shipping my stuff to STT

Don't use UPS or FedEx-very expensive. They consider us International.
USPS - you can box items up to 50 lbs in sturdy boxes. Price depends on lbs. and type of shipping. Priority, etc. Get insurance!
You can get a pallet. I don't know the cost. Maybe someone else can help you with that question.

USPS will actually ship boxes up to 75 pounds. Check their website for guidelines on dimensions, as they charge overage fees for boxes that exceed them -- pretty steep.

If it's too big to ship USPS, ask yourself if you really need it, and you're certain it's not replaceable here. If so, you'll have to ship it as freight. There are a number of companies that handle this, see the info on this site.

Whom ever you ship with make sure you can get insurance. I was supposed to ship with Tropical shipping and found out at the last minute they don't even provide insurance. Then some people will tell you "don't worry. the last two shipments arrived without a problem". Tell that to everyone that had cargo on the container ship that ran aground near New Zealand.

Also, the USPS flat rate Priority boxes can be a really good deal for shipping heavy things like hand tools. That's how I shipped mine, cheaper and faster than it would have been via Parcel Post.

Storage stateside is a good way to go, too. I wasn't sure what I would want or need when I got here, so I stored a lot of my things. It made a good excuse to return to the States for a visit.

also, remember ground shipping or regular parcel post through USPS can take an eternity. Average 8 weeks to get your boxes. Ship USPS Priority at a minimum if you need the items within the 1st month on island.

Average 8 weeks for parcel post? That's not been my experience, although maybe it depends where in the US you are shipping to/from. For me shipping to/from the East Coast, "average" has been more like three to four weeks. Media Mail will take six to eight weeks or more, although it is the cheapest way to ship books, which are pretty heavy.

The first time I shipped boxes from the states to STJ, I planned for them to take three or four weeks and they arrived in one week -- two weeks before I did!! The people who had to hold my packages were not happy about it. Most other shipments since then, in either direction, have taken three to four weeks. As someone else pointed out in a different thread, it's luck of the draw as to when the container is filled up and leaves from Florida.

Shipping from island to the states always seems to take longer than from the states to the islands. You can increase your chances of prompt shipping by following the USPS address standards -- use all capital letters, don't use punctuation, follow the USPS abbreviations exactly, and use the ZIP + 4 code.

Travel/move light. Leave most of your stuff behind. Some of it will just weigh you down. And you may get here and hate it or something beyond your control could force you to move back. I left much behind, including a car. After a year, I knew what I wanted to bring back with me, what I wanted to leave in the States in storage, and what I could sell or get rid of.

I'd love to be able to ship my kayak and mountain bike down there. I'd guess they're around to buy myself though.

My one kayak is 18 feet long, no way that'll be cheap haha

I said "average" 8 weeks, most times 4-6 is normal. I've waited longer for some items, 3 months for jeep seats, 3 months for an oven (that came from Puerto Rico and took that long). Also, ordered books online 2 months in advance for my kids classes at Antilles. They arrived 2 weeks AFTER school started. I never ship standard anymore.

Part of living on an island, newbies should be aware.

Leave the mountain bike behind until you get a good look at the roads around where you'll be living. Might end up just taking up space.

WGAF - we have shipped two 20' containers with Tropical (the most recent last month) and have always had insurance with them. We have also shipped via pallet and I am 99% sure we had insurance then as well.

Pia

I don't have an address on StX yet, but wish there was a way to mail some stuff down before I left here.

Try USPS General Delivery https://www.usps.com/manage/research-delivery-options.htm

General Delivery

Get your mail even if you’re on the road, new to town, or between permanent addresses.
Mail addressed to you at General Delivery will be held at the area’s main Post Office for up to 30 days. All you have to do is pick it up.

General Delivery is a great choice if you don’t have a permanent address.
People can send you mail by using the town name and ZIP Code™, like this…

JOHN DOE
GENERAL DELIVERY
ANYTOWN NY 12345-9999

In medium to large cities with multiple ZIP Codes, you’ll want to make sure senders use the ZIP Code for the area’s main Post Office. The ZIP+4 extension 9999 indicates general delivery.

To find the main Post Office in an area, speak to any Post Office associate or call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).

Once you’re settled, forward your mail to your new address. Just complete and turn in a change of address form or change your address online.

WGAF - we have shipped two 20' containers with Tropical (the most recent last month) and have always had insurance with them. We have also shipped via pallet and I am 99% sure we had insurance then as well.

Pia

They would not give me insurance. I couldn't even buy it through them. Are you positive you were insured? Did you have it in writing? I wish some one could settle this.

100% we were insured - I will try to find my invoice and let you know the cost.

The only reason I could come up why insurance might not be available to you is that we are in the middle of a major remodel and all items shipped were brand new and drop shipped to Tropical and we needed to show all receipts from the manufacturer to prove value (and also country of origin) so if you are moving "used" household goods maybe they don't insure? I can't remember if they insured our "used" household items when we moved 7 years ago or not and again I don't know if this is the reason just a guess.

If you need the name of who consolidated for us at Tropical in Medley let me know and again I will see if I can find it - being under a remodel stuff is everywhere 🙂

Pia

If you packed yourself they will not insure. Only if a registered agent of theirs packed for you will they offer insurance.

100% we were insured - I will try to find my invoice and let you know the cost.

The only reason I could come up why insurance might not be available to you is that we are in the middle of a major remodel and all items shipped were brand new and drop shipped to Tropical and we needed to show all receipts from the manufacturer to prove value (and also country of origin) so if you are moving "used" household goods maybe they don't insure? I can't remember if they insured our "used" household items when we moved 7 years ago or not and again I don't know if this is the reason just a guess.

If you need the name of who consolidated for us at Tropical in Medley let me know and again I will see if I can find it - being under a remodel stuff is everywhere 🙂

Pia

That was the deal killer with CAM. They insisted on using Tropical because they needed to use a company credit card. I was not about to ship 55k in tools and equipment without insurance. The company I wanted to hire did the crating, shipping and insurance.:S

P.S. If they only insure new stuff then household stuff is all shipped uninsured? Who keeps all their receipts for everything they own?