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Moving to the US: Shipping my shit Stateside
Squirminator2k
they/themNorth Hollywood, CARegistered User regular
they/themNorth Hollywood, CARegistered User regular
Up until recently, I equated "3S" ("three-S") with the scoring method we use over at RealVG. However it has now taken on a new meaning - Shipping my Shit Stateside. As some of you might know, at the end of June I'm moving from the glitz and glamour of Luton, England, to Los Angeles, CA. It's been fun filling out forms and having blood stolen from me by American doctors in British medical institutes, but the fun part has begun - sorting out the actual move.
I'm not taking a whole lot with me. It's mostly DVDs, videogames, and books, with a smattering of personal mementos. There's a fair few DVDs and games. I can leave some of the games behind, as I'll probably end up having to re-purchase some of them (the games I own which don't support 60Hz, I guess), but my DVDs are... well, they're coming with me. When you've got almost every Doctor Who DVD available (classic and new) as well as the complete Red Dwarf and the remake of Randall & Kopkirk (Deceased) you kind of want to keep hold of 'em.
I've decided to ship them via surface mail, which takes about 3 months but it's cheaper. I can probably live a few months without most of my games. But I have a few questions and I wonder if anyone can answer them:
KTHNXBAI.
I'm not taking a whole lot with me. It's mostly DVDs, videogames, and books, with a smattering of personal mementos. There's a fair few DVDs and games. I can leave some of the games behind, as I'll probably end up having to re-purchase some of them (the games I own which don't support 60Hz, I guess), but my DVDs are... well, they're coming with me. When you've got almost every Doctor Who DVD available (classic and new) as well as the complete Red Dwarf and the remake of Randall & Kopkirk (Deceased) you kind of want to keep hold of 'em.
I've decided to ship them via surface mail, which takes about 3 months but it's cheaper. I can probably live a few months without most of my games. But I have a few questions and I wonder if anyone can answer them:
- What sort of packaging will I need, and how do I obtain it? The obvious suggestion is lern2cardboardbox, n00b but is it wise to bundle all of my personal possessions into one cardboard box for shipping? And do I get that packaging with the shipping company or do I buy it separately?
- Should I pack my PSP, DS and my various Game Boys? I mean, international airport security as it is, would these items get taken or confiscated? The last time I flew to the US was in late 2005, and I got away with my DS and PSP, but things may have changed since then.
- I'm thinking of using UPS for this, but does anyone have any reason not to use UPS? Is there another company I should be using?
KTHNXBAI.
Jump Leads - a scifi-comedy audiodrama podcast
Squirminator2k on
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I figured as much, but I thought I'd double-check. Airport security can be really anal.
I think it's cheaper sending by surface mail. It means I spend three months without my stuff, but it's also dirt-cheap.
Do UPS, or whoever, offer any sort of insurance?
Y'see, I hadn't thought of that. But this is because I have generally avoided disc binders ever since a clerk at GameStation told me that they can cause scratches on discs.
Also, be aware that UPS is going to be ass-expensive.
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UPS is notoriously bad for losing stuff going to the states. Go with DHL, Federal Express, or plain old mail.
If you can get someone in the USA to send you good cardboard mailing boxes, do so. Mailing boxes sold outside the USA are not nearly as good. When American lawyers conduct business in Europe they actually take packing boxes with them to send papers back because European cardboard boxes are total shit. And you’ll save a ton if you just throw away all of the DVD packages, put all the discs into a cheap carrying case and pack that into a small box. Disc binders won’t do any more damage to your discs than coming loose in the case and rattling around will.
Not attempting to hijack, but I've got a question of a similiar vein that might fit in here well.
I'm going to be moving from Toronto ON to Yellowknife NWT in a few weeks. My plan is to fly out with just a months worth of clothes and whatnot, since my first month's accomodation is supplied. I use that month to find a place, then I'll ship any items I want up.
There will be 3 or 4 boxes of items I know I'll want up there after that first month or so - what is the best way to have them shipped up? I was just thinking of using a company like UPS or Purolator, but I know it'll be expensive, and I'm willing to wait if there are slower and cheaper options. I've shipping things via Greyhond before, but Yellowknife seems out of their territory, and I don't really trust them anyway. Anyone have any suggestions?
Especially overseas. The odds are against you in terms of destroying it.
You get 100 dollars of insurance for free, but unless you pack everything to code (the code is over 100 pages long btw), and the delivery guy who breaks it doesn't take the liberty of opening up the box and looking to see what happened (thus destroying or altering the packaging you put in place), the claims adjuster won't honor it.
You see, they break it, take everything out to "examine" it to make sure it's broken, then they send it back to you, THEN they send a guy out to inspect the box to see if it's payable.
You would be much better off finding a private carrier with a more concrete insurance policy, because UPS will fight you to the death on any box valued over a thousand US dollars.
we also talk about other random shit and clown upon each other
True (I'm not sure about the 100 pages, but there are a shitload of things you need to worry about). Alternatively, you can go down to a UPS Store or similar with all your stuff, have them pack it (pay probably double for the privilege) and get "declared value" for however much your stuff is worth. Having them pack it at least means that if it's broken they can't blame inadequate packaging (again, they may charge you for fragile pack if you have anything remotely fragile).
A very good idea. If someone else is packaging it, get them to sign that they packaged all these items.
In my personal experience, UPS packages have been (a) late more often and (b) more likely to be at least externally damaged. but they will get to their destination more often and the stuff inside is more likely to be relatively intact if (this is a big if) it is well packaged.
Final note, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Receipts, invoices, customs forms, etc. Make copies and get them signed/notarized/whatever you have to. Tracking numbers are especially important.
You would think that but reality can be very different. You can ship 32 kg of 'excess' baggage from London to LA for 90 pounds on Virgin Atlantic. The lowest I could quickly find on UPS was 160. I seriously think you should put a little effort into examining this. A very anal friend of mine did this to move his stuff out to Hawaii from NY and he looked at all the options and having excess baggage was by far the cheapest/fastest.
Ah. I'm a bit anal about cases, which is another reason why I generally don't use disc wallets. The cases are coming with me, and damned the expense.
My Dad has a multi-regional DVD player, so that's a non-issue. I imagine I can pick one up while I'm out there once I move into my own place.
I'm going to ring Virgin Atlantic tomorrow and find out. I'll get a quote from DHL as well, and compare/contrast/conjugate.
A box over the size of 18x18x17 (width, length, height) will be charged extra. The equation goes something like this:
- The biggest side of the box
- Add the last two numbers together and multiply by two.
- Add them all up. If the number is 87 or over, you'll get charged extra.
So if the measurements were 18x18x18, you would add the last two 18's together to get 36. You'd then multiply 36 by 2 to get 72. Then you would add the first 18 and end up with the number "90".
When measuring, always round up to the nearest inch.
As well, only ship things in cardboard boxes if at all possible. You'll get hit with an additional handling fee if you use anything else, like a plastic container. Also, a box over 60 inches long will get hit with an additional handling fee, and a box that is, for example 30x30x1 will get hit with an additional handling charge. A box that has two measurements of 30 or above will get hit with this charge, so if at all possible, try and steer clear.
Hope this info helps a bit.
Electronic composer for hire.
it depends on where its coming from, i deal mostly with commericial shipments from asia, so i asked my friend at work about shipments from london. he told me the port of entry would be newark, which is good news for you because they are far more easy going. if you keep your packages under $200 declared valued a piece they will most likely go through customs as a Section 321 clearence which pretty much means customs officials will let it through without any extra questions.
You can fit your whole life into two large suitcases and a carry-on backpack. Anything that you can't fit in there, don't take. You would be surprised how easy it is if you're clever about it. Only take clothes you will actually wear reguarly. If you aren't sure, don't bring it. Clothing in the US compared to the UK is criminally cheap.
Sell any console games that aren't for portables, for the most part you can't use them anyway.
Put the discs in a disc wallet, so you know they are safe. If you have to have the cases, have them sent later. They are too bulky to take with you.
Bring electronics in your carry-on luggage. They are safer there, and officials have seen them all a million times before, you won't get stopped.
Don't bring books with you; they are too heavy. If you must must must have them, only put them in after you have "finished" your cases and have room to go up to the top-end of the baggage allowance. Otherwise, have them sent to you later.
Have the majority of your stuff left with someone in the UK who you can contact later to ship things you have decided you need or just plain forgot.