Shipping+your+stuff

Shipping
People report mixed experiences with shipping companies. Concordia does not currently contract with any single shipping agency.

Information from[| Relocating to Shanghai].
Past experiences:
 * I used [|Allied Van Lines] in the USA, and it went really well. Agents were first rate, especially the Chinese agent here in Shanghai. She was polite, efficient, and reliable. (Michael Boll) However, all of our picture frames were broken in the move. I highly recommend that you watch over the packers and ensure they pack your pictures well. //(Lori Boll)//
 * We used Bekins for our move. They were great! They packed our things and we had them when promised. We didn't have anything broken. It took five weeks from pick-up to delivery. We booked them through the [|LCMS web site]. Since Concordia is part of the LCMS (Lutheran Church Mo Synod) you can get discounts if you book through them. Look for relocation information and partners. Another big thing is you can not receive your shipment until you have a residents permit. This takes about 30 days from the time you get here. If your shipment arrives before you can claim it, you will have to pay for storage on this end. It took us one week to get our shipment after we received our permit. //(Suanne Forrester)//
 * Keep in mind that whatever you ship it will take over a month from the date of your arrival before you will be able to clear it through customs. This is because your work permit must be "in hand" to be able to clear your shipment. //S. Nurre//
 * If your apartment is not furnished (this depends upon the housing complex), the school will try to rent basic furniture for a month so that you have a livable space upon arrival. (beds, table & chairs, sofa, TV). In some cases apartments are not ready in which case you will be housed in a serviced apartment until your apartment is ready. If furniture is rented you can continue to rent or choose to purchase your own things. All apartments will come with a stove, refrigerator, AC, curtains, washing machine, and clothes dryer. In addition the school will provide a set of sheets for each bed, pillows and towels to get you to keep. There will not be small kitchen appliances or other kitchen items. A first week of orientation is focused on helping you get settled in your apartment. If you have further questions about this please contact me. //S. Nurre//
 * **Appliances:** I understand your attachment to your Kuerig coffee maker. The Kuerig pods may be available in specialty shops in Shanghai but will tend to be pricy. The issue, of course, if you bring things from the US, is the current that they run on. China is 220, so most things from the US will need a converter. You can buy transformers here, but they are sometimes a bit of a hassle. We bought a Wii here a few years ago. Games that we buy here work fine, but if we buy "real" games from the US, we often have issues. Not sure whether Xbox has the same issues or not. //Kathy Gordon// I would caution you to review the customs duties associated with shipping appliances in __Relocating to Shanghai__. If you are going to bring electronics it is best if they arrive in your checked luggage. //S. Nurre//
 * **Fitted sheets:** are available at IKEA //Jamie Willett//