Hi all, we self shipped our stuff a couple of weeks back and we got an email from the company who provided our container this morning giving us details of who to contact when our stuff arrives on the 15/10.
Now it says to contact this company 3 days prior to this date to confirm the date is still going to be correct. The date has already changed from the 11th to the 15th so I'm guessing the 15th is probably going to be right. However as we know absolutely nothing about the process of getting our stuff I'm likely to give them a call this week to find out exactly what happens at this side.

Now what we're needing to know is how long is it between your container arriving and aqis inspecting? Apparantly we have 5 days to get it done or we'll be charged for storage.
We need to get it done asap as we're not getting jobs until we have our stuff as we don't think new employers will appreciate employing us for us to then take time off work pretty much straight away to sort out stuff (which we don't know how long will take), yet we came skint, we're still skint and we want to be able to hit interview heaven as soon as we've got our stuff back.

Also, we are needing to sort out a removal firm or van hire to pick our stuff up from the port. I reckon these will need more than 5 days notice, or has anyone done it short notice?

And to all those people thinking of self shipping, it's a piece of cake or atleast it would be if we knew what we were doing. Still, think of all the money we've saved.

Thanks guys,
Marie

Hia guys

Did you use a shipping agent here in Aus ?

"Mini Movers"were recommended to us by lots of people they are a franchise so lots of operators around.

The container arrives at port
It needs to be unloaded from the ship
Its contents then get unloaded (or needs to be) into a warehouse (bonded) as loose goods.
Then AQIS or whomever inspects it.
The container company may want to charge you for the Container for any days after X free that they give you.
The warehouse whomever it belongs to may alos want to charge you.
Then the move comany pick up the loose goods when they are released by AQIS etc and deliver them to your house just - so they're not dealing wiht a container.

You need to book an appointment with AQIS - which you can do now - and then reschedule , or get your agent to do it , ours forgot (!) so it took 2 weeks because that was the lead time to get an appointment with Aqis. Onc eyou get the appointment the actual inspection is typically 30 minutes if nothing major found. If they find stuff then you know the routine about destroying it etc.

You will need ( at least we did )
- Full photocopy of your passport whomever this is addressed to, with ALL pages copied even the blank ones.
- A declaration that the goods are personal effects and used etc and for your own personal use in Australia
- A full contents listing (Eg : Box1 - DVDs, Box2- Posters, Box3- Kids Toys)
1bed, 2 bikes, 3 washing machines, 4 tumbledryers and 2 partridges in a pear tree.

cheers.

OH the joys of DIY......................... mm

hey I didn't even know you could self ship. So how do you do it then if you don't mind me asking?

GO back through the Archives on here, but watch for the pit falls............ mm

Thanks Spalen, very helpful info. We used a shipping agent in the UK just to get a container and the forms to fill in. I think the people they've asked us to phone are the agents they use here in Oz, I'm gonna give them a call later and I'll book the appointment with aqis myself so I know that it's done.
Then it's just a matter of waiting for our stuff to arrive, it'll be just like Christmas.
Marie