Shipping my babies

SO MANY BLUNDERS!!

I was lucky with shipping in some ways and in some, it turned out to be frustrating. I did a very thorough research for shipping and got quotations for per kg rate from different companies. It started from 465rs/kg to 700rs/kg.

After getting the designs ready, I knew the legs would fit in my suitcase. Earlier I thought to make a box for the ottoman and add wheels to it so that I could take it with me on the flight with ease, but then later to my luck, we realised a very very big suitcase should fit it. And, voila! I got it in my suitcase!!!

The bench top however obviously had to be shipped. I spoke to three different customs officers and delivery company managers to understand the legalities and customs duties ( which I wanted to absolutely avoid ) and make sure that everything happened smoothly.

The blunder that happened thought was by the shipping company! ARGH

They picked up my bench top one day before we had to ship it. The person who owned the company himself came to pick it up and I made a very clear request that the packing happens in front of me and that the bench will remain tilted. The cane weaving will remain as it is and the carved dowel is a very fragile part so it has to be packed very carefully. Even my dad told them twice to be very careful of that piece.

The next day they called again to ask me if the weave was important for me or not. I was annoyed and I told them again very clearly not to touch it and wait for me to come so that we could pack it together. They didn't listen to me and when I got there they had already packed the furniture. I kept on asking why i could still feel the wood piece on the edge and if they applied enough foam or not to which they replied that they CUT OFF MY CANE WEAVING.

They tried to also fool me by increasing the dimensions of my piece by 5cm on all three sides which increased the volumetric weight by 10kgs. Luckily, I always carried my inch tape with me and measured it immediately to catch this.