Hello all,

Can anyone advise on the cheapest way to send boxes from Basel to Sydney? We will have aprox 80 kg (4-5 boxes in total). Sea freight is fine- it doesn't matter how long they take to arrive, as long as they get there!

Thanks!!

Check the swisspost seamail prices. You'll probably have to split them into no more than 20kg per box...

Also, compare that with the cost of taking it as 'unaccompanied baggage' when you fly - you might be quite surprised.

Sea-mail is quoted by dimensions, air freight by weight - so if it's really heavy stuff (books) then it's likely to be cheaper by sea...

we used Crown relocations from NZ to here.

We had good experiences, with absolutely nothing damaged. Not even the smallest chip on a glass.

Friends also used them for Tasmania to here, and had lots broken - tv, glass of a huge picture, crockery..

the price was good.

it took about 3 months.

As with all moving companies, you can get unlucky. There can be so many reasons for damage and breakage. You just want to be sure you have adequate insurance to cover repair or replacement costs and be sure to ask what the process is for making an insurance claim - do they have a local adjuster and a local contact handling the claim.

But the OP only has a few boxes, I would recommend a consolidator.

Details of shipping via the CH Post Office. Australia is Zone 5 (on the price list)

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

Details on max box size and max weight (20kg/box) for Australia.

http://www.poste.ch/sgo/pdfDownload....&countryIso=AU

Call FedEx and ask for their best rate. They have an ICF service which is slower than P1 International, but is cheaper for bulk.

If you have someone that can pick up the boxes when they arrive, you can deliver them directly to the airlines and send them airfreight.

Just contact the air-cargo department of the airline that services the airport near your destination in Australia

This is usually the cheapest way to ship.

Thanks you all. You have been a great help!

Empty?
..

I also used Crown relocations (Melbourne to Zurich) and found they were priced well. They kept us regularly up to date with shipping progress and timing of delivery. All our goods arrived in tact (nothing broken, scratched etc).

I would recommend them.

Put 'em on a raft and paddle?

Hi Verbier, looking at this thread it looks like swiss post would also be the best option for me to send some boxes to Singapore since we are moving.
But do you know what size of boxes you can actually use? Can you just buy the normal cardboard boxes from Jumbo or do you have to get them from Swisspost?
I will be sending things like all my motorbike equipment, jackets, trousers, helmets etc so need to get a decent size box.

There are restrictions on the size of box set by Swiss Post and sometimes the Country post office at the other end. This is in addition to the maximum weight of the individual box. Let me take a quick look on the Swiss Post site and see if there is anything specific about Singapore.

I would not suggest the boxes from Jumbo. They are great for a move within CH but not for shipping. You will need to get proper boxes (double walled) and use the tape I have recommended.

Here is the page for SG.

http://www.poste.ch/sgo/pdfDownload....&countryIso=SG

You will pay a bulky price for anything over 100cm x 60cm x 60cm in size so keep this in mind.

SG is in Zone 4 on the cost sheet.

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

You can normally get proper shipping boxes from a moving company and some of the companies that sell shipping supplies. Do a Google search for your area with the key word for "shipping carton" in whichever language.

Hi there, thanks a lot for the info. Was going to ask where to get those type of boxes so I'll try to search around.
Any idea how you get this - "bulky supplement from commercial invoice" ?
I think I'll print out what I want to do from the website and then take it to the post office to show to them and see if they can help a bit more. Just so I'm set on what I need to do before I get started buying boxes etc.
thanks again.

has anyone managed to download this document in English?
"International Dispatch of Documents and Goods (PDF)"
The link on the swiss post site opens in German for me even though the link is supposed to be the english version.

Hi there, this may seem like a stupid question but I wanted to make sure.
On the swiss post website, for sending a PostPac Internatinoal ECONOMY, max weight is 30kg (to singapore). The size mentioned on the web for a parcel just says 100 x 60 x 60
I am assuming these dimensions are cm and not mm since the max weight of the package is 30kg. Can anyone confirm this?

Yes. All dimensions are in cm.

ok, great. Went to post office for more info. Just need to find where I can buy decent moving boxes now.
thanks.

Remember you want double walled cartons and seriously, get the tape that I mention (Jumbo and maybe other DIY). This tape will make all the difference in the carton arriving intact and still closed. Remember: all around the box and two times each side.

If you work in an office, the person who buys office supplies might have a catalog from one of the companies that sells proper boxes.