Korean Job Discussion Forums

sarbonn · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Michigan

I just moved here, and I have a ton of stuff that I was going to have shipped here, but so far the costs are way out of this world. I understand I'm going to be spending some decent money to send stuff here, but does anyone have any advice on a cheaper service or company to send stuff here? Some of the prices that my friend back home has been quoted are astronomical, but then we have never done this before so any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

JJJ · Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul

Send it by boat. Takes between 4-6 weeks but cheap and it will come right to your door (usually). Done.

itstiff · Joined: 16 Oct 2008

Send it by boat, it will take a while .. but at only a fraction of the price.

How long are you staying here? Do you really need that much? Since, you are allowed two checked baggages at 50lbs each, and then there's a carry-on and a personal item that you can stuff more things into.

sarbonn · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Michigan

Do you know of any companies that send it by boat? That's the problem. We don't know who to contact.

sarbonn · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Michigan

I keep hearing people mention surface shipping. And I know the post office used to do that, but the Post Office says they don't do it anymore, so is there another service that now does this, or is everything air only now?

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

I paid about 1.500 euro's for the entire content of my household.

I rented half a container on a ship.
I contacted an international movers association.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

This past summer, I heard that the US postal service, in their infinite wisdom, decided no longer to allow slow-boat shipping. You now have to pay for the expensive Express option. It's now very, very expensive to send something from the US to here.

There is no slow shipping option.

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Yep, they killed slow shipping, the SOBs.....

venus envy · Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Location: chicago

You might want to check out http://www.uship.com

I found a shipping company through that site. For a little over $300 I had 9 boxes (30lbs each) shipped to me through UPS, and it was sent air. I had my stuff at Incheon within 48 hrs and had to wait an extra day for it to clear customs. It's a pretty good deal considering everyone else wanted at least a grand.

poet13 · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject:

Whatever you do, list everything as USED. Otherwise you could end up with import duties, and the way I understand it, you have to pay duty even on the shppping cost. Go figure.

venus envy · Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Location: chicago

I second that. I had to provide customs with a copy of my passport page, visa and immi entry stamp to prove I haven't been here for more than 6 months. I also had to fax a brief statement of what was in the boxes, and declare everything as used. It held up my delivery by a day, but I avoided paying extra costs.

sarbonn · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Michigan

The used information is useful, but I'm really discouraged because it's going to cost me a fortune to bring my stuff here without a surface option.

venus envy · Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Location: chicago

how much stuff are we talking about?

perhaps you could send a bit at at time or save up to have it all sent. i guess it depends on how long you plan on staying in Korea, and how important it is to have your things here. i wish you the best of luck!

sarbonn · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Michigan

It's probably going to be about 10 boxes. I don't really have a place back in the states right now...a friend is holding onto the stuff to send to me. I'm one of those older people who doesn't really have a stake back home but is pretty much living here as the permanent address, so I'm kind of attached to the few trinkets I do have from a life of confusion.