Chunping Alex Wu
- 2004-07-16
> I should like the insight of some old "China hands" with
> regard to shipping material overseas, particularly books. I shall be
> working within China in the next month or so and the biggest problem
> for me has been shipping books. The cost of air-mail (for me) is
> prohibitive, yet sending them by surface mail (hence, the "slow
> boat to China") is unduly long. The U.S. Post office indicated
> to me that it could take anywhere from six weeks to three months, the
> variation in times keyed primarily to how long it would take to get
> the books through Chinese customs. The price here is right (about a
> dollar a pound), but the time lag is a bit much.
> As I will be teaching Western Civ, among other things, I really need
> to take some necessary texts (all the books would be of a historical
> and referential nature). If anyone has some insight and experience in
> handling this situation, I would greatly appreciate your comments.
> Eirik
Have you ever think of searching the Internet for all the books you are planning to bring, Eirik? I found it more practical and safer.
J.D.
- 2004-07-11
I have a little story of my own that might persuade you to change your mind about the price for airfare mail. My folks sent me a Christmas package from Canada in late October to meet the post office's deadline for their guarantee to have it delivered to me by Christmas day. I didn't end up getting it until mid-March. It had been in China for a long time before that, but I was not notified of it until March. The only thing that raised a flag with them was that they only keep unclaimed packages for a certain amount of time before they will return it to the sender, so their computer notified them that my package had only three days left before it would be shipped out. My friends have sent me several packages by airmail, and the latest they have arrived is 10 days later, and they were either hand delivered, or attempts were made by the post office to contact me by phone. The Chinese postal system leaves much to be desired with incoming packages.
Bob
- 2004-07-09
I've never heard of anybody doing this. Your dedication is commendable. Authorities here are always looking for materials like bibles, mental training... It's surprising that much material you need to teach in China.
Wish you a safe move, stay.
Bob
> I should like the insight of some old "China hands" with
> regard to shipping material overseas, particularly books. I shall be
> working within China in the next month or so and the biggest problem
> for me has been shipping books. The cost of air-mail (for me) is
> prohibitive, yet sending them by surface mail (hence, the "slow
> boat to China") is unduly long. The U.S. Post office indicated
> to me that it could take anywhere from six weeks to three months, the
> variation in times keyed primarily to how long it would take to get
> the books through Chinese customs. The price here is right (about a
> dollar a pound), but the time lag is a bit much.
> As I will be teaching Western Civ, among other things, I really need
> to take some necessary texts (all the books would be of a historical
> and referential nature). If anyone has some insight and experience in
> handling this situation, I would greatly appreciate your comments.
> Eirik
I should like the insight of some old "China hands" with regard to shipping material overseas, particularly books. I shall be working within China in the next month or so and the biggest problem for me has been shipping books. The cost of air-mail (for me) is prohibitive, yet sending them by surface mail (hence, the "slow boat to China") is unduly long. The U.S. Post office indicated to me that it could take anywhere from six weeks to three months, the variation in times keyed primarily to how long it would take to get the books through Chinese customs. The price here is right (about a dollar a pound), but the time lag is a bit much.
As I will be teaching Western Civ, among other things, I really need to take some necessary texts (all the books would be of a historical and referential nature). If anyone has some insight and experience in handling this situation, I would greatly appreciate your comments.
Eirik