International movers—help needed

Stagiaire Fash

I am so tired of wishing we had things that are in our storage locker! My books, most of my kitchen things, my son’s good desk chair and more. I don’t want to toss them and buy new. Many of the items have sentimental value, especially for my son, who has complained of feeling rootless.

We are looking for a good international mover or shipping service. Do you know of one? It’s all in a 7 square meter storage locker near Tampa, Florida, and needs to come to us here in Berlin. I could go pack it up and deliver it to a drop off terminal, or have movers pick it up. Organizing it from here isn’t easy, or maybe I’m just clueless.

If you have any advice (other than “dump it & buy new”) please lmk, here or in messages. Thanks!

4 years ago

Off Topic

7 replies

Latest reply was from Eva

anchie

Veteran

In my experience it can be very expensive. My relocation here was paid by my company, but I have seen the bill - I would never paid that on my own.

4 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Price is certainly one of the challenges! But the monthly rent on the storage unit comes out to $2000 per year.

4 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

When we moved across the ocean 8 years ago, we had used one of those services where they basically sell you certain square footage in an international shipping container. I wish I could remember the name of you. If you don't have any furniture and everything could fit into boxes, this is a nice option. We had found out the exact measurements of our "space", created a dedicated space in the living room with these measurements, and then boxed up everything and piled in that corner to see if all fit. It was a lot of work, but cheaper than having your own dedicated shipping container, which you need with bulkier items like furniture. Then they picked them up from our front door.

During our last move 2 years ago, our cargo was much smaller and what we had was pretty much only books and toys. - nothing that would not fit into a 14'*14'*14' box. We used the university account to ship them by UPS (or maybe FedEx, can't remember), and I was surprised by how cheaper that was than the quotes we were given as regular, private customers. So if your stuff can fit into such boxes and you know someone with a business account on the stateside, it can be very affordable.

I think in your case, the desk chair is the most problematic item, but you might also leave it behind if all else fit into boxes.

4 years ago

SarahD8

Veteran

This sounds like something an expat moms group could help with but I don't know of any in Germany.

Here is a website focused on moving abroad with children. I realize your son is older and much of the advice wouldn't be relevant, but I believe they do have some articles on navigating international shipping, and the woman who runs the website seems to offer consulting services.

4 years ago

anchie

Veteran

When my son was moving to and from UK for university, we used DHL - we packed everything that he needed in few standard boxes, and it was very affordable. While he lived there he bought desk chair because the one provided in his accommodation was very uncomfortable. He wanted to bring it back home with him, but it was not worth it, so he left it behind.

When we relocated here, it was done by international moving company (forgot the name) , they did the packing and there were furniture involved that needed reassembling so probably not the same situation.

4 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I'm clueless about this, but is it possible that the storage locker people know of an outfit that does this? I imagine they have various international movers coming in and packing stuff up occasionally. They could maybe give you some names.

4 years ago

Eva

Active Member

When we moved from the UK "back to Europe" we shipped our things with a company that mails boxes etc.
We didn't have any furniture, mostly smaller items like books, bed linen, kitchen ware... but also a musical instrument. We bought the boxes from the company and packed them ourselves, then mailed them. However, some of the boxes got damaged in transit and a lot of things fell out and got lost or damaged. We got some compensation money in the end but it was a big hassle.
So, if you decide to ship things, I would advise to find a company with excellent reviews, and to make sure things are so well packed that they can withstand potentially being thrown around and even dropped.

4 years ago

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