I'm trying to plan our move from Oahu back to Los Angeles. We have too much for airline baggage, but too little for a shipping container. We're selling all the furniture and big items, and planning to buy used replacements when we arrive. We're paring down our belongings as much as we can bear, but it's still not going to fit in airline baggage. I'm talking medium-value, medium-sized things like baking pans, shoes, small kitchen appliances, and books. What's the cheapest way to ship all this little stuff? [more inside]
posted by lostburner on Mar 19, 2013 - 10 answers

How to pack a soundbar? [more inside]
posted by dhens on Dec 30, 2012 - 4 answers

I'm looking for moving/shipping companies to send a couple of boxes of books & clothes from Australia to the USA (as I'm relocating). While requesting quotes, one company strongly suggested that I hire them to pack my things for me as apparently US Customs get suspicious if the boxes were packed by the individual mover (me, in this case) rather than by a professional. I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere else and the US Customs website hasn't addressed this. What's going on? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Jul 1, 2012 - 12 answers

Moving from Brooklyn, NY to San Diego, CA. Have about 10-15 large/heavy boxes to ship to CA. A few boxes are primarily books and DVDs. The others are clothes and shoes. Nothing super fragile. I don't have a car. What is the best/easiest/most affordable way to do this? Halp!
posted by blackcatcuriouser on Jun 19, 2012 - 16 answers

How do you ship a framed picture? [more inside]
posted by treehorn+bunny on Jun 7, 2011 - 11 answers

What is the safest and cheapest way to ship 4-7 boxes (and possibly an iMac) overseas? [more inside]
posted by iamkimiam on May 23, 2010 - 8 answers

What's the best way to go about shipping a home server overseas? [more inside]
posted by sun-el on May 3, 2010 - 10 answers

How do I ship a snowboard across the country? [more inside]
posted by Kimpossible on Feb 23, 2010 - 5 answers

I'm having great difficulty finding a supplier of boxes and packing materials in the Netherlands that doesn't require buying in bulk [more inside]
posted by MentokTheMindToker on Oct 16, 2008 - 1 answer

Long time listener, first time caller: Any globetrotting rowers or shipping pros out there? I need to transport a rowing oar overseas, and I don't want it damaged. I'm planning to check it on my flight as 'sports equipment', but any advice or alternate suggestions are welcome. More details inside. [more inside]
posted by iona on Oct 8, 2008 - 9 answers

What is the most secure and cost effective way to start moving a small number of things to the US from France? [more inside]
posted by tip120 on Aug 18, 2008 - 5 answers

This is my first real (cross-country) move. What are your best packing/moving strategies that I should adhere to? [more inside]
posted by Asherah on Aug 2, 2008 - 8 answers

Which is the best shipping service to use for moving? USPS, Fedex, or UPS? I would like them to come to my house. [more inside]
posted by lunasol on May 27, 2008 - 10 answers

How do I ship a 42 inch flat panel TV for repair without getting hosed on shipping rates or service? [more inside]
posted by The Deej on Sep 23, 2007 - 6 answers

MovingFilter - Alright, Mefi, one last time. In about 24 hours, we need to load up our car with our worldy possesions and ship the rest for our move cross country. How best to ship about a dozen boxes of a standard size? [more inside]
posted by EatTheWeak on Sep 28, 2006 - 17 answers

PackagingFilter - Desperately seeking specialty packaging: Die-cut, corrugated plastic mailers? [more inside]
posted by bkdelong on Feb 6, 2006 - 6 answers

I will soon be moving permanently from California to the UK. Besides the headaches of visa applications and plane tickets, I have an awful lot of crap I need to ship over. I'm looking for the cheapest, safest way to ship large amounts of clothing, books, etc. overseas. I don't mind if the cheapest option means it will take 3 months to arrive. Any advice on this matter is welcome. [more inside]
posted by circe on Jun 2, 2005 - 12 answers

Are there any precautions I should take when shipping a hard drive in regards to packing? I've heard that it's important to have a certain amount of padding around it, but I don't know what would be best.
posted by mindless progress on Oct 13, 2004 - 4 answers

Can I send a couple bottles of beer in the mail? Are there problems with potential carbonationexplosion? "I'll take my answer offline" --back tomorrow morning.
posted by Shane on Jun 14, 2004 - 14 answers