Sending Large Boxes to China

[rayne]

I'm moving to China in a couple of months and will be sending some large boxes (up to 20kg) of things over before I arrive.

 

I've heard that there are many problems with China accepting mail. Large fines, needing to bribe customs officials to get their things, taking months to arrive, etc. 

 

I have many things of sentimental value that I need to bring over that won't fit in my suitcase so I'm worried about losing all those things. 

 

I'll be sending it from Korea (Korea Post) using airmail and tracking.

 

Does anyone have experience with sending large boxes to China? 

[roddy]

Seriously, if at all possible - put it in storage or leave it with family or friends, at least until you're sure you're settled somewhere you're going to be for a year or more. Nobody needs 20kg or more of sentiment, and you're going to feel a lot less attached to these objects if you end up carting them from hotel to dorm to apartment to other apartment if initial arrangements don't work out, or even city to city if you end up moving around more than planned.

 

If you really want it - Qingdao has a decent sized Korean population - I reckon if you look you'll find a Korean courier / relocations company that'll do this, handle any customs issues, and quite possible be better service than the post. 

 

Edit: Eg, these folk

http://www.aciexpress.net/en_web/

 

Korean firm, branch in Qingdao. Worth getting a quote at least. 

[rayne]

I'm an exapt in Korea... so I don't have family to leave the stuff behind and I'm worried about putting it in storage (mold, fire, theft?) and since they're sentimental, I'd like to keep it with me. 

[889]

Then your only option is to bring it with you, paying for overweight luggage if necessary or finding a ticket class with a generous luggage allowance.

Sentiment isn't cheap.

[vellocet]

Do not use the post office, use delivery services.  The post office is the worst.  Before I gave up using them, the last box I got was flapping open when they gave it to me.  Who knows what was missing from it.  Seems the postal workers are curious about what laowai are getting and want to see inside.  The stories of months-long delays are true as well.  Bring it in your luggage, that's the only way to be sure. 

[rayne]

What delivery services are there out there? Do you mean companies focused on international mail? Or EMS?

 

i've already checked the overweight baggage option on planes andthe limits wouldn't allow me to bring everything...

[889]

Look into so-called unaccompanied baggage with your airline; you take it to the airport the day before and it goes as cargo.

Or make two flights.

[rayne]

I looked on Korean Air and Asiana Airlines about unaccompanied baggage and got to their cargo sites but they don't have quotes. You can join as a member but you must be a part of a cargo member and be verified as such and show your verification... I don't think it can be used for just regular individuals? Unless I found the wrong thing? Is unaccompanied baggage something else? Nothing is coming up on google for those two airlines and they're the two biggest going from Korea to China.

 

I'm worried that i'll arrive at the airport and there wouldn't be enough space on the plane and then I wouldn't know what to do. I'd just like to have some security because there's always a chance that something like that can happen. 

[889]

The websites are hopeless for this kind of information. You'll have to deal with the airline directly, and make clear you're asking about unaccompanied baggage, not excess baggage. You normally do this with the airline on which you are booked to get the best rate.

I didn't say it was going to be easy! You'll also have to pick the stuff up at the Beijing air cargo depot and clear customs.

[shuoshuo]

Never had an issue with large parcels, both sending and receiving. Although delays are common. If you don't have much of a choice though, I suggest separating your stuff into smaller parcels, then posting them at different times. So the worst that could happen is you end up losing one or two, and not all. But that's just the worst that could happen. I believe you'll receive your stuff, even if you MIGHT have to wait a while. Don't forget to use tracking.

[889]

I've certainly had stuff sent by China Post arrive looking like it'd gone through a meat grinder, and that was domestic so no foreigners around to blame. I would not trust anything I'm not willing to lose or see damaged to China Post.

[shuoshuo]

Same here 889, my boxes always end up looking like they've been thrown off the roof of a very tall building several times over.

If you don't want to risk losing sentimental stuff, start getting rid of things you will be able to replace, e.g. clothes and shoes.

[rayne]

I asked about unaccompanied baggage at another forum and someone responded that they were quoted $1700 (USD, I'm guessing) for 7 big boxes from Korean to China 

 

I was already definitely going to use tracking but would tracking up my chances of having it delivered? 

 

Augh, I'm so worried.