Hello all,
If there happens to be anyone out there who's moving from Switzerland to basically anywhere in the province of Ontario, more specifically Toronto, this summer and has any extra space in their moving container, please please consider my request!
I've just completed my Master's diploma in cello performance in Lausanne, and I've been living abroad now for a total of 7 years. I'm moving home, and have of course accumulated too much stuff! My main concern however is that I have approximately 40 kilo's of music scores, CD's and some personal items that I absolutely cannot part with and need to get home. Since I am flying with my (very large) instrument, I can only bring one suitcase and a small carry-on on my flight. Also I'll be leaving CH permanently to go to a summer course on July 7th, and then flying directly to Canada on August 4th, so it's not possible for me to bring everything and somehow get it all on my flight.
So, if there are any compassionate souls out there who could possibly accommodate my 2 large boxes and one carry-on size suitcase in their moving arrangements, I would be sooooo appreciative! Likewise any other helpful suggestions are appreciated! There seems to be no intermediate solution for someone who does not have large pieces of furniture, but still needs to ship some personal items. I am of course willing to pay for this service - however I found the fees I was quoted by various international shipping services (around the 1,000 chf mark) to be much beyond my means. I was hoping that someone who perhaps had a company financed move might be able to help out. Time is not the most important factor in this situation. I just need to be able to drop off my things before July 7th and could pick up them up in Canada at any point after August 5th.
Moving is never fun, but an international move is just that much worse, especially when you're a student! So, thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out!

I recommend that you keep looking into the international shippers to try to find a better price.

When we moved here from Ontario 4 years ago, we shipped WAY more stuff than that, about 150-200 kg, some of which were also pretty bulky items (it included 4 bikes in two specially-made boxes, plus some other items in a couple of very heavy boxes). An Ontario-based international shipping company did this for about CAD$1000, and friends of ours shipped a similar amount with the same company to Zurich for a similar price a few months before. It wasn't a door-to-door service, which makes it much cheaper - we dropped it off at the shipper's warehouse in Ontario and collected it from Geneva airport 10 days later.

I don't think you could use the same company as we did (KW International Shipping) to do it in the reverse direction, but there must be something similar available here. If you find anything, then please post it here because someday we'll probably have to make the return journey with even more gear.

that same shipping company should be able to sort it out, door to door for you. just give them a call and ask!

x
tonik

I never even got a response from KW International. Perhaps my request was too small for them to handle. Anyway, for future reference for anyone doing an international move, I got in contact with the shipping company SEV in Vevey. They are not a door to door company, but were willing to come and pick up stuff at my home. They will also safely package awkward or ungainly goods, such as a guitar. Of course you have to pick up your shipment yourself on the other end. They also have a storage warehouse if you find yourself in need of some extra time before shipping. Their export rep speaks very good English. They have very reasonable rates for my move from Geneve-Toronto airport.
You can contact them at:
SEV - VEVEY
Export Dept
Tel 0041/21.925.37.86
Fax 0041/21.921.65.63
m.saugy@sev-port-franc.ch
Hope that this is helpful!

Hey Sybil, I'm moving back to the Toronto area (Barrie) in a week and I'm thinking of shipping my guitar and snowboard, I might give them a call and check it out. Thanks for the recommendation

Just to put some notes about picking up shipments at the Geneve airport since I just did this.

First, KW shipping worked great but they were not the most friendly about responding to requests, I think they only want to work with larger shipments.

That being said, for any shipping newbies like myself:

1) You pick up your stuff at Cargo and signage sucks. In the Geneve airport you exit the train station and head towards Palexpo. Cargo is past Palexpo conference center, follow the red walking path, walk underneath the building and veer off to the left. There's the shipment docks. It's a long way. It's only open during business hours (8-4:30 not lunch) and a very scary place on a Saturday night.

2) KW in my case shipped my package with British Airways and I had to go to Dnata imports. 5th entrance. I actually never did figure out how to get in through the 5th entrance, I went in one of the big open doors and walked inside amongst all the boxes etc to the very end of the building (as directed to somewhere around 2nd entrance).

3) At the customer window show Dnata your number. You pay them 50 francs for administration, they give you the paper and then you go upstairs to clear customs.

4) Customs is on the 2nd floor and I had to exit the building and go in one of the official looking entrances with stairs and an elevator. It has glass doors and says customs.

5) There will be a problem if you ask that when the shipment is sent that the details describe it as containing old personal stuff and KW shipping says "Less than 6 months old" on their Air Waybill. Then you go back downstairs, get your package from Dnata and take it over to customs downstairs (just around the corner). You open the package, prove it is actually all old and stinky and then you get to leave. Lucky me I didn't have to pay anything. I had to show my permit.

I'm sure if you're a seasoned international traveller this is all old hat, but maybe someone will search and find this info useful.

And with regards to KW, my other party doing the shipping was annoyed about the Waybill error and wrote to me:

"I told that man that it has to be marked MORE then six months old and I
explained to him that you can get taxed if it is newer then six months and
he said he didn't know that."

And then it was marked "Less than six months old".

Cereus

Also one big pointer.
I have 3 friends working in the shipping industry.

Due to the economy they are taking everything they can. I mean they need to fill up the boats as it costs them close to millions EACH day to keep it in port.... .

So Just call them , have them make a quote and then tell them you pay less than that. People are getting cars shipped over for 400$ from the USA, cause that is what it costs them. So they will likely take lower rates as they need their ships out and moving...


Just a heads up.

Boats do not cost millions each day, a dry bulker, approx 20kt deadweight goes for around $10-12 k per day, sophisticated chemical tanker approx same size about $25k/day.

You need a container vessel to ship most household stuff and cars and these are readily available although $400 is very very cheap for a car.

okay.... can you give me the name and contact info of any company you know that will ship to europe for 400 USD. I have my car lying around in the US and would love to get it here for 400 USD.

For something like this, just use the Swiss Post Office.

Here are the different pages you will need:

http://www.poste.ch/en/post-startsei...ernational.htm

http://www.post.ch/sgo/CountrySelectedAction.do

http://www.post.ch/sgo/pdfDownload.d...&countryIso=CA

Canada is Zone 3. Two boxes of 20 KG each will set you back about CHF 105 x 2 so about CHF 210.

If you use boxes, you will want to go to Jumbo (I know they have it there) and get the Tesa tape that is shown in the photo. It costs CHF 14.50 per roll but it is well worth it. It has nylon filament running through it. It WILL NOT BREAK. Wrap the tape all the way around the box (at least twice in each direction).

Good luck.