Has anyone else had 'issues' with shippers estimates?

We have spent time with 2 reputable (based on comments on this site) shipping companies. We have gone around the house indicating what is coming and what isn't (down to individual items). We are basically taking clothes (most of which we'll be taking on the flight), some books, some ornaments, a vacuum cleaner, and 3 coffee tables...that's it! We're being quoted sole use of a 20' container at £3120!!!!!!

What is the point of spending time going through with the estimator exactly what we're taking if they completely ignore it when it comes to calculating costs?!

Has anyone else had any problems like this? Any ideas/tips on how to stop it?

Hi there,
this sounds really expensive for what your taking. i have read people paying this much when they take over the whole contents of a 3 bed semi, i would check with other shippers. why dont you post on the lifestyle forum, lots of posts in there about shipping. i would have thought u should only be paying about £1000 for what u r taking.
good luck

that's what we figured (and had banked on) too! At that rate they'd be shipping air to Australia!!! Our small amount would be rattling around all over the place!

Hi Sally,
We considered shipping some stuff over, but like you - not a whole house full and the quotes I had were higher than the cost of replacing it all new!
We've decided to not ship anything now and buy new. Looking at your list of things you wanted to ship, it would probably be cheaper/easier for you to buy new as well when you get there.
Or is the stuff you wanted to take got sentimental value?? If so that's different obviously.
Shell

Salli,

That does sound extortcinate our quotes for 20 cu ft sole us containers were for less than that. Sounds like you've got little enough to go groupage, provided you don't mind waiting for the stuff for 8-10 weeks, if you need it sooner you will have to have sole use of a container, which will of course be more expensive.

Where in the UK are you shipping from and where are you going to in Oz? - we're going to Brisbane shiiping out from Surrey on 30th September and had quotes between £2500 - £2900 the lesser being shared groupage we've had GB Liners in this morning to do a re-quote for 538 CU Ft (3 bed house) we have been told it shouldn't exceed £2,000 (excluding quarantine charges of around $200). They moved my parents over to Melbourne four years ago and they had no issues with them at might be worth giving them a call www.gbliners.co.uk they have offices all over the UK.

Best of Luck
Lori

salli,

You'll have to sieve through these posts, but there may be something in there for you.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...light=shippers

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...light=shippers

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...light=shippers

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ared+container

Also agree with Schecha, it you're not taking a lot with you it may be more economical to buy new when you get out there.

Hope this may be of help.


D D

The stuff we're shipping is of sentimental value (a coffee table DH made, one his parents gave him and one my gran gave me, the rest is just personal ornaments and some books that have sentimental value (all my old childhood books!))...we're going to buy new goods in Oz as most of the stuff we have here is on it's last legs. We couldn't believe the prices for the small amount we're planning on taking, expecially as WE told the shipper we thought it would be groupage....seems he completely ignored us! I have to say I have wondered whether he got our estimate muddled with someone elses!


Lori, thanks for the info...I'll give them a call.

Dolly....thanks for the links...I'll go have a look.

Maybe have a look into excess baggage companies rather than shipping companies for the amount you're taking. I took 6 large boxes (they'd individually pack anything that didnt fit). www.excessbaggage.com www.johnmason.com and www.sevenseasworldwide.com/uk are three that spring to mind. Think it cost me about 300quid for all my stuff including insurance.
It should be with customs right this moment, so as soon as I get it I'll post how they were

Hi mlbonner,
how r things in OZ? u say you had 6 large boxes sent over, where these as excess baggage? does this mean they fly over? what sort of stuff was in the 6 boxes. i ask because we dont have that much but a computer and files, books, clothes, kitchen stuff (plates , pans etc). how long does it take for the stuff to get to OZ?
cheers for any help

What shippers did u get quotes off? pm me, I got a great quote and we only took a little stuff

So far we've had quotes from Bishops Move (the ones who wanted us to use the 20' sole use container) and John Masons.

We've got Crown, Pickfords and PSS coming to give quotes in a few days but I have to be honest, I'm losing confidence in the estimating process!

Hiya
we used allied pickfords, they quoted £1700 for us, we didnt think we were taking a lot until we filled 87 huge boxes....................dont give up, u will find the right one

I found pickfords very proffessional, and they even took a few extra boxes for us. and also on the insurance they dropped the cost as well u have to bargain

Best of luck

Get me on msn or yahoo
if u wanna
Heather

Thanks Heather, hopefully Pickfords will come through with a good quote for us too.

We've had similar problems with movers. Our estimates have varied from 150 cubic feet to 300 cubic feet, twice as much!!

So far John Mason are looking the best, they are almost £300 cheaper than nearest company and that was Anglo Pacific (Hmmm, I think not!!!). Internation Moving Company (aka. GBLiners [parent company]) were almost £600 more than John Mason.

Question is...who do you trust to honnest and accurate???

Salli,

When you talked to John Masons on the phone, did you tell them it was just a few personal items you were taking? Because when we talked to them, when I told them that we were taking personal items they gave us a quote over the phone. They said they dont come to your home unless its a container load. I spoke to a lady called Val and she was wonderfully helpful. The stuff we were taking is only costing us £360 and we had about 45 cubes.

We are taking things like 5 pictures, some of my hubby's biking leathers, some crystal, books, photo's, cd's, PS2 + games plus a whole load of hubby's tools.

Hels