Korean Job Discussion Forums

crazy tigger · Joined: 06 Aug 2006

Ok, I am sure this question has been answered before but I have searched and really can't find a specific answer.

When I come to Korea I want to ship quite a lot of stuff to myself (clothes, books, toiletries). Now I have checked with the post office and it seems to cost about �130 for a 20kg parcel so could get quite costly... I have looked a shipping companies and they only seem to deliver to a port, once I am in Korea would it then be possible to arrange for it to be delivered from the port? And would this be far too much of a nightmare for a newbie? And it seems that this would then result in import duty? In whih case would I have to actually have to go to the port myself?

Has anyone used any shipping companies from the Uk that will deliver to your door? Or had any experience of collecting from a port?

Thanks Very Happy

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

crazy tigger · Joined: 06 Aug 2006

Thanks for your reply. The things I want to ship are the things I get the impression I might not find so easily in Korea. I've no intention of bringing things for my flat etc, half the fun of moving to a new place is pesonalising it with new things! Saying that though I will be bringing a quilt, sheets and pillows as I need these for a good nights sleep!

From what I have read on this forum though I do suspect I may have a problem finding clothes to fit, especially tops as I am, erm, rather large chested, and I get the impression most clothes in Korea are aimed more at smaller chest sizes although I would be hapy to stand corrected. Toiletry wise I was only planning on bringing the essentials to last me about a month and quite a lot of deoderant as this is omething that keeps cropping up in this branch! I do however read a lot and I suspect English books may be quite expensive? Oh and shoes, I don't know how I manage it but shoes never seem to last me more than a few months so was planning on bringing quite a few with me. Am sure there were a few other things but without reading through all the FAQ's I can't think of them right now...

Muffin · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Location: Turkey

It is not unrealistic to want to ship stuff, I shipped my heavy winter coats and boots. It was expensive but cheaper than paying excess baggage on the plain.

However, I used Parcelforce and sent the stuff by surface mail (80 quid for 10 kg) the man in the post office told my it would take 6 weeks, it took 17 weeks! So if you can find a better way, you should.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Muffin, they probably lost your stuff en route... normally it takes around 4-6 weeks.

Look for cargo freight - but that is also door-to-port. Those might be cheaper.

When I moved here, I knew I was moving here semi-permanently (came here to be with my then bf, now husband), so I did use a removal firm. I think their name was Johnson's, although I am not too sure now. I had quotes from MANY companies and they were the cheapest. They shipped everything for me for about 350 quid. 4 huge boxes of books, 4 huge boxes of clothes, one huge box of teddy bears/ soft toys, 3 other huge boxes of other stuff.... my mum was so happy because it cleared our house of clutter, as she said... although quite a bit of that stuff was stored in the spare shed!

Anyway.. perhaps you could ask around removal companies and see how much they would charge. I can't imagine you would want to ship as many things as I did 6 years ago... but there's no harm in asking. There is probably a minimum charge and it really depends on how many things you are wanting to send.

Alternatively, contact some removal firms in New Malden that are run by Koreans.. they may have some good suggestions.