Moving to France (from US)

[PeterK]

Here in Washington state the cannabis shops sell hash by the ounce.

[TFJWM]

@DrSukie

Do not bring any electrics. Even with a converter, they can blow out. From big things like kitchen aid mixers to small like a hair trimmer. I brought the latter and it fried itself within 2 minutes even with a converter.

I would say avoid them in most cases but my beater laptop has been in a good converter for almost 4 months and is fine. The sous vide also has run for 30+ hours and still going strong. I did plan and was ok with them dying but after going back and forth over the years good converters will keep most things going but it is life will be shorter

[John_Scully]

@PeterK

cannabis shops sell hash by the ounce.

Good to see the old traditions honoured.

[PeterK]

Thanks so much for that! That’s been my biggest concern. Looks like they do ship from the west coast. They are now at the top of the list.

I wish I knew more about the reason for shipping thru the Netherlands. Did it have something to do with tariffs or with restrictions? Or with the length of time that the French would have taken? Was this a permanent move?
Chantal is French but I assume that shipping to the Netherlands would not be a problem. This is a permanent move that would allow us to avoid paying French tariffs on our belongings. I am just assuming but hope the same would apply to the Netherlands.

The other question I have is, how did you have everything moved to France after your freight cleared customs?

I don’t want to have problems with French customs. I know they are strict. Maybe I should reconsider our plans, at the very least learn more about the whole process.
Did you have to fill out the paperwork yourself and did the moving company help out with any of that? You had mentioned that the inventory was vague; I’m assuming that you (or the moving company) didn’t have to make an exhaustive list of everything being shipped.
Avoiding that alone may be worth the extra steps.
Thanks again.

[TFJWM]

@PeterK

I wish I knew more about the reason for shipping thru the Netherlands. Did it have something to do with tariffs or with restrictions? Or with the length of time that the French would have taken? Was this a permanent move?

The reason is French customs are sticklers and love their paperwork. It is totally legal and once it clears into the EU it is the safe and legal to go btw countries. It was a permanent move so no customs were paid.

@PeterK

The other question I have is, how did you have everything moved to France after your freight cleared customs?

They set that all up with the movers would either deliver it to the ground floor or the next story up. We were pretty far south close to Rodez so I was wondering why Netherlands but it all went very fast. I think less than 3 days to clear.

@PeterK

You had mentioned that the inventory was vague; I’m assuming that you (or the moving company) didn’t have to make an exhaustive list of everything being shipped.
Avoiding that alone may be worth the extra steps.

We started very detailed listing everything as used and what kind of clothes were in each box. But all we had to do was like list a box of used clothes or a box of household items. It actually worked out better in the end because we had a detailed list of all of the 70+ boxes

Edit: Messed up the formating but it is late so will just leave it

[PeterK]

Thanks for the quick reply!

@PeterK

They set that all up with the movers would either deliver it to the ground floor or the next story up.

Was everything set up by International Moving Company or by a company in the Netherlands that you gave a French address to? I’m just wondering what steps were involved.

@TFJWM

We started very detailed listing everything as used and what kind of clothes were in each box. But all we had to do was like list a box of used clothes or a box of household items.

So, you made out your own list, but for customs you were only required to make a general list of what was in each box and was able to fit all 70 boxes on one sheet of paper? If I’m understanding correctly, that would be amazing!

[TFJWM]

@PeterK

Was everything set up by International Moving Company or by a company in the Netherlands that you gave a French address to? I’m just wondering what steps were involved.

I gave them my address and where I was moving to. They set it all up it was door to door service.

@PeterK

So, you made out your own list, but for customs you were only required to make a general list of what was in each box and was able to fit all 70 boxes on one sheet of paper? If I’m understanding correctly, that would be amazing!

We made our own list emailed it to the the mover on site and they filled out all the forms for customs. We just had to sign them at the end. They also have a service where they pack everything and fill all the forms. We just had the time and space to do it ourselves

[PeterK]

@TFJWM

I gave them my address and where I was moving to. They set it all up it was door to door service.

That’s what we want! All done thru the one moving company?

@TFJWM

We made our own list emailed it to the mover on site and they filled out all the forms for customs.

So you made a detailed list for the movers, and they took it from there and you just had to sign?

@TFJWM

They also have a service where they pack everything and fill all the forms.

That would be the easiest option, depending on the extra cost. I am going to call International Moving Company to get a rough idea on costs. Where did you get the idea for going through the Netherlands? I’m now seriously considering doing the same.
Thanks again.

[TFJWM]

It was all through them I don’t know if they contact it out depending on location but the movers in France spoke English. I had no idea it was going through the Netherlands till the final stages of paperwork. My biggest worry was French customs so it was good to hear it wasn’t going that way. I had been getting receipts to prove the TV’s and computers weren’t new but none of that was needed.

[PeterK]

@TFJWM

I had no idea it was going through the Netherlands till the final stages of paperwork.

I wonder if we will know beforehand. I would also like to avoid French customs.

@TFJWM

I had been getting receipts to prove the TV’s and computers weren’t new but none of that was needed.

That’s great news.
Sounds like you picked a good moving company; I will be calling them tomorrow.
And I will sleep better tonight now that I have a greater understanding of the entire process.

[DrSukie]

Yes to that - I brought a silicone cup-and-lower measuring vessel as well as my tablespoon-to-quarter teaspoon set.

[DrSukie]

I bought a new laptop before leaving the USA, and it works just fine with a standard converter. The very first new device I bought here was a printer - and yes, I have used it more than almost anything else thus far!

[Ancient_Mariner]

@PeterK

I do have a few irreplaceable vintage guitar amplifiers and some other musical equipment that I must take, and I will be needing a step-down transformer for those things

Amp builder here. I’ve generally heard it’s fine using step down transformers, but some have reported that the amps sound different. This is presumed to be due to the difference between 50hz and 60hz supplies. It shouldn’t really make a difference unless the amp rectifier isn’t well smoothed.

Bon chance.

[Debby_Wade]

Ancient Mariner, (bit of a thread drift, apologies to all), do you know a good supplier of replacement amp valves, you could recommend ?

[_Brian]

@Ancient_Mariner

the amps sound different

Sag? Smoothing on valve amps is often rudimentary do I wonder if the 50/60 Hz change affects the ‘feel’ of the amp rather than the actual sound.

[billybutcher]

@Ancient_Mariner

This is presumed to be due to the difference between 50hz and 60hz supplies. It shouldn’t really make a difference unless the amp rectifier isn’t well smoothed.

Would have thought it would just change the tone of any mains hum which was audible rather than the whole tone of the amp.

@Debby_Wade

Ancient Mariner, (bit of a thread drift, apologies to all), do you know a good supplier of replacement amp valves, you could recommend ?

Which valve, what part of the world. Not that I do any valve amp repairs these days.

[Debby_Wade]

Sorry I should have said, I’m in the UK, I don’t need any replacements yet but would like to get a recommendation from someone who knows what’s what.

[Ancient_Mariner]

Not the cheapest, but Watford Valves https://watfordvalves.com/ is likely to have the biggest stocks. If ordering from continental Europe, there’s a Dutch supplier who does a lot of valves including Nixie tubes (can’t remember his name right now) and Musikding in Germany.

[Ancient_Mariner]

It was meant to change the tone rather than behaviour, but I’ve no personal experience. It’s surprising how small differences can make a clearly audible difference - like different makes of the same cap value, and caps pre & post ‘burn in’ (I was a sceptic until I heard recordings blind - Sozo caps sound horrible until they have 24 hours of work).

[Debby_Wade]

Thanks AM, the price isn’t really an issue, I just need to make sure I’m getting quality and not some shonky junk and there’s and the internet is awash with junk for non teccys, like me.