Best Dallas Customs Clearing Agent / air vs ocean freight

[cwickgo9]

Anyone have a good customs clearing agent in Dallas for taxidermy items from RSA? Or a good one at the gulf of Mexico if we go ocean freight?

Also, would air freight be the best or since we've waited nearly two years already, ocean freight would be cheaper.

Thoughts/Opinions/Resources?

 

[jomw10]

I have no experience with ocean freight. But was told that while the shipping is cheaper, the fees are higher. Make sure you take that into account to make a decision.

 

[cwickgo9]

That's the whole reason I was asking as I was told just the opposite - longer wait but cheaper?

 

[buck wild]

Cooper-Smith Import is right at your backdoor there in Dallas.
Cindi Rulon in Houston is also very good.

I think based on what others have said, the ocean freight in the long run is no "cheaper" with far more potential issues.

I thought it was the Gulf of America now ..... (BTW I still like the old school GOM myself )

 

[wesheltonj]

Coppersmith

 

[everett]

There have been a few posts about ocean freight. Just be sure of total costs. My experience has been added port fees on arrival can cancel out any savings over air.

 

[mdwest]

Coppersmith is the best option if you live in DFW (or close by) IMO...

They key is they have their own bonded warehouse near the airport.. so as soon as your crate comes in they pick it up and move it out of the airlines warehouse (who wants to charge you $150 per day while the crate clears all the different govt agencies prior to being released by Customs) and into their warehouse where you pay no storage fees...

I have been hit with 24 hours of storage fees by the airlines once while using Coppersmith in DFW.. but that wasn't Coppersmiths fault.. the flight didn't land until after midday, and the warehouse didn't notify Coppersmith they had my crate until the last minute of the business day... so Coppersmith couldn't pick it up until the following morning, and the airline warehouse hit me for a day of storage..

Thats a whole lot better than 5-10 days of storage while waiting thought..

 

[Troubleshooter]

Coppersmith for all of the reasons stated above. Their office in Dallas did a great job handling one of my trophy shipments. They also have an office in Houston, although I have not used that location.

Sorry but I can't help on the air vs. sea tradeoff. No experience there.

 

[Philip Glass]

Anyone have a good customs clearing agent in Dallas for taxidermy items from RSA? Or a good one at the gulf of Mexico if we go ocean freight?

Also, would air freight be the best or since we've waited nearly two years already, ocean freight would be cheaper.

Thoughts/Opinions/Resources?

I've been using Coppersmith in Dallas. They advise against ocean freight due to unpredictable port fees. I ask about it regularly.