selling and sending chairs to the US - how?

cem

I am getting a lot of interest in our chairs from customers in the US but the delivery to the US seems to be very expensive..around £140 per chair

(Chair box dimensions: 73cm * 72cm* 61cm weight: 16kg)

I have searched on google and many other couriers but can't seem to figure out a way of sending goods to the US for cheaper.

I'd really appreciate if you guys on here could give me a few pointers.

Many thanks in advance.

paddyrg

Are you looking at seafreight? Much slower but MUCH cheaper if you can get a decent sized load together. How about finding someone in the US to act as your ground/handling agent and sending a small containerload over? Then they can do the domestic shipping once there.

cem

No I was looking at air freight. I am not even sure how sea freight would work to be honest and what it would cost and the time it would take.

If guys on here have suggestions for company names then please let me know. Meanwhile I will Google.

Off course Airfrieght is still the preferred option.

paddyrg

Of course it is - just have to pay airfreight prices, that's all!

20' container (ie a half-length one) will be about £5k seafreight delivered to somewhere in the middle of the US - but it is a volatile market and very hagglable. If you sell more than 36 chairs, you're quids-in from a shipping point of view that way.

You can also find companies that will split a container between you and some other people eg http://www.pickfords.co.uk/moving-overseas, http://www.teamalliedgroup.com/, try phoning round with a yellow pages, see what the options are? Or look at one of the pallet-shifters if you can pallet them up - much easier!

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

I can't help with the freight question but want to remind you that US states have some pretty strict labelling requirements on furniture. Composition, fire resistance and such like. I hope you've considered this.

This may make exporting of small consignments less economical. Good luck!

http://www.americanlawlabel.com/law-label-learning-center/

cem

Thank for those guys. I am actually a retailer so need to send individual items..difficult to do the container thing..sharing container may be OK but I think the cost of sharing will exceed the price of the chairs (£60). Having said that I will still check....there are lots of sellers on eBay sending stuff furniture abroad..wonder how they do it

Mistral001

Just a suggestion. Is there a way of dismantling the chairs and sending them flat-pack with detailed instructions?

cem

Thanks..it's a tub chair so I have taken the legs off but rest cannot be taken apart unfortunately.