To ship or buy new?

richsadams · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 9:54 am Post subject: TV

~~~~~ (Is that what it says on the birth cirtificate?) is absolutely right about TV's!

Be sure to check with the manufacturer!

My understanding is that it's not hard to convert a PAL I (UK version) to PAL B. Or as ~~~~~ says, they might do it on their own. However for a majority of us Yanks/North American types, our TV's (NTSC broadcast receivers) have to have a full signal converter plus a transformer! Worth it for our 55" wide-screen HDTV, but not for the others...but selling them will put at least twenty dollars in our pockets! Laughing

If anyone needs it, here's a list of the various broadcast signals each country uses...

http://www.exportappliances.com/chartofworld.asp

If you're lucky enough to own a "multi-system" television (they receive both PAL and NTSC) you shouldn't have a problem. Buy a multi-region DVD player and you'll make lots of friends!

Alan · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 10:00 am Post subject:

Sorry other than ~~~~~ my earth name is Alan! No idea why it has done that but if someone can tell me that would brilliant otherwise I shall continue forever as ~~~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

richsadams · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 11:18 am Post subject: What's in a name?

Hi Alan!!

I think you can go in under "profile" (top of page) and edit your user name. If not, JCM the moderator can help...

Thanks for being part of this insanity! Wink

Alan · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 8:45 am Post subject:

Oh hell have I tried to change it that but NOOOOO!!! I am locked inside this alias forever and even JCM doesn't respond to the message I sent him................when will it all end??

To think it all started with a simple question about a TV. Nutcase

JCM · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:57 am Post subject:

Username: Alan
Password: Same as before

Done (eventually) Mr. Green

Lauren · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 7:31 am Post subject: Brittania.

Robert - just wondered if your stuff had arrived yet with Brittania? If so did it all make it ok? We have had a quote with them but haven't decided yet who to use.

Tate6 · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 8:25 am Post subject:

I am from the US. Anyone know approx. what the cost is for shipping? Say , for instance, dining set, Vacum (Sorry I have to try! I paid big bucks for my Kirby and I love it!), and a few other antique items-chest of drawers, two chairs, crank phonograph. I have no idea how this works. I am in Wisconsin. Any websites that would give insight to this process and cost? Thanks so much!

richsadams · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 9:56 am Post subject: Shipping

Hello Tate and welcome! Clink

Shipping costs can REALLY vary depending on a number of factors. Your goods would probably go overland from WI. to Los Angeles or SFO and then by sea to NZ...you'd need to indicate where you'd be moving so a nearby port can be chosen (Auckland, Christ Church, Tauranga, etc.).

Moving costs are by weight overland then by volume at sea. The moving company weighs their trucks empty, then again after your belongings are packed inside and charges you accordingly. Eventually all of your things are put into dry shipping containers and loaded onto a cargo ship that sets out to sea and reaches a blistering speed of about 1.5 MPH most of the time. Laughing

Ships use 20 ft. and 40 ft. containers. A 20 ft. container can hold up to 32.8cu.m (1,158 cu.ft). 40 ft. containers hold up to 67.2cu.m (2,372 cu.ft). Shipping costs depend on how much volume you utilize. If you fill up a whole container, you pay for the full container. If you only utilize a partial amount, you pay for that amount. Beware however that if you only utililze a partial container your belongings may have to wait until something else going to the same port fills up the leftover space. Uhoh

It can take from 4 to 12 weeks or more (sometimes less) for your things to get to NZ from the U.S. so you'll need to plan on renting - ideally a furnished place to live for a while - or sleep on the floor. Hmmm

There is no set formula for individual pieces as each has its own weight and volume considerations. For example our 6 chair dining room set will take up 35 cubic ft. of space and weighs a couple of hundred pounds. But something else...books for example, would weigh a good deal more if they took up the same amount of space.

When you get serious about a move, you'll need to call in a moving company or three and have them give you an estimate. There's no charge for estimates. You'll also need to consider insurance, etc. (You never know what kind of day a Longshoreman may be having! Embarassed

)

THEN Nutcase

you have to weigh (pun intended Laughing

) the value of your items plus shipping plus insurance against the cost of replacement in NZ. Generally you'll be better off getting rid of things you can live without, replacing some things when you get there, taking only the things near and dear to your heart.

As previously mentioned, these are things NZ Customs does NOT want you to bring into the country...

Sorry to say, vacuums are included in the list. Sad

That's because vacuums and the other items can carry germs, diseases and infections not to mention little critters (too small to see) that might have a negative impact on the NZ environment. They are very conscious of keeping things clean and green! Mr. Green

There is an option of fumigating items...the cost varies from $100 to $150 NZD per item. Ouch! Eek

Also beware that if Customs decides to look into one item...they may decide to take a good look at everything! So if anything on the Bill of Lading/Manifest is found to be incorrect...guess where all of your belongings will be staying for a while. bobby

U.S. vehicles are almost impossible to import as well unless they are some kind of collectable. And even then you have to give up your first born.

We will be receiving an estimate for our move in the next week or so...typical house I think. I'll keep you posted. Most likely, once we regain coconsciousness, we'll cut a LOT of the things out we said we'd never part with. Our friends and relatives will absolutely LOVE us I'm sure! Laughing

SoCal Gal · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 12:32 pm Post subject: To ship or buy new?

Thanks so much, Rich, where would we be without you? Oh, right, pouring over the internet looking for answers and probably missing them!

I look forward to the good information in your posts. Everything you say about weighing the "true value" of one's items is right on the money (pun not intended!) We have loads of wicker furniture, and that will make some other person else very happy I'm sure. I did not know about the bicycles, that's a new one for me. Again, plenty to think about, and any shopping I do now I do very carefully! cool

richsadams · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:07 pm Post subject: Things

Hi Again SoCalGal

No problem...I know how little info there really is about moving to NZ...at least in one place...and try to help with what I can. I figure if I contribute some I can get some back now and then...and it seems to work! Clapping

I'm hoping a little Karma and the dear Lord will come to our rescue and get us into Godzone soon!! Nice One

P.S. I'm still waiting for someone to cry about not being able to take their favorite feather and tusk encrusted coffee table!! Laughing

Grey · I Like It Here Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 74

You can still take things from that list, garden stuff, bicycles, vacuum etc, just make sure they are spotless. For outdoor items such as golf clubs, garden equip, just make sure any trace of dirt is removed, perhaps also use an outdoor disinfectant. With the vacuum just remove the bag, clean inside & out (leave it open so they can see there's no bag & that it's clean).
They will want to inspect these items but as long as you've done a thorough job you'll be ok, otherwise you'll pay to clean/destroy them (if cost of cleaning is too high). Cost may not be that bad though..know someone who had a couple of items cleaned by the inspectors for around $40 (can't remember what they were though).

richsadams · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:21 pm Post subject: Things

Grey,

That's great news...just going by what our moving company's documents stated.

I'd love to be able to keep some of those things for sure! fingers crossed

Hope you're right as I'd hate to get them all the way there only to have them delay delivery, have them taken away, etc.

Folks from the U.S. will still want to give some thought to something like a vacuum that will need a transformer, but otherwise, excellent!

Thanks!

Grey · I Like It Here Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 74

Yeah, I forget you lot use funny voltages! Razz

About the cleaning it's really just from many others who've been through it (from other forums which I guess I shouldn't mention!). Shouldn't delay things too much, think the container will need inspecting anyway. Just had a look back, the $40 I quoted was to fumigate a wicker coffee table & that was the only problem with the container (took golf clubs etc), so just do a thorough job & you should be ok..

Most people seem to use Jeyes fluid for cleaning the outdoor stuff, do you have that in US?

...just had another look.. If MAF want to inspect anything they'll come to the address where the container is being opened, so it could mean a few days wait before you can unload...doesn't seem to be a major issue though. With the bloke I mentioned MAF couldn't make it to visit & just asked him to take certain items to them, but didn't do too bad as the only problem was that table (garden tools, golf clubs etc Ok...had also used Jeyes).

richsadams · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:58 pm Post subject: Things

Grey,

Great advice! Nice One

No Jeyes fluid here in the U.S. Looks like a U.K. product. I'll see if there's something comparable here...I'm sure there is. We'll just give everything a bath in it! Eek

Thanks again!

Tate6 · Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 12:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks so much Rich and Grey! Clapping

That was so much more info than I expected!! Great help! I forgot about the electric items and the transformers!! It is hard when you look around the house and see all of the "stuff". Of course, to get to NZ, I will gladly get rid of almost all of it, except for the antiques. I'm sure after a couple quotes my list of items will get smaller!! Uhoh

Thanks again for all of your help!

Hope to see you all there soon!!
Terry