Chocolatemonstersdad

I spent most of this week inviting shipping companies/agents to give me their best prices and suddenly had a thought:-

There must be loads of families going to Oz from the UK in the next 12months or so - what buying power!!!

Is there anybody out there wanting a 20/40 ft container (door-to-door) in the next 12 months who would like to join together to get the best service at the best possible price?

PM me with an expression of interest as well as a post on this thread, if enough people reply then i shall see if we can achieve a contract / bulk price with a shipper / removal company.

Nothing ventured nothing gained!!

Chris

Gremlin

Hi Chris
I was just doing a search of the forum for recommended companies when I came across your thread.
Who have you had round for quotes and what were your impressions? We're heading to Brisbane (Gold Coast) in the summer (early August hopefully) as long as the house is sold by then. Not taking huge amounts with us so it should go easily into a 20ft. Whereabouts are you headed yourself?
Graham

bluenico

We will willingly give you a competitive quotation for either Self Pack or Expert Packing of Container.

hantsfamily1

Hi Graham, Best quote I got was from PSS. The most expensive was £4350 from Crown for a 20` to Brisbane and the best was £3500 from Hampshire to Brisbane all packed and unloaded by PSS at the other end. Good Luck, Mick

Chocolatemonstersdad

Hi Graham
We are off to Brisbane as well on 457 visa and taking enough for a 20ft container best price so far £3.3K door 2 door. I have had so many differing quotes and the fact that I am a salesman leads me to believe that these prices are all about mark up and commissions. I am sure that the price can be lowered. Half the reason we are leaving is about getting away from rip off britain guess I dont want to be ripped off getting there.
Chris

Pollyana

And so far I have to say I'm very impressed. Quick quotes, turned up on time, friendly packer, quick response to emails
My sister recommends your firm too - and the packer must be good as she handed over choccie hobnobs to him, even hubby doesn't get those!

chrisk8

'Being a Salesman' you are obviously aware that mark up and commissions are all part of running a viable business.
Also the differential you are seeing in the quotes is possibly also down to the size of companies you are dealing with - big companies have more vloume consequently have bigger buying powers with shipping lines hence cheaper prices but it could also be said bigger companies bigger head offices and 'fat cats' to pay for hence bigger quotes. ???
'These prices' are also about getting value for money, having confidence in the movers to provide a service thats compatible with your expectations and of course move your valued belongings from a to b as smoothly as is feasibly possible.
I would say £3.3k for a twenty foot container is a very good price and the only way you are going to get a better price than that is by 'self packing'.
Good luck.

CK

sammyg

Well, i've heard a quote of £1500 for self-pack. Bit of a difference from 3.3k...(going to brisbane) - all these shipping companies imo are trying it on

Gremlin

Hi Chris
Thats roughly what we were expecting to pay. We were thinking of using PSS anyway, there seems to be more recommendations for them on this forum than any other company. Of course it's got nothing to do with the fact that we've got a £50 voucher for PSS that we were given at the trade show!!
Have you looked into insurance yet?

Gremlin

Hi
Thanks for that, but what company do you represent?

Gremlin

Thanks for that Mick, we're going to get them round in the next couple of weeks for a quote.
Best of luck to you too.

kirrane

for insurance look at letton percival got them off ep they are quoting me 1.53% most of the shipping firms start at 3% contact is john leaver 0151 236 4558 or [email protected] hope this helps. aslo ive had 3 quotes and all betered them one waty or another so play them off against each other.

kirrane

3 quotes for shipping sorry

chrisk8

Yes £1500 would be about right for a self pack but I daresay for £1500 all you will get is a 20' container delivered to residence at a given time on a given date. You will then have 3 hours to load it securely, anything over three hours and you'll start paying holding fees which will equate to approx. £80 per hour. The container will then be taken to the port of Brisbane. That I guess would be the end of service for £1500.

At your expense you would then have to arranged port clearance, customs clearance, haulage to your new residence and rerturn of the container to the shipping line within a given timeframe (again usually three hours).

No doubt this is all possible to arrange and still wouldn't add up to £3.3k but a fair chunk of the £3.3k will be the labour and material costs to export pack, wrap and protect your belongings before securing them in a container, aswell as labour costs to offload and deliver to your new home.

Good luck to you if you go this down this route but for me I know which way I'll be moving my belongings when we go in September. I think we'll have enough on our plates with chasing around finding port agents, clearing agents etc.

CK

Phoenix

Our container arrives next week - £1245 for 20ft - we have 3 hours to pack yes.
A broker will deal with it the other end in Freo - should be around the same cost wise from what I can work out for us. So I reckon £2500 but to be fair i'm not sure how much grief it will be for us despite haveing a broker.

I'll let you know