Relocating to Europe - Shipping Personal Stuff

rwt on 13/07/2022 - 00:48

I will be relocating overseas and looking for some advice about shipping personal stuff
There are huge numbers of companies from the google search that are doing shipments from Australia to Europe but quotes for the same qty and service are completely different - anywhere from $500 to $5k for Sea Freight and $2k - 15k for sending by air
most of these companies look like even not in Australia not sure if I can trust them at all

as far as I remember 10 years ago sending by air approx the same weight and volume from Europe to Australia cost me about $1.2-1.5k

any advice on how to find a shipping company or reputable company would be helpful

Travel Europe

Comments

  • Benoffie on 13/07/2022 - 01:57
    +11

    Do you need to take the stuff? Freight is uber expensive atm. Unless they're family heirlooms and you're not coming back, I'd either sell and rebuy or put it into storage.

    • rwt on 13/07/2022 - 12:55

      basically, it's all about personal stuff - we need to send somehow extra 3-4 large suitcases
      Qatar airways charging additional baggage 25kg $1845.00

      • Benoffie on 13/07/2022 - 12:58

        Yeah that's a BS price. I recently sent my sister packing to the UK with all sorts of crap. She was on Malaysian and no way did it come to that price. If it did, we'd never have seen the back of her!

        /notbitter

        Edit -

        You need to work out the weight of the suitcases and then check the excess baggage rates:

        https://askmh.malaysiaairlines.com/faq/s/article/What-is-the…

        If you're already booked with Qatar, it'll be limiting. But looking at the above, let's assume you have:

        4 suitcases at 32kgs (max able to be handled by ground crew)

        32 x 4 = 128kg

        Flying Australia to UK (I'm assuming) - Zone 4-5

        128 x 52 = $6656 USD

        Maybe Qatar isn't so bad?

        • rwt on 13/07/2022 - 13:24

          I haven't booked a flight yet but it looks funny - a ticket for a passenger + 35kg baggage cost $1700. extra 25kg suitcase is $1850 - it's cheaper to buy an extra ticket for a suitcase

          • Benoffie on 13/07/2022 - 14:16

            @rwt: I'd give them a call. In fact, I'd give a few of them a call, including Qantas Freight. Someone must be reasonable somewhere.

  • kerfuffle on 13/07/2022 - 05:44
    +5

    10 years ago sending by air approx the same weight and volume from Europe to Australia cost me about $1.2-1.5k

    And ten years ago petrol wasn't $2 a litre for the cheapest variant …

    • freefall101 on 13/07/2022 - 12:44

      That's nothing compared to the increase in global ocean shipping costs - https://fbx.freightos.com/

      A lot of the reason for our current inflation is freight has skyrocketed and the whole thing is controlled by a small number of companies who are cashing in right now.

  • JimmyF on 13/07/2022 - 09:28
    +2

    as far as I remember 10 years ago sending by air approx the same weight and volume from Europe to Australia cost me about $1.2-1.5k

    LOL Lots of things had been way cheaper 10 years ago!! I'm sure you earned way less back then too.

    I will be relocating overseas and looking for some advice about shipping personal stuff

    Is this stuff you can sell here and buy again when you arrive? As this is a way better option.

    • rwt on 13/07/2022 - 12:41

      flights tickets were more expensive

      some items are hard to sell and buy - just for example motorcycle used jacket cost about $100 and a new one will cost $700 and they are bulky and heavy

  • Ocker on 13/07/2022 - 11:39
    +1

    What sort of quantity you talking about?

    • rwt on 13/07/2022 - 12:28

      something about 5-6 boxes 75-150kg in total, no furniture or bulky items

      pack&send send me an estimate of about $500 for a 25kg box by air - so basically its cheaper than to sell in AU/re-buy some items like small electronics, tools, and motorcycle equipment

  • Raq on 13/07/2022 - 12:08
    +1

    When we moved from US to Oz about 8 years ago we have shipped some items via sea. We didn't ship a lot, but it took several months (around 5 months if I recall) for the items to be delivered.

    If you don't ship a lot, then your stuff shares container with other shipments and thus takes longer (than a single container would take).

    Whatever you're sending, expect to not make use of it for about 6 months or so (if sent via sea)

    • rwt on 13/07/2022 - 12:35

      yep, 3-4-5-6 months is the downside.
      additionally, most of the companies have a minimum qty to ship by sea, and its twice bigger as i need

  • Ocker on 13/07/2022 - 14:16
    +2

    We frequently import goods from USA on a LCL (Less than Container Load) basis for about $1,300 door to door. That is for one pallet of approx 1cubic metre and 1 tonne in weight.
    Transit time is a bit hit and miss at the moment but generally about 6-8 weeks.

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