Gear Shipping (again)

[juniorhifikit]

After much research, I've found that sending gear internationally is REALLY expensive. For example: Rockit Cargo charges between $1200 to $1800 for one 275 pound anvil flight case. Ouch. So, I've decided to try the U.S. Postal Service. I broke the gear down into smaller 4-8 space SKB racks sealed in cardboard boxes with plastic strapping, to comply with their size/weight limitations. They have a maximum insurance indemnity of $5000 per package (which doesn't quite cover it, but close), and it looks like the postage will be around $75 per package. Not bad.

If my gear arrives safe and sound, I'll be a happy camper. Either way, I'll post back with the results. If anyone else has experience or ideas on this subject, by all means share it here. "Post 9/11" freight has gotten rediculou$ and record budgets are shrinking. Hopefully we poor recording monkeys can find a way to cope.dfegad

[Fletcher]

"Rockit" is a freight forwarder, not a shipping company. A freight forwarder books shipping companies... and needless to say marks up their fees. The USPS is a shipping company... but they don't really answer to anyone which always makes me a bit nervous. Yeah, they're less expensive, but you will often have to wait 30+ days to file a claim, and with the breadth and expanse of their system tracking is pretty close to impossible.

FedEx and UPS are both pretty expensive... but they're exceptionally good at knowing where the stuff is at all times which is something I'm often willing to pay for.

Now putting stuff into SKB cases is a recipe for a whole lot of broken gear... but it's your gear so knock yourself out. I have found that anything less than a real roadcase and my odds are around 70/30 of the stuff getting there whole... and a 30% risk of damage to me is absolutely unacceptable. FWIW in my world, only Future Cases or R&R cases are acceptable... Calzone, Anvil, and anything built from less than 1/2" [3/4" if over 12RU] Baltic Birch is just not roadworthy... nor plane worthy.

If you have someone on the other side who can free someone up to go to the airport to catch your stuff... then what I would recommend is that you ship the stuff via the "national carriers" freight service. Like to France, I use "Air France"; to Germany, "Lufthansa"; Australia, "Quantas"; etc., etc., etc.

It is also generally advisable to pick a customs broker prior to the freight landing in your country of choice. I generally try to go with the smaller brokers as they have less work and can pay more attention to my shipment. I have had stuff hung up by customs brokers for over two weeks because they were just too busy to get to my small shipment... and I have a feeling that if I hadn't broken their balls 2-3 times a day everyday for those two weeks that my shipment would probably still be hung up in their system.

Some customs brokers have trucking fleets that can deliver you shipment to you [if you've filled out all the paper work in advance and they have payment on file... usually a credit card... but sometimes "pre-payment by check", or if you have some kind of on going relationship they'll sometimes do "C.O.D" with you.

Best of luck... I hope your stuff gets there OK

[juniorhifikit]

Originally posted by Fletcher
"Rockit" is a freight forwarder, not a shipping company. A freight forwarder books shipping companies... and needless to say marks up their fees. The USPS is a shipping company...

Yeah, what I've found is that none of the shipping companies will deal with John Q Public directly anymore due to post 9/11 fear. They don't want the liability. They've all refered me to freight forwarding companies - like Rockit. They all seem to charge about the same - given the size/weight that we're talking about. UPS, FedEx, and the USPS have severe size and weight restrictions, so won't deal with my shock-mounted Anvil cases, and their prices for the smaller/flimsy packaging ends up about the same as a big shipment with a freight-forwarder - the USPS being the exception.

This is turning into a problem where I can't accept smaller record budgets out of town. The cartage alone might eat up 1/5 of the budget. If it costs me $3000 to ship gear on a $12K indie record...you see what I'm facing.

Anyone have horror stories about shipping gear they want to share to talk me out of rolling the dice with the USPS?

Anyone have need of an engineer with an HD rig in Europe to help me offset the costs?

[vnt001]

which country are you shipping the gear to?

[Wiggy Neve Slut]

Having been down this road a lot over the last few years.

I found DHL more expensive but faster than FEDEX.

FEDEX better in all respects to UPS..

UPS utterly freaking hopeless... if they can lose a package they will do their best! If they can try to overbill you they will and then issue overdue notices they will... they are not my favourite company to say the least.

But now im using a freight forwarder/shipper that buys bulk space from DHL... so its DHL speed and service @ a cheaper rate which is far more competitive than most others.

Most importanly I get to speak to the SAME person everytime, i can get them to pick up a box/package virtually in any decent sized city in the world and sorting troubles (if any) are easily resolved with thier own customers brokerage service.

Im not sure about how others feel about shipping and business in general, but it's all about building relationships and a strong and trusting relationship with a shipper is vital. Especially so, when you're shipping stuff like this around that costs a pretty penny and is often fragile. Having found a shipper that actually gives a toss about whats in the box is a refreshing expereince and is the prime reason that i wil continue to use this service. The only limtiation with these types of express courier services is that size/weight limtiations often apply but this one will do upto 100Kg which is pretty cool cos i never realy ship over that. Failing that (if you are shipping voer 100kg etc) try a bigger company like BAXglobal who have the infrastructure and resources to airfreight shite like a SSL to timbuktoo.

so give deltec international a call. they do a great job for me..

http://www.deltec-international.com/
they got offices all over the world it seems.

Cheers
Wiggy

[juniorhifikit]

I'll be shipping from California to Paris, France. Thanks all for the input. I'll be sticking with my shock-mounted Anvil cases. I've found a few freight-forwarders who charge by the pallet (for a slow-boat if I'm not in a hurry) instead of by the container, and are reasonable. DHL, FedEx and UPS are all out of my price league, as the latter two only offer "express" service. I'm also talking with Air France. I'll post back with the results.

[Fletcher]

If you book early enough there is a good chance that you can get your racks into Air France [or whatever airline you're taking] cargo on the same flight you're on... which can make the whole process quite a bit easier.

It has been my experience that if you have your cargo on the same plane you're on, with a designated customs broker that you can often take your shipment out of the airport on the same day you arrive.

Best of luck with it.

[tinpig]

Originally posted by juniorhifikit
I've found a few freight-forwarders who charge by the pallet (for a slow-boat if I'm not in a hurry) instead of by the container, and are reasonable. DHL, FedEx and UPS are all out of my price league, as the latter two only offer "express" service. I'm also talking with Air France. I'll post back with the results.

Once you have decided on a shipper can you post who you used as I am looking into shipping gear between NYC and London.

Also Fletcher, do you use any Customs brokers in the UK?

Cheers,

TP

[Fletcher]

Not for years... but I'm sure you can find one either by calling your client over there and having them look through the phone book for you or by doing a search on the internet...

This seemed to turn up some results: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

[tinpig]

Nice one Fletcher, thanks for Google Link.

TP

[juniorhifikit]

So far, my shipping experience has been a nightmare. You get what you pay for...sort of. You actually get much less than what you pay for, and NO ONE wants to take responsibility for your stuff - even when you pay them to. There are so many middle-men in the shipping business, and none of them communicate with each other.

My best pieces went on the plane with me (and wife) as carry-on. The rest went slow-boat on a pallet in flight cases...with LOT'S of insurance for damage and theft. The insurance cost twice as much as the shipping.

Bottom line: avoid shipping! For the money, you can rent and have more peace of mind. If you're a big rock star or have their budget, use Rockit Cargo and rest easy.

[Kent]

So, this means that you are back! Beer time!

[quadwould]

Hey Junior, if you need to ship back to California.. you can use an airlines cargo department.

I use Virgin Cargo. but you can only use them.. and most others i think going Into the US and not out of. reason being .. all of the post 911 BS regulations. i recently shipped 800 Lbs from London to Boston for £240 ($470). and i was on the flight as well. so no waiting... (maybe a day if Customs in the cargo area is closed.)

[juniorhifikit]

Originally posted by quadwould
Hey Junior, if you need to ship back to California.. you can use an airlines cargo department.

I use Virgin Cargo. but you can only use them.. and most others i think going Into the US and not out of. reason being .. all of the post 911 BS regulations. i recently shipped 800 Lbs from London to Boston for £240 ($470). and i was on the flight as well. so no waiting... (maybe a day if Customs in the cargo area is closed.)

That's f*cking brilliant! I spent almost $2000 and I won't see my gear for a month! All the Airline and Shipping companies in the US require you to go through a certified freight-forwarder = middleman = $$$

Hopefully I'll be here for a while, but it's nice to know there is sanity in shipping (aside from the US)

[quadwould]

yeah its just flights originating in the US that are a pain to ship on.

i say.. rent a van in Paris and drive to London, orput it all on a train to london, and then ship it with Virgin Cargo. Not to mention, Virgin is one of the poshest international flights (Note check the flight numbers ie: VS 11 and VS 53 both go to Boston, but the 53 flight is less convienient, and is a smaller plane .. not a 747.. go with the lower flight numbers those are the bigger roomier planes.) . save for BA (if you get a good plane), and Quantas.. (but they dont go where i usually go)

you can buy insurance from Virgin Cargo as well.. i suggest doing so... but check the fine print as to what is and isnt covered.

[juniorhifikit]

I've actually just shipped from the US to France, and hope to stay in Europe for a while.

[quadwould]

understandably so. but if you do go back (hope you dont have to .. Isn't the EU nicer). i suggest the above

[juniorhifikit]

Much nicer. It'd be even better if I was an EU citizen. working on that...

Maybe France has the same policies for shipping as the UK.

[Ol' Betsey]

Originally posted by quadwould

I use Virgin Cargo. but you can only use them.. and most others i think going Into the US and not out of. reason being .. all of the post 911 BS regulations. i recently shipped 800 Lbs from London to Boston for £240 ($470). and i was on the flight as well. so no waiting... (maybe a day if Customs in the cargo area is closed.)

So your saying you can get it there (to the US) but not back (UK/Europe) via Virgin?

Just trying to clarify. Sounds amazing if you need one way travel...

Cheers for the tip,

R.

[quadwould]

Ol' Betsey, thats exactly what i am saying. easy to go to the US ( as any point of origin will not have anywhere near as silliy of policies as them) but leaving the US... One has to be a registered businees in the US and possibly the state of departure as well for at least three (3) years and have the paper trail pt prove it. thats why frieght forwarding..... i do know an OK frieght forwarder in Boston.. they ship stuff Via Lufthansa.. so the stuff gets where its going fast. but it does make a stop in Frankfurt before going elsewhere.

[eventship]

I am new to this site but definetely not new to shipping backline for live events ect. I work for a major freight forwarder and started the live event division 5 years ago. Like wiggly neve said earlier on this thread, its all about trust and the relationship you build with your shipper and communicating your needs. Building a client base took absolutely no marketing....just honesty and a thank you at the end of the day.
rt

[juniorhifikit]

Originally Posted by eventship

I am new to this site but definetely not new to shipping backline for live events ect. I work for a major freight forwarder and started the live event division 5 years ago. Like wiggly neve said earlier on this thread, its all about trust and the relationship you build with your shipper and communicating your needs. Building a client base took absolutely no marketing....just honesty and a thank you at the end of the day.
rt

Umm...so, what's the company? C'mon, toot your own horn here!