keepsakes/clothes/photos etc from the US to the UK.
I'm also looking to ship an armchair, about 1 metre high, as it has sentimental value to my wife and I.

I've looked at adding an extra bag when I fly from the US to the UK and also looked at quotes from UPakWeShip, Excess-Baggage.com and HomeShipping.com plus regular postage services.

Just wondering if there is anything I've missed or what other options people have used for posting such items?
I don't think we need a container or even a part-container with relatively few items, just trying to work out what the best options are for international shipping for such items.

Any experiences would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

toohuge

3,434 posts

216 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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There may be a consolidator close to the port in Miami / New York.

It was common when living in the Caribbean to use someone such as this that basically combines your stuff with other shipments on a large container ship. It's usually very reasonable. But can take a while, depending on how far you are shipping and scheduling.

Chris

v15ben

Original Poster:

15,794 posts

241 months

Monday 28th July 2014
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Not something I'd considered, but will look into it.
Have found some shipping deals from various companies too, just got the armchair to worry about now!

redtwin

7,518 posts

182 months

Monday 28th July 2014
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Put the armchair in storage and after 1 year has passed, if you are still missing it, ship it over whatever the cost.

If you find that the only time you think about it is when you have to pay for another year's storage then... well.

I moved here from the US 11 years ago, and many of the things I just couldn't bear to part with are now in the attic or garage and not even thought about until I stumble across them while looking for something else.

Would much rather have the money I spent shipping them over here.

davepoth

29,395 posts

199 months

Monday 28th July 2014
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v15ben said:
Not something I'd considered, but will look into it.
Have found some shipping deals from various companies too, just got the armchair to worry about now!
A single consolidated pallet won't be a lot of money - I've never done it from the US to the UK but I'm sure it will be a lot less than £200. For that you'll get a pallet with base 100 x 120 and a maximum weight of one tonne; whatever you can get on there and shrinkwrap can go.

v15ben

Original Poster:

15,794 posts

241 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Redtwin: I kind of see what you mean with the chair.
It belonged to my wife's grandma so has big sentimental value to her.
I think it is one of those items that has to come with her at all costs.

Dave: Interesting info about the pallet.
I'm a bit clueless as to that option, how would I go about finding companies/options to get and ship a pallet?
Presumably this is by ship + truck?
Time isn't an issue at all, just cost really.

Edited by v15ben on Tuesday 29th July 00:04

davepoth

29,395 posts

199 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
v15ben said:
Dave: Interesting info about the pallet.
I'm a bit clueless as to that option, how would I go about finding companies/options to get and ship a pallet?
Presumably this is by ship + truck?
Time isn't an issue at all, just cost really.

Edited by v15ben on Tuesday 29th July 00:04
Lots of shipping companies will do it, or will know someone who does. On the most basic level you'd load your car with the stuff, take it to their warehouse, put it all on a pallet, and then when you get home you wait for someone to call you at the other end to do the opposite thing.

Which bit of the USA are you in? Plenty of PHers are in this line of work, and I know of a couple of companies that might be able to help.

v15ben

Original Poster:

15,794 posts

241 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Sounds very practical given the chair + other random items that would fit.
Nearest port is Portland, OR.
About 30 miles from there.

sooperscoop

408 posts

163 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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v15ben

Original Poster:

15,794 posts

241 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
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To close up the thread if anyone is interested, I checked through a lot of the places listed on the above link, but in the end we went for UPackWeShip - a more traditional moving company and fingers crossed, our stuff will be on it's ship to England very soon.
Thanks again for everyone's help.