<p>I am looking for the cheapest and best way to shipping items to London as well as the best way to call to and from a cell phone. My daughter lived in London for 6 months last year for work, came back to the states for 3 months and is now going to move to London for good; well, until she decides to come back to the states!</p>
<p>I never shipped anything to her there before, and don’t know that I will this time, but want to go ahead a see what would be the best option. She is hoping to take all she needs when she flies over like she did last time, but she might have more than she can take on the plane, although with her status, she gets 3 checked bags free and work might pay for more. My daughter’s though is just to buy anything she need when she gets there, which shouldn’t be much as most rentals are fully furnished. When she was there last year she ended up buying new bedding as what was supplied was not warm enough for her; actually I took her a comforter and sheets when I went to visit as we flew on her frequent flier miles and were able to take extra bags free! Unfortunately she left the comforter and sheets there not knowing she would return. If my daughter wanted to send a box or two of belongings ahead, what would be the best way to ship?</p>
<p>As far as phone calls, she usually calls us from her work line or cells phone most of the time. I used a prepaid international calling card from Costco for the few times I called, but looking for something better. If I call her, it is most likely going to be from my cell phone to hers so looking for cell phone dialing options. We can always Facetime if we are both home with wifi, so home is easier; hoping to find cheap options for making calls from my cell while out.</p>
<p>Vonage and other VOIPs include calling to the UK at no extra charge, but that only applies to landlines. As far as I know the UK cell phones impose some sort of charge on the incoming calls, when I checked a few years ago, it was quite pricey. If you do Vonage they have an app you can use to call the UK from your cell phone, but once again, unless things have changed, the no charge only applies when you call landlines</p>
<p>On shipping, don’t do it. She is usually better off to check an extra bag. You might check out Iceland Air, DD likes them best, two bags included at no extra charge. Tell your DD to be aware, some airlines weigh your carry on, too.</p>
<p>If you want to send your DD fun gifts, use Amazon.co.uk and eBay.co.uk to send things. </p>
<p>You can price out your shipping charges on USPS.com, in my experience they are the cheapest, but that is not saying much. My DDs first trek we sent a large box that was nearly $200! One time I paid $50 to send her a box of her make up & toiletries which had been left behind, they charged $50 in duty! And there was no resource to go to and say, hey, look, that is my stuff, all pre-opened and used. Nope, either pay the duty and we will deliver it or don’t pay and we will send it back.</p>
<p>If you do ship, be sure to write USED on the customs forms, so they don’t charge duty.</p>
<p>I have been told that USPS is not the most economical way to ship overseas, but rather check out UPS and FEdex…can’t remember which one is less…</p>
<p>My daughter told me last time that DHL is used primarily in London, but for me, there are not many DHL staffed locations. My local UPS is an authorized shipping center, so I need to check with them.</p>
<p>As United Platinum, my daughter gets 3 checked bags up to 70lbs free. That was enough for her to pack her clothes and toiletries the last time. She hasn’t decided what she wants to do about her other “things” like room decorations, throw blankets, pillows, small kitchen items, etc… Because she will be there for a long time, she hates to not take all her belongings and waste the money rebuying, but at the same time, it make cost more to ship than to buy while there.</p>
<p>Shipping anything to Europe is ridiculously expensive, no matter who you use. Don’t do it, unless you are sending a special treat. Skyping seems to be a cheap way to talk to those overseas. </p>
<p>How about trying to craigslist her stuff overhere and having her buy new stuff over there.</p>
<p>I’ve used DHL for shipping personal packages to Europe and China. A story: I took some medicine to DHL on Friday afternoon and it was in Xian, China Monday AM. But, I had to lie and say it was papers - because sending medicine is generally prohibited and can’t be done to China without a permit - and the package was very light. I would not send anything heavy; the cost of shipping will exceed the cost of buying new in London.</p>
<p>My son has been living in London for two months and we’ve not talked on the telephone at all. Instead we use Skype, which is free. </p>
<p>When I shipped over his hiking boots (they wouldn’t fit in his suitcase), the price difference between USPS, Fed Ex and UPS was not significant. They were all expensive but half the price of buying new hiking boots so worth it. I would think with three suitcases, she should be able to get everything over in one go. </p>
<p>Lergmom, I am always surprised when I buy something techy on eBay and it is coming from Hong Kong, free shipping and relatively quick arrival, much better than shipments to the UK.</p>
<p>I know she shouldn’t ship anything over for the move, I just feel bad that her room decor that she worked so hard in decorating will just sit in my house while she lives in London. she can buy new things to make her room her own, but she does have some sentimental items that I know she would love to have with her. Maybe she can unframe her pictures and take them loose, and buy new frames there. I think she just wants to feel like her home is hers, not someone elses. I am sure she can gussy it up on her budget without going overboard!</p>
<p>For Viber, I think it doesn’t work on calls to/from a Blackberry. Her work phone is a BB and she is going to unlock her iPhone and use a prepaid sim card for that. Dropping her local number after 12 years!</p>
<p>London is such a fabulous place to shop. She can pick up things for her apartment fairly inexpensively at charity shops. They have them all over the place. The “antique” markets are fun, too. She can get wonderful things to decorate her place with. </p>
<p>The National Trust has some fun shops. I found a calendar for my daughter with paintings done by Prince Charles. She framed them and had instant art. There are lots of old posters and prints that she can find pretty cheaply. If she can get out of the City for a car boot sale, she can pick up some nice stuff fairly cheaply. She could frame post cards of London or she could even frame the cover of the programs from the plays that she attends.</p>
<p>It is just so expensive to ship things that it would be so much cheaper to pick up things there. It would be crazy to pay customs on things that she already owns.</p>
<p>Actually, buying things over there and possibly bringing them home would be a better idea. Even little things like a towel or kitchen gadget make nice souveniers–and could bring her pleasant memories of her stay for years to come.</p>
<p>When my daughter was talking about selling some of her belonging, my mother immediately said, “You can’t sell your mixer!” My mother and daughter enjoy baking, so the first Hanukkah my daughter was in DC, my mother gave her a Kitchen Aide mixer, the big one. Seems my mother would be upset if it was sold, which my daughter wasn’t planing to do; not I will have it sit here for when she returns. Notice I said when, not if ;)</p>
<p>Assuming her pots and pans and other kitchenware are in good shape, those will be stored here also; it’s not like they will go bad!</p>
<p>With regards to phone calls, she should get a UK mobile phone number. There are various providers - EE (or as it was until recently, Orange / T Mobile), Vodafone, Virgin, O2 etc. They’re all broadly similar. It will be incredibly expensive to call anywhere in the UK on a US mobile phone, and no one will phone her on an international phone number because they don’t want to bear the costs either. </p>
<p>If she gets a UK mobile phone number then she can either retain her US phone number for non-UK purposes, or use Skype instead. </p>
<p>With regards to shipping stuff over, then I would suggest that she takes as much of the sentimental stuff as she can. After that she can stock up on the things that she will need from places like Ikea & Primark, and more of the sentimental stuff can be brought over next time she visits the US / you visit her.</p>