If anyone can share some of their experiences moving from the USA to Cancun (as a US citizen)...within the last 2-3 years....I would be interested to hear their experiences.. I am currently getting estimates from international moving companies regarding shipping my household goods to Cancun. And was surpised by the 1st "estimate", to say the least. I have many more moving companies coming to my home for moving estimates. As a single person....I have an average livingroom (sofa, loveseat, coffee table, wall system, end tables - diningroom table w 6 chairs, sideboard - queen bed, clothing, armoire..few small file cabinets and the usual kitchen stuff (cookware, pots and pans, dishes, etc), my diagnostic equip. from my office (typical ophthalmic equip you see in a dr's exam room... tools.. and a few more small things.. If you can remember whether you were charged either by weight or volume...OR a combination.. and if shipping was by land or sea. AND..if you can remember the total cost..( maybe you would rather forget it..!) Thanks
So much can be replaced more cheaply than it can be shipped that giving thought- reserving shipping for the truly expensive items (replacement cost greater than shipping costs) and those things you prize most highly for personal reasons- can be worthwhile. In the same vein, selling or giving away everything you decide not to ship will save you having to do it later, anyway, after perhaps years of paying expensive storage on things you decide, in the end, weren't all that important after all.... [One friend of mine moved abroad from NYC, leaving most of his things in storage. He's been abroad, now, more than ten years and has no intention of going back, but continues to shell out several thousands of dollars a year for storage on things that won't see the light of day again until his estate is settled, I'm guessing. He admits he will probably never use any of it, again, but doesn't want to go through the pain of sorting it, and making the necessary decisions. Those who have done it know how hard that can be, sometimes. Everything has memories....]
Six years ago we drove our stuff from Colorado to Brownsville in a rented truck, then we put it in a Mexican movers' truck. The rental truck cost us around $1200 USD before gas. The Mexican mover cost us about $2400 USD. The mover came across the border to the US to collect the stuff, then crossed back and drove the stuff to Cancun. We got quotes from movers that were all above $7000 USD. Most of them wanted to float the stuff to Progreso. All of them clearly had not done much moving across Mexico before. We finally decided to hire a Mexican company to do the Mexico part.
Thanks RG for that bit of $$ information... I may be re-thinking what items I really want to take with me....after the very first "estimate" from a local affiliate of Ranier International, located in Seattle, Wash. After spending about an hour or so measuring dimensions of a few things..and asking questions.....3 days later - I received an email from the company... $20,000.00 + the cost of crating and shipping my motorcycle.. I am planning to reply to them....stating that - "I DO NOT WISH TO PURCHASE YOUR COMPANY...!!" Just use your "services".... I am already placing items by the curbside - with a sign reading - "FREE". And it seems that I am doing a brisk "business".... As "FREE" is always a good price....!! :mnm:
Sounds like a smart move, to me. We've made a number of big moves, and lived in employer provided, fully furnished housing, so we didn't have much more than personal effects. But, just to move those- books, clothing, kitchen utensils, etc.- from the U.S. was going to cost $6,000! Gives you a chance to think seriously about just how valuable each thing really is to you, in the long run. Shipping is so expensive that, unless you approach it as a "do-it-yourself" project, as Rivergirl and others have done, many things are not worth what they cost to ship. Plus, shopping for replacements can be fun, and gives you a chance to match your home to your new environment!
V.......!!! I am finding out just how expensive it is to ship "JUNK" to Cancun.....but....the 2nd moving company came to my home yesterday...and this man had over 40 years experience..in international moving....also the company is CERTIFIED....!!! And after he had spent about 2 hours with his laptop..inventorying..what I wanted to ship....He told me that the total of my goods...DID NOT ADD UP to 1400 CF.....!!! as the 1st company had told me...!! And that the total was in the range of 1/2 of that...and closer to 700 CF container... and maybe even including my motorcycle...!! :mnm: WOO HOO......!!! As we were going thru the list of furniture....I have a sideboard with drawers and 2 cabinets.... He asked me what was in there...and I told him....that I have not looked inside..in years...!! I opened one of the doors and found about 20 bottles of assorted liquors (many not even opened..!) and since I am not able to take them with me... He left with 18 bottles of the good stuff...!! He was a very happy man!!! I had decided.....NOT to take the queen-size bed....and buy a new one after I arrive.... and most likely..will find myself making similar decisions with other items.... Does anyone need a large collection of barely used Winter coats and jackets....?????? CHEAP $$..!
