Shipping
 

Had first quote today from Robinsons - Just thought I would share it with those who are interested what a fright we have had!

We were hoping 20ft would cover it as we don't have clutter - no chance!:(

Basically he said we will virtually fill a 40ft and even leaving out some items I could live without doesn't touch it. Apparently our house is big?? We have a 4 bed but I wouldn't say it was a bloody mansion! I am not a horder so don't have loads of nicnacks.

Anyway bottom line he didn't give exact quote - he is emailing us a few alternatives 1) 20ft plus part of a 40ft:confused: 2)Sole use of 40ft 3)Someone else using 'part' of our 40ft

I asked him for a ballpark for 40ft - he's talking between £4500 and £5500. Tried to sell us insurance - says all our stuff is worth £75,000 - I don't think so! The insurance was 3% - mega bucks. Told him about that thread on here yesterday for 1.53% - he said no way would that include damage..well it does! So they may get the shipping contract but deffo not the insurance.

I did think they seemed professional and the pictures of how all the furniture was wrapped up looked impressive - and they come in and pack the whole lot up.

On the wooden and wicker/seagrass issue - he says NOT to declare the basket stuff just pack it inside other things:confused: The wood is NO problem. The only thing he says don't take is bamboo stuff.

Anyway will post again - another coming Monday so I'l have more info and a final price on the above by Tues.

Hope this helps someone:)

The wood may be no problem, but make sure you declare it. I would be wary of sending stuff undeclared, don't know what anyone else thinks? Customs may do a spot-check, I remember Mr Mover telling me this, and they can open a couple of boxes to check. If they open ones which have stuff that should be declared, but isn't, they can order everything to be opened and checked.

I would say suggesting that you don't declare stuff is a tad irresponsible. The AQIS regulations aren't there to annoy the hell out of people, they're there to protect a very fragile ecosystem.

And if AQIS do find anything that you haven't declared they'll charge you a lot to destroy the offending items.

Good luck

Hi Max
I had Robinsons out a couple of weeks ago. We have a 3 bed house, full of junk (mainly toys!). we have been told we will fill a 20ft container. they have quoted £4400! to be fair this is the same as Britannia. I didn't like the man from Robinsons as much as the one from Britannia. though a friend who migrated to Adelaide a couple of years ago said they were very good.
not declaring goods sounds very dodgy to me.
we have pss coming out next week, see what they come up with.

ps we are in Yeovil.

Re: Shipping
 

Hi Max

we have had two quotes... 1 quoted £4650 for a 40 foot container, the other quoted £3640 for a 20 foot container... here's the funny thing... both viewed exactly the same items:scared:

Baxters and Britannia were the firms .... Anglo Pacific coming on Monday.. perhaps they'll split the difference. !

Britiannia advised that we leave our cane furniture behind.. may cost more to dispose of by authorities that it is actually worth.

Good luck anyway,

Good to see that you gave them what for on the Insurance side of things MP.

You obviously spoke to Merseyside Insurance and glad that it does cover everything that we (emmigraters) are going to need. Take heed people, no longer do we need to get shafted even further when it comes to the move.

Let us know how things go as I expect you will be away before moi.

I J

We had Crown Relocations out last week for a quote, they were excellent and doing our move door to door be careful as the majority of companies do not do this, they tender the work out to other companies in Oz so you don't know who it will be. Crown have offices all over the UK and all over the world and in all areas of OZ, they were so friendly and helpful also told us to declare anything that was mentioned on the customs forms as they do spot checks. I think you should try them they will have an office near you no matter where you are in the uk. Our quote for a 20ft was just under £3,300 which is quite a difference and that is them doing absolutely everything for you, a 3 or 4 man team comes in and does the lot and then the same once you get to Oz with the unpacking. I had a few quotes from different companies and they were the best by far, a few people on this forum have used them, not heard a bad word yet. Their web page is www.crownrelo.com.

Lisa

try

www.excessbaggage.com

or

www.overseas-removals.com

(both part of same company and use pickfords this end)

we used a subsidury of them called interpak and apart from one big breakage every thing else was fab.

Only got 3 more boxes to do, YIPEEEEEEEEEEE!:D

also forgot to mention, declare everything cos they do spot checks, believe me, most of our stuff had stickers on to say that it had passed AQUIS inspection. I brought wicker, but not seagrass and all ok. Mr mover is fantastic at helping out on pm's with any quieries!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by floweroscotland

Hi Lisa,

I'm going to call these guys - thanks for the info they sound really good.

Max :)

Ian this was a great tip and you have saved us a lot of money!

Yet another fantastic piece of info from this site!!

Max :)

What I didn't like was the ovbiousness that he was on mega commission for getting the insurance in. It was the worst sales pitch I have ever seen - flatter you by telling you your belongings are worth a packet and then say it's a small price to pay if it all sinks! That price they have given you seems loads for a 20ft?

Like you I think it's all the toys - wendy house- little bikes and toy kitchen that are causing the large volume!!!

I'm going to call this crown reloc. they sound good!

Max :)

...I know it seems an odd thing to say from a professional company with experience in these matters. I have to say he's not the one going to be lumbered with a big bill if they find it is he! So that black mark among others does go against them!

Max
:D

Hi Guys
Just to let you know we had PSS around to quote and for a 20ft container door to door was £2800 , which is the best quote we've had :)

Hi,

John Mason, PSS and Britannia all quoted more or less £5200 for a 40 ft container for us - door-to-door from Kent to within 100 miles of Brisbane. That includes all packing and unpacking. Considering what it costs me to get a few boxes shipped over from the Isle of Man I think it's fairly reasonable. We chose John Mason because they just seemed so much more practical when it came to our particular problems of access down a narrow lane.

Lesley

Re: Shipping
 

[On the wooden and wicker/seagrass issue - he says NOT to declare the basket stuff just pack it inside other things:confused: The wood is NO problem. The only thing he says don't take is bamboo stuff.

Anyway will post again - another coming Monday so I'l have more info and a final price on the above by Tues.

Hope this helps someone:) [/QUOTE]
max just ask this guy if he,s prepared to pay your fine ,if you get caught with concealed goods........:D :beer: MM

Re: Shipping
 

max just ask this guy if he,s prepared to pay your fine ,if you get caught with concealed goods........:D :beer: MM [/QUOTE]
SEE!!!! told ya he knows his stuff:D ;)

Just an update, hot-foot from Brisbane AQIS......they have my shipment there, and I've been told by my importers that the reason it is taking so long is that they are opening and searching EVERY box!
I am being charged $60 for the destruction of SILK flowers on a hat, because "AQIS think they look like they might be real"! I can't be bothered to argue, I'm more worried about how much stuff has been damaged while they unpacked and repacked everything. I am furious when I think of the care I took not to bring anything illegal.
The importers said they have come across so much undeclared stuff that they now don't believe any of the paperwork.

So I would be very careful before you take the advice of THAT particular shipping firm.........:scared:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Pollyana
Just an update, hot-foot from Brisbane AQIS......they have my shipment there, and I've been told by my importers that the reason it is taking so long is that they are opening and searching EVERY box!
I am being charged $60 for the destruction of SILK flowers on a hat, because "AQIS think they look like they might be real"! I can't be bothered to argue, I'm more worried about how much stuff has been damaged while they unpacked and repacked everything. I am furious when I think of the care I took not to bring anything illegal.
The importers said they have come across so much undeclared stuff that they now don't believe any of the paperwork.


..At least you know where it is now!

Yes on the wicker/seagrass front have decided to ditch the lot and have piled it up in the garage!! I am in the process of replacing all the furniture as I understand it's pricey for wood in Aus?

The particular removals firm in question has just sent me a quote for £4800 for a 20ft and part of another - so they are out of the picture. Crown came round yesterday and they just need to come up with the right price now! Got Doree Bonner coming next week too.

Anyway hope you get it back soon Pollanna


:)

We have had a quote for £6150 for 40ft container from John Mason....from Stratford upon Avon to Currumbin Valley (south of Brisbane). Guy seemed very nice. Have got pps coming out next week, so will be nice to compare prices.

Sharon:rolleyes:

Jesus I am not paying that much - I have been roughly quoted between £4,000 and £5,500 from 2 companies this week for a 40ft - just waiting for the quotes on paper. I will be happy with a 40ft for £4500! - then again you are going further!

I've got DB coming next week so will compare with you!

Just asking about this seagrass/wicker stuff I have a few bits, but does it automatically get destroyed or do they just spray it. Also, this business of wooden stuff, does it mean you have to declare your wood wardrobes etc, (including pine) or untreated wood stuff only.

(Sorry if I sound stupid) !!!


Kath:confused:

Our neighbours have moved out today and have used Crown aswell.

They come in 2 days before and pack everything-yes, everything. The children get their own little box to pack with their own stuff in. They said that Crown have been great.

Mandy:)

Hi there!

We've gone through a brokers to get some shipping quotes. So far we have had 3 quotes. John Mason (shared container 700 cuft) £3,295. GB Liners (sole 20ft reefer container) £3,425 and Anglo Pacific (sole container) £3,725. We are contemplating GB Liners has anyone used these? Info appreciated.

thanks in advance
Theresa

Apparently they 'may' spray it then charge you per item, but the guys couldn't tell me how much this would be as they said it varies! Anyway I don't want to give them reason to start poking around too much. I have put loads of it on ebay and am trying to get my friends to buy it all. It's actually been quite fun this week because I have been to a reclaimation place and bought a huge wooden box for a new toy box (as we have a seagrass casualty there). I read that wood stuff is expensive in Aus so decided to replace it all now - we have to get a 40ft anyway.

Personally I don't think it's worth taking the wicker stuff - they have Ikea in Aus don't they for the waste paper bins etc when you need them.

Wood is fine - it just has to be written on the forms. I have some old pieces here with a few worm holes in but they still said that was ok.:)

yeah they brought round some cute little rugby balls for the girls - Ed says thats why they charge so much LOL..I would like to go with them - just hope the price is right
:)

They quoted me $60 per item for destruction, $85 for gamma-radiation treatment. Importing company warned me that the radiation renders a lot of stuff useless anyway, so I'd check on individual items before you go for the spraying option.

ha ha... we got a jigsaw of a crown truck & a fluffy toy for the bubs. Their service has been the best so far, but yet to see the quote. Suspect like you it will be the dearest.

For interests sake here are my quotes so far:

Auckland to Brisbane (full service - 20 footer)

Allied Pickfords NZ$5220
Moving Co. NZ$5465
Crown ????

After I picked myself off the floor I contacted some shipping company contacts thru work. Was qutoed NZ$2550 for hire & seafreight for 20 ftr aswell as all paperwork & local cartage on both sides of the ditch.

Now I've got to decide if the extra $2500 is worth it, versus the hassle of organising it myself.

Has anyone tried to organise shipping themselves ??

Cheers
Dave

Mmm thanks for that Pollyana (great wedding photos by the way) and everyone else.

When we had the agent round last year he never mentioned them!!!!

So really its not worth it (:( ) I do like my little boxes, but Ill given 'em to my sister instead. We got bamboo stuff on the seats of our dining room chairs (but they gonna have to come as its a fairly new suite!!!)

Cheers (anyone wants some seagrass boxes!!!)

I best get the cheque book out and start buying some pine chest boxes instead:D :D

Kath

We get a lot of GB liners ,jobs from the UK, just make sure the use new materials , they have a bad habit of using 2nd hand cartons..........:D :beer: MM

for mm
 

mm
please can i get your advice. we are moving to Townsville in April. have had quotes from pss, Robinsons and Britannia.
the Robinsons and Britannia quote were almost identical (though the vol estimate was diff, 1050cuft and 995cuft respectively). pss have come in at about £800.00 less than the other 2. vol estimated is 823cuft. all are for sole use of a 20ft container.
would you be able to offer us an opinion on any of the above companies?
thanks

Re: for mm
 

we dont deal with Pss, ITS are their agents here in Adelaide, but reading some of the past stories on here, they sound a bit ordinary??. Robinsons, and Brittania seem to do ok, the volume of a 20ft d/g container is about 1050cuft,so robinsons are playing safe.? pss, look like they are keeping the vol, low so as to give you a better price,because they can get more money out of you later when the goods don,t fit:rolleyes: just my theory......:D :beer: MM

Hi there,

I have got a quote from Allied Pickfords for £1700 for 400cubic feet. door to door...........Britannia was slightly dearer, as was anglo pacific.....Pickfords insurance a bit high though at 3.5%.

The guy that came out was superb....we are not taking much but that didnt matter to him, he was very professional...no hard sell, didnt even push the insurance just said it was up to me what i wanted to do.

Made decision!
 

For any west country folks out there we are going to use Armishaws based in somerset,dorset,wiltshire. 0800 9171015.

Sole use of 40ft £4750.

Miles better than any other quote we have had and they seem very on the ball (at the moment).

Max:)

Re: Made decision!
 

who, do they use on this side of the pond?.............:D :beer: MM

Re: Made decision!
 

Oh I didn't ask them that - it wouldn't mean anything to me anyway! But I will find out....:)

Re: Shipping
 

We used Robinsons including their insurance but wish we hadn't (for insurance anyway - otherwise they were okay) ... a number of items were damaged in transit and nearly five months later we still haven't been paid out!

Part of the reason for the delay is my fault - the insurers insist on us providing quotes for having he damaged items repaired (although most of them are write-offs) but it's so difficult getting people e.g. carpenters, out.

Watch out you don't under insure. In an effort to save a bit we put the value of some of our furniture as much less that it is worth - some of those items are now damaged beyond repair so it's going to cost us even if we do eventually get paid out by Robinsons.

does anyone now if mildew is a problem?
We have a bike trailer ( for towing the children behind bikes). unfortunately it must have been damp, when Mr Bazfer put it away. it now has mildew on the fabric. We have washed it , in the machine and with a power hose. it still looks stained. will it pass aqis, or should we forget about taking it:(
thanks

Have you tried that Vanish Oxy powder stuff.........it took mildew out of our tent that was put away damp.......just mix up a solution of it in a spray bottle give it a skoot...leave then rinse

:)

Hi
thanks, i will give that a go.
:)