Best way to ship equipment at DVinfo.net

Damon Mentzer · September 22nd, 2009, 10:56 AM

Hi there! I am working on the plans for a worldwide tour, 1-2 years with 2-6 months spent in each location. We will be performing 3d scans and digital archiving, with a small video documentary crew along for the process. And I get stuck with wrangling out technology and logistics. Since there may be up to 8 cameras, 3-8 computers, MASSIVE amounts of storage, lights, sounds ect... I am wondering if shipping may be preferable to airline freight checking. We are far more worried about safety/security of equipment vs. it's traveling along WITH us. The whole process will be at museums (with the exception of work on Cyprus), which may make that even easier. Any suggestions?

David Ruhland · October 11th, 2009, 09:50 AM

Don,

If you can afford it, check it on the airplane... or air frieght it ahead of time. I have in the past put gear i didnt care about in Pelican cases and have them shipped by Air from Asia to USA without any probs.

Cheaper, but longer method is by slowboat! It takes 40 days for me to get stuff from USA to China... FWIW it cost me 500 to 1000 bucks for a pallet of equipt in a container. Please everything in plastic bags if u decide to do this.

HTH

Nathan Moody · October 11th, 2009, 10:32 AM

You owe it to yourself to watch this video at least three times. :)

Viddler.com - Chase Jarvis TECH: Packing Photography Gear (Advanced) - Uploaded by chasejarvis

Extreme detail and lots of information on shipping expediters, which you may want to consider over just dealing with airlines. But given your multi-stage travel plans, YMMV. Still, great topic and this sounds very applicable.

Ray Bell · October 11th, 2009, 07:50 PM

I think it depends on how many cases you have and how many people you have to handle the cases... If you have enough people that can man handle every single one of your cases and bring them to the check-in station, and then get them thru the customs station on the other side, then I'd want to check-in the equipment each time.

The reason I say that is because you never know what could happen and if you ship the cases they may get stuck in customs for a week or so.... if you carry them to the check-in
and you pick them up from the baggage area after landing, at least you have them with you
and your not waiting on anyone.

I got stuck in Singapore one year because I didn't have enough people to carry on some equipment that I didn't pack for in the galley.. I ended up asking people I'd never met
before, if they could carry on a couple extra cases... not worth the scare....

shipping is a luxury that I really like... but its best to ship early and have at least one of
your team members on the receiving end so they can work out any issues that might happen with the equipment

If possible you could rent a truck and drive it to some of the sites, that way your equipment is always with you...

Mugurel Dragusin · October 14th, 2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan Moody

You owe it to yourself to watch this video at least three times. :)

Thanks for that video link, very informative.

September 22nd, 2009, 10:56 AM	#1
Damon Mentzer Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34	Best way to ship equipment Hi there! I am working on the plans for a worldwide tour, 1-2 years with 2-6 months spent in each location. We will be performing 3d scans and digital archiving, with a small video documentary crew along for the process. And I get stuck with wrangling out technology and logistics. Since there may be up to 8 cameras, 3-8 computers, MASSIVE amounts of storage, lights, sounds ect... I am wondering if shipping may be preferable to airline freight checking. We are far more worried about safety/security of equipment vs. it's traveling along WITH us. The whole process will be at museums (with the exception of work on Cyprus), which may make that even easier. Any suggestions? __________________ Jack-Of-All-Trades-that-pay-squat

October 11th, 2009, 09:50 AM	#2
David Ruhland Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Madison WI Posts: 340	Don, If you can afford it, check it on the airplane... or air frieght it ahead of time. I have in the past put gear i didnt care about in Pelican cases and have them shipped by Air from Asia to USA without any probs. Cheaper, but longer method is by slowboat! It takes 40 days for me to get stuff from USA to China... FWIW it cost me 500 to 1000 bucks for a pallet of equipt in a container. Please everything in plastic bags if u decide to do this. HTH __________________ Vegas 8.0c (Build 260)-(Upgraded to Sony Vegas 10 pro)Canon GL2, Canon HV30, HF200, HF20-Sony UWP Wirelesss Mic Kit, Intel Core 2 CPU-6600@2.40GHz-3.00GB Ram

October 11th, 2009, 10:32 AM	#3
Nathan Moody Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SF Bay Area, CA, USA Posts: 78	You owe it to yourself to watch this video at least three times. :) Viddler.com - Chase Jarvis TECH: Packing Photography Gear (Advanced) - Uploaded by chasejarvis Extreme detail and lots of information on shipping expediters, which you may want to consider over just dealing with airlines. But given your multi-stage travel plans, YMMV. Still, great topic and this sounds very applicable. __________________ designer of media for eyes and ears sound design and field recording at http://www.noisejockey.net/blog

October 11th, 2009, 07:50 PM	#4
Ray Bell Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,414	I think it depends on how many cases you have and how many people you have to handle the cases... If you have enough people that can man handle every single one of your cases and bring them to the check-in station, and then get them thru the customs station on the other side, then I'd want to check-in the equipment each time. The reason I say that is because you never know what could happen and if you ship the cases they may get stuck in customs for a week or so.... if you carry them to the check-in and you pick them up from the baggage area after landing, at least you have them with you and your not waiting on anyone. I got stuck in Singapore one year because I didn't have enough people to carry on some equipment that I didn't pack for in the galley.. I ended up asking people I'd never met before, if they could carry on a couple extra cases... not worth the scare.... shipping is a luxury that I really like... but its best to ship early and have at least one of your team members on the receiving end so they can work out any issues that might happen with the equipment If possible you could rent a truck and drive it to some of the sites, that way your equipment is always with you...