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buying and shipping from nairobi to usa

Replies: 6 - Last Post: Nov 19, 2012 10:29 AM Last Post By: catfriend

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worldwide25

worldwide25 avatar

Nov 18, 2012 8:45 PM
Posts:  1

buying and shipping from nairobi to usa

Hi

I'm traveling to Nairobi in January and am planning to make purchases of shields and spears if possible at one of the markets. I'm hoping that I could ship the items to myself back in the USA. Does anyone know any reliable shipping company and their probable costs to do that?

Thanks!!!!

Askari

Askari avatar

Nov 19, 2012 12:01 AM
Posts:  99

1

I cannot recommend a specific company, but I know that some shops offer overseas shipping of their merchandise. This won´t happen, of couse, if you buy the stuff at one of the curio markets. If you want to do it on your own, be aware of Kenyan bureaucracy and don´t expect things to be swift.

You´ll find adds of shipping companies in local papers, but unless you plan to buy and ship a lot of stuff it might be difficult to find a company willing to take the time (thanks to abovementioned bureaucracy) to ship a relatively small item.

Kutus

Kutus avatar

Nov 19, 2012 3:24 AM
Posts:  5

2

I think it would be a huge hassle to ship things yourself. In October I bought to wooden carvings each at least two feet tall from the Zanzibar Curio shop. They shipped them home and I got them fairly quick. They were wrapped really well and cam undamaged. Depending on how much you buy it might be worth looking into how much your airline would chatge you for extra luggage. Shields and spears shouldn't weigh too much.

Askari

Askari avatar

Nov 19, 2012 6:20 AM
Posts:  99

3

I actually had the Zanzibar shop in mind when I mentioned shops that handle the shipping - glad to hear you got everything in good shape, Kutus! And they have both a great selection and good prices (btw, could you tell me in a PM maybe how much the shipping cost were? I have friends coming to Kenya who were hesitant about shipping before and might change their minds if it´s affordable)

But my impression was that the OP wanted to buy at the massai markets, and I doubt anyone there bothers with shipping offers...

wilmarinesafaris

wilmarinesafaris avatar

Nov 19, 2012 6:40 AM
Posts:  3

4

Hi ,good day when you are in kenya and you want to ship your things you can use lnchcape
shipping company orDiamond shipping company or Seaforth shipping company and l think they all have offices in Nairobi if not ask someone will assist you
Thanks

kaz

kaz avatar

Nov 19, 2012 10:18 AM
Posts:  746

5

You could try asking the airline you are flying home with.
I had 2 Malawi chairs flown home from Nairobi and then picked them up from LHR.
They went as air freight rather than luggage, quite a reasonable price.

catfriend

catfriend avatar

Nov 19, 2012 10:29 AM
Posts:  121

6

I brought home spears from Kenya (to US) with no problem. I also advise bringing them in checked luggage. Even if you have to bring/buy a duffle/second bag and pay a fee for a second checked bag it will still probably be cheaper than sending via FedEx or similar.

If you're worried about the spears bending or breaking a great way to pack them is to buy a length of plastic plumbing pipe and insert them inside of it before placing in your bag.
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