Singapore Expats

kwcm wrote:

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Guess how they got here?!?

Yes - but I wonder whether it gets treated differently when it gets here together with hundreds of other TVs nicely wrapped and in its own container vs one TV (even though nicely wrapped, but not in a bundle) that is more likely to be thrown around.

Well, you can 'air frieght' it and make sure it is sent safely Oh, that costs a lot .. a lot more ..

[quote="ecureilx"][quote="kwcm"][quote="sundaymorningstaple"]Guess how they got here?!? [/quote]

Yes - but I wonder whether it gets treated differently when it gets here together with hundreds of other TVs nicely wrapped and in its own container vs one TV (even though nicely wrapped, but not in a bundle) that is more likely to be thrown around.[/quote]

Well, you can 'air frieght' it and make sure it is sent safely Oh, that costs a lot .. a lot more ..[/quote]

Actually - not more than I thought. By looking at the air freight rates instead of the sea freight rates on SingPost, a 20kg (which is the limit) 3M box is about SGD 200, which is only slightly more than double the sea freight cost of SGD 90. I did expect it to be exponentially more, so this was a surprise. At this cost, it would still be cheaper than the exact same TV in Oz, although they are then more comparable in price (but the Sg set will not have the same warranty benefits).

Just for future searches that result here... For those considering shipping a TV from the US or vice versa, don't. The electrical system is incompatible (as alluded to already). Converters exist, but they *are not* decided to work with items such as TVs. If you're lucky, the converter will burn out in a few weeks or so. If you're not, your TV will be shot. Same with audio equipment. Don't bother unless you like the sound of eletrical noise and feedback with your music.

Any quality converter that won't destroy your equipment or ruin the audio/visual quality will cost a lot of money. Enough so that whatever you pay in shipping + that converter will probably be the cost of a new TV.

Sadly, TVs *are* much cheaper in the US. LCD TV prices here right now are about what they were in the US 2-3 years ago...

Most new TV's are dual voltage as well as multi system.

kwcm wrote: It does seem however quite risky to subject a brand new TV to the roughness of sea shipment - has anyone had any problems with their TV being shipped this way? I know of course that there's insurance, but of course, it's never the intention to have to rely on it.

My stuff came here by post, as cheapest option, and everything looked like the cow chewed it and spit it out. All the boxes were re-wrapped several times with several different tapes all bearing different names like Hamburg Deutshcland, Singapore post, etc.

There is a difference between shipping the stuff with sea container and the post.

As for the prices, I have recently moved 10 years worth of stuff and a car from USA to East Europe for US $3000, door to door (we took 40 ft container). And the same company (and some others too), wanted to charge me US$ 1000 for 6 boxes from Europe to Singapore. Go figure.

So we shipped 3 boxes via regular post.

[quote="Dalia"][quote="kwcm"]
It does seem however quite risky to subject a brand new TV to the roughness of sea shipment - has anyone had any problems with their TV being shipped this way? I know of course that there's insurance, but of course, it's never the intention to have to rely on it.[/quote]

My stuff came here by post, as cheapest option, and everything looked like the cow chewed it and spit it out. All the boxes were re-wrapped several times with several different tapes all bearing different names like Hamburg Deutshcland, Singapore post, etc.

There is a difference between shipping the stuff with sea container and the post.

As for the prices, I have recently moved 10 years worth of stuff and a car from USA to East Europe for US $3000, door to door (we took 40 ft container). And the same company (and some others too), wanted to charge me US$ 1000 for 6 boxes from Europe to Singapore. Go figure.

So we shipped 3 boxes via regular post.[/quote]

By "here" did you Singapore? And where was it posted from? I have different opinions of thpostal service of different countries - eg I have faith in the Singapore postal system to look after my stuff and Australia to generally treat it above average but not better than Singapore. But I would also think that Australia is more likely to open my post and run it's quarantine dogs and people all through it before passing it on to me. This is just my opinion of course, with no real evidence to back it up.

Just be glad you don't have to ship to Australia, cos that's when your costs will go through the roof (like everything else in that overrated country at the moment).