Job Discussion Forums

roamingteacher · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 106

Could anyone recommend a reliable and economic solution for getting furniture from the UK to Brunei?

Having read the posts on here (extensively!) it seems that most household goods are easy to get there, but perhaps it would be quite an outlay for decent furniture.

In that case, we have decided to take our beds, kitchen table, and a few other items - some are things we've collected from other countries we've lived in and would be loathe to part with. And while we initially had ideas of furnishing our home with lovely Balinese-type furniture, posters indicate that it's not so easily available as we might have thought.

So, anyone who has used a company and would recommend / warn against, please do throw in your tuppence-worth!
Thanks

BellaBrunei · Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Posts: 40 Location: Brunei

I can't advise about companies as I didn't come from the UK, but do try to get door to door rather than door to port.

Even if you don't know what your address will be before they pick your stuff up, you should be able to contact the company before your stuff arrives in Brunei to tell them your address. This can save an awful lot of extra hassles....friends who did door to port discovered they would be living in KB, about 200 kms from Bandar and were liable for the cost of transporting their stuff the rest of the way...I think it added an extra $200, which doesn't sound like much but can be a pain during the start up period.

We used GFS who were unbelievably good........

roamingteacher · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 106

Thanks Bella Smile

jsteventon · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 191

Hi,

Not sure if it is worth bringing your furniture...my house, for example, is fully furnished, as many are - shipping it will cost you a lot - I don't know of many other teachers who have done it....

JS

roamingteacher · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 106

I think you're right. So far, for half a container - not even 2 full room's worth is quoting at about 3.5k� - way over the allowance from CfBT. Is it possible to buy any nice furniture out there - the nice teak pieces you get from Indonesia for example, or do you know anyone who's shipped from other Asian countries. I know there's lots of bargains in Thailand for example, but have no idea if it's feasible to ship from even there...

Once again thanks for being so helpful.

celtica · Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 137

Some people have shipped whole dining and lounge furniture from Bali after visiting and ordering....

Otherwise there are a number of shops in Brunei , Miri and Kuching. Miri shops do a lot of business with Brunei....there is a lovely rattan furniture factory just on the outskirts of Miri.....

Kuching has beautiful interior decor/handicraft/art gallery/furniture places.

BellaBrunei · Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Posts: 40 Location: Brunei

There are some nice places to pick up furniture in Bandar... many Indonesian imports so Bali-esque but you need to buy things as you see them because often the shops only get one or two pieces. We've picked up bookcases, a wine rack, teak boxes, European king sized bed.... and as the other poster said, you can get stuff made to order too.