Michael E asked:
I have a bunch of sporting equipment to take with me – What’s the cheapest way to get two 50lb (28×19x19) boxes over there? I have an address to send them to, but FedEx want $500 to ship them as “personal effects”.
Is there a cheaper option?
u s postal service
put them in 2 large suticases and check them in as luggage and PAY someone else to take them from the airport to your destination.
It’s really about the only option you have other than Fedx or UPS
You can use professional relocation companies such as Movements International (www.movementsinternational.com). I used them to move from Australia to London and it took about 2 months for the stuff to get here as it goes by boat – probably quick from the US. Not sure how much it cost though as my company paid.
You could also try ‘excess baggage’ companies (but I don’t know the names of any in the US) or general postage. I’ve heard that just posting them is cheaper than excess baggage.
If you’re only coming for 6 months, I would seriously think about not bringing much with you. Virtually all rentals in the UK are fully furnished eg from beds and lounges down to cutlery and plates. Some will even include basic linen like pillows and doonas. Whatever you don’t have, you can pick up quite easily and cheapily once you get here (eg from ‘pound stores’ which are on most High Streetsor from places like Ikea and Argos). I shipped tonnes of stuff over (from golf clubs to knives) and really regret it because most apartments are so tiny that you don’t have anywhere to store everything and then you have to go through the hassle of getting it all back home again.
I was stuck in the same boat as you. I ended up buying two very large suitcases and filling them with the essentials. I then bought my everyday items in the UK (be sure to find a Primark, they have everything. Oh, don’t bring anything you have to plug in. It’s cheaper to buy it in the UK, rather than buy a voltage converter). If you have more than two suitcases worth of stuff, pay the additional suitcase fee. It’s much cheaper than sending it USPS or FedEx.
Call your airline. You can bring extra boxes (I think those sizes are within the limits) and pay to have them checked along with your bags. When we moved to England, we had 7 huge boxes of stuff extra. It cost us $100 each.. much much much cheaper than sending them.