international relocation

[bazookaman]

My parents in law are moving to the US from the UAE. We are trying to find a shipping company that will handle the move. We've been striking out left and right simply b/c all the companies we've talked to only handle corporate relocation...not personal. Any ideas? I'd like to find an outfit that will be able to handle everything from shipping to customs hassles etc.

[cbelt3]

wtf ? They won't take your parent's money because they're not with a corporation ? Odd... Do your parents have any corporate ties that they can use ?

[chas_m]

(a play on the whole "put it in a pod" idea)

Hire local labour to put the contents of the house in a shipping container, and have it shipped (via ship!) to the port city nearest where they will be living. Shipping companies will be cooperative if you can put the contents in a standard container.

Once here, hire local labour to transfer said contents to a moving truck and carry on as though you had moved from the port to your new home.

There is no inexpensive way to move from the UAE to the US unless you pare down your "stuff" to just a few personal momentos and essentials that can be shipped using the usual worldwide carriers.

In many cases, I would argue that it's cheaper to just buy all-new stuff here.

[bazookaman]

believe me. We've been around and around with them regarding what they REALLY need to bring and what we can buy new(er) here.

Since my wife and i work and we are getting ready to have a baby and her parents are older, i really wanted a company that would actually handle all that for us.

And yes, cbelt3, it seems since they are not affiliated with a corporate sector they won't go near them. Its really weird. When my wife explains to them that they just want to move and they aren't with a company, the people on the other line literally don't know what to say. They stammer and stumble as if they were just asked for the cure for cancer. Which I cannot understand. I'm sure there are non military, non corporate people who've moved internationally. We just aren't having any luck finding a company that will do it for us.

[shanedar]

Have you talked to these guys: targetlogistics.com/cust_tools.asp ?

We've done a couple of container and plane moves with them, to Europe and back and were pleased. We did have a family connection, though. That may have made more difference than I realize.

Cheers,

Shane