Korean Job Discussion Forums

[k8track]

I'm getting ready to send some packages home in the next day or so. My supervisor called the post office to get some information for me. He informed me that, apparently sometime in the last 12 months, the regulations have changed for shipping things to the U.S. Previously, all you had to do was list the contents on the customs form. Now, according to him, when you are at the post office, if there is more than one kind of item in the box, then you must take out each individual thing of the box and have them weigh it right there.

Has anyone experienced this? Because this would be the biggest pain ever. I am shipping a box of books, a box of DVDs, and my computer home, but since there is only one kind of item in each box, they are apparently OK and don't need to be removed from their boxes to be weighed. But I am also shipping two big boxes which are mostly clothes, but several other things as well, like external hard drives, DVD wallets, tea, and vitamins. I want to be able to pack everything up nice and snug and careful at home. I do not want to have to open it back up at the post office, take everything out, and then have to repack it right there in that tiny office and tape it back up. It's just beyond stupid.

Does anyone have any more information about this? Is this really a thing? Do I have to leave my box untaped and then repack and tape it up right there in the post office?

One last question--I would be perfectly happy shipping this home by surface, but I have been told that they spray for rodents in the cargo hold of the ships and that your clothes will smell like Raid forever after (and I don't think it would be too great for electronic stuff either). How true is this?

Thanks in advance for your help, guys.

[k8track]

Bump. I'd really appreciate any recent information or personal experiences.

[Keeper]

I've shipped via container ships and have not had problems with my electronic gear or smelly clothing. That said, I would be sure you pack the hard drives VERY carefully. I left mine in the original boxes and then placed pillows all around it. They can be brutal with container ships. The boxes also each had holes in them thanks to customs. They like to look inside that way. The one with my amp was opened by "homeland security" because it had their tape stating so across the top.

Personally, I would never send clothing home via FedEx/UPS/DHL. It's going to cost as much as it is worth.

[k8track]

I've decided to consolidate my clothing into one big box (putting them into garbage bags to keep out any potential rodent spray) and am just donating the rest, and will ship it via surface to save money (it's winter clothing so I'm not in a hurry to get it). I'll ship my books that way as well.

Is it significantly rougher to ship things via surface rather than air? I would prefer to save a chunk of money. I've only shipped by air and have never had any problems, but it's extremely pricey. I've got everything packed pretty well, but I'm afraid they might be rougher with my boxes if I ship them by boat. I've got my external hard drives wrapped in layers of bubble wrap and packed snugly, but you never know. Am I just being senselessly paranoid--is it just as rough either way (air vs. boat)? I'm going to be shipping my computer next week (iMac) and I really want to be careful with that one.

[Troglodyte]

I don't think that they are any less gentle with surface mail as opposed to air mail. Either way, they're just as likely to drop it or shove it around.

I've never had any problems sending large packages by surface mail.

Is it much cheaper to send your computer home than to just sell it and get another one when you arrive? If you are going to mail it, i'd suggest removing the hard drive and packing that separately.

[luckylady]

if the data on those hard drives is worth anything at all, you'd be better off carrying it with you on the plane or shipping FedEx

haven't heard about checking each item separately - maybe something was lost in translation? sounds pretty anal if true please let us know!

[k8track]

I'm shipping stuff via EMS, so that's pretty much just like Fed Ex, right? I don't have room in my carryon to take those two external hard drives with me, but Trog's suggestion about removing the hard drive from my iMac is a good one, and I would have some room in my pack for that. I'll have to lug it back to Geumho World one last time, though, because I have no way of doing that myself.

I think I will re-pack the two external hard drives in their own box, with layers and layers of bubble wrap and then put some soft clothes around them. (I did ship them here from the U.S. a year ago without incident.) And finally, I will ask my friend, a ninth-level necromancer, to cast a spell of protection over all my packages. Unless customs has some sort of anti-enchantment detectors.

[NilesQ]

[luckylady]

[k8track]

I've just been informed that I am not even allowed to ship a computer from Korea to the U.S. at all. Apparently my only option is to take it with me and send it through as checked baggage. I have no idea how much extra that will cost me. If anyone has any information at all, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

[k8track]

Actually, I found out that rule only applies to EMS/Postal service, who are bound and constrained by (U.S.) postal laws, so I am going to Fed Ex it (and I now realize that my earlier question "Doesn't EMS=FedEx?" is naive). It will cost a bunch more, but at least the job will get done and still be worth it.

Yet another quick question, is shipping via FedEx substantially more secure than shipping EMS/Postal service, or does customs randomly open the same number of Fed Ex packages as the regular postal service? It was suggested that I should take the hard drive out first before shipping, but if shipping Fed Ex safer and more secure, I'd just as soon leave it in and save a bunch of time on both ends.

[luckylady]

EMS is turned over to the USPS upon entering the U.S.; in other words, the Post Office will be the ones eventually delivering your package(s)

FedEx is delivered by FedEx; handled by them the entire time. there is really no way of stating which is handled how many times/searched by Customs but FedEx is known to be secure and is considered by many the #1 delivery option anywhere.

that being said, I'm sure there are those who have had negative experiences with FedEx

that's really interesting about not being able to ship a computer home via the postal service. wonder what that's about?