Job Discussion Forums

[Deckard]

I need to ship 2 or 3 rubbermaid containers (about 32.3x20.4x16.7inches in dimension each) from Vancouver Canada to Nagoya Japan.

I dont care how long the stuff takes to get here, I just want the cheapest rate possible. I remember hearing once before that people in the past have sent things cheaply by freighter. Not sure if that is true.

Anyway if anyone who has shipped belongings from Canada in the past can help me out with some information that would be great.

ps. i did notice there is a very similar post below mine, but as he is shipping from Texas I thought it best to make my own canada specific topic.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Best advice:
just don't bring most of that stuff. You cannot possible need that much stuff that you cannot get here.

Next best advice:
Find out how much it costs to send the stuff by sea mail. It will take a long time but will be the cheapest method possible. Wrap EVERYTHING in those containers in garbage bags, tape them closed, and then wrap them in another garbage bag with the opening at the other end and tape that closed as well.

Next NEXT advice:
If it's really expensive, cut the amount of stuff down to one or two SMALL boxes, and send that.
If you're shipping that much stuff, then you obviously must be intending on staying a LONG time.
So just start slowly bringing it with you. You only live in Vancouver, it isn't THAT far. If you make a trip or two home each year, then bring as many bags as you can (all virtually empty, or full of presents for friends and family), which means one carry-on, and two check-in bags, and then when you're going back to Japan, fill them up as much as you can until you hit the weight allowance.

Once you're away from your stuff for a couple of years, you'll discover that you don't need it. It just takes up space.

[Deckard]

Thank you for the advice. After thinking about it myself for a bit i kind of came to the same conclusion regarding not needing that much stuff lol.

But the stuff is basically all the belongings I have ammassed over my life and deemed important enough to store at my mother's when i came here. She is moving to the Queen Charlottes in a few months, and she has made it clear that my stuff doesnt go with her lol.

So whatever I dont ship here in the next few months is going to be thrown out or sold. That being said a lot of it probably is just "stuff" so maybe i can reprioritize it down to just one or maybe two containers

anyway thanks again for all the advice

[mimimimi]

I shipped large boxes over using Nippon Express Canada, Ltd. in Richmond:

http://www.nittsu.co.jp/heart/branch/n_ame1.htm#can_va

It's been a few years, but at the time it was $99 for each 4-cubic-foot box up to 32 kgs (please note the weight restrictions have probably changed.) I got the boxes from Budget ($4 each) to maximize my allowable space.

It took 8 weeks by freighter. I lined each box with garbage bags and then sealed every corner and edge with packing tape. I would also advise double wrapping all the contents with plastic because when I got the boxes, they were kind of moist from the extreme heat and humidity. They were also a bit crushed. But nothing was broken or really damaged.

Be sure to give Nippon Express a good detailed catalogue of the contents of each box (what each item is and how many of each there are.) Just saying "clothes" wasn't good enough. I had to specify separate articles and amounts. It was kind of ridiculous, but that's the way it was.

The warehouse is not easy to find, but they gave me really good service and even helped me lug the boxes to the lift. They were all Japanese at the time, but their English was very good.

Good luck with your move!

[mc]

[Deckard]

Thanks for all the advice. It gave me some more options I hadnt considered, so thank you very much