Guest bluecob99 Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Hi Maybe you could help us? We seem to have so much conflicting advice re wooden items...Lots of the things I'm talking about are inexpensive things that we have collected and we would consider shipping in our excess baggage as keepsakes. So is it really ok to take any of the following: Wooden stationery items Children's wooden toys Signs (i.e. decorative room signs) Picture frames Wooden trinkets etc that are shop-bought but made simply to look antique Wooden jewellery Then we have a few large photo canvases. These have been hand-made with the canvas stretched over a wooden frame (manufactured by a separate UK company) - the wood looks bare, but has been through processes to ensure strength and kiln dried, which should kill off anything... Any advice would be really welcome - thanks a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marta Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 We had the same problem. For example what to do about plain pencils??!! We decided to declare everything wooden even if it was just a minor item like wooden pencils. We also declared wooden picture frames and paint brushes, hair toys (such as forks and sticks) and wooden shelves. So yes, I think it's better to be on the safe side with the Aquis people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyman Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 we messed up by not bringing some wooden toys ,ships ect ,in fact ive spent an hr or so today searching for an early learning wooden pirate ship to replace the one we left in the uk, we were gutted as the girls loved it and the boys would have had great fun ship wrecking it .!!!!!! there are many about but pretty expensive ......... leave your wicker gear and obvious gear that shoudnt come but tbh things that are sentimental ect bring them , take a chance ,i brought all sorts , even a large camping knife wrapped in a sleeping bag just in case they questioned it , all my spices ect .........why we left the wooden toys we dont know , we still do not forgive ourselves for leaving them ..........:frown: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest edwardsfamily Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 i bought lots of wood...didnt even remember what i'd packed when declaring them on the customs forms! incuding canvas's, stationary, wooden dining table, coffee tables etc. Even wooden kitchen utensils, spoons etc that i has asked the packers NOT to pack! however we had a whole contaniner and not a single item checked by customs...maybe we were just lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pintpot Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Virtually all of our furniture is wooden and we haven't been advised by any of the shippers to worry about it unduly or declare it (with the exception of untreated soft/fibrous woods like rattan/wicker etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sudzy Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 I had listed our wooden furniture on the AQIS form but our shippers advised that it is only wooden items that maybe were ourside and untreated. I'm also not listing wooden salad bowls too. Have to redo the forms now! :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoandJon Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 My hubby's 12 million guitars are all wood so they'll need to be declared - I'd rather get yelled at for declaring too much than not declaring enough!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marta Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Oh wow you shipped these expensive guitars in the container. Hope everything arrives fine in MEL.:wubclub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoandJon Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 They haven't left yet, but will definitely be fully insured. And I should be honest and admit I'm a little prone to exaggerate - he 'only' has 12 guitars, 2 or 3 of the most treasured (depending on luggage allowance) of which will be travelling in flight cases on the plane with one or the other of us. Apparently I can buy new knickers and clothes, but his guitars are irreplacable.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rammygirl Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 They are looking for 'raw' wooden items like pine cones or things that may have soil/vegetation on them. They are looking to exclude any live organisms like fungus, insects, etc or even seeds. Kids toys if clean will be fine, also picture frames etc. Just make it clear on the lists. I declared some shell jewellery in my hand luggage once and they said it wasn't an issue at all but to always err on the safe side!! Interesting that you packed all your spices. I was told that opened food items like this was a definite no no!! A real pain and expense to replace them all too. Mind you when we unpacked we saw that the packers had left a snake skin (shed from my son's pet snake - which we had to leave behind) in a drawer. We were not aware it was there. This wasn't checked by customs but I'm sure we would have been in trouble if they had found it!! Son was happy though as it was a nice reminder of his pet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcorners Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 The only thing we're leaving is some wicker baskets which we can easily replaced. We made some wooden furniture last year which was untreated so have given these a coat of varnish so its obvious it has some kind of coating. Otherwise I wouldn't worry too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoandJon Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Some of our furniture needs a decent polish and touch-up anyway, so it's a way of forcing us to do just that Needless to say the guitars are all well polished and immaculate at all times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bluecob99 Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Thanks for all this great advice - so take everything manufactured and declare as much as possible to be safe! Anyone have any thoughts on the unvarnished wooden frames in our canvas wall pictures. They will be checked because we're sending them with excess baggage and they are too big for the boxes, so will be separately wrapped. We don't really want to take them apart unless it's absolutely necessary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulswin Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Hi guys doe anyone know about shells? Apparently I cant take them I have a biggish one that I love as it was my mums but JM said nope!!!! Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoandJon Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Shells can be tricky I'm afraid - Your best bet with a shell is to take it with you in your suitcase and declare it - then ask the guys at quarantine/customs as you go through. It it's unaccompanied they may just reject it, but if you're there you can answer any questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.