Hi,

I've been thinking about the various things I'd like to buy when I'm on my Med cruise in May. On my earlier trips to Europe I've only purchased relatively small items that I could carry home with me. But there are a few things I'd really like to get while I'm there this time...for example, I'd like to buy a couple of wall sconces when I'm in Italy (there are certain types that I've seen in Tuscany that I'd love). I'm also considering getting a rug for my dining room, maybe when I'm in Morroco, and possibly even a chandelier (I saw some beautiful ones in Volterra).

Have any of you purchased large items that had to be shipped home? Were the shipping costs reasonable? Or are they so out-of-this-world that it's just not cost-effective?

Lee Anne I suppose it depends what you are shipping. Have shipped home a rug from Morroco because I had to have it. An oil painting from Giverny ( ditto).. reputable companies will have all the info and handle everything without a problem. Check your prices on rugs before you go.
While in Amalfi this summer I almost had the most gorgeous hand painted ceramic table and chairs sent home ( but got talked out of it by DH.. sorry now)..
Our friends just receieved 2 chairs shipped to their home from their trip in Italy- of course the door to their home had to be enlarged to get the chairs into their home ( lol).. so another thing.. measurements would be a good thing to have also.

Yes, good point about the measurements, especially for the rug I'd like to get. Can you tell me a little about what you saw in terms of rugs in Morroco? Anything in particular I should look for, or avoid? Where did you get yours? I was hoping we'd be able to go to Marrakech, but I've discovered that's too far, so I'm trying to figure out if this place near Agadir, Taroudant, is really anything like it.

It can be a real hassle. YOu have to pay someone to have it clear customs and then pay delivery again to get it delivered to your home. If you live close to a port you can go pick things up but it is something to be aware of - not simple. Also the costs can really add up. After my Vietnam and Malta purchases last year I have now decided if I cant carry it then I dont need it.

Seems like everyone has a different experience too, sometimes it all just works smoother.

Ngaire, can you teach that lesson to my wife? r/wes

A friend of mine was on the Rennisance 58 day cruise a few years ago.
They stopped in Turkey where they purchased a rug.
After paying for it and for shipping etc. they went on their way. 4 months later it finally arrived COD! Not only that it was doubled the price they had actually paid. Of course they did not accept the rug and it took 30 days to get things worked out because the cruise line got involved and threatened to black ball the establishment. To this day they don't think it is the same rug they purchased. Close but not the same.
And not only that. They had to take it outside and hang it over a balcony for days just to get the terrible fish smell out of it.

LeeAnne, way back in the early 80's when the pound and the dollar were about equal (now a pound costs about $1.80) I and a group of friends went to London to shop. I bought a LOT of stuff, and it took maybe six months to get all of it. People from lct who were on a not so recent cruise in the Med experienced long waits for their goods. But they got what they bought, eventually. Not sure about rugs, need more input from people who have done that. Andi?

Oh...bummer! I really wanted to get a rug from Morroco. And I've been eyeing those wall sconces the last few times I've been to Italy. I may be able to have these packed well and carry home, but I'll have to see. I guess the chandelier is out!

I'll check out what the merchants say. I do have the advantage of being reasonably close to LA, so perhaps if something was shipped I could pick it up at the port...I'd have to learn more about how that works.

Thanks for the info!

I don't know if you are going to Venice. If you are, don't buy anything in Murano to be shipped to the US. A friend of mine bought a very expensive vase and had it shipped. When she got it, it was different from the one she bought! She tried and tried to return it , but there was so many complications with customs that she gave up. She now has a hideous vase for which she paid approx. $2,000.

On the other hand, I had two rugs shipped from Istanbul without a glitch. The rug shop had come highly recommended by a client of mine, so that might have helped. And my brother had a chandalier shipped from Venice--again, major reputable store, and it arrived intact and on time. Lesson may be to know who you're dealing with.

I always got what I bought it was the hassle of getting it cleared through customs, then the cost of having a land shipper get it to me that ended up being far more than I anticipated.

They call you when it arrives and you use a "company" to clear customs they need all kinds of information I cant even remember what now "a power of attorney to act as your agent I believe". The once this fee is done then the land shipper gets involved. That cost about $400 for a piece I bought in Vietnam.

I really think if you can go to the port where your shipment arrives, clear customs yourself and load it in your car and go home you will be fine. If you are landlocked like me forget it.

I really do want to get a rug, but I'll wait and see what the situation is. If it's going to be anywhere in the hundreds of dollars to ship, I'll have to pass. :(

Crys, do you know how much your brother paid for the chandelier? We're not going to Venice this time, so Murano glass is not on the shopping list. What I'm really interested in are some amazing alabaster chandeliers I saw in Volterra. It was just the best use of alabaster I've seen -- the pieces were very thin with this creamy luster, and they just glowed when the lights were turned on. Never seen anything like it. I've been lusting after one ever since!

LeeAnne,

I have a client that ships stuff by the container from Asia. She has a retail store in Westlake and believe it or not, she has many clients who go to Asia, come home and buy the souveniers from her store on Via Colinas. They get it cheaper and she takes out all the hassle. We are in an area where we have so much stuff for your home that it's hard to believe that you have to go shopping in Europe or elsewhere for the big stuff.

We bought a table in Sorrento, Italy and had it shipped home. Took about 6 weeks and we were notified when it arrived in N.Y. because we had to send social security number but it came within days of that and the shipping was included with purchase price. Absolutely no problem whatsoever. But, alot of people from our cruise bought glass in Malta and had a terrible time getting it. It took forever, but they eventually received it.

A rug tip. I bought a rug in Turkey. Many high end rug stores will specially wrap up a rug for shipment. My rug store actually put it in a canvas duffel. When you go to the Istanbul airport, the airport lines are filled with folks shipping their rugs as extra luggage.

I bought and brought an extra large suitcase, which I sent along empty. Doug and I put our smaller suitcases inside. When we purchased things, we just put it inside the empty suitcase. One must come prepared!!!

I live in Switzerland. I found Murano glass in our stores actually cheaper than in Murano. There is no discount in EU on Orefors or Kosta Boda or Baccarat or Lalique. You only get deals by going to their seconds factory stores.

With the dollar the way it is today compared to the Euro, prices on EU goods could be inflated in the US. Therefore, if there is something you really want, it may be worth it.

Another tip. Check the internet for prices and know exactly what you want and how much it costs before you purchase in Europe.

I live in the NYC area and I found rug prices at ABC Carpet and Bloomingdale's Clearance Center were equal to or perhaps a bit better than at the source. If you pay duty on your purchases, you may be overpaying. Additionally, since rugs are considered crafts, they are not subject for duty free. Hence, no tax back.

Many years ago, on a trip to London, we purchased several dozen crystal glasses at Reject China. We also purchased 8 hard-backed placemats. We had the glasses shipped, but for some reason I decided to carry the mats back -- oh, so very heavy! A few months later Reject China filed bankruptcy, so no glasses for us. I now refer to my mats as "my $500 placemats."

My motto is "if I can't carry it, I don't need it."

To my observation, it is a very risky and costly process to buy bulky items abroad and have them shipped home. But if you do so, allow me to offer some tips. Buy only where you can charge the purchase on American Expresss and only from a merchant who offers shipping. Make sure you keep your receipts, and insist that they have a rather detailed description of the item. Also, photograph the item. If the item does not arrive, or if a different item arrives, you have recourse through AMEX. I have no solution for customs hassles. Just part of living in the USA!

Thanks,
Richard :) ;) :)

A neighbor of mine was born in Tunisia, and he was the one who gave me the idea that I should look at rugs in Morroco. I've been meaning to buy one for my dining room, but haven't gotten around to it (in SIX YEARS! That's how long we've been in this house! ;) ) He thought that I could get rugs there for a fraction of what I could get them for here. If that's not the case, then I certainly won't go through all the trouble of shipping one. I guess I'll just have to see what's really over there.

Kathy, interesting story about buying the souveniers here vs. there. Funny, I have this huge, gorgeous ceramic jug-type vase made in Florence, which I actually bought in Fashion Island in Newport Beach the week after returning from a trip to Italy! I could never have carried it home. As I recall, it was a little more expensive here than a similar item would have been there, but this was many years ago.

The chandelier thing, boy I wish I could find one like it somewhere here. Volterra, being known for it's alabaster, is chock full of beautiful items that you just won't see anywhere else. Of course, I don't even know if the type of chandelier I saw is still going to be there.

Thanks for all the info on shipping, everyone!

I have been very bad here in Europe. I brought over all sorts of old things and plan to leave them behind. In my travels around Europe, I have brought back all sorts of things large and small. My company will ship and ensure all these items...including all sorts of bacarrat and pottery and furniture.

As a side note about the Malta glass. My purchases came to $66 euros; shipping was 75 euros and tax was $22 euros. Almost doesn't seem worth it. As a plus over my cruise compatriates, at least I received it within a few weeks.

Ah, the infamous Malta glass fiasco!

That experience has taught me - if you can't carry it home, leave it behind. It was not worth the hassle, emails back and forth to the glass company and the phone calls to AMEX to decline payment on the items charged immediately that took over 3 months to receive (in a box that was crushed and filthy, I might add).