Any experience with UPS freight/cargo?

Now that the visa is approved and the cats are 90% sorted (and going early), it's time to tackle moving my crap. I live in a small flat, and I'm not taking any of my furniture (am disproportionately sad about leaving behind a gorgeous antique end table that I found on the cheap at an estate sale).

It's going to be shoes, books, clothes, a couple high-quality cooking items (not electronics), three large framed items, an antique clock and some personal effects (e.g., a Dalek a friend crocheted for me). The minimums I've been getting from shipping companies are starting at $1500, which seems nuts for a half-dozen large boxes.

Does anyone have any experience using UPS's cargo/freight service? I know I'll have to pack everything myself and take it to a UPS location, rather than having someone pick it up for me, but I'm happy to do that if it saves me $500.

Also, can I ship an 8-inch chef's knife, or will that somehow be considered a weapon against humans (as opposed to vegetables)?

Now that the visa is approved and the cats are 90% sorted (and going early), it's time to tackle moving my crap. I live in a small flat, and I'm not taking any of my furniture (am disproportionately sad about leaving behind a gorgeous antique end table that I found on the cheap at an estate sale).

It's going to be shoes, books, clothes, a couple high-quality cooking items (not electronics), three large framed items, an antique clock and some personal effects (e.g., a Dalek a friend crocheted for me). The minimums I've been getting from shipping companies are starting at $1500, which seems nuts for a half-dozen large boxes.

Does anyone have any experience using UPS's cargo/freight service? I know I'll have to pack everything myself and take it to a UPS location, rather than having someone pick it up for me, but I'm happy to do that if it saves me $500.

Also, can I ship an 8-inch chef's knife, or will that somehow be considered a weapon against humans (as opposed to vegetables)?

Now the real work begins!

I've no experience with UPS cargo/freight, in fact I didn't know there was such a service (!) but I've seen others recommend upackweship for smaller volumes.

http://www.upakweship.com/services-baggage.php

Prices to England start at $654 for up to 30 cubic feet.

We went with a different company though as we're taking a bit more.





 

It's going ... a couple high-quality cooking items (not electronics)...

Ovens in the UK are often smaller than US ones, so if you're planning on bring pans or anything for the oven, have your OH measure to be sure they'll fit. 

I didn't bring much stuff (no furniture at all) and I had the option of leaving thing at my parents'.  I took two suitcases of important things (clothes, important docs, things I use a lot) and left the rest in boxes at my parents.  I plan on bring empty suitcases when I visit the US and bring them back full.    I don't need the heirloomy stuff now, so bringing them back later saves on shipping.    Just an idea if cutting back a bit (with the intent of bringing them later) helps with the cost of moving now. 

Good luck!   

I used upakship - a UBox from them but I had a bit more stuff than you do. 

Don't forget about excess baggage on your airline - you can use boxes as long as they fit within the overall dimensions allowed.  The main thing with them is that you are restricted by weight - probably similar to mailing things.  With my UBox I only had to worry about volume.  The charges for excess baggage start to get high but not really unreasonable for the amount of stuff you can bring in each bag/box imho.  Transportation to and from the airport is another consideration of course.

Now the real work begins!

I've no experience with UPS cargo/freight, in fact I didn't know there was such a service (!) but I've seen others recommend upackweship for smaller volumes.

http://www.upakweship.com/services-baggage.php

Prices to England start at $654 for up to 30 cubic feet.

We went with a different company though as we're taking a bit more.

Thanks for that find! That'd be a huge budget-saver. I might even have pub money left over when I finally arrive.

Ovens in the UK are often smaller than US ones, so if you're planning on bring pans or anything for the oven, have your OH measure to be sure they'll fit. 

I didn't bring much stuff (no furniture at all) and I had the option of leaving thing at my parents'.  I took two suitcases of important things (clothes, important docs, things I use a lot) and left the rest in boxes at my parents.  I plan on bring empty suitcases when I visit the US and bring them back full.    I don't need the heirloomy stuff now, so bringing them back later saves on shipping.    Just an idea if cutting back a bit (with the intent of bringing them later) helps with the cost of moving now. 

Good luck!   

I know, I'm sliiiightly worried about the roasting pan. (I'll make it fit!) The other things are stovetop, so we're good there. Time to get out the tape measure, though, I guess.

And it's a good shout to leave some stuff behind. I'm just kind of like ... I want to get everything there! So we can get it how we want! Right away! Because I flew over last July to move us into the place from across N London, and the Gentleman Husband decided he wanted to wait till I arrived for good to actually make it "ours" (which, I know, we're being grossly saccharine), so I'm impatient.

Not that I've ever been patient. Like my mom always says, "If patience is a virtue, then I don't wanna be virtuous."

I used upakship - a UBox from them but I had a bit more stuff than you do. 

Don't forget about excess baggage on your airline - you can use boxes as long as they fit within the overall dimensions allowed.  The main thing with them is that you are restricted by weight - probably similar to mailing things.  With my UBox I only had to worry about volume.  The charges for excess baggage start to get high but not really unreasonable for the amount of stuff you can bring in each bag/box imho.  Transportation to and from the airport is another consideration of course.

As I got my visa lightning-fast, I'm popping "home" in three weeks for 55 hours for his birthday. For a trip like that, I'll really need only the clothes on my back, so I'm bringing everything I can in my mega-case then. I figure it'll give me a jumpstart — and give me an idea of what I can manage in the case. (Getting to PHL is easy, and LHR to home is HEx + tube with a change.) I don't really fancy dropping $100 on another suitcase, then another hundie-plus on excess baggage ... but these are the sacrifices we must make. Did you have a good experience with Upaknship?

I had a wonderful experience with them.  I only had one confusing email from the European office asking a question for customs that was worded badly but I asked for more info and got it cleared up. 


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I had a wonderful experience with them.  I only had one confusing email from the European office asking a question for customs that was worded badly but I asked for more info and got it cleared up. 

Thank you, Joiya. That's good to hear. More bureaucracy-related nonsense, I can deal with, so long as everything shows up OK, and the rest goes smoothly!

Also, can I ship an 8-inch chef's knife, or will that somehow be considered a weapon against humans (as opposed to vegetables)?

This just made me question whether or not I can ship my pirate sword :x hah    I feel like I saw on a site last time i researched that customs wouldn't let you ship in knives/swords but to be honest, I'm exhausted and mentally done with today due to recent tragedy in my state so I figured maybe I'd just ask here: Can I ship a pirate sword? Has anybody else shipped swords/knives and had trouble? It has a dull edge if that makes a difference?