Buying / shipping furniture from US

[Liquorice]

Not sure if anyone can help. I have found some furniture that I really want to buy from a store in the US. I have written to them to enquire whether they ship internationally but unfortunately they don't.

I am thinking that perhaps I could organize for a shipping company to pick it up, then the store would only have to wrap it / prepare it for shipping the same as they would domestically, so I could still buy it.

Has anyone done this or know of any companies that will pick up from a store to ship. I only really know air freight companies which would obviously be too expensive.

[sunwood]

Are you sure you can't find anything similar in Hong Kong? Probably half the price and just as good quality?

[penguinsix]

A&M, the American grocery store, will allow its members to 'co-ship' within their container they send over each month. You can have it delivered to their shipper in the US and they'll notify you when it arrives.

But many of the furniture places here are like 'show me a picture--we'll make it for you' if you'd rather that option.

[Liquorice]

Sunwood, don't think I can find similar. Not that I've found anyway.

Penguinsix, how is the quality though with the 'show me a picture approach'? We did quite a lot of that when we lived in China, but the quality really hasn't lasted the years. The chair is a highly finished leather armchair. Cost in US$ around $2.5k. I've seen leather chairs in places like Tequila Kola which don't look as nice as the one I want yet cost more. Can't help but think that a tailor made chair would cost a fortune...or am I wrong?

The A&M thing...you have to be a member...how do you go about doing that?

Thanks!

[Natfixit]

I would be also interested to know if there is as shipping company that can ship large and heavy furniture from the US. My husband and I have looked and looked for furniture, namely buffets and dining settings that will last the distance but from what we have seen and heard, has left us dubious about the quality. We bought a few items from US companies Crate n Barrel, and Pottery Barn while we were living in Dubai , but these only ship within the US. It's a pity because we really like the quality and style.

[hello_there]

The A&M thing...you have to be a member...how do you go about doing that?

Go into either of the A&M shops and fill out a one page form - costs 5 or 7 hundred dollars and is valid for a year.

We had family in the US help us ship Pottery Barn furnature out a couple years ago when we moved to a bigger house as couldn't find anything locally that suited our tastes. Were and are happy with our decision, despite the extra expense. We got the quality we expected and exactly what we wanted.

I've had a sofa made here before and it turned out okay, but not as nice as the one we shipped over. Friends have had varied results with made to order furnature from shops in HK, including from the same store.

[climber07]

Thanks for the heads up on the A&M shipping, that is good to know! We've purchased several Baby Furniture items in the US (and had our friend who happned to be moving back to HK from US) ship it along with his sea crate. I think people have no idea how much cheaper centrain items (like Baby Furnuture) can be in the US....we're talking thousandS $$$HKD cheaper for same / similar products....had office furniture made to specificiation in Macau & HK...which only turned out ok and was not that cheap. Either we have not had great luck with these places or they're just greatly overhyped.

[penguinsix]

I passed on the "show me a picture" option because I didn't quite trust the quality. But it's probably better than Ikea if you are looking for something just to get by.

A&M does cost for a membership, but you get a discount on purchases so it works itself out.

[Liquorice]

I found this service which looks like it could be really useful - MyUS.com - MyUS.com - Top Rated Package and Mail Forwarding

It gives you a US address to ship to (when buying from places that don't offer international shipping) and then forwards your package on to you.

Air freight only so furniture is expensive to ship - based on weight and dimensions the chair I want will cost US$500 but the total cost (chair + shipping) is still good value given the cost of similar items of furniture in HK.

I imagine it could be really useful for smaller/ lighter things too (as shipping is based on weight obviously) because often things really are way cheaper in the States.