How to move back to US cheaply?

TravelHK8 · 16-08-2008, 12:31 PM

I'm about to move back to the US and am trying to figure out the cheapest but safest way to ship my belongings. I'd rather not use expensive movers - I'm wondering how safe/reliable using regular HK sea shipping is? How much is it to insure each box? Would I need to deal with customs if I just mail boxes via HK post? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers

MovingIn07 · 16-08-2008, 01:10 PM

Somewhat confused by your post!

All movers (expensive or otherwise) do much the same thing - come and pack up your stuff, put it into a container, and then put it on a ship. So you may not SEE the "HK sea shipping" but that's how most stuff is moved.

A small amount of light stuff can occassionally go via air - MUCH more expensive.

Post???? Post is HUGELY more expensive again!

How much do you have? Is it, like, a few boxes or an entire household?

For a small number of boxes etc, the cheapest way is to contact removal companies and see if you can get into a "part shipment" - ie your boxes go into somebody else's container who is not quite full and you get to pay only a fraction of the cost. As per most normal removals, will take a few weeks to arrive - you also may have to wait until somebody else is going "your way". You can deal with your own customs - just be careful to read all the documentation and ensure you have nothing dubious in the shipment - usually this means NO FOOD, NO CD's/DVD's, NO VIDEOS etc. (Former is a quarantine risk, latter they check for porn and piracy!).

I'd start looking in the yellow pages for removal firms and then start asking around, they should point you in the right direction.

KnowItAll · 16-08-2008, 01:28 PM

Might want to look at this thread.

http://www.geoexpat.com/forum/thread15947.html

Seven Seas, that is recommended by PDLM seems to work out real well for a lot of our members.

MovingIn07 · 16-08-2008, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by KnowItAll:

Might want to look at this thread.

http://www.geoexpat.com/forum/thread15947.html

Seven Seas, that is recommended by PDLM seems to work out real well for a lot of our members.

Looks like useful info to know! I did a dummy quote on their site just to see how much it might be but I could not see what currency the quote was in! Hard to tell if it's good value if you don't know if it's USD or AUD or HKD etc etc etc!!!

MovingIn07 · 16-08-2008, 01:43 PM

OK - just did a dummy quote for a few boxes from the UK to Australia ... this is something my husband actually did a couple of years ago with some of our stuff. Cost him about 150 pounds for a share in a container (as per my post above). This site is quoting over 500 pounds. But may work better from HK. I'd get more than one quote!

discobay · 16-08-2008, 02:20 PM

Stay clear of Allied Pickfords - not as good as they may sound.

TravelHK8 · 28-08-2008, 03:53 AM

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for your feedback. After looking at the rates at the post office, it will come to about $800usd to ship my boxes via HK post (surface), which is about the same as Seven Seas (I have about 3 large boxes, 3 med. sized boxes, a suitcase, plus artwork and a mini-table). Someone mentioned using removal companies so that I use only a portion of a container, which may come out to be cheaper?

Does anyone know of a good company? Found this listing - any recommendations?
Relocation and Moving :: Hong Kong GeoExpat

I have to move out of my apt by this Monday (yikes) so any advice is greatly appreciated. I'm gonna miss Hong Kong...geoexpat has been so helpful!! Many thanks!!!

xxx

TravelHK8 · 28-08-2008, 04:24 AM

Hi there,

Do you know which company your company used? 150lbs is quite cheap - could you please ask him and see if he remembers how many boxes (approx. what dimensions) he had to ship?

Thanks!!!!!

Originally Posted by MovingIn07:

OK - just did a dummy quote for a few boxes from the UK to Australia ... this is something my husband actually did a couple of years ago with some of our stuff. Cost him about 150 pounds for a share in a container (as per my post above). This site is quoting over 500 pounds. But may work better from HK. I'd get more than one quote!