Oct. 5, 2011 - international shipping - How To Pack And Ship A Bike

There comes a time in every cyclist's life when they must ship their precious steed somewhere new. This is not exactly reliable thanks to the dedication of today's postal workers, but if you box your bike that you are shipping to Israel correctly, for example, and luck is on your side, your bike may arrive at its final destination in good shape.

What you need:

• A bike
• Bike box
• Newspaper
• Bubble wrap
• Cardboard tubes
• Packing tape
• Fork block
• Allen wrench
• Pedal wrench

Step 1: Get a box.

The easiest way to get a bicycle-specific box is to go to your local bike shop and ask for one that will fit your bike. Most shops have extra boxes sitting around that they'll give you for free, and they might even give you some padding and accessories like a fork block or extra cardboard when you’re shipping to Germany or to any other location overseas.

(Be sure to remove any old shipping labels from the box.)

Step 2: Wash your bike.

Clean off your bike; you don't want to be messing around with a dirty bike.

While you're at it... If your bike has gears, shift to the largest rear cog and chainring before boxing the bike. And deflate your tires a little bit. This applies to both domestic and international shipping.

Step 3: Remove parts.

Remove the handlebar, pedals, seatpost, and front wheel. Then stick the fork block in the front fork dropouts to protect them and prevent them from poking through the box.

Turn the fork and stem so they are facing backwards, and put the handlebar parallel to the frame.

Step 4: Packing materials.

Wrap all the tubes with paper, bubble wrap, and/or cardboard tubing to prevent scratching. Be sure to pad around the brakes and derailleurs.

Step 5: Secure the bike.

Attach the handlebar and other parts to the frame securely with tape and be sure to pad them, too. Small parts such as pedals can be put in a small box and then put in the bike box.

Step 6: Put the bike in the box.

Now hopefully the bike and parts will slide nicely into the bike box when you’re shipping to Dubai  or across town. Be sure you have taped everything securely so that nothing rattles inside the box. Good luck :)

Step 7: Ship it.

Pay UPS about $20-40 so they will ship it to your destination in 3-5 days! For additional information, visit www.homeshipping.com at 14930 S. Figueroa Street Gardena, Ca 90248 to learn more.

Sep. 19, 2011 - international shipping - Shipping cosmetics overseas

In 1992 we delivered the first cosmetics shipment to Beirut Lebanon.  It was Obagi skin care products.  Since then we have helped hundreds of clients shipping to Germany and other worldwide destinations to move their cosmetic-related products all over the globe.

After you have established a relationship with the supplier, you need to find a reliable shipping service to move your shipments from the supplier or suppliers in the USA when shipping to Saudi Arabia or another overseas destination.  Sometimes, the supplier will recommend a shipping company to handle your shipment, and you may feel that would be your only choice.  It’s not!!

Today, technology plays a big part in importing from the USA.  There are hundreds, maybe thousands of shipping companies shipping to United Kingdom and many locations to choose from.

Here are four tips to watch for when choosing your freight forwarder who is shipping to Australia or any other worldwide location:

1-      What License do they have?

A)    FMC (Federal Maritime Commission) Government Body

B)    IATA (International Aviation Transportation Agency)

C)    FAA – TSA approved

2-      How long have the company been in business.  Typically, a freight forwarder who has been in business for over 10 years, shows more knowledge and stability as new comers

3-      Are they fully automated?  In other words, can you track and trace your shipments on they system 24/7

4-      Finally, do they have an office or an agent at the destination countries?

Though each cosmetic shipment needs a commercial invoice and a certificate of origin to complete the export formalities, many countries require additional documents.  For example, Saudi Arabia requires SASO for all cosmetic shipments.  This is a detailed process that involves identifying registering each individual product into their system.  Australia requires an import license form the ministry of health as well as GST duty for, which assesses the duty on the products.  UAE, however, only requires a proper commercial invoice and a certificate of origins.

With over 32 CFS warehouses in the USA, we cover every single point in the USA including Hawaii and Alaska.  Our service includes, designating a qualified representative to be your personal point of contact.  Once the order is confirmed, we will contact the supplier and ensure that shipment is ready.  If not, we will report to you on a daily basis via telephone or email why the shipment is not ready.  We will then dispatch the proper truck to pick up your shipment, bring it back to our warehouse.  Our warehouse team will obtain the exact weight and size of the shipment; forward the information electronically to your rep to enable the rep to calculate the shipping cost.

Homeshipping.com is the only site that generates instant rates from anywhere in the USA to your destination.  The site will help the importer determine which shipping service is more suitable to his/her need.  Our website has been a shipping guide to thousands of importers.  It is a great selling tool.  Clients who have used our website are able to provide their clients with instant rates instead of two days later.

For additional information, visit www.homeshipping.com at 14930 S. Figueroa Street Gardena, Ca 90248 to learn more.

Aug. 29, 2011 - international shipping - How To Pack And Ship A Bike

May. 20, 2011 - International Students Shipping Specialist

Homeshipping.com has been helping international Students move their books, and personal belongings form the USA to over 220 countries.  There are remarkable new ways that are being used to control the shipping cost for International Students.  HomeShipping.com has developed a new website to help Students in general and International Students in Particular who are living in the USA and plan one day to move back home to control their international shipping cost.

Let me tell you why we created this program.  We’ve found that International Students are continually frustrated by not being able to get the most out of their money.  Frustrated by paying higher shipping rates that they have to, by working with shipping companies who don’t seem to know what they’re doing, by shipping with a company that doesn’t seem to have their best interest at heart, students can end up paying more than they need to on shipping.

These things have personally frustrated me when I was an International Student, and still frustrating other International Students today.  That’s why HomeShipping.com has created this shipping-controlling system that makes it possible for International Students to receive the most preferential treatment in international freight shipping their books, furniture, projects, autos, documents and other belongings while paying the least for it.  Though it may sound too good to be true, let me please explain how we propose to go about doing that for the International Students.  HomeShipping.com is designed to do three things for International Students:

First, it enables us to know what specifically bothers the International Students about shipping their belongings.  Because we know as an established international shipping company that shipping has to be personally tailored to each and every one of our students, in order to do that we empowered the International Students by receiving four instant shipping results detailing shipping methods that the International Students may not have thought about.  By answering few questions about the shipment’s details, we are well on our way to helping the International Student get what he wants.  Once you have answered these questions, the system will instantly generate several domestic and international shipping rates from any zip code in the USA to destinations worldwide.   By doing so, the International Student is going to: (1) be on the inside of the shipping winners circle with people who are in the know; (2) use money wisely when shipping belongings; and (3) gain full control over their shipping needs.

HomeShipping.com is a licensed FMC (Federal Maritime Commission (Government Body), NVOCC (Non vessel operating common carrier), and IATA (International Air Transport Association).  We have been moving International Student’s belongings since 1995.  Our service is inclusive of US customs documentation, certificate of origin, and AES filing. 

Homeshipping.com gives students full control over quoting, booking and processing shipments online. You can instantly generate shipping rates FOR DIFFERENT SHIPPING MODES. When shipping abroad, be sure to plan well in advance and compare rates. Homeshipping.com has been a shipping guide for international students since 1995.

How does it work?

1. Complete the shipment details.
2. Generate the quote and select the desired service
3. Make your payment SECURELY online, and print your labels.

For additional information, visit www.homeshipping.com to learn more.

May. 20, 2011 - international shipping - Summer Shipping For Students

Parents and students can save on both international shipping and domestic shipping this summer by going to a professional shipping company and avoid increased fees. Summer, for students, generally means either graduation or a break between school terms, and oftentimes when they are off at school out of state, this means they need to budget in travel and shipping expenses (along with leisure activities like trips, shopping, etc., all the things that make summer fun).

International shipping rates vary according to destination, type of package/item being shipped, fuel prices, customs, and a number of other factors.  A lot of the guesswork can be taken out when students leave their shipping activities in the capable hands of shipping specialists who are able to move shipments with the top carriers in the shipping industry, and save over 50% on their shipping cost. Similar to online travel sites, people who ship with international shipping services are able to navigate through rates, services and carriers quickly and select the best option for their shipping requirements.

Shipping companies contract major carriers in the shipping industry, negotiate the lowest rates in the market and pass the discounts to parents and students. They connect the shippers to the carrier, and the shipper saves on not just the shipping costs themselves, but the overall costs involved in shipping both domestic and international shipments.

When moving or shipping after graduation, it’s another significant milestone in a student’s life, of relocating his or her entire livelihood over to a new place (or in some cases, a familiar environment: home).  There are many things the student will have on the student’s mind when making this important transition: securing all their academic records, saying farewell to friends and colleagues, packing, switching utilities, securing personal travel transportation, summer jobs/internships, and so on.  That’s a lot for a student to consider.  On top of that, shipping his or her goods to the new destination would be another item to take care of during this sometimes hectic transition period.  A professional shipping service can not only take care of this aspect of moving, but can save the shipper a significant amount of money in the process.

There are many reasons to go with an international shipping service over going at it alone.  A shipping company has the capability to reach and negotiate competitive shipping rates with a wide range of couriers, saving shippers the difference.  In this way, shipping becomes hassle free and cost effective for the shipper.  For additional information, visit www.homeshipping.com to learn more.

Apr. 26, 2011 - international shipping - What’s The Word On Sharing Containers?

When you are relocating to a different country and concerned that the expenses of moving are going to be tremendous? The general consensus about moving abroad is that it is very expensive, however it doesn’t have to be that way. Container sharing splits the international shipping costs between multiple families so that the costs are significantly less. If you are moving to New York or China you will be able to share a container which will significantly reduce your shipping costs. Container sharing is determined by the amount of feet your items take up in a shipping container. All you have to do is determine where you are shipping out of and where you want your items to end up and then the rest is up to the international shipping company.

Shipping to Germany or another overseas location by container sharing is completely safe and secure; in which you can even request insurance just in case there are complications. With container sharing you are diversifying not only the cost but the risk as well with the other people you are sharing your container with. Moving or shipping to Saudi Arabia any other international country can become quite expensive very quickly, but it doesn’t have to be. By packing up your own items, you will be saving a good amount of money right there. If you are in a time crunch, however it may be more applicable to use the expertise of a international moving company so that they can pack you up in the most efficient manner. Also, when moving internationally you want to make sure that all of your fragile items are packed very well so there are no damages.

Because drop up and pick up times will work around your schedule, container sharing will also help you to make your move more efficient. So there are no conflicts with customs, the international shipper will take care of everything in that regard. Sharing a container will also help you to diversify your costs because moving internationally can become quite expensive. Usually if someone is taking a job in a foreign country, their company will pay for all of the moving expenses so you might not be in such a bind. In this case you want to make sure that you get the right insurance so that your items are completely safe.

By taking these precautions, you can avoid disputes if something gets broken during the move. Saving money and time is very valuable to both the customers and movers that is why so many people are starting to take advantage of the low costs of container sharing. Why not start off on the right foot in the new country, but having everything already planned and organized. You will be able to fully enjoy your first days in your new home without any problems or hiccups down the road. Container Sharing is a great way to move across the country or internationally as it allows flexibility and affordability in both respects. For additional information, visit www.homeshipping.com to learn more.