Airfreighting A Pin From The US

[Jango]

Wondering if anyone has had experience airfreighting a Pin from the US from compainies like FEDEX for example.  Is it a huge hassle, and do they look after all paperwork etc etc.  Is it a much easier process than shipping via sea?  Apart from the expoense side of things, I'm just ijnterested to know process and peoples experiences etc
Thanks

[Homepin]

I have to ask - WHY you would do it???

There is an absolute glut of machines currently in Australia in all price brackets and in all conditions.

Why put yourself through all of the uncertainties of importing? Importing is often not as straightforward as some make out - one shipment can sail in without a problem then BANG! you will have issues you never even thought possible and the one certainty is the costs will blow out of all proportion!

My advice is (if you are only after one machine) look for it here in Aus - FAR less stressful and at the end of the day very likely cheaper anyway. There are hidden costs connected with importing that you can't always predict upfront.

There are many many stories of importers abandoning containers of goods because the costs got out of control. It can become a bottomless pit when you start dealing with govt departments who don't give a stuff what it costs you. I know of one Brisbane car dealer who was forced to re-export two mini tip trucks for all sorts of idiotic reasons. In the end he lost over 100K.

Importing ANYTHING is not for the fainthearted or those with moths in their wallets.

[Strangeways]

Unless it is a rare "Holy Grail" pinball, then look local. Mike is spot on - it can become an expensive nightmare.

[Caveoftreasures]

I tried getting costs to airfreight a pin a few years ago befor i actually sea-freighted in a few machines from the USA.

The cost to airfreight was HUGE. If u had a friend in the USA who could do all the hardwork for you, then it might be worth a relook if you could get a half bin on a standby rate. (Aluminium square small containers are loaded onto a aircraft and called bins in the industry, also, a standby rate is where the aircraft will leave not 100percent full so the airline will sell the unused space for apx half to a quarter of the price to a freight forwarder).

Getting something on a aircraft at stanndby rates is the only affordable way u could ever do it, but as Mike(Homepin) has pointed out, why bother, cause every size n shape of pinball machine u could ever ask for is for sale in Australia at great prices.

Seafreight is really the only way, and its still ALOT OF WORK & PRECISE PAPERWORK. Shop locally and save at least $1,000 to $1500 on unneeded import costs.