Has anyone researched shipping from UK?
For example can you purchase something and organize the freight yourself?
If you had it sent via sea freight is it cheaper than air freight?
If you were in no hurry for the parts that is!
I've tried to look it up via TNT etc but seem to get nowhere
Any thoughts?

you would need to speak to the company that you are buying the stuff from.

Depends how big - I have heard of companies in the UK that ship Minis etc to the States by the container and will put yours in with it (presume they would send to other countries as well) But when it comes down to it there are not that many world wide shipping companies - FedEx UPS DHL

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

If you are talking about large as in an engine or bigger, then you need to look up freight forwarding companies. Don't ask for the freight alone, ask for a complete door to door price however as small ancillary charges for the packing and unpacking into freight containers really hike the cost up.

You can make your day a lot easier by askign the business you are buying the merchandise from who they would use. They probably do this most other days and would know who to ask...

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

There are a lot of hidden costs in shiping from the UK - customs agents and onforwarders etc - as well as customs cleaning fees for a lot of engine parts.

It all adds up and depending on what it is you are after its often just cheap and far more convient to simply buy those goods from a supplier here that is already importing and has all those above matters well in hand.

Mike

Have a look om the net for a UK company called Excess baggage, they are set up to combine peoples freight into shared containers, they will even put a car in a shared container. They will give you a cost on all charges except for any costs for duties and Customs this end

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Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van