Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Drew345]

I am moving soon and need some large cardboard boxes, about 25x25x40 inch (about 50x50x80 cm) for packing. I have been able to get some small boxes from the supermarket, but can't find any big ones for clothes, jackets, blankets, pillows, and other large, lightweight stuff. I asked a couple of Korean friends where to get cardboard boxes and I got that look like "You are different; are you from Mars?" I asked them to call the moving company that I am contracted with, to see if they have, or know where to get, boxes. They even refused to call for fear of feeling like they were different. I don't get it, what is so bizzare about needing some large cardboard boxes for moving?
If anyone knows where to get or buy large cardboard boxes, can you let me know. I tried "behind the supermarket" and can only find smaller ones. I tried the post office, and can only get small shipping boxes.
Thanks,
Drew

[xCustomx]

Go to a department store like Lotte. You may have to bring someone to speak Korean though since the employees would obviously wonder why you are walking around in the garbage area. I got several huge boxes from Lotte last fall when I moved and the garbage guys seemed pleased that I was taking the boxes since they didn't have to break them down.

[ttompatz]

[Drew345]

I am happy to buy, I didn't see large boxes at my post office. I will go ask them for #5 and #6. Checking behind Lotte is also a good idea, except I live half way up a mountain nowhere near any department store.

I heard about the Koreans using the large plastic bins. I will check on this. This sounds good for environmental purposes; but I just can't see how it works. They get to the new place and just leave everything on the floor? I will ask more questions about these large plastic bins.

Thanks,

[Drew345]

I checked with my moving company. They don't use the plastic bins and they dont do the packing. I don't have much stuff, not like a Korean house, so I am fine with that. They also don't have any cardboard boxes. So that leaves me hunting at Lotte this weekend. I'll look for a friend to help.
Thanks,
Drew

[potin14p]

out of interest, what moving company are you using, and what quote did they give you? i am trying to find one to move my stuff from Daegu to Seoul, and I'm not having much luck.

[Drew345]

The moving company name means Rainbow in Korea. Sorry, that's all I know. A Korean friend came over with a printout of 5 companies all located right within my -gu. He just called a few until one answered. Dirt cheap, 150,000 won to move inside Seoul
Sorry I can't help more. Getting a moving company is just one of those things easy as can be for a Korean and impossible for a foreigner.

I did go box hunting tonight. I get one from the subway station, then one from the pharmacy, then I found a nice pile of boxes down one small street. I started breaking a few down, when the fruit seller came down the street and wasn't too happy about me. It appears the neighborhood brings their boxes to this place and then the fruit seller cashes in on them some how. A neighbor brought a nice stack to here while I was there. I did get a couple from here, she was nice.
All in all though, 4 hours work for 5 boxes, only one of which was large. That makes those some expensive boxes (time is money).
I still want to know, where to buy a couple of 2 ft or 3 ft size boxes. Post office a rather small. Time is money, if anyone knows where I can go and buy nice big boxes (near Sadang), I appreciate it.
Thanks,
Drew

[happeningthang]

My experience of moving companies in Korea makes me think you don't need boxes.

They've been pretty much a full service move, where the first time I didn't pack a thing (hungover and on two days notice) and they march in with plastic boxes and just fill them up with whatever stuff is around and pack them on the truck. Second time was much the same, but I wasn't as hungover this time and chipped in by pre-packing stuff I wanted to be particularly cared for.

I wouldn't worry too much, from what I've seen the movers bring the boxes, fill them up and unpack them at the end.

[Drew345]

I heard that too about the movers bringing the boxes. But I double checked with the mover that my Korean friend selected and they said for sure that they don't bring the boxes. They only move prepacked stuff. Makes me wonder why my friend choose this company. They were cheap, and I don't have much stuff, so it does make sense; but I would go with the full service mover you describe next time. I gave this one company 30,000 Won deposit, maybe should just cancel and get a real mover.
Thanks,
Drew

[ChopChaeJoe]

My e-mart has tons of them, for free.

[faster]

My first move I bought boxes @ the post office. They're not expensive, and they're good, so after that I broke them down & stored them under the bed.

They've been used for 3 more moves since then.

[eamo]

[Drew345]

E-mart sounds like a great idea. I will stop by there this weekend.
My post office has mostly smaller boxes, but they are cheap (only 1300 won a box). So I will try a different post office and just buy the biggest I can to pack the final bits.
Thanks for all the great tips everyone,
Drew

[potin14p]

yeah but isnt this whole "we'll pack your stuff for you and then move it" really expensive? I mean, how much $$ are we talking about here. If its about W100,000 then i'd be happy to pay it, but no more than that. (Daegu --> Seoul) .
MY friend had a guy with a truck move her stuff to Seoul for W30,000, but i cannot figure out how to get in contact with such a person.
And from what I've heard , I can't use taekbae for my move because I have furniture too.
Why is this all so complicated?

[eamo]