Shipping Suggestions??

Hi All,

We're hoping to move from NYC to London (Visa Permitting...) in July. Of course, we haven't even started packing, but I wanted to see if anyone has any shipping suggestions of companies they've used and were happy with or any shippers to steer clear of.

We shipping a three bed flat (no furniture, but lots of clothes, books and music) and ideas of what other peoples shipping expenses came to would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

I used the US Postal Service to mail my items Surface Economy Parcel Post. The first group arrived within 4 weeks, I'm still waiting on the next round to arrive. I paid for the delivery that takes 4-6 weeks, although they warned it can take upwards of 10. One of the boxes looked in rather bad shape when it arrived, the other one was just fine.  No damage to any clothes but one picture frame was slightly chipped.

It cost around $500 to ship over 8 boxes, most around 2x2x1 or 2x2x2.  I was able to ship all my winter coats/clothes, approximately 100 cds, some kitchen/cooking items and my camping gear.  I also sent 2 M bags full of books - they have yet to arrive.

I hope this helps.

We shipped a little over 100 cubic feet... 34 boxes total.  The cost is about $850.  The rate will vary slightly depending on where you are.  The company we used ships globally and both ways you can see the post and contact info for UPAKWESHIP here:

http://www.talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=4702.new;boardseen

I used the USPS, too.  I shipped clothes, linens, decorative items, etc.  The total was about $600 for 10 boxes...9 of which were sent air-mail.  The boxes measured approximately 2 x 2 and two of them were about 3 x 4.

I also sent 2 M bags full of books - they have yet to arrive.

I just learned about M bags - how expensive were they to ship?

I can't remember exactly but it wasn't more that $13-15 each and they were fairly heavy with books, mainly paperbacks though.  The lady at the counter had never seen an M bag, but they called a man from the back to help them out as there was something unusual you have to do with the tags so it goes through customs ok [at least I think that's what he was saying].  You don't get a duplicate copy of the forms like you do when you ship boxes, so I can't recall the exact price.

On a side note, I just received my box of CD's today and it looks in great shape. I shipped it on May 6th, so that's a little over 5 weeks to arrive.

I sent an m-bag to my new school two weeks ago.  I used a zerox box to put the books in...and then taped it all up with packing tape.  The books were all hardcover & the cost was about $35.  Much cheaper than I expected.  It's worth it as I need the books to teach my Intro to Psychology course.

the only things I'm still waiting on now are my M bags - so most of my boxes arrived in 4 weeks or less.

I was told you can't put a box in an M bag, so I had to wrap my books individually - they said it had to due with customs regulations.  Maybe they were wrong as they admitted M bags are rare at my old post office.

Sorry to be ignorant, but what exactly is an M bag??? I've been over here for just under a year and now that I've decided I'm staying, I'm trying to figure out how to get the rest of my stuff over. All that's really left though (at mum's) is furniture, books, dishes, and the rest of the heavy stuff that I haven't managed to get into a suitcase on visits. 

Sorry to be ignorant, but what exactly is an M bag??? I've been over here for just under a year and now that I've decided I'm staying, I'm trying to figure out how to get the rest of my stuff over. All that's really left though (at mum's) is furniture, books, dishes, and the rest of the heavy stuff that I haven't managed to get into a suitcase on visits. 

You are not at all ignorant...at least I certainly wont say you are since I had no clue about an M bag either until I read about one on this site. The people at my small town post office aren't overly familiar with it but they did help me out. It is a canvas type bag that can be used for "printed materials" to be shipped overseas. You can put between 6-11 pounds if I remember correctly. The rate is very good..less than $1 a pound.
Just have someone ask at the local post office and they will give one that can be taken home and filled up.
Hope that helps
Helena

The weight limit on an M bag to the UK is 66lbs.  It costs $9.90 for less than 11lbs and 90cents for each pound above 11.  The downside to an M bag is there's no where to return it in the UK.  Royal Mail won't take it and you won't have anyway to give it back to USPS.   

I wonder would the USPS let you take in your own M bag?  I've sent three so far (fairly recently so none have arrived yet) and probably will send 1 or 2 more.  I could have hubby to be bring back the empty sacks when he visits me in April.  hmmm... I'll have to ask my post office.

our move is a little heavier. We are shipping in weight about 2000 lbs. We went through world moving services. Our rep is Jay Raffa. We got extremely good rates. pickup in Springfield, MO ( completely landlocked) to Cardiff, wales, all for $ 2375.00  This includes everything, they put it on a truck, wrap the furniture, fuel, import, tax fees whatever theyre called and unloading into our new flat. This is everything. All we have to do it box it all up! We have received many many quotes from $7100.00 to this, so it definitely is the best deal., Its all in writing, no hidden fees or tricks! Our rep is so helpful highly reccommend him.

Jonieverson, could you post when your stuff arrives and give an update - if anything was damaged, how it went with customs, etc.? Also, do you have a link to the company? I'm curious if they work from California as I still have some furniture I'd like to ship over, but have had a rough time finding a good price and reputable company. I googled World Moving Services but what came up appeared to be a US nationwide company - not international....

our move is a little heavier. We are shipping in weight about 2000 lbs. We went through world moving services. Our rep is Jay Raffa. We got extremely good rates. pickup in Springfield, MO ( completely landlocked) to Cardiff, wales, all for $ 2375.00  This includes everything, they put it on a truck, wrap the furniture, fuel, import, tax fees whatever theyre called and unloading into our new flat. This is everything. All we have to do it box it all up! We have received many many quotes from $7100.00 to this, so it definitely is the best deal., Its all in writing, no hidden fees or tricks! Our rep is so helpful highly reccommend him.

My move was even more expensive (nearly $7000), but I did fill a 40-foot container! It was hysterical seeing it parked outside my house in my little residential neighbourhood back in RI! I'm really envious of all of you who can just post your belongings to the UK! 

But even though my move did cost a lot, that was my choice. I knew I had a lot of stuff, and I didn't want to part with any of it (including about 800 books) -- so it was worth it to me. They did everything for me, as jonieverson's firm did above. But mine also did all the boxing and packing up for me. I didn't have to do a damn thing, which was just the way I liked it!

If that's the kind of move you're looking for, I loved my movers and would highly recommend them. They were Rainier Overseas Movers, Inc. (based in Washington state) -- www.rainieros.com. They have local movers all over the US they work with, and then they hook you up with movers in the UK. They really did absolutely everything for me from start to finish. All I had to do was itemize every single one of my belongings, which took some time! But after the initial paperwork was done, all I did was sit back and wait for my stuff to arrive.