Shipping from china to the states

[Moonandstar 6]

Not sure how many are familiar with a taiji dagan 大杆, but im attempting to get one to the states. Only problem is, no one wants to help.

Its about 4 meters long, (13 ft), narrow and wooden. About 20 pounds too.

Sea freight is an option- i just want to get it there! But ems wont even talk about the subject, DHL says the limit for express is 3.3, and fedex and ups take the side of ems.

Some from dhl have been helpful enough to work on it for me, but some people say the hard limit for the USA is 1.5 (bullshit), and the person that was my best guy for this called customs in HK and they replied, "tai ma fan le". Cute.

Anyway, i just want somebody to give me a yes- so far its just no after no. Anywhere under 60 days to get there is ok, and it has to be a reasonable price. I've already had one guy say he'll do it for me, but he decided to screw himself out of it when he told me 2500rmb. DHL guy said 1440.

So how do people get their cars here? #### me, just stick it in a container with someone's car, problem solved. It dont need business class seating.

Sending from Zhengzhou, henan, to charlotte, NC.

One more thing, how will they handle it in the states? somethin tells me they'll whine about it violating "this road law", and "that road law", and blahblahblah.

Edited December 4, 2009 by Moonandstar

[justashooter 430]

zheng zhou is a city of 12 million or so, with lots of western business. i can't believe you cant get this shipped from there. my wife is from luoyang (2 hours ride west) and had business with tourists. occasionally they would want to ship something large, like an enlarged ceremonial zhanmadao (two handed sword) made from jade. she usually managed to get them into a freight service.

[Moonandstar 6]

Yep, but i have no idea how to do that, or who to contact. Ya dont happen to have any numbers, or web addresses, do ya?

Like i said, this is very long, and DHL's usually very generous limit of 3.3 still is'nt enough here, thats probably why this is more difficult.

Bottom line, i just need some numbers or someplace to start. I've never shipped anything in freight before, and have no idea who to look for.

By the way, ZZ's actually got a fairly poor excuse for a western business market here. Either that or this city's just too fackin big and theres no way i can scour this city lookin for them. The internet aint helpin either.

Edited December 4, 2009 by Moonandstar

[Darnell 8,479]

you need a freight forwarder / shipping consolidator that handles 'freight consolidation' --- basically they fill a cargo container with multiple shipping orders from multiple customers, and send it to a major port. Then it gets on a boat , comes to usa port..

then, once it's cleared customs, can be put on a truck for delivery anywhere in CONUS.

ppl that make smaller orders on alibaba.com , whether they know it or not, actually are having things handled by such a company...

The shipping company that you choose will crate it up properly, protect it for shipping...

so.. drill around on alibaba.com - should give you some idea of who is 'current' ...

I used a shipping company to move goods before, but filled up 1/4 of a cargo container, was 12 crates. but that was personal goods, when I moved back from China... I know your 'thing' won't be that big in most directions, but since it's 14 ft 'that a way' - boat cargo shipping is a great option.

[Darnell 8,479]

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there are wushu associations, clubs, and houses all throughout the usa - have you thought to seek them out, purchase one through them, stateside ? might be less of a hassle, short term.

[Moonandstar 6]

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there are wushu associations, clubs, and houses all throughout the usa - have you thought to seek them out, purchase one through them, stateside ? might be less of a hassle, short term.

Thanks for the info-

Yea i'd buy one there if i thought there was any more than .001% chance of finding one there. Problem is, this is a chinese ash tree, found only in china/ korean areas (don't quote me), and even if it were found in the us, who'd make a staff THAT long? I did my searching a while back when i was stateside, and found nothing. nada, on internets, and consulting other taiji poplars there. Further, i have a very experienced and informed taiji friend form england who was here in china, and he shipped his back to england, but he said he used DHL, and it came bent- but im guessing it may have been less than 3.3

One more thing- what exactly on alibaba am i lookin for? i've only ever been on the site once or twice... Goin there now...

[Darnell 8,479]

---final thought ...

they make smaller ones, too but if this is your 'personal one' - the one that fits you ... then may be hard to find similar size...

so if 'that guy' will do, at 2500 rmb, go back to him, ask if he can give you discount, let your lass negotiate a bit (I assume she has 'normal' chinese negotiation skills, can do, and do well ).

[justashooter 430]

---final thought ...

let your lass negotiate a bit (I assume she has 'normal' chinese negotiation skills, can do, and do well ).

you're in the kingdom? you got the whole world there, buddy. in china, nothing is possible, and everything is possible.

you think ZZ is hard to do business in? try luoyang.

whatever you do, be sure to package your stick well, or it will be in 3 peices when it gets to destination. crating will add weight, but bulk will be determinant in your circumstance. perhaps a 6" diameter PVC plastic pipe with glued end caps full of peanuts is your best bet.

what school do you study at? my wife was a tour guide specialising in shaolin studies and mystical arts, as well as antiquities. she studied at the shaolin temples near ZZ. i studied hsing yi chuan there with a shaolin master. hsing yi is a rather crude form of the art, internal, but appearing entirely agressive, a mix of splitting, crushing, and piking fist movements, with a few kicks. it's the street fighting version of chuan. hsing yi staff is usually about 2.5 meter long. sword is straight and about 1 meter.

ash is a good choice of wood for a staff. it is light, close grained, springy, and resists splitting. can be finished to high polish.

[Moonandstar 6]

I studied at chenjiagou, under Chenziqiang, Chenxiaoxing's oldest son. Was only there for 4 months in 08 (then the money ran out), but i plan to go back when i get the chance, i just want to be able to still practice this when im away!

Yea i broke a da gan at the end before, and the wood inside was'nt like any else i'd seen before- if i bent it into an 'S' shape, it'd just stay that way- would'nt move an inch!

Thanks for the packaging tips- i did'nt think about doin that, and i doubt anyone wants to string together 10 boxes.