Shipping boards...any ideas from Sydney?

[McUnit]

Got a couple of new boards in Sydney needing to be sent over here (Japan).

Does anyone have any recommendations for courier/freight companies?

The couple of quotes I've had so far have been pretty steep
(AUD$650 from Pack & Send{!}, $550 to $600 from a couple of others).

I think the last time I had boards shipped here it was abt $380ish for two...But that was a couple of years ago.

Would appreciate any advice.

Thanks...
Have yourselves a good Chrissy/New Year

[rick carne]

Fed Ex

[Doc Turbo]

I tried to ship some boards to me here in Indonesia some 2 years back. It was too expensive, by far. An if they come a formal channel of import, it was hit by duty tax of something like 100% on top of the normal charge. Find a friend, or relative or anyone to hand carry, and buy a good travel bag.

[surfhorn]

Lable the package "golf clubs" and then get a quote.

[KneeBumps]

If you're not in a hurry, see if you can literally "ship" it out of the port of Sydney to a shipping port in Japan (you'd have to pick up at the port). A friend of mine shipped a motorcycle from the port of Baltimore to Hamburg Germany dirt cheap last year. Some hassle, but worth it. He had to crate it up, probably a good idea for a stick.

[red]

Shipping's the way to go
Wooden crate - keep dimensions as small as possible because it's worked on a L x B x H formula
BUT can take a long long time (3 months or more)

[Beeline2.0]

..

[Mike Fernandez]

For those prices you might as well take a trip to OZ, then fly them back with you.

[Kauaikneelo]

Ouch........might be cheaper to buy an extra plane ticket and put them on the seat next to you

Hey Mike nice pic of Paris, but what is THAT just next to her smile???

[Mike Fernandez]

Kauaikneelo, why that is the BIG H for Hilton of course I could prolly get an original Greenough spoon, and a Hobie Micky Munoz log for the value of that earing

[McUnit]

Thanks fellas...

There are huge differences in charges for what are essentially similar services. So it really does pay to shop around a bit.

Previously when I've got new boards, I've brought them back myself, had someone else bring them, or had them sent by Surftrader (now closed??).

Thanks to a Beeline tip, I got an 'over the phone' quote of $AUD200(ish) from Matzen Cargo in Sydney. My brother - who's sending the boards - will get onto them after his Chrissy/New Year binge.
I don't think that was for a door to door service, but as martinmurph mentioned, Yamato have very reasonable prices for domestic deliveries.

Another option was Japan Speed Pack in Brisbane. Island used them to send Strudle his red Freak last year. They quoted $AUD315 (350?)
for both boards, door to door: Sydney>Brisbane>Miyazaki, including insurance, but not packing.

FedEx quoted $AUD1050 for the same service (with packing).

I'll post final costs/arrangements when they've been sent.

Thanks again

[Coldsalt]

Yeah, it's to late now... If you were to fly with them... Package the two boards in a cardboard box with the standard Titilist, MaxFly, Slasnger and Ping stickers in the outside. Hell, put some old clubs in the box as well (cant hurt). Why? Everytime I fly and look at one on the airline mags I see Golf, golf, golf and more golf. 40lb+ bag of golf bags are going to fly for free. Beacause Golfers are over fourty and have money. While yes, their are more surfers over the age of 35, than under, we still have plenty of punk rockers (hold us down or keep it real- depends on what side of the movment you reside)and Swell riders are not given the same respect. Dress the part and all is well!

[McUnit]

The boards arrived today.
AUD$200 from Sydney to Tokyo, and about AUD$100 to get them down here.
Didn't get stung with duty.
Thanks for the suggestions.

(I threw a photo in the 'boards' gallery)