Hi,
Will be moving out to Kelowna (BC) in the summer and wondered if anyone had organised their own shipping. I have seen lots of people on this forum getting quotes from shipping companies, but was wondering how difficult it actually is to organise ourselves.

A friend of ours has "offered" her dad's services (who is in the international freight business). I'm guessing that this is normally the most expensive part of the job for a shipper/removal company. But how difficult is it to clear your own stuff through customs? Should we stick to the experts and their inflated quotes or do it ourselves. We aren't frightened of having to learn something new, as we've learnt lots about emigration/immigration already.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks
Alex & Jo

Hi
I airfreighted all our belongings using Burlingtopn Air Express (BAX global I think they are called now). I boxed all the items up (some boxes were speically made), measured and weighed them and had a full items list for customs. I have forgotten the cost but it was around £2 per kg (in 1999). It arrived into Tornoto 3 days later and you have to go a clear customs (BAX will try to get you to have them clear customs for you and ship it to you but I found the cost, $500, rather expensive compared to you renting a truck). Customs isn't difficult asl ong as you have the correct paper work (BAX can help with this). I have also shipped by sea, renting a 20ft container. It takes around 6 weeks to arrive in port (usually Halifax) and across Canada in your case. I can't remember the cost but it was cheaper than air (as you might expect) but good if you have heavy/large items. When we move back later this year we are going to use Crown World Wide Shipping and they are going to do the lot, packing and door to door (I've got lazy in my old age).

Hope this helps.

Thanks,
that's exactly what I was hoping for. I'll look into BAX, although we were thinking about shipping most of our effects by sea. Depends on cost I guess.

I've always hated the idea of paying these companies for their expert services when you "know" that you could (if only you knew how) do the same job for about 1/4 of the price, and because the results directly affect you, actually do the job rather better as well.

Thanks - Alex

We own a 40ft container which will be going on it's long journey in a few weeks time. We have a broker who deals with all our customs queries. We have shipped a number of containers around the world and never had any problems. Our broker deals directly with the Customs of whichever country and we do not have to have any involvement with them.

The cost is usually a fraction of what has been quoted on the many threads on here. Each to their own but just to let you know that it is perfectly do-able without using an extortionate moving company.

PS. If you are sending your goods on a container ship it will take about 6-9 weeks to arrive in Vancouver. We are lucky as ours is going into Halifax and we have just been quoted an approx. 12 days; the crossing only takes 3 days but there are a number of days lost for loading and unloading the ship.

Thanks Tiaribbon,
another useful post. The more I hear, the more I am feeling that we should DIY it. We'll speak to our friends dad now that I know that it is possible for us "newbies to the shipping business". We have already packed (and inventorised) most of our stuff for the customs/landing forms, so I can't believe that just sorting out the "logistics" of getting the stuff from A to B can cause too many headaches.

Regards - Alex

Hi Tiaribbon
You own your own container!! How much did it cost and where did you buy it? Where do you store it when it isn't in use? I looked at one but it was CTS plated and that would cost a lot.

My sister-in-law owns a shipping company in London and we bought a 40fter from her. The cost was £800 and we keep it on the farm in England about 100 yards from the house.

Once it is finally shipped it will remain on our farm here in Canada until it is unloaded and then we will sell it probably for about the same as we paid for it. If you are interested in going this route then PM me and I can forward the details of her company. Ours is fully lined and decked out - we have a car in there and all our furniture and there are loads of tie-downs. Everything has been carefully packed and secured as the crossings can be pretty choppy!