Tony-the-Tigger

Is there really a greater chance of a container being inspected by Canadian customs if it was self packed (in the UK) rather than "professionally" packed by a removals firm?

Just wondering if this is a scare tactic used within the industry or if there's some truth in it?

Former Lancastrian

What do you believe?
A container can be examined for a variety of reasons be it being randomly selected by a computer or officer or a multitude of certain indicators.
Personally I have never selected a container for examination based solely on it being self packed.

Tony-the-Tigger

Didn't know what to believe. It's good to know that a container shouldn't be targeted solely based on it being self packed. I'm aware that there are extra costs and delay involved when this happens so I'm trying to weigh up the risk.

Thanks.

in the woods

I packed my own and had no problems at all 6 yrs ago into halifax

Miss Clinique

A Customs officer may look at a self pack inventory and think this is a person trying to save money. He may look at it and think what's in these boxes that the owner doesn't want a third party to see. He may also wonder if the pack has been done without "professional" advise, does it contain forbidden items.

It's all about percentages.

dgagitw

I would tend to believe that one that was packed by a remover I had heard of was on the whole less likely to contain something it shouldn't since they'd be more aware of the rules than a private individual was. The consequence being that the probability of it being searched was likely lower, but not zero.

How does that compare with reality?

Former Lancastrian

Reality would be there is no way of knowing if your container is going to be selected for exam or not regardless of who packed it.
Containers containing vehicles and tractors, combines or other farm machinery items more than likely to be selected by CBSA/CFIA to see if properly cleaned etc
As for the rest is anyones guess.

Tony-the-Tigger

I get the picture.

good to know.

Many thanks.

Tony-the-Tigger

One more thing. Is a gas BBQ (without the canister of course) regarded as a dodgy item? It's a expensive one, which would be sore to replace.

Dave n Ailsa

I have a petrol generator and a petrol lawn-mower.

Presumably they are ok as long as I have cleaned and emptied them, but they may also be a target for inspection.

Former Lancastrian

Not unless you have been bbqing in muddy fields or has been placed on a soil footing

Tony-the-Tigger

Spent it's life on decking. Guessing BBQ is borderline, lawnmower must be prime target for inspection. I'm not daring to ship gardening tools.

rivingtonpike

I left my lawnmowers behind; wish I hadn't! Can't get a flymo here and my petrol mower is such a beast compared with my old UK one.

Miss Clinique

We bought our petrol mower and strimmer, our gas canister BBQ without the canister, all tools and gardening equipment. Just make sure they are clean and empty of petrol.

As I said earlier it's all about percentages. I worked as an import move coordinator at our company, for 18 months and saw very few containers from the UK actually opened, a lot go on documentation hold, especially in the summer months. Containers coming fromcertain countries will get pulled for inspection without doubt, the clients are pre warned of this and are prepared. I had a diplomat who's container was pulled, he tried to claim immunity, he was not happy that is immunity did extend to his shipment, he was also very angry that he had to do a personal clearance like us lesser mortals, but in the words of the guys n gals at Toronto customs, " we don't care who he is, he clears his stuff just like everyone else"

I had a can coming from the UK that got opened, customs found a stock cube, by the time the client had paid for the inspection and demurrage because the container had gone over the free time, they were $1500 out of pocket.

My final word on self packing is insurance. You need to check your cover, to my knowledge you can only get total loss on self packed shipments, I could be wrong, but it's something to check out with the insurance company.

Geordie Lass

For gardening stuff inc bikes etc get some Jeyes fluid - it stinks but it disinfects. We were advised by every removal firm we had out to quote that we needed to use it. We brought all sorts of gardening stuff.

We also brought a newish bosch lawnmower. It's now in the basement - it's useless over here...