shipping

[DoctorGilbertson]

Hi,

We are paying for our own shipping (not a company move) and have been given quotes for "Lift Vans" (wooden boxes I think) and also for a whole container.

Any idea which is better?

Thanks

Hi DrG!

I think it partly depends on how much stuff you have to ship - do you have enough to fill a complete container?

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon. How is the preparation going though?

It depends if you are just going to take your clothes, photo albums etc or whether you are going to take everything.

I know it's not your question but we had a terrible time with Excess International Movers. Don't go with them.

Hi Merlion,

Preparations for the move are a bit head in sand really but on the other hand we are thinking about shipping now which will hopefully promote action on the rest ...

DS has a space to start school plus after school club and DD will go to a small nursery so the important stuff is organised.

We had a quote for about the same volume, for about the same price, one for liftvans, the other for a container, hence the question ... a bit of furniture, some books but not the whole flat etc. We are going to buy extra luggage and take lots with us on the plane.

I hope that you are doing well?

Thanks everyone for the reply.

Holly where I live all the local administrative stuff/customs means that a local shipping company is the only option really, and I guess that they contact a removal company for the UK bit.

But everyone ... we were quoted about 9000 USD for one 15m2 container door to door to the UK. Any advice on whether this is about the right amount? Again I guess the local costs will be a big part of it.

I'm not sure on price (and I'm not sure where you're moving from!) but the mistake we made was not asking how regular the sailings were from the UK to our destination. We just missed a sailing for reasons I won't bore you with and so then had to wait a couple of months for the next sailing. Excess had told us (verbally, never in writing....) that we could expect a delivery time of about 6 weeks and it actually took over 3 months :(. So see if you can get them to commit to a timeframe or otherwise understand the regularity of sailings.

Aaaarghhhhh. They are here today. Boxes. Bubble wrap.

Hope you've not drowned in sellotape or wrapped the children in newspaper :D

Thanks. Phew. Done. We came on an aeroplane and our furniture is going to come on a boat. All quite exciting for our 4 year old.

Sorry for the continued questions ...

Sooo - the kids and I are here. the furniture is in storage.

the shipper is asking us if we want to insure it,

My understanding is that we don't need to - if the shipper damages the stuff we can just sue him - but am I being simplistic here?

Thanks,

When I shipped stuff (London to dubiai) we had to insure the contents Irrc it was 5% Of the value

I would be very dubious of a company that didn't have mandatory insurance.

Ah well, the price is better at 3.5% (-;

Hmmmm ... one vote in favour. I suspect that would be the better option.

I don't think it is always mandatory, however, when I shipped the other way (different company) it was optional that time too.

PS Thanks for the advice, helpful to know

I would definitely insure!!! Having been round the expat block a number of years ago the heart breaking stories of people losing all their stuff- shipping companys/freight handlers all blaming each other and in one case going bust so people couldn't sue them.
Our company made us do insurance estimates and fortunately for us paid the insurance as part of the deal. WE never had to claim on ours but a lot of people did- seawater is a terrible thing...........

I know a family who's container is now at the bottom of the Indian Ocean. It was accompany move and was insured.

Containers are a lot more secure than lift vans and the contents are better protected. If you are going anywhere with dubious security you may wish to consider this.

Containers come in different heights and one company we used charged the same price regardless of the height which meant we could use a single 'high top' container for much less than a 40' and a 20'. I have no idea if that is standard practise or not.

If you have a container make sure you have the right to refuse it if it is dirty inside.

Oh, bugger, I didn't read the whole thread...

I was advised by one shipper not to bother insuring our stuff as it only kicked in if the whole ship sank
I wish we'd asked when the next bloody boat was going. We've been in KL for 7 weeks now, our stuff was sent a fortnight before we left and the shitting company can't give me a date for its arrival.

Thanks all.