Best Shipping company?
Feb 26th 2011, 5:43 pm
#91
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2010
Location: Previously Cambridge UK, but now Cochrane AB!
Posts: 309
Re: Best Shipping company?
Yes it was for a 40 foot.
We have had another one for £6600 from Masons. GB are coming next week. We are also going to look at the self pack options too. All our prices will be up next week though as Masons told me to ring them next week as freight charges increase after 1st March - bummer!
We have had another one for £6600 from Masons. GB are coming next week. We are also going to look at the self pack options too. All our prices will be up next week though as Masons told me to ring them next week as freight charges increase after 1st March - bummer!
We too have just had a quote from Masons: £4725 for a 20' filled to the max.
Our quote from Abels is £1000 more than Masons. BUT, we were very impressed with them, so we might try to get them down.
Do removal companies normally come down on their quotes by much?
Feb 26th 2011, 5:50 pm
#92
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Cheltenham, UK was Vancouver, BC
Posts: 704
Re: Best Shipping company?
I will be very interested to know how you get on with GB next week. Can you let us know on this thread or PM me?
We too have just had a quote from Masons: £4725 for a 20' filled to the max.
Our quote from Abels is £1000 more than Masons. BUT, we were very impressed with them, so we might try to get them down.
Do removal companies normally come down on their quotes by much?
We too have just had a quote from Masons: £4725 for a 20' filled to the max.
Our quote from Abels is £1000 more than Masons. BUT, we were very impressed with them, so we might try to get them down.
Do removal companies normally come down on their quotes by much?
We move next weekend, so that will be D day, I am hoping that it unwraps as it was wrapped!! Will let you know.
Feb 26th 2011, 10:47 pm
#93
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Nanoose Bay, BC
Posts: 94
Re: Best Shipping company?
The shipping industry seems to have a huge way to go to just meet peoples expectations and be transparent. Customer service is appalling and the evidence here is that it is the majority rather than the minority of cases.
Feb 27th 2011, 12:47 pm
#94
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 173
Re: Best Shipping company?
I will be very interested to know how you get on with GB next week. Can you let us know on this thread or PM me?
We too have just had a quote from Masons: £4725 for a 20' filled to the max.
Our quote from Abels is £1000 more than Masons. BUT, we were very impressed with them, so we might try to get them down.
Do removal companies normally come down on their quotes by much?
We too have just had a quote from Masons: £4725 for a 20' filled to the max.
Our quote from Abels is £1000 more than Masons. BUT, we were very impressed with them, so we might try to get them down.
Do removal companies normally come down on their quotes by much?
Feb 28th 2011, 4:29 pm
#95
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Wellington, Nova Scotia
Posts: 752
Re: Best Shipping company?
Hi all,
Had GB liners round today, very impressed with them already and haven't received quote yet. Chap was very good at explaining everything to me. Reason I posted was to tell you about a web site where you can find independent reviews, it was on their booklets that the chap left with me.
www.referenceline.com
You can look up companies by name or by area. Hope you find it helpful. I'll let you know what they quote me when I find out.
Tracy
Had GB liners round today, very impressed with them already and haven't received quote yet. Chap was very good at explaining everything to me. Reason I posted was to tell you about a web site where you can find independent reviews, it was on their booklets that the chap left with me.
www.referenceline.com
You can look up companies by name or by area. Hope you find it helpful. I'll let you know what they quote me when I find out.
Tracy
Feb 28th 2011, 4:51 pm
#96
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Maple Ridge BC
Posts: 309
Re: Best Shipping company?
We are having GBliners on Wednesday so will post after they have been. Doree Bonner were very professional and their quote was reasonable. The chap who came from Fox didn't even know shipping times to Vancouver. In fact he didn't know the answer to any of our questions 
This is a really helpful thread - although you will always get some anomalies, it does give you a rough idea who to avoid and who to try - thank you everyone!
This is a really helpful thread - although you will always get some anomalies, it does give you a rough idea who to avoid and who to try - thank you everyone!
Feb 28th 2011, 5:14 pm
#97
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Location: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Posts: 3,232
Re: Best Shipping company?
We have had PSS in for the 4 days packing they anticipated. Our Container left last Friday and is apparently somewhere in the North Atlantic. They were very friendly and efficient. We fed them each lunchtime and treated them with respect and they were very accomodating to all our questions and pesterings. Amazing packing too.
I'll keep everybody up to date on our progress!
I'll keep everybody up to date on our progress!
Feb 28th 2011, 6:19 pm
#98
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 359
Re: Best Shipping company?
Hi, we've just used PSS and on the whole were ok. We got 6 quotes in the end, shortlisted PSS and Whites, got them both down in price but went with a gut feeling in the end.
The packers were great came in on Dec 29/30 and were two carefull, friendly guys. Worked quickly and efficiently, despite having to contend with 3 kids in the house who had only had their christmas presents for 4 days!! Absolutely no food items allowed as we thought, tea bags all went in suitcase and why did everyone give us chocolates for xmas when we were about to leave the country???
Container sailed on Jan 8 and arrived in Calgary on Jan 22, earlier than we anticipated. Initially this was good news, then problems started.
We were paid for a door to door sole use container, and were told we would get that, ie goods in container at your UK residence, sealed and unless opened at customs, the container would be unsealed and offloaded at your destination address- not the case.
We had arranged to take over rental property 10 days after our goods actually arrived, they turned up earlier than expected and we were then told by AMJ Campbell in Calgary we would get charged $115 USD a day by the shipping line for holding onto container, plus trucking co charges of $250 for delivery plus fuel surcharge plus $65 per hour after first 2 hours for offloading.
If you require their "period of possible free storage" you have to arrange it with PSS before you leave UK,( even though you don't know if you need it) we were told. In the end to get around this we had to pay AMJ Campbell over $420 handling charge to unload container into their warehouse and then they subcontracted a local company to reload and deliver. Fair enough, but lack of communication between parties involved meant we had numerous emails and telephone calls to UK at 2am to get it sorted. Nothing major damaged until the guys here tried to put a pine bed together with wrong fittings and split the frame.
At the end of the day I think the whole thing is just pot luck as there are so many different bits involved in the jigsaw. Good Luck
The packers were great came in on Dec 29/30 and were two carefull, friendly guys. Worked quickly and efficiently, despite having to contend with 3 kids in the house who had only had their christmas presents for 4 days!! Absolutely no food items allowed as we thought, tea bags all went in suitcase and why did everyone give us chocolates for xmas when we were about to leave the country???
Container sailed on Jan 8 and arrived in Calgary on Jan 22, earlier than we anticipated. Initially this was good news, then problems started.
We were paid for a door to door sole use container, and were told we would get that, ie goods in container at your UK residence, sealed and unless opened at customs, the container would be unsealed and offloaded at your destination address- not the case.
We had arranged to take over rental property 10 days after our goods actually arrived, they turned up earlier than expected and we were then told by AMJ Campbell in Calgary we would get charged $115 USD a day by the shipping line for holding onto container, plus trucking co charges of $250 for delivery plus fuel surcharge plus $65 per hour after first 2 hours for offloading.
If you require their "period of possible free storage" you have to arrange it with PSS before you leave UK,( even though you don't know if you need it) we were told. In the end to get around this we had to pay AMJ Campbell over $420 handling charge to unload container into their warehouse and then they subcontracted a local company to reload and deliver. Fair enough, but lack of communication between parties involved meant we had numerous emails and telephone calls to UK at 2am to get it sorted. Nothing major damaged until the guys here tried to put a pine bed together with wrong fittings and split the frame.
At the end of the day I think the whole thing is just pot luck as there are so many different bits involved in the jigsaw. Good Luck
Mar 1st 2011, 10:17 am
#99
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: In the wilds of Chelsea, Québec but only 15 mins from Ottawa...
Posts: 51
Re: Best Shipping company?
We had GB Liners over last week but the guy said he would give us a quote AFTER 1st March - which is fair enough really. He was as good as AGS Fourwinds in terms of 'spiel' but went into more details about how they pack etc. He was very keen to list all the clients that use them as 'sole agent' such as John Lewis / Waitrose etc... I also like the fact that they park the 20ft container outside your house and pack it in front of your eyes....
I had to laugh when the guy said: "Gosh, we've been getting so many call outs for Canada recently, I wonder why that is..." So I told him it is probably all the positive comments on the web
In terms of partner agents on the Canadian side, he said they use Brytor - has anyone had experience of them? Also, are there other agents on the Canadian side that it would be worth trying to avoid?? Could help us make a decision in the end...that and the price of course - currently a £1300 difference between the highest and lowest quotes!!
Thanks
TM
I had to laugh when the guy said: "Gosh, we've been getting so many call outs for Canada recently, I wonder why that is..." So I told him it is probably all the positive comments on the web
In terms of partner agents on the Canadian side, he said they use Brytor - has anyone had experience of them? Also, are there other agents on the Canadian side that it would be worth trying to avoid?? Could help us make a decision in the end...that and the price of course - currently a £1300 difference between the highest and lowest quotes!!
Thanks
TM
Mar 2nd 2011, 7:55 pm
#100
forever blowing bubbles
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: cambridge ontario
Posts: 343
Re: Best Shipping company?
hi
we have just moved to lethbridge alberta from NE England. We used EVL Shipping and they were fantastic. We did DIY shipping which cut the costs in half. We had sole use of a 40ft container door to door which only took 4 weeks and cost us 2800 (pounds). We would advise them to anyone and it does not matter where in the UK you live, they will come to you wherever you are
we have just moved to lethbridge alberta from NE England. We used EVL Shipping and they were fantastic. We did DIY shipping which cut the costs in half. We had sole use of a 40ft container door to door which only took 4 weeks and cost us 2800 (pounds). We would advise them to anyone and it does not matter where in the UK you live, they will come to you wherever you are
Mar 2nd 2011, 8:31 pm
#101
Don't call me MOM!!
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Airdrie, Alberta
Posts: 665
Re: Best Shipping company?
Hi, we've just used PSS and on the whole were ok. We got 6 quotes in the end, shortlisted PSS and Whites, got them both down in price but went with a gut feeling in the end.
The packers were great came in on Dec 29/30 and were two carefull, friendly guys. Worked quickly and efficiently, despite having to contend with 3 kids in the house who had only had their christmas presents for 4 days!! Absolutely no food items allowed as we thought, tea bags all went in suitcase and why did everyone give us chocolates for xmas when we were about to leave the country???
Container sailed on Jan 8 and arrived in Calgary on Jan 22, earlier than we anticipated. Initially this was good news, then problems started.
We were paid for a door to door sole use container, and were told we would get that, ie goods in container at your UK residence, sealed and unless opened at customs, the container would be unsealed and offloaded at your destination address- not the case.
We had arranged to take over rental property 10 days after our goods actually arrived, they turned up earlier than expected and we were then told by AMJ Campbell in Calgary we would get charged $115 USD a day by the shipping line for holding onto container, plus trucking co charges of $250 for delivery plus fuel surcharge plus $65 per hour after first 2 hours for offloading.
If you require their "period of possible free storage" you have to arrange it with PSS before you leave UK,( even though you don't know if you need it) we were told. In the end to get around this we had to pay AMJ Campbell over $420 handling charge to unload container into their warehouse and then they subcontracted a local company to reload and deliver. Fair enough, but lack of communication between parties involved meant we had numerous emails and telephone calls to UK at 2am to get it sorted. Nothing major damaged until the guys here tried to put a pine bed together with wrong fittings and split the frame.
At the end of the day I think the whole thing is just pot luck as there are so many different bits involved in the jigsaw. Good Luck
The packers were great came in on Dec 29/30 and were two carefull, friendly guys. Worked quickly and efficiently, despite having to contend with 3 kids in the house who had only had their christmas presents for 4 days!! Absolutely no food items allowed as we thought, tea bags all went in suitcase and why did everyone give us chocolates for xmas when we were about to leave the country???
Container sailed on Jan 8 and arrived in Calgary on Jan 22, earlier than we anticipated. Initially this was good news, then problems started.
We were paid for a door to door sole use container, and were told we would get that, ie goods in container at your UK residence, sealed and unless opened at customs, the container would be unsealed and offloaded at your destination address- not the case.
We had arranged to take over rental property 10 days after our goods actually arrived, they turned up earlier than expected and we were then told by AMJ Campbell in Calgary we would get charged $115 USD a day by the shipping line for holding onto container, plus trucking co charges of $250 for delivery plus fuel surcharge plus $65 per hour after first 2 hours for offloading.
If you require their "period of possible free storage" you have to arrange it with PSS before you leave UK,( even though you don't know if you need it) we were told. In the end to get around this we had to pay AMJ Campbell over $420 handling charge to unload container into their warehouse and then they subcontracted a local company to reload and deliver. Fair enough, but lack of communication between parties involved meant we had numerous emails and telephone calls to UK at 2am to get it sorted. Nothing major damaged until the guys here tried to put a pine bed together with wrong fittings and split the frame.
At the end of the day I think the whole thing is just pot luck as there are so many different bits involved in the jigsaw. Good Luck
Mar 2nd 2011, 8:43 pm
#102
forever blowing bubbles
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: cambridge ontario
Posts: 343
Re: Best Shipping company?
I've had quotes from PSS and the moving partnership so far. Going to get GB Liners and Pickfords to give us a quote too.
Chose moving partnership and GB Liners because of possitive feedback on here, and a friend used Pickfords when she emigrated to Alberta 3 years ago, said they were really good.
Tracy
Chose moving partnership and GB Liners because of possitive feedback on here, and a friend used Pickfords when she emigrated to Alberta 3 years ago, said they were really good.
Tracy
Mar 3rd 2011, 12:42 pm
#103
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Wellington, Nova Scotia
Posts: 752
Re: Best Shipping company?
Moving Partnership were a little bit cheaper than PSS although they didn't come out to survey, went on cubic feet I quoted. Assuming they would survey if I went with them, although I did quote the amount PSS said we had.
GB Liners came to survey, really nice chap, explained things in detail. He actually said we had more cubic feet than PSS but they are all quoting for 20 container even though we won't fill it. Apparently it's cheaper to have a sole container than part container when going to Halifax.
Got a letter from GBL this morning but no quote in the envelope although letter said it was enclosed
I rang the office who apologized and they are sending it out this pm, should get it tomorrow.
I'm going to call MP back with revised footage to see the difference in the price. When I get all the quotes in I will let you know the prices they quoted. At the moment my gut feeling is GBLiners although MP were very helpful on the telephone and got back to me re storage very quickly.
Tracy
Mar 4th 2011, 11:50 am
#104
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 173
Re: Best Shipping company?
I will be very interested to know how you get on with GB next week. Can you let us know on this thread or PM me?
We too have just had a quote from Masons: £4725 for a 20' filled to the max.
Our quote from Abels is £1000 more than Masons. BUT, we were very impressed with them, so we might try to get them down.
Do removal companies normally come down on their quotes by much?
We too have just had a quote from Masons: £4725 for a 20' filled to the max.
Our quote from Abels is £1000 more than Masons. BUT, we were very impressed with them, so we might try to get them down.
Do removal companies normally come down on their quotes by much?
no wonder he wants to wait!