Singapore Expats

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone has ever used a sea cargo shipping company to ship stuff from the US to Singapore.

I am expecting baby #2 and baby things here are crap and I would like to buy all my stuff from the US and ship here. On the larger ticket items normal shipping would just be crazy expensive. Anyone know of any alternatives (besides vpost)

Thanks!

Frankly speaking, millions of Singaporeans and other expats here do just fine with the local versions. Yeah, you could sea ship but your kids might be in primary school by the time you get it. Also, if you sea ship, the odds of it being a large shipment is higher and then you will also have the costs of customs clearance as well as the inflated costs of something that was made in Asia, shipped to the US and now being shipped back to Asia again. (You really didn't think all that stuff was made in the US did you?)

Then, if you get a recall like some of the "western style baby transport systems" did recently for tending to chop off baby fingers, it could result in higher costs again as you might have to ship the item back to the US for the recall to be effected. Baby's version of the Pinto? Ralph Nadar's "unsafe at any speed"?

I don't there there is any "inexpensive" method of shipping anymore.

I tend to agree to try and get your stuff here. Is there something in particular you are looking for? there's a mothercare here, babies r us, mothers work etc...you can definitely find almost all of the basics here. If you are still not satisfied with your selection, I would try Hong Kong which has tons of stuff from the US and UK (Bumps to Babes, Eugene's) OR go look at Australian based stores which seem to always ship to SIngapore since we're so close.

The local stuffs r ok. Anyway, baby grow so fast that the items would most probably last for only about 3 mths.

thanks for your comments although i will respectfully disagree. Clothing here especially for boys is non existent and just ugly in my opinion. I was picking out a new born gift for a friend and visited tons of stores finding nothing i liked. If you stepped into a baby store in the US and compared to what's here you would agree. However, i'm not here to argue...just wanted some opinions on shipping.

hbw65 - there's a babies r us here? Where? Thank you for your store recs in HK. Do you know of any larger stores in Australia? thanks!

Completely agree with you kanderson. For 15 years we've been buying 95% of our clothing in the States. In a pinch you can order from LL Bean, Land's End or Saks 5th Avenue ~ they all ship here.

It matters not if it is made in Asia SMS, when you buy in the States the quality is better, the fashion makes sense and the price is better. Who really cares if it's fine for millions of Singaporeans? They tend to drive around with their kids unbuckled too ~ not fine with me

road.not.taken wrote: It matters not if it is made in Asia SMS, when you buy in the States the quality is better, the fashion makes sense and the price is better. Who really cares if it's fine for millions of Singaporeans? They tend to drive around with their kids unbuckled too ~ not fine with me

Yeah, you've got a point. They don't make sizes here to fit the majority of Obese Americans. As far as style in the US........

I'll just leave you all with this........

www.peopleofwalmart.com

Prepare to waste a good portion of your day. This is average America and not the "few" who can afford to shop at LLBean, Land's End and so forth.

None of my family is obese. Not even close... And I don't buy anything at Walmart. Ever. What a bigot you can be.

Who said you were? Bigot? Get real.

Unfortunately, I don't know any specific Australian websites, but perhaps a quick search on google.com will help or if you have any Australian friends they might knows well.

It's true that the quality might be better with clothing coming from the US, but we then just tend to do our shopping from the US when we are home from the summer and try and find the labels here that are Asia based - KingKow, Shanghai Tang for kids etc....

kanderson - check out Cotton On Kids in United Square. It just opened and has some great kids clothing - in between an Old Navy & Baby Gap. I think it's an Australian brand.

I agree that you should ship stuff from the States. Prices are just crazy here--ship the whole load of diapers too--have you priced them here!!?? Just crazy. My husband loaded a half container that took 6 weeks to deliver to SG from Indiana. Your could fill that will tons of stuff--and enough diapers for the whole first year and a half! It's worht it--no taxes were crippling--tis' included in your shipping costs. Pretty much any decent moving company will do it. PM me if you have additional questions.

hmmm... I agree that quality is good in US.
Basically those who are looking for good products and can afford very expensive stuff they would really look into quality, uniqueness of the product.

For rest of the population price might be the major thing in deciding to purchase. If one is ready to pay few bucks more for Quinny compared to combi stroller, another might be ready to pay for Orbit baby stroller compared to Quinny, And some other might choose Stokke... based on individual taste, uniqueness shopping is done. Pricing may not be issue as we buy things according to our affordability. If you can afford to buy $100 dress then you would want to take good one.

I do shipping from US using sea shipping. If you still looking can contact me I can share shipping space.

Hey sgcl

I'm keen.. can pm me for more details?