Shipping question
 

Well, I have the visa, the cats are booked in with Golden Arrow, and we have interviews arranged in Oz. All that's left is to sort out shipping our furniture.

Do we need to box everything up ourselves or do the shipping companies pack your house up for you? If it's the latter, does that even apply to stuff like papers, etc.?

And who would you recommend?

Much appreciated!

Sophie

Re: Shipping question
 

Hi Sophie

Sorry unable to answer any of your questions....just wanted to know if your feeling a little better?

When will you be going?

D x

Re: Shipping question
 

we used Anglo Pacific and they were terrible - please dont even consider them. They wrecked most of our furniture and then disputed the insurance claim. We wrote to the MD - who didnt even bother to reply - such arrogance.

I'm sure there are some good companies out there - I think if you search previous threads there was a 'poll'.

Hope this helps :)

Re: Shipping question
 

If you pack yourself's then you will have to sort out your own insurance, but the shipping company would pack every thing for you and unpack at the other end.

Re: Shipping question
 

[QUOTE

And who would you recommend?

previously recommended on this site -- crown,PSS,White and Company,John Mason, Doree Bonner, Allied Pickfords

we have crown and PSS coming to give quotes in april -- they will be doing all the packing -- as the other poster mentioned that anglo pacific are utterly crap -- there have been many many postings on this forum warning against them!! :scared: good luck with it all :beer: :beer:

sheila

Re: Shipping question
 

We have just used PSS to get a part container load brought over from the UK - great service especially since we did it all from here. Will let you know how it ends when it arrives this morning & gets unpacked - Im hoping for no damages! :o

We used Pickfords last time, they were also very good, but more expensive.

Re: Shipping question
 

Someody has already pointed out the insurance aspect of packing your own stuff. I also note that the AQIS (Australian Customs) aslo make a point of asking on their forms. The shipping firms that quoted us told us that packing your own vastly increases the liklihood of AQIS opening up your stuff and charging you for the privilege. Whether this is a question of trying to frighten one into paying them to pack or not I do not know. But, I reiterate, the AQIS form do make a point of asking, so it is not inconcievable.

Neil

Re: Shipping question
 

Hello

Yes thanks, I am feeling a bit better about things. Have stayed 'off topic' where my mum is concerned, which always helps... We've arranged quite a few interviews each for when we're over, so that's quite exciting too. We fly out on Good Friday for 3 weeks, then return home, and fly back out (permanently) in May. Feels a bit weird....!

Sophie

Re: Shipping question
 

Thanks for the advice everyone. I would much prefer a company to pack everything! So, at the risk of sounding slow (bear with me...), you leave your house as it normally is, and someone puts it all in boxes for you? That sounds great!

Sophie

Re: Shipping question
 

Yep thats right, but a word of warning don't leave anything in their path that you don't want packed, they are like locusts!! I have never seen anything like it :D

They are just as quick this end, which is a mare cos you don't know where to put it all:D

Re: Shipping question
 

Hubby works in an international shippers over in Perth, he is the person who unloads and delivers the containers coming in, mainly from the UK. As for which company to use we used 5 oceans in Birkenhead, they where ok, not much damaged.
BUT hubby says if you pack yourself do not put on the manifest "misc" on anything as these are automatically checked by aqis now. He also said kitchenware is getting looked at more, he said anything with "plates, ceramics" on in kitchenware dont get checked, but pots + pans do. He also said look into the time of year carefully, at the moment quarantine are having major problems actually getting time to check anything, waiting weeks in the warehouse until they arrive. He said our winter here Juy/Aug is probably the best months for getting your container done quickly.
He also said cane is fine, its wood which comes from problem countries which look like they have had woodworm, he has had a few boxes of food in this week as well, and the quarantine fella had to check all the ingredients lists, anything with beef or beef extract is disposed of, so bring some washing machine powder, you will be glad of it. Oxo cubes were fine!
An insurance comany to use is either Letton Percival or Percival Letton in Liverpool, very nice fella, had ours covered for 30days after it arrived this end for no extra cost you just have to ask for it. Do a search they have been mentioned before with a contact number.

Hope it helps Jenny

Re: Shipping question
 

Hi Sophie

Without a doubt PSS were fantastic, the lads pack and wrap everything, we had a 20ft container and they packed and wrapped 1 day the 2nd day they finished off, did the list of items, container turned up and they packed it like Tetris!!! Last item in was our mattress and it just fitted. They were so professional.

We are in Brisbane and all items arrived in one piece no breakages and the company this side were excellent as well.

PSS without a doubt!!!

We paid £3500 door to door 20ft container.

Hope this helps

regards

Debs

ps we also used golden arrow for our 4 newfoundlands - who happily bask in the sun now every day, as if nothing has happened over the last few months!!!