To Ship…or Not to Ship?

International Living Postcards-- Sunday Edition

Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007
Paris, France

He'd removed the mirror-fronted door from the antique armoire so it'd fit more easily up the staircase. Then he'd dropped it.

"You have insurance, right?" he asked as he looked up at me from the pile of glass shards at our feet.

The same guy cracked a round rosewood table. His mate broke the arm on a 200-year-old Windsor chair…and mis-packed the mantle clock so the pendulum bent in transit. The two of them dropped the enameled breakfront, chipping away several inches from the corner on which it landed…

Yes, I had insurance. And, and over the next 12 months, I argued with the agent about values and repair estimates.

That was our second international shipping experience, from Waterford to Paris. No furniture had been broken during the first, six years prior, from Baltimore to Ireland. That time, though, we hadn't found the house we wanted to move into by the time our container-load of furniture arrived at the Dublin docks. I called the recommended firm to arrange long-term storage. The initial conversation went like this:

"How much per month would you charge me to store a full container for up to a year?" I asked.

" Ah, Love, don't worry. How are you finding things in Waterford? My wife's family is from Waterford. She's not been well recently, my wife. She's got a bad flu. I'm leaving now to go home to check on her. I'll call you in a day or two about the fees."

"Oh, fine. I'm very sorry to hear about your wife. I hope she's well soon."

Three days later:

"Hello, yes, it's me again. I'm wondering about the cost for storing a full container for up to a year?"

"Ah, Love, how are you getting settled in? How are they treating you down there in Waterford? My wife's not at all well. She's back to the doc today."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm wondering, though, about the cost for storage. My container is sitting on the docks…"

"Don't worry, Love, don't worry. It'll all sort itself out. Got to run home now…"

Eventually, this gentleman did accept our container for storage…but he didn't quote me a cost…until 13 months later, when I contacted him to arrange for delivery to our new home. In those 13 months, we spoke often. I got to know his family well. But, somehow, we never were able to pin down the question of fees. I shuddered whenever the subject came up with Lief, who couldn't fathom buying a service for which you had no idea the cost.

Fortunately, the final invoice, when it arrived, was reasonable…less than we'd expected. If it hadn't been, though…what would we have done?

More to the point today: Would we do it again?

Enough time has passed that we can smile now at our international shipping experiences to date. But, after each, I swore I'd never do it again. I'd shipped a load of antiques from Baltimore to Ireland only to discover I could have bought more and better antiques for less money in Waterford. Then, once I moved the even greater load of antiques from Waterford to Paris, I promised myself that was the end. Those old pieces of furniture had found their final resting places.

We're considering another move. This summer, when Kaitlin goes away to college, we might, we're thinking, do well to relocate our reduced-size family to Panama…or perhaps Buenos Aires, to cut down on trans-Atlantic travel.

Lief's first question: Will you want to ship all this stuff again?

I've yet to respond to Lief but will give you my answer today: No. Our tables and chairs seem content where they are. I'll leave them be…for now.

Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living

P.S. Could have been worse. In addition to the furniture and household items, we could also have been freighting a car…or a pet. I won't say I'll never ship internationally again, but I won't undertake the adventure a third time in haste. If you're planning for your own move abroad and considering the To Ship Or Not To Ship question, I encourage you to leverage our collective experience, detailed in our Ultimate "Live Overseas" Kit, complete with online course, available in the IL Bookstore. Hope you find it helpful.