I'm currently living is Osaka, Japan and going to move back to the states in Sept. I'm planning to go on a vacation before I actually get back to the U.S. I obviously don't want to haul two large suitcases of all my belongings throughout my vacation so what would be the cheapest way to send my suitcases ahead to the states while I go off on my trip?
2006-06-19 01:37:17 · 2 answers · asked by Kyle M 2 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
Oh this is an easy one for me!
You have three choices, the slowest and cheapest would be to use the mail. Since you are going on vacation, the time shouldn't be a problem.
If you don't trust the mail system, UPS has a cool little program where you use their boxes and ship for a flat rate. The small one has a 10kg limit and the larger one 25kg. When I did the same thing from Malaysia I saved over 50% on the shipping!
(You can go to UPS's website, and check the cost, in the pop down menu you see their boxes listed, or you can just call the local UPS office there.)
Last and the least of the choices, is to use a 'freight forwarder'. They can ship by air or ship. Ship will be cheap but very slow. Also more times than not for such a small amount of stuff will cost more than UPS
Tips:
You will need to list the contents of the box for customs. Make sure you write, "re-patronized clothing", then list anything else you might tuck in the box.
Clothing is great for protecting breakables. If you have anything you don't want broken, place it in the middle of the box. Less likely to be broken then in your check in luggage with the airline!
Clothing is more bulk than weight. If you bought something heavy, toss it in the box, and save your airline weight for something else.
If you use UPS, it will travel express and arrive in the U.S. before you do, ship it to a friend or family member's house.
As for the two suitcases themselves, unless they are very good (expensive) dump them. What you save in shipping will off set the cost of most bags. Luggage has become almost disposable. If they are high end, just take them with you, empty or light weight bags aren't that bad.
2006-06-19 01:59:10 · answer #1 · answered by Robin 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I sent 40kg in two boxes from Japan Shizuoka in Chubu, to Calgary Canada, and it took exactly one month by shipment in a boat from Japan post. The 31kg box was 13000¥.
Courier boxes may be opened by customs, as happend to me, but Japan post was not opened by customs. Sending 15kg by courier was $230 CDN
2006-06-20 06:25:00 · answer #2 · answered by Yoseph 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋