We used Doree Bonner Intl. Not the cheapest quote, but highly recommended by friends. 40 ft container, a few broken pieces of glassware/picture glass which I consider acceptable. However not much care taken with low value items. Most lampshades crushed, lots of toy boxes bent, kids pics screwed in a ball, etc. Worst was my matress, folded in half for 3 months "it will be fine mate" which now has a big ridge in the middle. Like every mover I have ever used the packers/unpackers (Grace this end) treat the client as an annoying nag, and ignore everything you say because they know better. It was agreed by estimator and packers that nothing would be marked PBO (& therefore uninsured), but at least 8 boxes were - too lazy to repack them. Several boxes were labelled Jones not James and the numbering/labelling was very inacurate. This is particularly annoying as DBI stress their 'premium' service. I would not recommend them unless you are able watch them pack every box!
Thanks for the opportunity to have my rant

This will bump the thread back to the top.

I have a list of almost 15 removers, and the no. of answers a poll will allow is 15. So I will actually post two polls - each with the same list of removers but one for "satisfactory" and one for "Unsatisfactory"

Hopefully we'll get some feedback?

We used Robinsons, as did some friends of ours, and they were dreadful. Poorly packed tables, sofas and pictures were damaged. The muppets they use this end had to be chased every step of the way AND it took 4 months to get my claim settled!

Complete shower don't touch 'em

Having read ythese posts I am even more thankful we used PSS. The men in uk were excellent and did everything we asked and a bit more None of our boxes were pabelled PBO and they even marked them with the contents that I told them ie Food dried pasta and etc tea and Coffee. A couple of the boxes were checked by customs as they were food but we were ok. The boys this end were fantastic and so speedy. They would not let me give thnem refreshments as they had brought their own and would drink on the run. We had one breakage a ceramic flower pot which was my fault as I had put two in together and they had been packed that way. Although australaia is not a 'tipping' community I was so pleased with them that I did tip them an d they were amazed. highly recommended

We used Robinsons and have no complaints, seemed very thorough,
I dont know if this sort of post will help to choose a company I think the "blindfold and pin" method might be better,
use it a lot myself.

Hiya

As we speak our worldly goods are in transit with Allied Pickfords. The guys that came were great, very professional and excellent knowledge of the job ect. It was just a shame the office side of things were a bit of of a let down. All in all so far so good. We will wait and see what the ozzie side of Pickfords is like. I would recommend them highly and would use them again without hesitation. They were not the cheapest but we found the service they offered to be the best.
Hope this helps you make your descion.

Vickeyvixen

we r in the proccess of usin Allied Pickfords....they have been superb so far...and we are just waiting on our goods to be delivered............hopefully befor Gryffs the witch.......lol u know me loves ya babes.....will keepu all posted on the final outcome

WE HAVE CLEARED CUSTOMS AND QUARENTINE SO NOW AWAITING DELIVERY OF ME STUFF WILL LET U ALL KNOW

We used Bickfords out of Gloucester. Very professional, gave a door to door price. Watched them pack and everything was well padded.

Then it went through Customs in Oz. The packages were opened and repacked at random. Here is the rub. The removers at this end were not under our control. Items were jumbled up and repacked in different boxes, there was no way to check for missing items on delivery.

We are only now realising the stuff that is missing. The answer probably is to attend the customs inspection, not a total answer but might reduce risk.

Whether losses were due to carelessness or theft we cannot tell. this repacking at random would make claims under insurance very difficult.

Thanks - I will keep the two polls active for a while.

Might be worth checking who did the repacking. Everything unpacked by Customs and AQIS should be repacked by them. My only damamged items were in boves repacked by AQIS, and the guys who delivered them apologised. They said they don't get access until everything is repacked, and AQIS are supposed to repack in the original boxes - so they should check one box at a time.

Problem is you only do this once in a lifetime (I hope) and like installing a boiler, you make all the mistakes the first time and then every body else is able to learn from your mistakes. Ah well thats life I suppose.

Hi Rog

Did you do this poll? If so, could you point me to it? Reading through the threads it seems Crown gets good feedback. Allied Pickfords is mixed as is Robinsons with PSS good too.

There were two -

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245663

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245664

Thanks very much for that; very helpful. We used Ansett Wridgways when we moved back from Oz and they were good. Unfortunately, Ansett went into administration some years back but it seems Wridgways are still around - www.wridgways.com.au. I think they used Crown at this end.