Shippers underestimating ????
Sep 22nd 2005, 8:25 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 65
Shippers underestimating ????
Has anyone had the same experience as us with shippers significantly underestimating the volume ?
We had estimates from several shippers varying from just over 600 cu ft to 810cuft. We opted for Sterling who seemed to be the most professional and as it turned out would have been closest to the actual figure. We opted for our own 20ft container and later on did add a further 100 cu ft of stuff we decided it was worth taking after all.
The packers duly arrived and on day 2 with the container about 2 thirds full, advised there might not be room for everything. As it turned out we were left with 21 packages (90 cu ft). On the basis of a 20 ft container being able to hold about 1100 cu ft, they were nearly 300 cu ft out in their estimate. There were a few unplanned extra items like kids birthday presents, but no-one mentioned there was the remotest possibility we would get near to filling a container. Glad we didn't opt to share a container as was suggested by a couple of shippers.
Sterling quoted £4090 for packing, shipment to Melbourne, delivery and unpacking + storage and Quarantine examination in Oz + another £190 for the extra 100 cu ft. Having to send the overflow separately will apparently cost nearly £900. We are still negotiating.
It has been suggested to us that companies tend to underestimate to get the business, knowing that once they have your goods, you have no choice but to pay up. Anyone else had this problem?
We know estimates are exacly what they say they are, estimates. But as these guys do it for a living, we hoped they knew what they were going.
One last question, at what point in the shipment do they turn everything upside down ?
We had estimates from several shippers varying from just over 600 cu ft to 810cuft. We opted for Sterling who seemed to be the most professional and as it turned out would have been closest to the actual figure. We opted for our own 20ft container and later on did add a further 100 cu ft of stuff we decided it was worth taking after all.
The packers duly arrived and on day 2 with the container about 2 thirds full, advised there might not be room for everything. As it turned out we were left with 21 packages (90 cu ft). On the basis of a 20 ft container being able to hold about 1100 cu ft, they were nearly 300 cu ft out in their estimate. There were a few unplanned extra items like kids birthday presents, but no-one mentioned there was the remotest possibility we would get near to filling a container. Glad we didn't opt to share a container as was suggested by a couple of shippers.
Sterling quoted £4090 for packing, shipment to Melbourne, delivery and unpacking + storage and Quarantine examination in Oz + another £190 for the extra 100 cu ft. Having to send the overflow separately will apparently cost nearly £900. We are still negotiating.
It has been suggested to us that companies tend to underestimate to get the business, knowing that once they have your goods, you have no choice but to pay up. Anyone else had this problem?
We know estimates are exacly what they say they are, estimates. But as these guys do it for a living, we hoped they knew what they were going.
One last question, at what point in the shipment do they turn everything upside down ?
Sep 22nd 2005, 2:29 pm
#2
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,360
Re: Shippers underestimating ????
Not good!
Will let you know what happens with ours, shippers just finishing packing up now...
Will let you know what happens with ours, shippers just finishing packing up now...
