Another packing query!!!!!!
 

The shipping date is fast approaching and I am starting to think of the actual practicalities. We are not taking bedroom furniture but are taking the contents of the wardrobes and drawers. Do the shippers just go all through the drawers and pack everything? Not sure I want them packing my undies:eek::eek: If this is what usually happens then so be it but I was wondering whether to ask for some packing cases and pack some clothes myself:confused: What have other posters done:confused:

Also what happens with cosmetics and toiletries? Do I just leave the packers to get on with it?

Sorry if these seem stupid questions but I'm sure someone can help answer them:)

Jo

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

Hi Jo...

Our removal company packing our stuff are at my house as I write this!!!!

We did the following:

We cleared a room and designated that as 'the room with everything....Canada Bound'...all the clothes we are shipping have been put into this room along with all our other goods. We have pick on one room because

1. Easier to manage from mine & OH point of view

2. Easier for packers

As for them unpacking items from draw units and stuff...yeah they will do this as well for you....well....certainly the company I have hired will.....(I'm using Britannia)

Britannia are packing our clothes as well....

Hope this helps...er...sort of?!?!:confused:

Thanks

Brian

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

Thanks Brian - good luck with your move:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Are you putting your stuff into store (I read your other post about not actually leaving for a few months)?

I like the idea of a "Canada Bound" room. Did you put everything in it?

I hope your OH will be taken out tonight after all her hard work:unsure:

Cheers

Jo

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

Hey Jo!!

Yeah, stuff will be sitting in storage for a little while, and yes....everything that we were taking fitted into the 'Canada Room'.....

Well...about taking OH out tonight...I'd love too...really would....but we STILL have loads to sort out....people picking up last minute bits, such as my PC, an old sofa, PS2....cash in hand and all that!!!;);)

I'll treat her at the weekend....more time then as we'll living with her parents then......:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Brian

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

Under normal circumstances, yes. However, Brian's idea of a "Canada room" is a good one. The idea of segregating things into very definite areas is especially useful if some stuff is going to Canada and some stuff is not going to Canada. If you have different items that await different fates, there is huge potential for them to be confused with each other. Things that are supposed to go to Canada may not make it to Canada, and things that are not supposed to go to Canada may be packed up and sent to Canada.

Well you must have more undies than I have. I pack most of my undies in the suitcase that goes on the plane with me. Besides that, what's wrong with them touching your undies? Your undies are pieces of cloth sewn together. Your shirts are pieces of cloth sewn together. Your shoes are pieces of leather sewn together. I imagine you aren't squeamish about them touching your shirts and shoes.

All the removalists that we have used for international moves have not permitted liquids of any kind to be included in a shipment. Some people around here say they've been allowed to include liquids in their shipments. I personally think it's risky to include liquids in a shipment. A container could break, the liquid could leak, and items in the shipment could get stained.

But, even if you disagree with me about whether or not liquids should be packed in your overseas shipment, there once again is the issue of what goes to Canada and what stays behind. Presumably you don't want them to pack all your cosmetics and toiletries. You need to keep some stuff with you to use on a daily basis between now and when you fly to Canada. You also want to have a few essentials on the plane with you and to tide you over the first few hours or days after you arrive in Canada. So again, you have to create some clarity for the removalists. You have to segregate the stuff that they have to pack and ship to Canada from the stuff that they have to leave behind.

My mentioning our removalists' instructions brings me to another point. Whenever we've undertaken an international move, the removalists have given us a list of detailed instructions of things we must and must not do in preparing for the move. The fact that you don't know what to do about clothes, cosmetics and toiletries suggests that your removalists have not given you detailed instructions, and I'm surprised about that.

Keep in mind that it could be weeks or possibly even months before you are re-united with the items that you are shipping by sea. Do not send in the sea shipment any vital papers or papers that you will want to access in the weeks after your arrival in Canada.

Also, while it is summer now, the weather in Canada could grow cooler before your shipment is delivered to you. So it would be prudent to take with you on the plane a couple of items that are suitable for autumn.

I trust you know about the Goods To Follow list that you have to draw up now and give to a customs official when you land in Canada. You probably do know about it, but I mention it because a couple of forum members have been surprisingly advanced in their moving process before they found out about the Goods To Follow list.

Hope that helps.

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

Hi

We are in the process of getting shipping quotes and they did say that its best to avoid putting any liquids in your container as if they leak, the boxes are cardboard and it could go everywhere. There may also be a clause on the insurance that would not pay up if your stuff got ruined and this was the case. They did say that if you really did need to take toiletries, cosmetics, etc, then you should pack them in a waterproof container e.g. plastic box.

Hope this helps
Good luck!
Flossie

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

The plastic box idea sounds good - I was not visualising big bottles - just odds and ends like spare nail varnish, moisturiser and that sort of thing.

Jo

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

Judy - thanks for your reply.

I think perhaps you have taken my comment about "undies" a bit too seriously.I certainly haven't got a problem with removal men touching my undies - it was said in a light-hearted way;) I will actually be shipping some though - the thermal ones! I thought it might raise a smile amongst fellow posters who might have wondered about the actual packing. We have actually never employed a removal firm before even for moves in England - it will be a new experience:eek:

Jo

Jo

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

Just so there is no confusion how many "undies" are we talking about (sorry! - I believe the politically correct term is now "pieces of cloth sewn together")

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

Hi, thought it might help to tell you what my removal firm told me... They (Robinsons) have said that I can pack boxes but have to leave them open so that they can check what's in them for the customs forms. Anything they don't pack isn't insured. I have boxes of books in the loft which they will check and re-seal, add to their list for customs and then ship, insured.
I figured that as I'm paying them so much money, I will put my feet up and have a cuppa while they get on with it. I'm not really bothered if they have a chuckle over anything in my undies drawer as I won't be seeing them again!
Good luck!

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

Don't forget to keep the packing team plied with tea and biccies, I'm sure they took greater care of my stuff for the next half hour after every time I put the kettle on for them :D

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

A few pointer based on personal experience and things other people have told me too...

- don't bring too little - stuff is not a cheap as people think here and it can cost a fortune to replace everything

- don't bring your washer or dryer (you probably aren't planning to anyway) - you can get just about any other appliance working using a transformer or other method but I've had no success with these - I have had to replace them and my UK ones look destined to become bizarre looking garden ornaments

- avoind bringing garden tools as Canadian customs, in their relentless search for peopl bringing in traces of soil, are likely to unload your container to check they are clean and charge you for several hundred $s for having to check it

- take the additional insurance to make sure everything is really well covered beacuse the insurance company will fight to the death not to pay out and you need all the coverage you can get

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

Hi Judy.....

Well...guess what.....When I asked Britannia if I had to do an inventory, they stated that they would do it....

The way they have listed our items are as follows, for example:

1 box of DVD's
1 box of Board Games.....

Would this type of listing suffice for Immigration, or will I have to list EVERY item individually.

Thanks

Brian

Re: Another packing query!!!!!!
 

Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 under the heading of Miscellaneous Tips on the Goods To Follow page in the BE Wiki.