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hornet
Squeeker
Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 10
Status: Offline
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  Posted:
May 24, 2004 - 05:12 AM |
 
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| Post subject: Two more questions about moving to Shanghai |
We will be moving to Shanghai in the summer and are currently in the process of getting somoe fairly astronomical quotes from shipping companies. As a result of this, we are keen to find out:
- is it possible to get American queen size box springs, mattresses and bedding easily in Shanghai?
- We have heard there is a duty payable on electrical items. Is there any way we can find out how much this would be?
Thanks
Hornet |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18042
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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May 24, 2004 - 06:08 AM |
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I would avoid bringing electronic items as much as possible, if coming form the US as the voltage difference can make everything you bring unusable or impracticle to use.
American sized beds are not readily available as far I we have found, but can be custom made should it be required. |
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Michael
Moderator
Joined: Mar 22, 2002
Posts: 5291
Status: Offline
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May 24, 2004 - 08:53 AM |
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We had no problem finding the rough equivalent of king and queen sizes mattresses and bedding. I know in some of the furniture malls, they have name brand imported beds. The mattress we got is plenty big but is a local manufactured.
Yes.. the electronic items you should leave unless it is specifically switchable to 220-240V. Many of the new, better brand computers and monitors do this. Leave the toaster ovens, vacuums, and microwaves. Those little radio shack power adapeter they have for traveling will not cut it. There are some god threads on this already.
http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t= 8063&highlight=power+220v+110v
Also read the relocation article if you have not already ( on the front page). |
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Michael
Moderator
Joined: Mar 22, 2002
Posts: 5291
Status: Offline
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May 24, 2004 - 08:55 AM |
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Oh... in terms of duty.. it varies.. and even for the same item it varies month to month depending who is doing the paperwork. We shipped 4 computers and lots of electronic household items and paid a 7000 RMB total duty. Many times that will not even look at the shipment..just go off the bill of lading. |
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Fenno
Reacher
Joined: June 10, 2003
Posts: 345
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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May 24, 2004 - 09:26 AM |
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Bear in mind that most properties here are already furnished. |
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lawdude
Moderator
Joined: Sep 20, 2002
Posts: 687
Location: No longer in Shanghai, PRC
Status: Offline
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May 24, 2004 - 11:37 AM |
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Duty on electrical items is typically about 20% of the value of the electrical item per a book value determined by local regulations. The duties aren't that high, but I wouldn't buy anything just to bring here, and wouldn't bring anything you plan to replace soon; it can be done here. |
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GBear
Newbie
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 9
Status: Offline
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June 01, 2004 - 07:40 AM |
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| Post subject: Bedding...! |
Plenty of king/queen-sized mattresses around (IKEA in particular has a fair selection of softer 'Western' mattresses), but has anybody ever found a box spring and metal bed-frame in Shanghai, or anywhere else in China?
After 3 years on my wooden-framed bed (pretty much just a mattress on a plywood frame), I can't sleep more than 4 hours without my back locking up... Just bought a nicer mattress, but I really think I need a box spring.
Thanks for any help |
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Hans
Reacher
Joined: Feb 01, 2004
Posts: 225
Status: Offline
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June 01, 2004 - 10:43 AM |
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HI,
everywhere, easy and plentifull available, check every big furniture house or Orient Department store. they make them to measurement and softness / stiffness choosen.
as example, here is one international mattress supplier:
Roger Bi
SLUMBERLAND SHANGHAI LTD
227 Lu Chun Road
Min Hang District
Shanghai 200240
People's Republic of China
6430-6800 6430-3355
Happy trails! Hans |
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peacefulstar
Seeker
Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 46
Status: Offline
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June 02, 2004 - 08:07 AM |
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Coming from Chicago (in August), I find it really odd that most apartments are furnished. Why is this? |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18042
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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June 02, 2004 - 08:47 AM |
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there is no place for firniture to go if one does not want it anymore. If an owner moves into a new place, they get new furnishings for the new place but don't have place for the old so they rent it along with the apt. There is no place to store the extra furnishings so people here just move into another apartment without having to move lots of stuff. difficult to get used to. heck, they even SELL homes fully furnished sometimes. |
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lawdude
Moderator
Joined: Sep 20, 2002
Posts: 687
Location: No longer in Shanghai, PRC
Status: Offline
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June 02, 2004 - 11:04 AM |
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peacefulstar: Hello from a fellow Chicagoan!
I thought the idea of most/all apartments being furnished here a bit odd (well, annoying, since I had a house full of furniture to move somewhere when I came) too. But it makes sense once you're here: As yu888 was saying, if almost all places are furnished, it makes it easier for renters to move around without having to buy/sell/transport furnishings each time. Once you're in the habit of not having to buy furniture for your rental places, it's actually more convenient in many ways. A downside is that you need to choose an apartment that has both the layout and the furnishings you can live with, but there is currently such a high inventory of rental properties available right now, that I don't think you'll have any great difficulty finding things to your liking.
It's probably also due in no small part to the fact that most rental properties here are individually owned, and the owners may have at times lived in the units themselves or plan one day to live in the units or use them for visiting guests, etc. And again, since people here generally expect properties to be furnished, a would-be landlord would be putting him/herself at a disadvantage by trying to rent an unfurnished place.
Happy apartment hunting! |
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peacefulstar
Seeker
Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 46
Status: Offline
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June 02, 2004 - 09:50 PM |
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Hey lawdude,
Good to hear there are Chicagoans in Shanghai! I've been teaching high school in the city and decided it's time for a change, well I guess moving to China is more than a simple change. I'll be teaching history at an international school there. I'm excited but incredibly nervous..so I am religiously reading this site, trying to gather as much info as I can. It has been helpful, but I'm sure i won't escape culture shock..
At least Chicago has prepared me for the weather..it sounds like a familiar climate from what I've heard.
But...back to the topic, the strangest part about furnished apartments to me is that it discounts the desire to decorate according to one's own taste.
Anyway, this is why I'm coming there, to embrace the many cultural differences 
~Irene |
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TheBee
Reacher
Joined: Apr 26, 2004
Posts: 258
Status: Offline
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June 04, 2004 - 05:07 PM |
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Well, you might look for a new unfurnished apartment -there are plenty of them in Shanghai- and work out a deal with the owner/renter to let you furnish it. Usually they will give you a couple months rent to go out and get what you want, provided they sign off on all the items (they won't let you spend 2 months rent on 1 bed, for example)
That's what we did and negociated 3 months rent to furnish our place (3 bed/2 bath). The owner only asked us not to go to the "expensive" Ikea store... We thought it wouldn't be easy but it turns out there are plenty of furniture stores selling below Ikea prices here in Shanghai. Just don't expect quality... good for a couple of years at most. |
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