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Shipping off to Boston

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  • 29-07-2015 10:25pm
    #1
    careernanny
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭


    hi - I am moving to Boston next month and have a fair bit of stuff to ship over - I have US passport so no issues there. Can anyone recommend a reasonable shipping company who hopefully will ship door to door - a couple I have called have said I would have to use a separate moving firm over there. I know I that customs etc can be tricky and really need someone who know what they are doing - I don't think I would fill a 20 foot container maybe 1/2 - also is there anything I definitely cant bring - was thinking of hitting Musgraves for teabags choc etc - thanks for any help


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    #2
    InTheTrees
    Registered Users Posts: 9,900 ✭✭✭InTheTrees


    Best of luck with the move. There's many many forms that specialise in doing transatlantic moves so they should know the routine. I would have though one company should have been able to take care of it all, but maybe you need to be present when Customs inspects or does the paperwork?

    Also remember apartments to rent in the US are usually unfurnished.


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    #3
    él statutorio
    Registered Users Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭él statutorio


    When I moved we filled about 1/2 a container (maybe a little less). I think it cost about €1,500-ish. In hindsight, I wouldn't do it again. Everything I brought was either not really needed or could've been stuck in an extra suitcase. If I had my time over again I'd just pack a few extra suit cases and pay the extra baggage fees. (BTW I moved with my wife & daughter).

    The only food stuff I brought was a few big boxes of tea. I was warned by the movers not to bring any foods as it can hold up the customs process. Everything is available on Amazon (I just drink a lot of tea!).

    The moving company took care of all the paperwork etc but they took ages to get our stuff here. They rushed us in June to pack up as they said they had space in a container waiting to go asap. My wife moved over in August, me in early September. The container only left Dublin port in the last week in August and didn't get to us til late October. Just be aware that moving companies will be hungry for your money and once they have your stuff you're at their mercy in terms of deadlines. We were told 8-12 weeks which was fair enough but our stuff took almost 5 months.


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    #4
    iusedtoknow
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,698 ✭✭✭iusedtoknow


    él statutorio wrote: »
    We were told 8-12 weeks which was fair enough but our stuff took almost 5 months.

    Our stuff took 12 weeks from Spain. It was actually kind of cool tracking the shipment. Road from Madrid -> Valencia then cargo ship to San Francisco via India/Singapore and Beijing.


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    #5
    él statutorio
    Registered Users Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭él statutorio


    iusedtoknow wrote: »
    Our stuff took 12 weeks from Spain. It was actually kind of cool tracking the shipment. Road from Madrid -> Valencia then cargo ship to San Francisco via India/Singapore and Beijing.

    I tracked mine for the first few weeks, it was in Dublin Port for all of June, July and most of August. :(


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    #6
    careernanny
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭careernanny


    Thanks for the replies! I used to live in Boston so I know about unfurnished apartments etc and I do plan to start afresh where possible - my problem is I wont have anyone here to leave the really sentimental stuff with and feel I want to keep them with me - I am an artist and have a lot of specialist tools and equipment that I cant replace - I was hoping to get the names of a couple of shippers I can trust! I am getting quotes of 3000 plus which I think is excessive! I would also like a door to door service so I don't have to deal with someone different over in Boston, I know the whole customs etc is complicated so I want someone who is familiar with the process - Yes I think I will stick with the tea bags food wise - I don't really need the other stuff!


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    #7
    él statutorio
    Registered Users Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭él statutorio


    At €3000 you might be better off renting a small storage unit at home and leaving stuff there for a few years.


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    #8
    iusedtoknow
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,698 ✭✭✭iusedtoknow


    careernanny wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies! I used to live in Boston so I know about unfurnished apartments etc and I do plan to start afresh where possible - my problem is I wont have anyone here to leave the really sentimental stuff with and feel I want to keep them with me - I am an artist and have a lot of specialist tools and equipment that I cant replace - I was hoping to get the names of a couple of shippers I can trust! I am getting quotes of 3000 plus which I think is excessive! I would also like a door to door service so I don't have to deal with someone different over in Boston, I know the whole customs etc is complicated so I want someone who is familiar with the process - Yes I think I will stick with the tea bags food wise - I don't really need the other stuff!

    That isn't going to happen. Shipping is done through partnerships with other companies rather than a unified service. Paddy Murphy picking your stuff up is going to be the same Paddy Murphy dropping it off.
    Moving companies buy container space with other companies going to the same port, which is then passed onto a shipping company, which is then passed onto a local moving company to bring to you

    TBH...3000 sounds about right for what is actually being provided.


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    #9
    Munstermissy
    Registered Users Posts: 251 ✭✭Munstermissy


    Try IPS groupage, I'm not too sure if they do personal effects.


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    #10
    DM addict
    Registered Users Posts: 567 ✭✭✭DM addict


    Our shipping was paid for as part of a relocation package, but we dealt wirh Graebel and they were decent, everything arrived within time frames, unbroken, etc. We didn't have to be present for customs clearance.

    It was a different company who packed our stuff up in Dublin, will check the paperwork when I get home and update.


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    #11
    careernanny
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭careernanny


    Well I ended up sending emails to several different shipping companies and in the end went with Careline They offered a door to door service with them coordinating with the movers in Boston so I don't have to arrange that when I get there. They were here yesterday and while I filled the boxes myself they sealed the boxes and listed the contents of them. They were very professional and spent a lot of time wrapping my belongings and I am confident they will arrive intact. I am very happy with their service so far, the cost was 3600 euros as I went over the original volume - very hard to predict that! Hopefully everything will arrive in 8-10 weeks! Thanks for all the advice!


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    #12
    nathan184
    Registered Users Posts: 158 ✭✭nathan184


    Hi careernanny I'm in a similar situation but about a month behind you and I was wondering roughly what volume of stuff you shipped for that price? (in cubic metres or cubic feet)

    Also how much would it have been if you stayed under your original volume (and how much volume was that)?

    Appreciate any help


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