budejovice
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« on: October 30, 2009, 08:51:17 AM » |
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A visiting instructor at Pitt, now in Prague. My books are stuck in the US. Has anyone discovered a way to send books overseas at a reasonable price?
Please help. Life without my books is so annoying...
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categorical
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« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2009, 09:49:01 AM » |
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The USPS used to have something called M-Bag, where you could fill a whole bag with books. I don't know that they still offer it, but you could inquire.
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higherandhigher
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« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2009, 11:45:36 AM » |
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The USPS used to have something called M-Bag, where you could fill a whole bag with books. I don't know that they still offer it, but you could inquire.
They still do, but unfortunately the USPS eliminated all surface international shipping options (for ALL services), so it's not as cheap as it use to be. You can pick up an M-Bag (a mail sack) and tag at most (larger) post offices. You box the books in one or more, unsealed boxes, individually labeled with shipper/recipient address and "postage paid--M-Bag" and stick them in the sack. The cost to the Czech Republic is $4.20 per lb. with an 11-pound minimum charge. You can send up to 66 pounds per sack. http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/ce_019.htmhttp://www.usps.com/international/mbags.htm |
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« Last Edit: November 06, 2009, 11:51:15 AM by higherandhigher »
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newhere
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« Reply #4 on: November 08, 2009, 02:17:29 AM » |
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You should be aware that shipping m-bags means you are risking complete destruction and loss of your books. My library arrived looking like it got run over by a forklift multiple times. Pick the few books you REALLY need, pay good money to get them to Prague, and put the rest in storage. I lost some irreplaceable things (US - Europe, Europe - US), and wish I had just left it in storage a few years.
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larryc
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« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2009, 02:28:36 AM » |
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Maybe it is time to reevaluate your relationship with books? Which of your books are available on Google Book Search? On a Kindle?
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What an unnecessary train wreck. |
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secretweapon
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« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2009, 08:22:49 AM » |
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You should be aware that shipping m-bags means you are risking complete destruction and loss of your books. My library arrived looking like it got run over by a forklift multiple times. Pick the few books you REALLY need, pay good money to get them to Prague, and put the rest in storage. I lost some irreplaceable things (US - Europe, Europe - US), and wish I had just left it in storage a few years.
It might be cheaper and safer to pay for an extra suitcase on an international flight. Read the fine print very carefully, though, as airlines vary and I've found that airport check-in staff aren't always well-informed (particularly if they don't work directly for the airline). |
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If you want a cookie, bake a cookie.
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the_walrus
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« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2009, 11:11:21 AM » |
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You should be aware that shipping m-bags means you are risking complete destruction and loss of your books. My library arrived looking like it got run over by a forklift multiple times.
I had a similar experience. Not quite as drastic as described above, but they definitely arrived abused. Still functional, but I'd probably do things differently if I were to do it again. |
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higherandhigher
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« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2009, 11:50:08 AM » |
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It might be cheaper and safer to pay for an extra suitcase on an international flight. Yep. Fees to Europe will range from $100-$200 in my experience depending on airline. That gives you 50-70 lbs. depending on airline (even though 50 lbs. is the new standard for included checked baggage, some airlines give 70 lbs. for the extra bag). You can also pay extra for the included baggage to get a 70 lb. allowance instead of 50 lb. You should be aware that shipping m-bags means you are risking complete destruction and loss of your books. My library arrived looking like it got run over by a forklift multiple times.
I had a similar experience. Not quite as drastic as described above, but they definitely arrived abused. Still functional, but I'd probably do things differently if I were to do it again. I've had good luck with M-Bags in both directions, but maybe I was just lucky! I did use sturdy boxes for the books in the M-Bag in order to protect my books. |
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graine
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« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2009, 02:51:13 PM » |
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I did this recently. The cost difference between airmail and M-bags was minimal, so I went with airmail as it came with a little insurance. The boxes were pretty bashed up when they arrived - use sturdy boxes and lots of tape (around the boxes as well as to seal them).
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minira
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« Reply #10 on: November 22, 2009, 04:22:32 PM » |
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I did an M-Bag years ago, and packed my books carefully in sturdy boxes within the bag. The boxes looked pretty abused when it arrived, but the books were fine.
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higherandhigher
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« Reply #11 on: November 22, 2009, 05:36:41 PM » |
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I did an M-Bag years ago, and packed my books carefully in sturdy boxes within the bag. That's important, I think. You can't just use thin shoe boxes. |
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embitteredhistorian
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« Reply #12 on: November 23, 2009, 09:11:15 AM » |
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I've found that dealing with local shipping companies tends to be the cheapest--being landlocked, maybe you want to get the books sent to Italy and then drive them north.
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