At this stage ourselves and would definately be bothered to pack it ourselves and save a couple of grand. Will read the threads (thanks) how was delivery the other end?

Vics x

HI
We are also interested in doing it ourselves with our own container and wondered how much it costs once it gets to Brisbane. Import costs etc.

thanks in advance for any replies
Nicola

I have read the threads now with interest and Huzza and I have decided that we are very interested in doing this and have emailed Freightworld and Boxtainer for quotes.

If anyone has completed the process and has further details about the other end (particularly Brisbane) any advice or information would be well received.

I like the idea of taking my time to pack slowly and carefully over the next few weeks. As Huzza says, all part of the build up and exciting! plus, even £1000 extra in our pockets for new stuff is very very exciting!

Vics x

Hi all....

We hadn't considered shipping before as we were going to put anything we wanted to keep in storage here in the UK. Then, if we got settled in Aus, send for our stuff to be forwarded.

We are thinking about shipping our stuff now though and putting it in storage in Aus until we need it.

When you talk about DIY containers, do the company bring a container to your house? ( forgive me if this seems a stupid question ). Or, do you need a removal company to take your things to the docks and you fill the container there?

Thanks.

Check out Fabie's thread. It was late last year but will give you some idea.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=337542

Load of crap ..................mm

When coming into Australia ,DIY containers get put back as customs know they will take longer to process ,most Removal company paper work is done on a regular basis ,and is generally accurate .
Aust customs , will back date any paper work that is not accurate , so the can clear the "easy stuff" ,first..............mm

Hi Nicola,

We've just successfully diy shipped Eversley to Brisbane so here goes...........

We started off by doing some research on this and other websites. Our reasons for wanting to diy were obviously cost and also to retain some control over the proceedings during a period when we were vulnerable. We were also put off using some of the "professional" shippers because of the many negative experiences posted here.

We rented our house in Camberley and self packed 71 items including cartons of various sizes, furniture, mattresses etc. We used standard shipping cartons and lots of bubble wrap. Lots of tips on how to diy pack were obtained from the various threads posted here. Our stuff was then moved into storage in Eversley. In all we had 50% in volume of a 20' container and although we looked into part load shipments we felt there was little difference cost wise at our volumes and the "handling" involved was best avoided ie pallet & shrink wrap, shared container etc

Importantly be aware of what you can or can't ship (AQIS website), label everything you pack accurately and prepare detailed contents lists. Get them typed for legibility - we were told customs scrutinise self packed items much more closely and finally ensure certain items are spotless eg football boots, golf clubs etc.

Most shipping companies we rang costed a 20' container at around £1500. We
also managed to track down a friend of a friend who was still running his export agency in Cardiff and decided to let Jonathan organise the UK end for us. At the agreed time Jonathan met us and the container he had organised at Eversley to supervise and help us load. This took about 90 minutes between the 3 of us. The paperwork was completed and the driver checked everyone was happy before sealing the container with a customs tag - something quite final about that! The container then returned to Southampton
for shipment. All inclusive cost at this end was £1600 which we thought was great value as it was hassle free with regard to organisation, loading, paperwork etc.

We then travelled to Singapore, Malaysia and on to Darwin to do Kakadu (awesome!) before flying on to Brisbane for the container arrival.

7 weeks later the container arrived in Brisbane and we were emailed by Transitainer the handling agent for the shipping company. As a minimum they have to be used to offload the container to dockside but we also asked them for a quote to handle the whole job - this quote was expensive so we shopped around to find a customs agent. George of Airsea gave us the best quote and we made it a point to meet him at his office in Burleigh Heads. We
thought he was very professional and trustworthy so we used his services. He
liaised with Transitainer and organised payment for the offload to dockside.

Unfortunately for us the arrival of the container coincided with the long easter break in OZ and the delays meant it took a further 3 weeks before we saw our shipment. It appeared to us that organising the paperwork and logistics involved at this end were no mean feat and that a good customs agent was essential. Diy was possible at this stage but we think only for the brave considering the hassles involved!

Containers arriving in Brisbane now have to be transported and unpacked in a bonded facility before being returned to port. Backlogs and delays were inevitable at this stage compounded by the holiday mentioned. We resisted the temptation to ring George for daily updates!

George uses Harts Quarantine at Yatala as they offer a careful and personal unpacking service for the Customs/AQIS inspections. Apparently a lot of damage can occur at this stage as boxes are opened and goods thrown around. We had 2 minor breakages (cup/salad bowl), nothing was damaged and nothing went missing. AQIS destroyed 2 tiny artificial decorative Xmas trees which had plastic green "moss" like material in the bases!

We were then rung and given 3 days grace to collect our goods from Yatala and we did this in half a day by hiring a truck with tailift (essential) from Avis. At this stage Airsea offered to quote us for a removal service but there was no pressure and we chose to diy move the goods ourselves to Scarborough (N Brisbane). The total cost for the OZ end worked out (at the forex rate then) at £1056.91 plus about £52 for the truck hire.

Would we do it again - unreservedly so!. None of it was rocket science but of course we couldn't have done it without the excellent agents we had at both ends. The packing and loading were hard work but we didn't mind this for the satisfaction of diy not to mention the money saved. Best of luck if you decide to take this route.

Ken & Sarah

ps: Jonathan runs Delmon Export - [email protected] (07831 877549)

George is MD of www.airsea-intl.com.au / [email protected]
(07) 5535 1666

Containers arriving in Brisbane now have to be transported and unpacked in a bonded facility before being returned to port. Backlogs and delays were inevitable at this stage compounded by the holiday mentioned. We resisted the temptation to ring George for daily updates!

This has always been the norm..........

George uses Harts Quarantine at Yatala as they offer a careful and personal unpacking service for the Customs/AQIS inspections. Apparently a lot of damage can occur at this stage as boxes are opened and goods thrown around. We had 2 minor breakages (cup/salad bowl), nothing was damaged and nothing went missing. AQIS destroyed 2 tiny artificial decorative Xmas trees which had plastic green "moss" like material in the bases!

We were then rung and given 3 days grace to collect our goods from Yatala and we did this in half a day by hiring a truck with tailift (essential) from Avis. At this stage Airsea offered to quote us for a removal service but there was no pressure and we chose to diy move the goods ourselves to Scarborough (N Brisbane). The total cost for the OZ end worked out (at the forex rate then) at £1056.91 plus about £52 for the truck hire.

Would we do it again - unreservedly so!. None of it was rocket science but of course we couldn't have done it without the excellent agents we had at both ends. The packing and loading were hard work but we didn't mind this for the satisfaction of diy not to mention the money saved. Best of luck if you decide to take this route.

Ken & Sarah

HI Ken and Sarah

Thanks so much for taking the time to give me a detailed reply. So in total your move cost just over £2000 for half of a 20ft trailer. Am I correct? Who did you use for insurance? If we do go DIY I will defo be giving your Brisbane guys a ring. Thanks


How are you enjoying Scarborough hubby looked there and Redcliffe on his rekkie last year and liked them both.

Enjoy your new home.

Nicola
x

thank you so much for this info, very informative. i took am checking insurance quotes, best so far for 20k goods value, about £400! sure our stuff isnt worth that though, got to do a more detailed valuation.

if anyone else has any good insurance quotes thatd be great thanks.

nic, if you do some shopping around and get better than freightworld will you let me know please. as far as i can see even if you do it yourself, it costs 3-4k!! am i right that includes insurance, agents customs, quarantine etc! have i missed anything?

ta deb

I know I am a bit confused still about a total cost. Need to get quotes in for all the bits and add up.

Boxtainer will only sell me a container, could be useful in the new back yard I suppose! so need to call a few others, freightworld not replied as yet. I have another company quoting me on door to door who say that they can beat the biggies on price and will let us self pack so I will keep you all updated as the info arrives.

Vics x needing a big

would appreciate any numbers vics please x

Hi Nicola,

No! - The £1600 we paid at the UK end was for the exclusive use of our own 20' container.

We weren't keen on part loads ie sharing for the reasons mentioned. The 50% refers to how full our 20' container was with all our stuff in it.

Total cost including the OZ end £2600ish (would be even less now as the £ has got stronger!)

Scarborough appears to be one of the nicer parts of Redcliffe and only 35mins to Brizzie.

Some call it "deadcliffe" but it suits us as family people with 4 kids under eleven. Not convinced its totally right for us and we might be heading to Melbourne eventually if not for the weather for its culture and more cosmopolitan nature. Please pm us if you have any further queries-

Ken & Sarah

Just waiting for Rob at Executive Freight Services (01252 513 300, based in Farborough) to come back to me with a quote for container to come to my house, 2.5 hours packing time, take to docks and ship to Brisbane. I have said I will get an agent to deal with the other side. Will work on that bit today and let you all know along with Robs quote. He can also supply the packing crates and is getting some prices on the sofa bags/mattress covers etc.

Looking forward to a meet and a when we all get there.

Vics x