Shipping Books and Clothes

[telegraph_hill]

Hello!

I am relocating to Singapore in a few weeks, and I have some items which I would like to ship from the US to Singapore.

It looks like I'll be paying $109 per back for excess baggage, which can be up to 70 lbs, and no bigger than "62 linear inches" which is w + l + ht. For example, a duffel bag measuring 32 x 15 x 15 and weighing no more than 70 lbs is $109.

Is there a cheaper way to send books or clothing? Anyone have a good experience with Parcel Post from the US to Singapore?

Also, if I want my family to send me a care package, what is the most cost effective way of shipping a box from the US to Singapore? And is it a huge hassle with customes, etc?

Thanks

-- Telegraph Hill

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hello!

I am relocating to Singapore in a few weeks, and I have some items which I would like to ship from the US to Singapore.

It looks like I'll be paying $109 per back for excess baggage, which can be up to 70 lbs, and no bigger than "62 linear inches" which is w + l + ht. For example, a duffel bag measuring 32 x 15 x 15 and weighing no more than 70 lbs is $109.

Is there a cheaper way to send books or clothing? Anyone have a good experience with Parcel Post from the US to Singapore?

Also, if I want my family to send me a care package, what is the most cost effective way of shipping a box from the US to Singapore? And is it a huge hassle with customes, etc?

Thanks

-- Telegraph Hill

TH,

Frankly, I wouldn't ship book to Singapore as I would assume that your books are Real Books (non paperbacks). The humidity here in the tropics will make quick work of your prized possessions (hard on leather goods as well. You would need to ensure that they stay in a good climate controlled environment. The other thing is the prevalence of silverfish, and other tropical pests that will make quick work of the glues and older papers that line the inside of bookcovers etc. If you value your collection and you are not immigrating to Singapore (permanent move) I would recommend that you find somebody/place to store your prized literature.

Otherwise, you might try to have them vacuum packed and shipped seamail which would be the most cost effective but would take upwards of 2.5 -3 months to arrive.

[Pioneer]

Hi Sunday...

Just as a point of interest, I am planning to send our leather sofa and chairs across, are you sayig that this might not be a good idea?
I don't want to ship them only to find they get ruined in no time at all.

Cheers

[sundaymorningstaple]

I guess it's all relative. Leather furniture is very popular over here as most people have Aircon in their homes. Just a point to note however, look at the cost of shipping. To give you an example you can buy a 3+2+1 leather living room set here starting at around 2800 SGD. That's around 1700 USD. How much is it going to cost you to ship, insure what you have now? If it's a company move and they're paying, fair enough. As long as you use aircon and keep your leather goods moisturized (lanolin cremes) you should be okay. At the end of the day, I guess it boils down to how long you plan on being here, who is paying for the move, how much you've already invested and the cost of shipping. If you don't like Aircon (like me) then it's even more important to keep the leather goods cremed so they stay soft and supple otherwise they will crack fairly rapidly.

Hope that help a little.

sms

[lionbeing]

I just came back from US.
They've changed the checking in baggage to 50lbs max.
Only if you brought the ticket before 1st Sept, then you can still check in 70lbs. I saw many people get caught on this.
I came back with NW. You better check with the airline before you set off.
It'll cheaper to ship to Singapore. However, try to water proof your books.

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

TH,

Parcel Post can be very, very slow. Like 6 months slow. And there is no way to track it. Consider the cheapest available method that allows you to track your shipment. Never send anything irreplaceable. Carry it on.

No offence to SMS -- but I think few westerners here get by on no air conditioning at all.

He is an exception (***bowing in SMS's general direction***)

Bring your leather things, but take care to keep them safe. Run the air/con at regular intervals, expose the items to sunlight, consider a dehumidifier for your storage area, use the Thirsty Hippos (silica gel containers sold in grocery stores) available here.

Welcome aboard