Moving/Shipping records across the pond

[alfreton audio]

arright,, so moving out of the big smoke soon and too the other side of Canada - Vancouver to be exact. downsized all my stuff but still holding on to 150 of me most prized records. Was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to ship, or transport these? or if anyone has done it before and had issues? maybe do bit by bit over a few trips back and forth (will be back in february) or get them shipped - anyone have any links for good shipping people? any help would be wicked.

[Sexual_Chocolate]

wub should be able to provide details on this.

[pkay]

Buy a flight case, pack tightly, lock case, send through ups

[alfreton audio]

cheers, yeh, just worried as to what the £££ will be for UPS, them records are not light... ! might figure out an estimated weight and call em tomorrow

[pkay]

probably cheaper than checking 3-4 bags trying to get them on flights. Also you do NOT want to check records on a flight. Only bring what you can fit on a take on bag. Trust

[alphacat]

UPS? I know they're the cheapest, but...

My first job when I moved to San Francisco was as a freight clerk for a big corporate HQ, and I got to know the couriers' strengths and weaknesses pretty well. UPS are - generally speaking and compared to, say, DHL or FedEx - a bunch of Teamster gorillas who can't be fired unless they kill someone or fail multiple drug tests in a row: they played football with the parcels in the warehouse, they slept and pissed in the back of their trucks, they generally did not give one flying fuck about the parcels because nothing would usually happen to them unless the most outrageous transgressions could be proven. The only thing UPS was good for was shipping drugs (not like I did that tho) because at the time they didn't have any dogs in their domestic freight yards/warehouses, although that's probably changed.

By comparison, FedEx and DHL were always paranoid about losing their jobs, dropped/threw nothing that I ever saw, and were overall more conscientious about things. If you file a valid claim with FedEx, there's an excellent chance you'll be re-compensated. The same was not true for UPS who demanded that you prove 110% that it was definitely their fault.

Whatever you do, INSURE IT. That's one of those things it's better to have and not need than need and not have. If you were sending like some clothes and a coffeemaker and shit I'd be like "yeah, UPS is fine." But not anything as fragile/precious as records.

[alfreton audio]

yeh for sure, might take the crucial 20 with me on the flight and see what i can do for shipping - going to have so much shit with me doe. Also, whats a good Norf American online store? - can't kick the habbit! and got to rebuild me stash up. i usually get from Kristina or Vinyl Underground.. anything similar?

[alfreton audio]

DP.

[alfreton audio]

UPS? I know they're the cheapest, but...

My first job when I moved to San Francisco was as a freight clerk for a big corporate HQ, and I got to know the couriers' strengths and weaknesses pretty well. UPS are - generally speaking and compared to, say, DHL or FedEx - a bunch of Teamster gorillas who can't be fired unless they kill someone or fail multiple drug tests in a row: they played football with the parcels in the warehouse, they slept and pissed in the back of their trucks, they generally did not give one flying fuck about the parcels because nothing would usually happen to them unless the most outrageous transgressions could be proven. The only thing UPS was good for was shipping drugs (not like I did that tho) because at the time they didn't have any dogs in their domestic freight yards/warehouses, although that's probably changed.

By comparison, FedEx and DHL were always paranoid about losing their jobs, dropped/threw nothing that I ever saw, and were overall more conscientious about things. If you file a valid claim with FedEx, there's an excellent chance you'll be re-compensated. The same was not true for UPS who demanded that you prove 110% that it was definitely their fault.

Whatever you do, INSURE IT. That's one of those things it's better to have and not need than need and not have. If you were sending like some clothes and a coffeemaker and shit I'd be like "yeah, UPS is fine." But not anything as fragile/precious as records.

legend! thanks for that. il look its either DHL or FedEx I guess. hopefully 100+ records in an aluminum case will be to heavy to kick around. im going to padlock the shit out of the thing.

[alphacat]

Cool - and by the way, Vancouver is fantastic. One of the top 5 cities in the world IMO.

[pkay]

DHL to north america will likely go through standard postal service as DHL does not deliver door to door in north america

Fedex and UPS are the same in the US as far as quality.... my point of recommending them was that you can insure for actual value

[Sexual_Chocolate]

Cool - and by the way, Vancouver is fantastic. One of the top 5 cities in the world IMO.

top 3

[alphacat]

Cool - and by the way, Vancouver is fantastic. One of the top 5 cities in the world IMO.

top 3

I was being nice. Yeah, top 3 for me too.

[alfreton audio]

Cool - and by the way, Vancouver is fantastic. One of the top 5 cities in the world IMO.

top 3

i've lived there already, actually work for a company out there, just been back based in London for the last 2 years but now its a permanent move!

any idea on what the scene is there? went and saw Julio Bashmore like 2 years ago at the electric owl and Nosaj Thing somewhere off main, but apart from that, i remember it being pretty quiet,,,??

[lowphat]

Working in logistics, I would suggest (if you can handle the wait) trying to get them posted over sea freight, usually works out to be about $2 (aud) per KG from Houston to Perth (Fremantle Port). So it's extremely cheap, it's just the weight you need to be worried about. Another thing you could try is going through a freight company and seeing if you can get the goods on one of their consolidated air freight services. Basically they would get everyone's shit in one big package, it leaves once a week to somewhere and it's alot cheaper.

Fedex, DHL and UPS are not the be all and end all of freight. If you would like some help, get me some weights and dim's and I'll see if I can get some pricing estimates for you mate.

Good luck with it though, I personally wouldn't trust anyone with that amount of my records.. but it needs to be done. Good luck with your move!

[Electric_Head]

See freight takes freakin weeks though.

[lowphat]

See freight takes freakin weeks though.

Yea mate, takes about 6-8 weeks Houston to Perth, about a week to unpack all the containers at the wharf, another week to clear through customs and everything else, so yea it's about 10-11 weeks altogether, but if you're on a strict budget it's the way to go mate. Keep in mind though this is Western Australia, where the motto is either "fuck it, do it tomorrow" or "pay us more!! Oh no more money? Strike."

[Electric_Head]

hmm, sounds like South Africa really.

I went and bought a gas cylinder yesterday at the petrol station.
The attendant just told me he can't help me because he's busy with his own things.
So he calls another dude over who proceeds to swear at him in Xhosa because he's a useless tnuc.

[lowphat]

Oh just FYI consolidated air freight generally works out to be $10 AUD per KG from Houston to Perth and has about a week turn around time.

[alfreton audio]

Oh just FYI consolidated air freight generally works out to be $10 AUD per KG from Houston to Perth and has about a week turn around time.

uhmm, might have a look at this. man, everything else about moving is easy, this is the only thing getting me stressed! haha. yeh shipping takes loongg.

whats the deal with taking a load onto the flight, say take 70 with me first flight then 70 again in march - and check them into the oversized luggage. Am i going to get smashed with the pay extra kilo thing?