I am living in Saudi Arabia, a country in the Middle East, and I want
to buy goods from some stores in USA, the problem is these stores
don't ship to anywhere except within USA. And I want an
intermediate Cargo Company that will collect the goods from these
different stores and ship it to me directly. Cheap Cargo service is
crucial! No DHL or Fedex!

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Request for Question Clarification by hummer-ga on 28 May 2004 05:41 PDT

Hi raeid,

Could you please give us some idea of the size of the items to be
shipped? Do they require a container freight shipper or a box mailer?
An example of size and weight would be very helpful.

Thank you,
hummer

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Clarification of Question by raeid-ga on 28 May 2004 06:00 PDT

The items are from 2 to 8 laptop boxes.
Laptop box weigh ~2 to 5 kg and ~60x70x20cm size.

Hi raeid,

I understand your frustration at not being able to order online. What
you need is a US address that you can use when you order the laptops,
and then a "mail forwarder" to ship them on to you. There are many
mail forwarders who ship small parcels, but unfortunately, they don't
all ship to Saudi Arabia either. That's the bad news - here's the good
news. "Mail Forwarding Advisor" rated five mail forwarders back in
2002. Although the rates/fees are dated, the general information is
still sound, and luckily, their number one pick (USA Box) ships to
Saudi Arabia.
  	
How to Choose a Mail Forwarding Service (2002):
"Mail forwarding services provide you with a US based street address
for the receipt of your mail. These services then provide you with a
means to request those items be shipped to you. Depending on the
weight, size and how fast you want to get your mail will determine how
much it costs you. Some mail forwarding services let you control what
gets sent and others just send it all. These services typically charge
a setup fee, an annual or monthly fee and some fees for your shipping.
Understanding what you get for these fees can make the difference in
which service you choose."
http://www.mail-forwarding-advisor.com/

Mail Forwarding Services Comparison Charts:
http://www.mail-forwarding-advisor.com/mail-forwarding-services-page7.htm

-> USA BOX

USA Box International Mail Forwarding:
Pros: Highest level of control of what gets sent, least expensive
shipping charges, wide range of account types to meet your needs. No
annual fee.
Cons: Site navigation could be easier
Bottom Line: A great value for your money. With their account control,
monthly plan options and relatively low shipping charges, you'll get
everything you need and more.
http://www.mail-forwarding-advisor.com/mail-forwarding-services-page2.htm

Up-to-date rates to Saudi Arabia: USA Box: 
They have several plans to choose from - here are two:

Basic:
Set Up:     $25.00
Annual Fee: $ 0.00
First lb (.454 kg) $39.95	
Each additional:   $ 7.95
[about $111.50 for a 10 lb parcel]

Plan 2: 
Set Up:     $ 15.00
Annual Fee: $119.00
First lb (.454 kg): $29.95 
Each additional:    $ 7.55
[about $97.90 for a 10 lb parcel - one free per month]
http://www.usabox.com/rates.asp

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Additional Links:

-> ACCESS USA

Access USA:
Pros: Easy to use site design, range of shipping options
Cons: Internet account access costs $20 per year, high annual costs
with fees and shipping charges
Bottom Line: May work for you if you are a frequent shopper, but the
"hidden" charges might get you.
http://www.mail-forwarding-advisor.com/mail-forwarding-services-page3.htm

Up-to-date rates: Access USA:
[check for hidden fees]
Setup:         $ 35 US
Annual Fee:    $132 US
Minimum Charge: 600 grams
Each 100 grams, up to 1 Kg 2.90
Each 100 grams, over 1 Kg  1.15
Each 100 grams, over 5 Kg   .95
[about $70.40 for a 10 lb parcel]
http://www.myus.com/rates/

-> MAIL FORWARDING NETWORK

Mail Forwarding Network:
Pros: Worldwide address options
Cons: Rates are significantly higher than other services
Bottom Line: This service might be right for you if you want an
address in a particular location, if not, you'll save money with a
different service.
http://www.mail-forwarding-advisor.com/mail-forwarding-services-page5.htm

Mail Forwarding Network:
http://www.mailnetwork.com/aforwarding.html

-> Smart Mailbox
http://www.whatsinteresting.com/postbox.htm

>>>>>>>>>>

I hope you find USA Box, or one of the other companies, suitable to
fit your needs . If not, or if you have any questions, please post a
clarification request before closing/rating my answer and I'll be
happy to respond.

Thank you,
hummer

Google Search Terms Used

"mail forwarding"
"mail forwarders"
"mail forward"

Thanks alot for this answer.

Thank you for your thank you and nice rating, raeid - I'm glad you are
happy with my answer. Sincerely, hummer

you probably just helped ship "laptops" to Saudi Arabia.  Do you know
that the reason most stores won't ship certain computers out of
country is because of U.S. law prohibiting them to do so?

Hi qcman,

No, I'm not aware of that law - could you please post a link to it?

Many online stores based in the U.S. do not ship internationally
anywhere and is a policy that is not restricted to laptops, but can be
anything from books, to clothes, to anything at all.

Thanks, 
hummer

Raeid,

Contact an Australian company, called Satmari and Sons Financial
Servces. They are a Supply Chain Managment group with head office in
Australia but world wide offices and affiliations. Fax +61755785273 or
Tel +61419668676.

They specialise in exactly your requirements as that is their
business. They also deal with numerous Saudi companies and individuals
in supply management.

Godd luck.

Thanks hummer for you continues interest about my issue.
I am gonna call them.

Hi raeid,

Just a note to let you know that I did not post the comment about the
Australian company, it was posted by hillman-ga (who is not a
researcher). If I wanted to post more suggestions for you, I would
post a clarification rather than a comment. I don't mean to put
hillman's comment down, I appreciate his help, but it's important that
you know that his suggestions didn't come from me.

I hope all is well with you and your orders are well on their way.
hummer