Watch: Moving Back to India: What Should You Ship — and What Should You Leave
Madhusudan from SFL Worldwide on shipping household goods to India: what is worth shipping, FCL vs LCL, timelines, costs, comparing quotes, Transfer of Residence, documents, restricted items, packing, insurance and the mistakes families make.
The full write-up, with the numbers and the links.
Chapters
- 0:00 Shipping household goods back to India
- 1:14 What should you ship, and leave behind?
- 5:52 Air, sea, FCL or LCL: which option makes sense?
- 10:33 How long does shipping to India take?
- 13:54 How much does it cost to ship to India?
- 18:55 Comparing quotes, inclusions and extra charges
- 23:13 Transfer of residence and Indian customs
- 28:01 OCI, work permits and customs documents
- 30:42 Restricted and prohibited items
- 32:35 When should you start planning your shipment?
- 36:17 Desi Return shipping support
- 36:49 Packing tips and choosing the right boxes
- 39:53 Shipping insurance explained
- 44:22 Common shipping mistakes families make
- 49:02 What if you don't meet the two-year rule?
Transcript
Auto-generated captions, lightly cleaned
0:00 The customers who are not eligible for the transfer of residence, they would pay the duty at 38.5% at a depreciated cost for all the items they ship. They may have a budget of say few thousand, but because of the oversized volume where the the budget it goes beyond the budget, then it'll be a big surprise. If you ask me whether it covers for any damage or loss. So no, it it doesn't cover. It is a mandate mandatory requirement of the customs authorities because they want to have the original passport. The container can be pulled for intensive extensive customs examinations somewhere between $8,000 to $9,500. So that means you know 90 to 120 days would be the realistic door to door transit time for LCL or a shed container. The ideal timeline for to
0:45 plan the shipping 3 to 6 months before it's better to avoid the last minute because you may not get the container, the crew may not be available. >> People are comparing codes from multiple shipping companies, right? So what are the things that they need to watch out because some cost could be hidden cost something that they might not expect. Hello everyone. Today's topic is expert talk and we have Mr. Madusan with us to talk about shipping logistics
1:15 especially when families are relocating from abroad to India. We want to dive in. What do you need to ship? What are the options? What should you look after? Lot of questions about customs, the rules that got changed and when should you start planning. So with that said, Mr. Maludan is heads the sales at SFL worldwide and I'm really excited to have him here who can dive give more insights into these topics and really excited to have you with us today and let's dive in. >> Thank you Amin thank you so much it's good to have this session you know so that you know we can create an awareness and where the moving community can have
2:01 all the I mean information and they can plan much better. Yes, that's fantastic. So let's start with u you know from your experience working with so many families who are relocating permanently or temporarily back to India how do these families decide or what would be your advice what to ship what not to ship and how should they think about it >> okay see again it is we leave the choice to the customers because you know they know better but still you know when this questions arises always you know we give some tips you know so that you know they and plan. always you know this questions comes you know frequently asked questions when the customers okay though they do they wanted to ship everything you know the entire household and again looking at
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2:46 the cost factor. So but again by and large we give them a tip like you know any sentimental emotional and replace irreplaceable furniturees like antique furniture or custommade furniture or highquality furniture which you know they we normally you know we do recommend because even if they wanted to sell it it's not worth it because you know they're not going to get the money for what they have paid. So we tell them you know to ship it if they are affordable if if it is comes within the budget and any high value electronic appliances new and again comp compatible with Indian voltage which can work with step down converters and all that. Then personal belongings like books, photo albums, arts, collectibles and paintings
3:32 and artifacts and of course clothes. they can be choosy okay what they wanted to take it what they wanted to leave behind. Yeah, >> especially again designer wear winter gear because some of these winter gear because again our climate in India may not suit but again they can just have it if at all you know if they're going on any trip or something you know this winter gear will be healthy I mean will help then again collection of saris and ethnic wear which they have been collecting over the period of time. So these are worth shipping and if at all if they wanted to sell you know anything you know which they have been using it for years they can send all sell all these old electronic items TVs, microwaves and then because they're all
4:17 outdated models and it has no resale value. So all these you know they can just you know they can sell it over and any other standard appliances like you know washing machines, refrigerators see all these are dryers you know all these are available in India so all these items you know they can sell it and any furniture low value but bulky. >> Yeah. So where you know it increase the cost of their shipping though I we are in business we don't you know encourage I mean rather it is not good for us but again when it comes to the transparency when it comes to the proper advice a good advice so we suggest you know the where they can leave or sell the low cost bulky furniturees and heavy furniturees which cannot fit into their
5:04 Indian home layouts so that they can sell and Again some of these customers you know they do also you know they can decide okay what to donate what you know they can u do sort of a assortment you know before they decide what they move. So some of these items like you know everyday wear especially the bulky low furniturees IKEA type IKEA type furniturees whatever you know they feel that okay it is not going to be useful for us in India rather you know we donate it. So those items you know they can donate it in there itself and they can have the mustgo items and prepared for the shipping. >> Got it. so from your experience right I know this is you know a framework
5:49 on what to ship what not to ship. Are there some specific goods that are like
5:54 you know more available or quality is better in US and so people are like leaning towards bringing them? Do you see any pattern like okay maybe like the scooters that they use in community like bikes, toys I mean any of those things that you see as a pattern that families tries to bring back to India. >> Yes. we have seen many of the families you know especially the children because they got used to it so they don't want to leave that behind and again now we in India also we see you know a lot many people the kids especially you know they bring these bikes I mean talking about ebikes you know all these you know the toys and all that you know I mean it is we do see in every shipment you know all these are the common items you know which
6:39 everybody wants to ship and everybody is bringing it most of most of I mean those who are shipping with a full container with full household goods. Yes, this is part of their shipping items. >> Okay, got it. So now let's talk about the shipping options that families have because someone might be only shipping few boxes, someone might be shipping a lot lot more. So what are the options they have? What are the pros and cons? Maybe a rough pricing so that the people have a good understanding when they were planning what to choose when they're moving back to India. See you have multiple options you know you have the air option the C option in the C option also you have multiple options like you know just shipping some boxes just shipping
7:24 some furniture and some boxes and you know so these sort of options because air fry normally we suggest because they do ask questions so can we take some of the furniture some of these because they don't know when you look at the cost perspective ive where the airfight will be more. So in such cases you know we tell them okay whatever is essential and mandatory or where you require that urgently at destination. So you carry all those like you know some of the documents some of the households which they require it. So all those you know we suggest maybe you know four four to 10 boxes. So where you know we suggest them and take it by air and rest of all the furniturees and everything you know they can go with the sea fry the sea
8:09 option and again you have in that sea option as I said okay if somebody wants to move two bedroom or threebedroom the entire house so we recommend we recommend them to go with the full container load option and some customers okay no mother we are not moving the entire house household goods because some of the customers they do have all these furniturees is there back at home in India. So we do we don't want to you know just take it and dump it rather we go with a very selective few furniture items. So what are the options? So we call it as LCL less than a container load. Earlier I said okay if they are moving the full house entire house go for a container and if they have less furniture and some boxes we give them option of LCL less than a
8:55 container load or you can call it as a shed container because we I mean there are when I say shared container it is not that they are sharing with someone because we consolidate the shipments here in US. So like these customers okay they may have say 100 cubic feet or 200 cubic feet. Okay in other words okay they have say couple of mattresses some living room furniturees one or two TVs or some other household and like kitchen utensils and some boxes. So they may not require a full container. So you know they can choose this option LCL that is the shed container. Likewise you know there are customers you know with similar volumes or less volume or little more volume. So all this will be consolidated and loaded in the groupage or a shared container. So and people
9:42 okay still you know they prefer going with a C option considering the freight cost between air fry and sea fright. Hey what are my options if I wanted to ship because I'm not moving to India but I have some boxes to be shipped. Yes. So we call it as a baggage and where they can ship two or three or even maximum up to six boxes. So that also will go on a safe ride. So these are the options you know they do have for and again also always you know there'll be a frequently asked question. So when the customers say hey this is my thing you know the list of items. So what are the best options you know for me. So then again we give all this okay we tell them you know just okay aent delivery essential items go with the air fry and
10:27 if you have if you want to move with the entire household good go with a a container there. But again when you say
10:34 container some of them even you know when they wanted to move full house but again there are they restrict themselves you know okay this is all old bulky furniture we wanted to leave behind and maybe we may buy some new furniturees or some furniturees you know which is sentimentally attached or emotionally attached. So my kids they have been using it we have been using it. So all this you know comes so then again we determine the volume though they live in a villa or a three-bedroom or a fourbedroom house where looking at all the items they may require a 40 ft container but restricting it and limiting themsel or they decide okay this is a mustgo item so rest of it you know I'm not taking it so we give them
11:20 you know a 20 ft container so some people okay they wanted to move the entire house with all the furniturees and they may add some new furniturees again we determine the volume by doing a virtual survey or visual survey and we determine the container size and we give them we recommend okay what is the container size they should use so you have 20 ft and a 40 ft container >> yeah so let's talk a little bit on the timing right in terms of how long does the shipments take for example FCL versus I mean understand with the air it's very quick you know they're taking the stuff with themselves but roughly like how long does it take for a full container versus an LC LC just so that people are aware of it. See else okay full container it is packed at the customer's
12:05 residence we place the container directly we load the container move the container directly to the port and it takes about say 5 days to 7 days at the origin you know for the container to be on board on the schedule vessel which sails from the US port then the transit time normally typically the transit time between port to port it'll be between 42 days or 36 days depends on the port. Okay, for example, okay, if you're talking about a customer moving from New Jersey, so New York will be the port of loading and moving to Pune or Mumbai. So where the the port of discharge will be Nawasha in Mumbai. So the sailing time it is about 34 days to 38 days or somebody's moving to Gurong
12:50 or Delhi or in north. So again you know these containers it the port of discharge will be Nawasha and Mumbai or in Mundra and Gujarat and from there it'll connect on rail and when you consider the port to port I'm talking about from the origin port till the final destination that is in Delhi there is a inland container dep depot where we call it as ICT dry ports. So to reach there it'll take about 48 days to 52 days. Then clearance and delivery typically it takes about 4 days to max 7 days. So overall if you look at it so we say 60 to 75 days considering some delays due to port congestions in the
13:36 trans shshipment port or any delays in customs 60 to 75 days for the FCL would be the realistic time or transit time I'm talking about doortodoor >> LCL options here unlike you know what I explained about FCL so LCL options we pack pick up bring it to our warehouse
13:57 And we do the consolidation and this process takes about two to four weeks max at the origin. So we talk about say 30 days at the origin. Then we load the container. So similar transit times between port to port. >> Yeah. >> Then again once it reaches the destination port, this container would go for the customs clearance and where all the shipments would be offloaded at the port. do the customs clearance you know then segregate the shipments bring it to a warehouse and again we schedule the deliveries to the respective destination locations so this would take by and large we do provide this in 90 days time and if there are any delays in customs or port congestions or something like that so maybe we can consider another two to
14:42 four weeks so that means you know 90 to 120 days would be the realistic door-to-door transit time for LCL or the shed container >> got Right. Now let's talk about the cost like maybe you can give like a rough cost for you know shipping by box or shipping by cubic feet however you want to structure that and then you know for a full container what are the you know range just to give an so that people have an idea and see what is their budget and you know how to think about it. >> Sure. see again the people who are shipping only boxes say one or two boxes I mean I'm just giving you a ballpark ranges. I'm not giving you the accurate. >> so approximately I mean I would say between $110 to $125 a box.
15:27 >> Yeah. >> If they shipping more boxes, you know, three to five boxes probably, you know, $10 could be reduced. And if they have more than 10 boxes, it could be around between $90 to $95 a box, which includes of everything. And of course there are variables which they got to pay at the destination because some of the charges like port charges or customs duty if at all if there is any that would be determined at the destination port and the customer would be paying at actuals and for LCL again depends on the volume the size of the shipment. when they say okay some boxes and some furniture so we determine the volume because every single furniture or every single item it has it dimensions and we determine the volume in cubic
16:13 feet or cubic meter. So and whatever the space is occupies in the container for that only they will be charged. So this again depends on the volume. Say if a customer is shipping say 150 cubic feet. Say in a 20 ft container it has a space of 950 cubic feet and a 40 ft container it has a space of 2,000 cubic feet. Now all this shed I mean the LCL shipment the shed container shipments say customer will be having say 150 or 200 or 300 or 400 cubic feet. So it I would say approximately you know they can have a you know the ballpark range would be between $9 to $11 a cubic feet that includes your of packing packing material labor transportation locally within US then bringing it to the warehouse warehouse handling sequencing
16:59 labeling then loading of the container then and again ocean fry transportation from port of I mean the origin to the destination port then clearance documentation Then again local transportation from the port to the customer's residence with complete unloading unpacking assembly of basic furnitureures placing the items in the respective rooms then removal of debris. So all this you know it includes in the cost and customer they do have some questions. Hey, if I do packing of my boxes, is that something you know which we can do it and or we will do packing of all the furniturees and everything because we know a bit. So again with the help of
17:45 our friends you know we do pack everything you can just do the pickup. So in that case there will not be any packing or material charges rather you know just the pickup that is a labor and transportation. So in that way where the prices come down a bit and some customers they do ask okay we will bring it to your warehouse we will drop it off and similarly after the clearance where the shipment will be will it be in your warehouse okay we will pick it up from the warehouse. So these sort of options will determine the price I see. So but again if somebody is taking a LC I mean a full container 20 ft with complete services again depends on the geographical locations in US okay somebody's moving from San Francisco Pacific or somebody's moving from
18:30 Seattle coming to Bangalore we would say somewhere between $8,000 to $9,500 again depends on you know whether they require complete packing or partial packing and all that but if they I'm just giving you the ballpark range for a a full move with complete doortodoor services between, you know, 9,000 to 9,000 or $8,000 to $9,500 for a 20 ft. And when customers they move a 40
18:57 ft, some people they ask whether it's going to be double. No, absolutely not. So maybe another $3,000 to $4,500 for a 40 ft where they got to pay additional that is for the freight and for the volume increase for the material and labor. >> Got it. So these are the price ranges and of course I told you about the baggage shipments where you know they can ship even one box so where we have the charges you know based on the slabs one or two boxes three to five boxes like that. >> So yeah >> no that's very helpful thank you very much for that. So let's take a scenario because people are comparing quotes from multiple shipping companies right so what are the things that they need to watch out because some cost could be hidden cost something that they might not expect it some you know so what are
19:44 the things that they need to make sure that they're comparing apples to apples when they're looking at the pricing and making a decision >> absolutely I mean it's a very valid question you have asked see yes see by and large the people because they do not know what are the scope of services included and excluded it and most of the customers okay where they do not know you know what is Apple versus Apple comparison they they know about it but again you talk about hidden charges or any other charges here what they have to look at is just not to go only with the numbers you know say okay I'm giving you a quote say for 300 cubic feet say some number say $3,000 >> there is the other movers will be
20:30 giving somewhere between say $2,400 or $2,800 and just the number again they also say doortodoor they also say all these are included everything but they have to look at they have to go through the every scope of services what is there in the inclusions either at the origin and at the destination because we have seen when okay when a customer when normally we do not insist the customers you know to send the competitor's code but we ask them so what is that you're looking at I mean what is that it's mentioned in the code then they say okay hey you know destination services doortodoor they said okay the delivery is done
21:16 at the residence only with unloading so here we are giving a code with a complete door-to-d dooror services which includes unloading unpacking assembling of furniturees then placing the items and removal of debris So this is one and also we include the destination terminal handling charges, shipping line charges all those would be included and whereas in the the other estimate this would not I mean it would not have shown and where because of that customers feel okay this quote is lower than yours but they I mean where when they do the apple versus apple comparison they find oh okay right it makes sense okay why so u yeah but most of the reputed moving companies is they explain all the charges. They
22:01 explain what is included, what is not included, what are the things you know which the customer can expect. because they don't want I mean I'm talking about the companies prof professional companies and reputed companies they wanted to explain everything to the customer and prepare them for the worst scenario in the sense even if there is going to be additional charges okay what is what is those variables are so they explain everything properly and and as I said this charges you know some of these charges we cannot include even if the customer want us to include we cannot include it because these charges are payable to the government agencies like port authorities. >> Yeah, >> these charges will be determined only after the clearance and customs duty again you know after the inspection or
22:46 after the the clearance where the customs they will determine what is dutable what is not and whether the customer is availing the transfer of residence where they get the exemptions for most of the items and concessions and some of them they are not. So again these are the variables this would be determined at the destination port customs. So apart from that there are no other hidden factor because there is no hidden charges as such but certain
23:14 things you know beyond our control the container can be pulled for intensive extensive customs examinations by the government agencies either at origin or at destination. So those charges we cannot speculate of whether this container because it is at the discretion of the authorities whether to pull the container for intensive work or extensive examination. So these charges it's it's a surprise for everybody. Got it. That's helpful. So let's talk about the customs which is a big one for a lot of people. So people might have heard about this term called transfer of residence. What documentation is required? let's I think explain these details so that people have a good awareness of what what these
23:59 are. yeah again it's a very valid question. See customs duties exemptions and cons concessions would be based on the transfer of residence eligibility and again say customers they do discuss about every single aspect of the move. Okay. they prepare well in advance. Everything is done but one vital or critical thing is you know which they do not you know they are not aware of about the eligibility criteria. So as a moving company we do ask I mean questions
24:44 as per the import baggage regulations in India. So we know okay what is the baggage rules for you know the transfer of residence and who is eligible. So for the first eligibility there should be an Indian national holding an Indian passport or foreign passport with OCI O citizen of India card. So that is the first requirement. Second requirement minimum they have to be I mean they should be residing out of India a minimum of 2 years. Okay. Not necessarily they have to be living outside India in one country. They can there say some customers they live in Singapore for say a year then they migrate or relocate to US or Canada or Australia anywhere anywhere. So but
25:30 overall you know it should be more than two years then when they are returning to India you know before they could return so because after once they reach whichever country you know they take they make few trips. So those few trips the customs will look at it in the last two calendar years. How many trips the customer has made or the passenger has made into India and the duration of a stay which they will determine very accurately very meticulously because every arrival and departure endorsements they go through it and as long as it is less than 180 days so which they look at it. So as long as it is less than 180 days. Yes. So that is another eligibility and
26:16 transfer of residence duty exemptions and cons concessions. Government of India they do provide to all customers but once in 3 years a customer say for example now we are in 2026 September. Somebody has moved to India say in the year of 2024 and came back immediately. Now they have availed the transfer of residence couple of years ago and now they are moving again. So they do ask am I eligible? No they are not because they have to complete the three calendar years for them to avail again. So what are the duties and exemptions they get? So once when I say okay they are eligible for the complete transfer of residence all the used household goods all used household goods it can be clothes shoes
27:03 books bags kitchen utensils used appliances furnitureures everything you know would be exempted from duty and now from last year as per the government of India notification which now they have relaxed a customer shipping one TV one home theater one monitor one laptop all these are exempted from duty >> so earlier it wasn't there so they would be paying for everything so these are the things you know which I mean we do ask the customers see when we do the video survey or visual survey so we identify okay what are the potential a customer may have say three TVs so when I say okay the duty is exempt for TV that is only for the first TV for the second and the third they will charge
27:49 okay the TVs might be used but they will charge charge at the depreciated cost but they will charge the duty. So these are the concerns you know they get when they move on a transfer of residence. The customers who are not eligible for the transfer of residence they would pay
28:02 the duty at 38.5% at a depreciated cost for all the items they ship. Got it? >> So there you know they got to be careful. So we make all customers be aware about this because if you don't tell them if you don't guide them so what happens is they have decided to move everything since they are not aware of the situation about the transfer of residence eligibility they end up in paying >> so we don't we want to avoid this ifs and but scenario so we tell them so what happens is they decide okay fine it's okay I don't mind paying the duty because I need the items oh hey it's good that you have told me about this so that you know we will leave behind these items. We don't want to pay unnecessary duty. So these are the things you know where we discuss and where the customer we make them be aware. >> Got it. I know you mentioned about
28:50 a foreign nation with an OCI card or an Indian you know passport holder right? So if it's a foreign passport holder who shipping and who doesn't have an OCI, what are the options available? or is it very restricted? Because I have seen quite a few families who hasn't taken OCI card because they're moving with a visa or something. so is there an option for them or is OCI a mandatory? See OCI is mandatory for the Indian national but again Indian and again you know he holds a the foreign passport but he's not moving
29:35 to India he's not relocating but intra company transfer right so they are moving to India for work and where the company gives them a work permit or something like that so still you know Not necessarily. It has to be in India. Even for the foreign nationals, British I mean anybody you know British coming to India to work. So they have a work permit endorsed by the local embassy of India over there and the company issues a letter for a say a couple of years contract. >> Yes, they do also can avail the transfer of residence. >> Got it. Okay. Cool. I know this is a common question from lot of people like even someone who shipping an LCL that they have to provide their original passport. you know maybe they are not close to the port of entry they have to
30:20 mail the documents and people have this concern of shipping or mailing their original passport is that mandatory what are the options that people have you know from a clearance of these shipped items which is you're right it is a mandate mandatory requirement of the customs authorities because they want
30:43 to have the original passport A customer say for example a customer has issued a passport he has multiple passports in the sense okay one passport issued recently and the the old one they wanted to have the passport which has minimum 3 years validity if the passport is less than 3 years so they may insist on the the old passport also so why they require it because as I said earlier to check on the transfer of residence eligibility and all the endorsements you know arrivals and departures so for that reason only. Yes, if the customer is willing to come to the port, if they are close by, they can come, they can complete the inspection or the customs clearance process, they can show the passport and they can take it and they can the customers who can't come where you know they have to send
31:30 the passports again we suggest them okay which corer you know they have to because for the safety of the documents because it's all valid documents. So and again once the inspection is completed we career them the passport back in a safe manner but the requirement is mandatory by the customs authorities. >> Got it. And then are there any items that are prohibited from shipment or any items that causes issues during custom clearance? Yeah, it's a it's a it's a again see all these questions are valid and it is u see yes there are prohibited items which the customer you know they should be aware of before they could pack there are items like any flammable
32:17 items like you know it can be their the body sprays or any liquids. So all these you know maybe limited quantity. Yeah, >> very limited quantity. The new ones sealed packed well, not exposed. So, very limited quantity. But by and large, you know, there are as per the dangerous
32:35 goods where the shipping line where they do not they I mean they recommend, you know, not to have these items packed. So where it is are restricted as I said you know highly flammable materials such as gasoline but bhain and all that and any internal combustion engines fuel you know that has to be drained and the battery cables has to be disconnected any scuba compressed gas cylinders all those you know to be avoided then gold silver diamond platinum jewelry any currency are prohibited or restricted and drone own firearms, air guns, liquor, prohibited drugs is also restricted or prohibited and as well as the India
33:21 globe map because of the due to wrong boundaries and the borders of P and other international borders where the government has brought in this notification that India globe also you know is restricted unless it has a clear boundaries otherwise it is not allowed into India. Got it. So when is the best time for u you know families to start looking into what they want to ship getting the codes and be prepared so that they are not rushing in the last minute. What would you suggest? See the ideal timeline for to plan their shipping 3 to 6 months before. So where
34:06 they can start researching the moving companies and discuss with them about the shipping options understand the customs requirements at the destination country even then again depends on the budget. Okay what is that you know they can within the budget what can be accommodated. So all this you know they can prepare. So 3 to 6 months before it is a good planning. Then once they are done they again whichever moving company they are in touch with they can ask for the estimates because even if 3 to 6 months earlier even if they have taken the estimate that probably may not be valid because there are charges like ocean freight and all might have gone up or increased. So some of the materials or
34:52 labor whatever the you know the fuel search charge or something like that you know where they'll it'll be on increase. So it's good to ask the estimates at least you know 2 to 3 months before they're moving then then again where they can ask okay I'm the options with they can share you know so I'm going with a full pack and pickup so give me an estimate the comprehensive estimate inclusive of everything. So then whatever the documentation is required so all that you know they can confirm and they can be prepared and one or two months before the moving so finalize the date the confirmed date for pack and move. So this is the planning where first I said you know three to six months search the you know searching the moving companies and
35:39 having the shipping options whether to go with a full container or a less than a container shed container then depends on the budget in a way they can plan then the two to three months ask for the estimates from the moving companies then do the comparison of the estimates Apple was Apple comparison which u based on their options or preferred options or whatever the options they wanted to move with with full packing or partial packing. So all that you know they can do that then finally you know one or two months before they can confirm the date with the moving company sign the contract and start at their home you know
36:18 decluttering and selling donating all those you know items which they wanted to leave behind and have the mustgo items properly you know placed I mean where they can segregate and they can do all this you know exercise one or two months before and then again what if at all if they are doing any self-packing like boxes for their personal belongings or if they wanted to have the help from the friend
36:49 and where they wanted to pack everything so they can order all the materials and everything. So then fix the date is fixed and good to go. >> Got it. >> It's better to avoid the last minute. >> Yeah. >> Because you may not get the container, the crew may not be available. So all this you know we can avoid. So better planning is 3 to 6 months then two to three months for the rates and one or two months before or one month before they can fix the date. Got >> it. >> So this will help them you know to have a hassle-free shipping experience. >> By the way if you're planning to ship your household belongings back to India, we can help with that too. We have partnered with few shipping companies. You can submit your inquiry here on this
37:34 page and we have our partners who will reach out and provide a quote and you can decide with whom you want to move forward and get these household belongings shipped back to India. Yeah. So let's talk about the packing that you mentioned right what are some good practices or suggestions because they have to label them they have to pack in certain way or the boxes that they can use any suggestions you know when customers are packing themselves or the professional packers that are available maybe you can you know give some insights there. >> Sure. normally I mean we do suggest to go with
38:20 the licensed and certified packers or moving companies and if at all if they are doing packing always you know we recommend I mean we suggest only to go with the non-fragile items packing like you know clothes the personal like you know documents non-fragile items like you know clothes toys books shoes some kitchen appliances or kitchen utensils. So all this you know they can pack and leave all the fragile items all the electronic items and all the furniturees you know for the you know the professional packers to do what and again when they are doing the packing of boxes we also recommend them you know because they do not know
39:06 so what box to choose and from where they got to buy because you know there are many moving boxes available in US so always we recommend them to go with the doublewalled or heavy duty boxes and we tell them okay these are the dimensions available. Okay, we tell them say 24 in x 18 in x by 18 in large heavy duty box where you can pack your clothes, shoes, toys, then kitchen utensils, appliances. Okay, still you know they wanted to go and pack the china glassware and all that. We suggest to pack in the medium or dish pack box which comes in the dimensions of 18 by 18 by 16. And if they have more of books we tell them to pack in the small box
39:52 heavy duty again 12x 12 x 16. So these
39:55 dimensions you know we do provide because one you know it it'll the heavy duty box it'll help them to have the shipment you know packed securely safely and again considering the the handlings and all that. So it's better to have these again also we provide the packing tips as well and again when they're packing China glassware items okay how to pack okay we tell them what are the materials are to be used so we tell them you know to pack with use the newsprint paper bubble peanuts all those you know we tell them we guide them okay with the tips okay how to pack >> got it so now let's talk about the
40:41 insurance. this is another thing that's you know typically offered but you know what does it cover what it doesn't cover and you know typical cost for these insurance when shipping the items. See insurance there are multiple options again there again the multiple options in the sense a customer pack boxes so we call it as PBO so packed by owner so pack by owner shipments all the insurance companies they do provide the insurance for individual loss of boxes and for the total loss >> and now if you ask me whether it covers for any damage or loss so no it It doesn't cover because all packed by
41:27 owner shipments worldwide all the insurance companies they do not provide for any individual damage to the items or individual loss of items they do not provide but they do provide for individual loss of box and for the total loss under any catastrophic situations and customers opting for the full packing where you know they can go for the all risk insurance where it covers for any individual damage to the items. individual loss of items and for the entire shipment loss. I'm just saying how the insurance work. Yes. Okay. Now coming back to the insurance for as said okay for all risk insurance there again the customer also should be aware though they have all risk insurance
42:12 where I said okay it covers for individual damage individual loss of items and for the entire shipment loss total loss they all this coverage it is for the external damage so for example a customer is having a TV insurance all coverage is there that is for the external damage. Now what happens okay after when it was packed at the origin it was checked it was in a good condition and after reaching India when they wanted to install it they found though there is no external damage to the TV box or the TV everything is intact but it is not working. So where you know there is a issue with the electrical and mechanical. So now for when we look at
42:58 the inventory when we do the survey itself we ask the customers so what is the value so any high value so then there are insurance company has options you know to go for electrical and mechanical full coverage >> where by paying additional premium and these high value items like TVs and all that where they'll have a full coverage so even there is no external damage but due to this you know electrical and mechanical where the customer can claim the full insurance by paying a a small portion of premium in additional premium where they can avail this there again high value furniturees. let's let me give you one small situation or an example. A customer is having a a living room furniture, a
43:44 three-seater, two-seater or a single seater or a sectional sofas now and they give a value say let's assume say $4,000 for the entire sofa set but they have not given a a value for a three-seater separately or a two-seater or a single-seater but they've given a combined value consolidated value and now one sofa is damaged. So let's assume the two-seater love seat is damaged. They have a value of say $4,000 for the entire sofa set. The insurance company since they have given a combined value of all these three I mean this living room furniture I mean the sofa set they
44:23 will average out the value. So $4,000 divided by three piece. So whatever the value now again there again there is a catch. Will they give say $4,000 divided by three? said let's assume say 1,200 or,300 will they give a claim? No, they don't. They'll ask you to submit the repair estimate. If the repair repair estimate has to be less than 50% of the cost. So now when they determine the average price of the furniture, three pieces, say 4,000 divided by three, the three pieces. So 1,200 and 50% off is $600. >> Yeah. the repair estimate should be less than $600 then they give a claim. >> Okay. >> And if the furniture is cannot be
45:10 repaired then whoever the third party or handyman or furniture company who come for the survey you know to for the repair they have to give a in their letter stating that this furniture cannot be repaired. So in such case the insurance company will give a claim for that amount. Got it. Yep. So and again there are minimum deductibles and all that but yes there are insurance options and we explain what are the options for the high value items and all that to all customers where they can go for it. >> Yeah. So from your experience working with so many families moving back to India or moving across continents shipping household items. what are
45:57 some of the common mistakes or lessons learned so that people can plan better or things that they can avoid you know from others experiences. These are real world experiences. I mean this is you know from your own >> okay >> you know time that you spend with several families. in my experience okay these mistakes do happen okay they because you know of the priorities because of the pressure stress what they go through because again the government policies make them you know to move suddenly so these mistakes do happen nobody wants to have nobody wants to do a mistake and regret it or having a stressful but normally what people the mistakes where happens not planning when they
46:42 know that they going to move to India so they don't plan well. So where you know the planning is required so they don't plan early. >> Yeah. >> Then they don't based on the budget because you know they they have to know what is the shipping cost and what is the volume of shipment or size of the shipment they're going to carry because you know they need to sort out all those and they have to decide what is that the mandatory items the mustgo items. So all the you know they have to do it you know well planned and they have to do it early. So where they don't do it so underestimating the volume of their belongings. So what will happen is the movers goes there they'll pack everything and they come back they may have a budget of say a few thousand but
47:27 because of the oversized volume where the the budget it it goes beyond the budget then it'll be a big surprise. So then they realize okay they have made a mistake they should have discarded this furnitureures at you know earlier. So again choosing the wrong shipping method you know instead of going with a full container they would have opted for a less than a container. Now what happens is after packing and pickup the volume is increased but instead of go if they have taken the container so where the container booking you know the mover could have confirmed the container booking and place the container directly at the residence but now afterwards since the planning was not done randomly okay fine all this to be packed. So finally what happens the volume increase or they have chosen a
48:13 container but after some you know at the day of packing volume if if they look at it because you know some of the furniturees they've sold but they did not plan it earlier so somebody came okay fine I'm paying this okay they sold the furniture and now they have booked the container so all this you know they have to decide much in advance then again about the not knowing about the Indian customs requirement or regulations So that again you know after coming to India they end up paying the duties because they were not aware. So these are it should have all this you know the preparation should have been done at the origin. Then assuming everything you know whatever they bought in US will work in India. Then again the compatibility and the power
48:59 fluctuations you know where they need to be aware of and they just need to bring
49:03 what can work in India and again they should ask okay how you know they can install it and how it can work in India so that you know somebody can guide them okay fine you need to have some step down converters and all that you know for this so without knowing that I mean they assume that all this will work >> so this and again about the tax and financial planning they don't do after coming over you know they realize okay all these things you know should I have planned earlier so these are the things then forgetting about the children's education and the family needs so then again the the the house where they're going to live so all this you know they all this should have been done 3 to 6 months in advance even much earlier so all this you know these
49:49 are the things you know the mistakes commonly happens >> it's not that they want they do but I mean but sometimes it happens because of their pressure or priorities sometimes you know they miss out so these are the common mistakes we have seen and common things you know which happens now thanks a lot is there anything that we haven't covered that you want to bring up that would be valuable for families who are considering moving their household items back to India >> a passenger say they moved to US just about say one and a half years back and where they have to return. They are not eligible for the transfer of residence you know where you know the minimum of 2 years. What they can do is you know we suggest them to go and meet the assistant
50:36 commissioner of customs in India whichever the port the shipment is coming to and ask for condonement. So where the assistant commissioner can consider and giving them the transfer of residence if not full transfer of residence and there is a another terminology they call mini transfer of residence instead of giving 7.5 lakhs allowance probably they may give for 3.5 or four lakhs. So these sort of a things you know where it is possible but I'm I'm just giving you this option because you know >> it is it is workable it can it can be done. So yeah, thanks a lot Mr. Madusan for you know comprehensive you know details about what someone should think about when they're shipping
51:22 their household items. Lot of good nuggets, insights, how much it would cost, what's the timeline, restricted items and so on, even the customs. so folks if you have further questions please drop your topics that you want to bring us in the comments below so we can do a follow-up session based on the feedback that we have received. So once again thanks a lot Mr. Mulan for being with us. >> Thank you Abi. Thank you so much and it's a pleasure connecting here.



