Ocean Freight Shipping for relocation to the USA

[Serge22]

 

  We are relocating from Thailand to the USA, and have been looking for an ocean freight shipping agent for many months, without any success. We have tried extensive online searches, along with word of mouth, but are still unable to find a reasonable price quote.

 

The core issue is that the cost of a partial ocean container ("LCL", or Less than Container Load) is basically almost as much as the cost of a Full 20 foot shipping container ("FCL" or Full container Load, of about 33 cubic meters).  Our items are the usual used household items, most of which we would gladly leave behind in Thailand. We do have a few large items of emotional value that we want to bring back. Logic would dictate that half of a full shipping container would be about half the cost of the full 20 foot container, but in reality, we are quoted a price of around 85% the cost of FCL. So despite being realistic, and willing to leave most things here, it will cost just as much to ship the items that we do actually want to bring back with us. We have considered Air Freight but that will not work well for the items that we do want to ship, as many cannot be easily packed.

 

We have had multiple contacts with different shipping companies. Aside from the high rate quotes, most do not communicate back with us effectively, change the business terms over and over, or very slowly bring up one issue after another regarding the problems of shipping into the USA.

 

Does anybody know a reliable specific contact person, in a reliable ocean shipping company, that we can contact directly? We are looking for a door to door service, from our residence in Thailand to the our residence in the USA. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance :0)

 

[Yellowtail]

It's the door-to-door service that makes LCL almost as much as a container. 

 

I do not have a contact person anymore, but we used PJ Transpack for years to and from Los Angeles. 

 

Where in the States are you going? 

 

http://www.pj-group.com/index.php?p=y&m=n

[Serge22]

16 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

It's the door-to-door service that makes LCL almost as much as a container. 

 

Hi Yellowtail,
   Thank you for your quick reply. We have come to learn what you said regarding the door to door service being the deal-breaker, given the high cost of just about everything in the USA these days. We have investigated just getting a container into the port of Los Angeles or Long Beach, and then arranging delivery to home (location is Utah) on our own, by using a US transport company But we just cannot nail anything down regarding just a container to port from here, or the transportation and customs clearance in the US.

 

We're grateful for your advice and time, and will post here if anything comes of PJ Group.

 

[ChristianBlessing]

I'm not sure where you are in Thailand but if you're anywhere near Chiang Mai, might I recommend U. B. Worldwide Express. I think it's best to search them on Facebook and message them from there. The proprietor, Wandee, is easy to work with. If you can manage your own packaging and crating your belongings you'll save considerably.

[Dante99]

11 hours ago, Serge22 said:

Logic would dictate that half of a full shipping container would be about half the cost of the full 20 foot container,

No that is not logical.

[mudcat]

When we moved our stuff from San Francisco to the Isan in 2020 we used Seven Seas' move cube service. 

https://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/en-th/

They were fussy about documentation coming this way (boxes labeled and inventoried), but lo and behold the box arrived at our home without any need to travel to Bangkok to clear customs.  Everything arrived without any damage and we were very happy.  Their moving cubes: https://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/en-th/moving/movecube/#big

We purchased a full set of moving boxes from U-Haul to effectively pack and then stow into the cube - with planning the move cube can be fully packed: 

 

Believe that their West Coast depots are in Richmond (near SF) and Los Angeles.  Probable best to plan on unloading into a U-Haul truck at one of those sites, and try to get a quote from your Thai home to their Bangkok depot.

[Serge22]

5 hours ago, ChristianBlessing said:

I'm not sure where you are in Thailand

We are in south Thailand, Chanthaburi . Thank you for the suggestion.

[Serge22]

3 hours ago, mudcat said:

When we moved our stuff from San Francisco to the Isan in 2020 we used Seven Seas' move cube service.

Thank you very much for sharing your experience with Seven Seas. They were one of the first companies that we contacted a while ago, and we did watch all of their interesting videos. Unfortunately, despite multiple attempts, nobody ever responded to us. Do you have a direct email contact to an agent there, by chance?

We found it interesting that they offer door to door service in most countries, with the exception of the USA, in which they will only ship in to port (but not truck the box to a household).

[LOG54]

Hello

Would recommend United relocation Bangkok..David De Vos..

We just move from Sattahip and are satisfied with their service. 

I think however they will handle the matter from packing here till port/custom clearance in Us.. you could then organise pick up from the harbour or clearing agent.

Have a good day

[mudcat]

The contact page for Thailand directs one to Malaysia.  I seem to remember speaking with them.  Best if you copy your inquiry so you can direct them to it or forward it to them. 

As my original post mentioned you will do better if you can ask for a depot to depot quote and take advantage of their expertise in ocean shipping and paperwork and take care of local transport yourself.

 

https://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/contact

[LOG54]

Hello

I have sent you a private message with David De Vos phone/WhatsApp contact if it can help you

Have a good day

[Magictoad]

18 hours ago, Serge22 said:

 

  We are relocating from Thailand to the USA, and have been looking for an ocean freight shipping agent for many months, without any success. We have tried extensive online searches, along with word of mouth, but are still unable to find a reasonable price quote.

 

The core issue is that the cost of a partial ocean container ("LCL", or Less than Container Load) is basically almost as much as the cost of a Full 20 foot shipping container ("FCL" or Full container Load, of about 33 cubic meters).  Our items are the usual used household items, most of which we would gladly leave behind in Thailand. We do have a few large items of emotional value that we want to bring back. Logic would dictate that half of a full shipping container would be about half the cost of the full 20 foot container, but in reality, we are quoted a price of around 85% the cost of FCL. So despite being realistic, and willing to leave most things here, it will cost just as much to ship the items that we do actually want to bring back with us. We have considered Air Freight but that will not work well for the items that we do want to ship, as many cannot be easily packed.

 

We have had multiple contacts with different shipping companies. Aside from the high rate quotes, most do not communicate back with us effectively, change the business terms over and over, or very slowly bring up one issue after another regarding the problems of shipping into the USA.

 

Does anybody know a reliable specific contact person, in a reliable ocean shipping company, that we can contact directly? We are looking for a door to door service, from our residence in Thailand to the our residence in the USA. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance :0)

 

Not available 

[Lorry]

On 5/11/2025 at 8:00 PM, Serge22 said:

problems of shipping into the USA.

Check tariffs.

But you will probably only know which tariffs to apply 1 day before arrival in the US.

The fact that it's used personal stuff does not automatically mean it's duty-free.

[Serge22]

10 hours ago, LOG54 said:

Hello

I have sent you a private message with David De Vos phone/WhatsApp contact if it can help you

Have a good day

Hi, Thank you for doing that. The email shows in my inbox, but for some reason is garbled text when I open it. Can you please post that What'sApp information here. If it too sensitive, I will ask for him by name when I contact them through their website (sales at unitedreloth.com).
I really do appreciate your information, effort and time to help me !

 

[Serge22]

11 hours ago, LOG54 said:

Hello

Would recommend United relocation Bangkok..David De Vos..

 

Hi, Thank you for doing that. The email shows in my inbox, but for some reason is garbled text when I open it. Can you please post that What'sApp information here. If it too sensitive, I will ask for him by name when I contact them through their website. My prior reply to you is being blocked because (guessing) I listed their web address, so I am re-posting to this message.
I really do appreciate your information, effort and time to help me !

 

[Serge22]

1 hour ago, Lorry said:

Check tariffs.

But you will probably only know which tariffs to apply 1 day before arrival in the US.

The fact that it's used personal stuff does not automatically mean it's duty-free.

Thank you for the heads up. I was under the impression that if somebody is relocating to their home country, there is no tariff on used personal goods that were not purchased abroad, and were originally bought in the USA. Am I mistaken?

[gargamon]

28 minutes ago, Serge22 said:

Thank you for the heads up. I was under the impression that if somebody is relocating to their home country, there is no tariff on used personal goods that were not purchased abroad, and were originally bought in the USA. Am I mistaken?

I think you would need to prove that the goods originated in the US.

[Celsius]

48 minutes ago, Serge22 said:

Thank you for the heads up. I was under the impression that if somebody is relocating to their home country, there is no tariff on used personal goods that were not purchased abroad, and were originally bought in the USA. Am I mistaken?

 

You are mistaken.

 

 

[Celsius]

Wrong post 

[mudcat]

Not authoritative, but from a firm that does household removals to the U.S.

 

Your shipment of personal effects and household items can be imported duty-free if:

1. You are a returning US citizen:
   a. All personal effects or household items must be owned and used for at least 12 months prior to you importing them.

https://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/customs-advice/us

 

Refer to Customs Form 3299 and associated instructions:

https://www.cbp.gov/document/forms/form-3299-declaration-free-entry-unaccompanied-articles