Shipping luggage within China

[Alex Whiteman]

Hey,

I'm finishing my first semester here in China and I'm planning to continue at another university after the holidays. . . holidays which I intend to spend elsewhere.

I have this large suitcase containing about 30 kg of clothing I don't need right now and, once I'm off, I will have no dorm room to leave it at until my return.

I was thinking about leaving it somewhere for a relatively small fee until somebody told me I could just send it to my next destination (a certain campus) before I get there. . .

Being in China and so on. . . which is the best way to do this? (if you think it's doable in the first place). Any good shipping companies that do it?

[Lantos]

hi, i had similar problem last year... just use a normal ”快递“ i paid for 2x30kg large suitcase with proper package less then 300rmb (i just gave the luggage to them, and they packed it). Probably at your campus there are also many companies 申通， 中通， 韵达， 国通 ...etc. If you don't know where they are, just ask a chinese student. just ask around for the price. Rule of thumb: 5rmb/kg (or less) depending on your location and your next destination, in case you are sending between developed places like Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong... a little bit more if you are sending from or to other places.

[ChTTay]

Once it gets to the destination... If you won't be there for a few weeks ... What happens? Does the shipping company store it or do they deliver it to the address you have them for someone licky students to take their pick of your gear?

Thanks

[Lantos]

Sorry I ignored this component.

unfortunately,someone needs to sign and/or collect it. Normally they do not store for more then a week...

[Alex Whiteman]

Thanks.

No exceptions to that whatsoever? Two weeks wait would be enough. . .

[Baron]

You don't need a special courier company. Post it using the normal post, and then contact the uni and pay someone to look after it at the other end if you're worried.

[Alex Whiteman]

Is there any of the above companies - including China Post - that should be recommended above others. . . or against?

This probably proves how much of a newbie to China I still am but today I went to get back my clothes at the 手洗 shop thing in front of my dorm - picture a small, somber laundry room with jackets and shirts hanging all over and accross - and outside I notice this 韵达 sign with an address somewhere inside the compound. When I ask, they basically tell me "快递? yup, this is the place".

Like. . . what? I am to understand this person is some kind of intermediary? If I spoke fluently I'd ask her directly. . . but I suppose it's like this in other campuses. . . so, anyone know?

[Lantos]

Yes, they are. they collect the packages daytime, and evening the truck comes and takes the packages. It's common practice (especially at universities) that they cooperate with other shops....

So you just go there, tell them your problem, and ask about the money (if necessary bargain). I can imagine, if they have a little space, they will be happy to accommodate your bag for a week or two, and just later send it to your new address. you go and ask them. Since the couriers will give you a tracking number, later you can check, when do they send your package.

Baron is right, you can also use post. But, If you want to use some "trackable" service (EMS or some registered parcel) then you pay probably much more then with the couriers...

[roddy]

Did you get your stuff shipped, Alex?

[Alex Whiteman]

Yes - and I have them right here with me now.

What did happen was that the teacher who was going to take care of the bags, and who later told me that they had arrived, did not really receive them when they arrived - so they bounced back into the system. Apparently "she was too busy" or so I was told - I never really understood this because, apparently, the only person that speaks English here was her but since she has also been on holiday since I arrived, all I could gather is in Chinese. . . and my Chinese is not good yet.

The other point is that the 快递公司 noted that the stuff had been received - so according to the tracking system my luggage was at the uni; something that mislead me for at least one day. . .

Anyway, I insisted, became a pain on everyone's. . . I was helped. . . Eventually got in touch with an office of the 快递 in question in the campus. . . the woman there remembered my case and had my bags brought back from a warehouse somewhere. . .