Hi

Have been reading through a myraid of posts about removalists.

There is some great advice on a variety of different threads about questions to ask, especially when it comes to any fees/charges on either side of the blue sea.

How about those who have experience adding the questions they asked / wished they had asked to make a list in one easily searchable thread?

ok... so maybe not such a good idea after all

It is really not that hard and there are no trick questions. We got three companies in for quotes and they all told us what we needed to know.

The only relevant question IMHO is "how much?" Then go with the cheapest they are all much of a muchness.

I do not agree. Things to look out for would be what extra charges / fees do they levy (eg insurance). How long the goods will stay on the wharf after the container arrives . We had a spread of a few days to up to a month or so (ie how often do the local agents clear goods with customs); Is the company you choose the same at both ends or do they use an agent in Australia? When they use an agent there is always the opportunity for each party to blame the other when things get broken in transit.....

For a start you don't use the insurance the shippers offer. You go with Letton Percival who are the co the shippers use but you get it about a 1/3rd cheaper. No shipper can guarantee how long the goods will stay on the wharf, as much to do with AQIS and how busy the dock is at that particular time as anything else.

Exactly. Some people's are cleared in a few days, others take months. My stuff landed Christmas Eve, wasn't cleared till late Feb Strikes, Christmas breaks, amount of containers coming in, all has an effect.

The shippers may be the same company each end if the company has a physical presence in both countries, otherwise they'll have to use an agent here.

I am afraid that is not correct. Some agents only have time scheduled once a month for AQIS inspections / clearances whilst others have weekly scheduled clearances by AQIS. Hence the comment that some containers can be on the wharf for substantially longer than others. Then you add the vagaries of AQIS on top of that.

Hence my comment about using a removalist with a presence in the country over one with an agent and so avoiding the blame game

all the same use contractors to pack your stuff, who pack for all the shippers and they were not that hot at it ether, rubbish stuff got here ok but i think more luck than judgement, o yes i am a bit bitter it costs a lot and they treat your stuff with no respect, that is the first time i have spoken about this as i do not like to rubbish people but i feel better now