Gear Shipping Advice?

Dawn · December 7th, 2005, 07:53 PM

Hi all,

Last time I shipped all of my gear out of the country was 1999. Back then I used a large plastic container (made by Rubbermaid, I think) and pretty much just threw everything in there, taped it up, and took it to FedEx.

Now I need to send my drysuit and gear from the US to Sweden...any recommendations you guys may have regarding what to pack it in and/or what service to use?

I will not be shipping primary lights or bottles, btw.

Thank you in advance!
Dawn

***ericfine50*** · December 7th, 2005, 08:04 PM

Hi Dawn,

I used a large heavy duty plastic utility box from Home Depot. It had a lock on it. When I worked for Sartek, we used them to ship stuff to DEMA. It is almost TSA proof.

Dawn · December 12th, 2005, 11:42 PM

Yep, I think we used something similar for DEMA shipping.

Thank you Eric and to those who sent PM's on this! My gear will be well taken care of along its journey to Stockholm

Best,
Dawn

JS1scuba · December 13th, 2005, 03:30 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dawn)

Hi all,

Last time I shipped all of my gear out of the country was 1999. Back then I used a large plastic container (made by Rubbermaid, I think) and pretty much just threw everything in there, taped it up, and took it to FedEx.

Now I need to send my drysuit and gear from the US to Sweden...any recommendations you guys may have regarding what to pack it in and/or what service to use?

I will not be shipping primary lights or bottles, btw.

Thank you in advance!
Dawn

Hi Dawn,

We ship products and equipment all over the world. Essentialy as long as you pack it in a decent case you will be fine. However you will need to deal with customs. Someone will need to receive your items and clear them though customs. And the cost of shipping to Sweden can get ugly at times. For example a 50 lbs package shipped by UPS Worldwide Expedited will be approx $460.00 USD when shipped from a UPS drop spot. Granted it gets it there in 24-48 hours and it is insured but its a bit pricey.

US Postal Global Express 3-5 days is about $185 plus insurance.

If you were shipping say, 2,000 pounds of hardware it would cost proportionaly less since it can go on a freight carrier on a pallet but it would still need to clear customs.

You might just want to toss it all in a big pelican case and take it on the plane. You might pay an extra $100 each way for overweight or oversize but it will be easier to clear customs since it will be "personal gear".

Cheers

Dawn · December 14th, 2005, 09:58 PM

Hi Joel,

Thank you for the info. It sounds like taking the gear with me and paying the extra $$ to the airlines may make the most sense (and ensure my gear makes it all the way with no major issues).

Quick story - when we went to Merida in 1999 with some of the WKPP members and Texas A&M researchers, we flew in through Cancun. I was on the flight with George Irvine, Jesse Armantrout, Brent Scarabin, John Rose, Bill Mee and a few others from the team. As we went through customs, I keenly suggested whoever got the "red light" and had to have their gear searched also had to buy the first night's dinner...of course I was last in line after no one else had been searched, and I got the red light.

As I was trying to explain what some of the pieces of equipment were, George was in the background telling the officials to double check my bags because I was wanted back in the US for illegal activity (he was doing this while he and the others laughed hysterically, mind you...and then the customs guy asked me if I had ever "smuggled anything" which made them all fall on the floor laughing even harder)...so utter humiliation PLUS I had to buy the gang dinner :p

***ericfine50*** · December 14th, 2005, 10:02 PM

Dawn,

Was that the dives that got written up in ADM a while back? Great stuff if it was.

Take Care
Eric

Dawn · December 14th, 2005, 10:37 PM

Hmmm, I don't know. I have never read the article you are referring to. I know Jesse Armantrout did an unofficial write-up, which may have mades its way to publication (?) I also did a write-up in 2001 for DirQuest journal.

If you have any more info on it, I would love to find a copy. Just did a google search and didn't turn up anything.

Thanks Eric,
Dawn

***ericfine50*** · December 15th, 2005, 02:33 PM

Hmmm. Maybe it was Quest. I have check now.

December 7th, 2005, 07:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dawn(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 153	Gear Shipping Advice? Hi all, Last time I shipped all of my gear out of the country was 1999. Back then I used a large plastic container (made by Rubbermaid, I think) and pretty much just threw everything in there, taped it up, and took it to FedEx. Now I need to send my drysuit and gear from the US to Sweden...any recommendations you guys may have regarding what to pack it in and/or what service to use? I will not be shipping primary lights or bottles, btw. Thank you in advance! Dawn

December 13th, 2005, 03:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
JS1scuba(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 82	Quote: (Originally Posted by Dawn) Hi all, Last time I shipped all of my gear out of the country was 1999. Back then I used a large plastic container (made by Rubbermaid, I think) and pretty much just threw everything in there, taped it up, and took it to FedEx. Now I need to send my drysuit and gear from the US to Sweden...any recommendations you guys may have regarding what to pack it in and/or what service to use? I will not be shipping primary lights or bottles, btw. Thank you in advance! Dawn Hi Dawn, We ship products and equipment all over the world. Essentialy as long as you pack it in a decent case you will be fine. However you will need to deal with customs. Someone will need to receive your items and clear them though customs. And the cost of shipping to Sweden can get ugly at times. For example a 50 lbs package shipped by UPS Worldwide Expedited will be approx $460.00 USD when shipped from a UPS drop spot. Granted it gets it there in 24-48 hours and it is insured but its a bit pricey. US Postal Global Express 3-5 days is about $185 plus insurance. If you were shipping say, 2,000 pounds of hardware it would cost proportionaly less since it can go on a freight carrier on a pallet but it would still need to clear customs. You might just want to toss it all in a big pelican case and take it on the plane. You might pay an extra $100 each way for overweight or oversize but it will be easier to clear customs since it will be "personal gear". Cheers __________________ Joel Silverstein, VP, COO www.techdivinglimited.com a division of Scuba Training and Technology Inc. NAUTILUS DIVE PLANNER CYLINDER SPEC CHART

December 14th, 2005, 09:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dawn(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 153	Hi Joel, Thank you for the info. It sounds like taking the gear with me and paying the extra $$ to the airlines may make the most sense (and ensure my gear makes it all the way with no major issues). Quick story - when we went to Merida in 1999 with some of the WKPP members and Texas A&M researchers, we flew in through Cancun. I was on the flight with George Irvine, Jesse Armantrout, Brent Scarabin, John Rose, Bill Mee and a few others from the team. As we went through customs, I keenly suggested whoever got the "red light" and had to have their gear searched also had to buy the first night's dinner...of course I was last in line after no one else had been searched, and I got the red light. As I was trying to explain what some of the pieces of equipment were, George was in the background telling the officials to double check my bags because I was wanted back in the US for illegal activity (he was doing this while he and the others laughed hysterically, mind you...and then the customs guy asked me if I had ever "smuggled anything" which made them all fall on the floor laughing even harder)...so utter humiliation PLUS I had to buy the gang dinner :p Last edited by Dawn; December 14th, 2005 at 11:50 PM.

December 14th, 2005, 10:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dawn(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 153	Hmmm, I don't know. I have never read the article you are referring to. I know Jesse Armantrout did an unofficial write-up, which may have mades its way to publication (?) I also did a write-up in 2001 for DirQuest journal. If you have any more info on it, I would love to find a copy. Just did a google search and didn't turn up anything. Thanks Eric, Dawn Last edited by Dawn; December 14th, 2005 at 11:48 PM.

December 7th, 2005, 08:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
*ericfine50* (Online) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MA Posts: 622	Hi Dawn, I used a large heavy duty plastic utility box from Home Depot. It had a lock on it. When I worked for Sartek, we used them to ship stuff to DEMA. It is almost TSA proof.

December 12th, 2005, 11:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dawn(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 153	Yep, I think we used something similar for DEMA shipping. Thank you Eric and to those who sent PM's on this! My gear will be well taken care of along its journey to Stockholm Best, Dawn

December 14th, 2005, 10:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
*ericfine50* (Online) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MA Posts: 622	Dawn, Was that the dives that got written up in ADM a while back? Great stuff if it was. Take Care Eric

December 15th, 2005, 02:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
*ericfine50* (Online) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MA Posts: 622	Hmmm. Maybe it was Quest. I have check now.