International relief workers, missionaries and their families, as well as students and faculty can ship their personal belongings using our “self-pack and load” rates. By keeping extra labor minimal, total shipping costs are greatly reduced. Charges are assessed by calculating volume for ocean freight or volume and weight, if via air freight.
All items shipped in our consolidations (i.e. LCL Shipments) must be boxed or crated. No loose items will be accepted. Rates are based on the amount of physical space in our consolidated containers that your shipment will occupy.
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Insurance on shipments packed by owners is optional and available at 1% of declared replacement value. Maximum insurance allowed is replacement cost plus shipping costs plus 10%. We will need in writing from the shipper a list showing carton number, general content description and total value per carton for this type of coverage. Replacement values on personal effects are not passed to overseas customs points. We know that some of our shippers will be debited duties and taxes based on declared values for customs, so please make sure to keep a valued load list for customs purposes as detailed as possible reflecting actual used values.
Insurance on self-pack and load shipments covers loss or theft of entire carton only (no damage coverage), so please pack well.
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Although our steel consolidated containers are loaded with the utmost care, contents inside a container may shift a bit during ocean transit so shippers should carefully pad fragile items with either purchased packing materials (bubble wrap, etc) or with other bulky soft items they are shipping (i.e. blankets, sweaters, etc.). Crumpling up old newspapers and padding items so that the newspaper cushions any bumping that may occur during transfer is an old fashioned packing method that still works quite well.
Some shippers are choosing to use large reusable plastic containers with lids. We ask that you purchase solid color containers and not the see-through clear type. Whether using cardboard or plastic packing containers, all pieces should be taped shut and marked with carton number (1,2,3,4 etc) and your complete contact name and address at destination. If you cannot mark your entire address on each piece, you must print on every tendered piece at least your last name and via port of destination. For example - "Miller via London" or "Johnson via Gaborone".
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Shipping cartons should not show contents of carton on the outside of the box. Shippers should not tender any packing lists or money at time of drop off at terminal (or pick ups from door). Payments and all paperwork (insurance replacement value lists, customs valued packing lists and pro forma invoices and donation letter, if applicable) should be forwarded directly to the Chicago office (regardless of what your origin terminal is in the USA or overseas) via fax, e-mail or post.
Please don't hesitate to contact our office as often as you need to with any specific questions you may have while packing.
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Professional packing is available via THE SHIPPING ADVISOR at most locations across the USA (and overseas). Any items that are professionally packed may be insured all risk at 3% of declared replacement value (max allowable cost plus freight plus 10%). If there are only a few items that you wish to have professionally packed, you may use a local packer or contact our office for referred packers.
A single shipment may have some boxes packed by owner and some that are professionally packed but please remember to keep separate lists for insurance purposes - one that shows carton number, general content description and total value per carton for the loss/theft coverage and the second showing content number, detailed valued content description for the professionally packed boxes being insured all risk. When hiring a local packer, please let us know who your packer is before you hire them, so we can check to make sure they have the proper coverage required. Alternatively, if you feel you need full service in-house packing, please contact our office directly.
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