Euro Newbies: Shipment from U.S. to France

It Arrived Today!

Our 7x7x4 foot cargo crate was repacked into two vans for delivery.

On November first Allied loaded our books, files, computers, bicycles, dishes, photos and other goods that we had decided we wanted moved to Europe. It was a difficult decision, deciding what to take and what to put into storage. We were given an approximate delivery time of four to six weeks. Well, eleven weeks later, it arrived! It's like Christmas, especially since we were not sure what was in the boxes. When the truck was loaded in the U.S. several boxes of our stuff had to be left off the truck, there just was not enough space. Things were hectic that day and we were not sure exactly what was in the boxes left behind and placed in storage. Some were kitchen boxes, some were books, along with Alice's jewelry armoire and a floor lamp.

We were able to track our shipment over the internet, cool. On November the cargo ship left port. On December 23 the cargo ship docked at Le Havre, France. The boxes went directly into customs and I got an email from the movers on this end.

The email basically stated:

Hi,

I'm Emilie and your stuff is here. I will arrange delivery to your house after we have received the following documents:

A detailed inventory in French with the value of each item in euros.

Proof of residence in France.

A statement from your employer that you have not been living in France and are now being transferred to France.

Proof that you have been living in the U.S. for at least the last twelve months.

A statement that these are your personal possessions and have not been purchased within the last six months and will not be resold.

Customer will pay 10% + VAT tax of 19.6% duties and 19.6% taxes

on each bottle of wine

on whole shipment if customer's been less than 1 year outside of France

on whole shipment if customer is not moving his main residence to France

on whole shipment if customer is settling a second residence in France

on whole shipment if customer cannot provide all necessary documents

on whole shipment if customer has left the origin country for more than a year

on each item bought less than 6 months before departure. Invoice for each new item is needed.

"What the Hell!? Alice, did Allied say anything about this to you?"

"No, you handled all that. I didn't talk to them at all."

We might be hit with a 42% tax on our stuff. That's ridiculous! The guy at Allied told me they handled all the customs charges when I talked to him and he did not advise me of any of this bull."

Well, I got to work on the "requested" documents, fudged the inventory, since we were not sure what exactly made it onto the boat, listed the new pair of boots that I bought just before we left as a gift and made several phone calls and sent several emails to Emilie.

January 14, our stuff cleared customs with no taxes or duties due.

Finally on January 23, 2013 two small vans pulled up to our house. "That's all our stuff? That's it?" I asked Alice as she stood there with her mouth open, too.

Two short French men in their late forties, one with a severe beer belly, got out and introduced themselves. The movers had unloaded our cargo crate and repacked everything into these two vans. The men began carrying everything upstairs to Alice's study and our bedroom or up to the third level office where I write. Only a few boxes went on the ground floor.

"Yes, that one goes in the loft also, second floor (which is considered the third floor in America), sorry." I told the little guy as he huffed and puffed. Good thing I know CPR, I thought. This guy might have a heart attack before he's done.

They got everything in the house and on the proper level. We offered refreshments, they accepted. Then the real fun began. Opening boxes and trying to find a place for things.

"We got the top half of the blender, but not the bottom half." Alice informed me.

"We got our outside plastic tea glasses and wine glasses," I replied, "but not our good dishes."

If I had it to do over again, I would have shipped less, or maybe nothing. It might have been cheaper to just send a few things via the post office and buy the rest here. Postal delivery of the three boxes we mailed over arrived in two to three weeks. An extra suitcase or box costs about the same as postal delivery. Live and learn.