our shipping company search
#91
Moved to North Van 2012
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 24
Re: our shipping company search
Of course everyone has different experiences and we may have just been unlucky. I just would hate not to pass on our experience and for someone to go through what we did.
Regardless, the very best of luck to you. Moving your stuff is just one part of the big adventure and once you have that sorted you'll have a great time here I've no doubt!
#92
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Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Hubley, Nova Scotia (from Scotland via Yorkshire and London)
Posts: 1,190
Re: our shipping company search
McKendricks themselves get good reviews online - if it turns out it will be someone from Edinburgh doing the move... hm. I am wondering why they send someone all the way from Aberdeen to do the quote...
I think a lot of them do use other firms - Moving Partnership use Hamiltons I believe - so perhaps you don't get who you think you're getting!
In terms of insurance claims, my recent experience of such has been that they will do anything at all to get out of paying (make it difficult for the claimant; make them work; make them sooooo frustrated that they will simply give up). Sadly, I suspect this experience is all too common with insurance claims in general.
Out of interest, was your shipping groupage or sole use of a container?
#93
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 232
Re: our shipping company search
[QUOTE=Kaye5;10598539]Oh absolutely. Good to hear the bad reviews as well as the good ones. It's certainly an experience that I will run by GB Liners when I speak to them today.
McKendricks themselves get good reviews online - if it turns out it will be someone from Edinburgh doing the move... hm. I am wondering why they send someone all the way from Aberdeen to do the quote...
I think a lot of them do use other firms - Moving Partnership use Hamiltons I believe - so perhaps you don't get who you think you're getting!
Hi Kaye,
David from McCormicks came to see us back in January, he said to me that the head guy from Edinburgh was long term sick or had recently left and hadn't been replaced hence he was covering Lothians and the North east regions as they are a partner company of GB Liners.
I'm still undecided as to who we're going with GB or MP but am erring towards GB Liners as they have actually been out to do an estimate whereas MP haven't - although Matthew has been fab to deal with on the phone.
Have you got a definite move date now?
McKendricks themselves get good reviews online - if it turns out it will be someone from Edinburgh doing the move... hm. I am wondering why they send someone all the way from Aberdeen to do the quote...
I think a lot of them do use other firms - Moving Partnership use Hamiltons I believe - so perhaps you don't get who you think you're getting!
Hi Kaye,
David from McCormicks came to see us back in January, he said to me that the head guy from Edinburgh was long term sick or had recently left and hadn't been replaced hence he was covering Lothians and the North east regions as they are a partner company of GB Liners.
I'm still undecided as to who we're going with GB or MP but am erring towards GB Liners as they have actually been out to do an estimate whereas MP haven't - although Matthew has been fab to deal with on the phone.
Have you got a definite move date now?
#94
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Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Hubley, Nova Scotia (from Scotland via Yorkshire and London)
Posts: 1,190
Re: our shipping company search
[QUOTE=bcmama;10599912]
Hi Kaye,
David from McCormicks came to see us back in January, he said to me that the head guy from Edinburgh was long term sick or had recently left and hadn't been replaced hence he was covering Lothians and the North east regions as they are a partner company of GB Liners.
I'm still undecided as to who we're going with GB or MP but am erring towards GB Liners as they have actually been out to do an estimate whereas MP haven't - although Matthew has been fab to deal with on the phone.
Have you got a definite move date now?
Yes, I spoke to David today. The guy from Edinburgh is no longer there and hasn't been for a while. I don't think they were very pleased with him, it seems....
I agree with you re thoughts on GB/MP. MP sent out some sub contractor guy who was slightly odd and made me a bit uncomfortable. GB came out in person (David).
I honestly don't know why I'm stressing so much about this. We aren't moving priceless antiques and I've moved in the past without batting an eyelid at who moved us, nor worrying about the odd battered bedstead. Right now, I have so much info flying around my head's hurting. Will probably be GB if I can't choose on anything other than price, they are coming in cheaper and every penny counts right now. If we have the experience from hell, I will let everyone know!!
(We are moving end May/first week in June.)
Hi Kaye,
David from McCormicks came to see us back in January, he said to me that the head guy from Edinburgh was long term sick or had recently left and hadn't been replaced hence he was covering Lothians and the North east regions as they are a partner company of GB Liners.
I'm still undecided as to who we're going with GB or MP but am erring towards GB Liners as they have actually been out to do an estimate whereas MP haven't - although Matthew has been fab to deal with on the phone.
Have you got a definite move date now?
I agree with you re thoughts on GB/MP. MP sent out some sub contractor guy who was slightly odd and made me a bit uncomfortable. GB came out in person (David).
I honestly don't know why I'm stressing so much about this. We aren't moving priceless antiques and I've moved in the past without batting an eyelid at who moved us, nor worrying about the odd battered bedstead. Right now, I have so much info flying around my head's hurting. Will probably be GB if I can't choose on anything other than price, they are coming in cheaper and every penny counts right now. If we have the experience from hell, I will let everyone know!!
(We are moving end May/first week in June.)
#95
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 232
Re: our shipping company search
[QUOTE=Kaye5;10599963][QUOTE=bcmama;10599912]
Yes, I spoke to David today. The guy from Edinburgh is no longer there and hasn't been for a while. I don't think they were very pleased with him, it seems....
I agree with you re thoughts on GB/MP. MP sent out some sub contractor guy who was slightly odd and made me a bit uncomfortable. GB came out in person (David).
I honestly don't know why I'm stressing so much about this. We aren't moving priceless antiques and I've moved in the past without batting an eyelid at who moved us, nor worrying about the odd battered bedstead. Right now, I have so much info flying around my head's hurting. Will probably be GB if I can't choose on anything other than price, they are coming in cheaper and every
penny counts right now. If we have the experience from hell, I will let everyone know!!
(We are moving end May/first week in June.)[/QUOTE
Thank goodness it's not just me that's obsessing about removals - no antiques here either!
Likewise, we're moving around mid-May so will be sure to update.
Yes, I spoke to David today. The guy from Edinburgh is no longer there and hasn't been for a while. I don't think they were very pleased with him, it seems....
I agree with you re thoughts on GB/MP. MP sent out some sub contractor guy who was slightly odd and made me a bit uncomfortable. GB came out in person (David).
I honestly don't know why I'm stressing so much about this. We aren't moving priceless antiques and I've moved in the past without batting an eyelid at who moved us, nor worrying about the odd battered bedstead. Right now, I have so much info flying around my head's hurting. Will probably be GB if I can't choose on anything other than price, they are coming in cheaper and every
penny counts right now. If we have the experience from hell, I will let everyone know!!
(We are moving end May/first week in June.)[/QUOTE
Thank goodness it's not just me that's obsessing about removals - no antiques here either!
Likewise, we're moving around mid-May so will be sure to update.
#96
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Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Hubley, Nova Scotia (from Scotland via Yorkshire and London)
Posts: 1,190
#97
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Nova Scotia (from Scotland)
Posts: 1,032
Re: our shipping company search
We're also moving in mid may, and I'm also getting far too neurotic about shipping! I think its trusting your worldly goods to someone else and not see them for weeks... I get neurotic with hold luggage on a plane lol!
One more company coming on Monday, then we're choosing one...
One more company coming on Monday, then we're choosing one...
#99
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Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Hubley, Nova Scotia (from Scotland via Yorkshire and London)
Posts: 1,190
Re: our shipping company search
That explains why it took so long - but you should have been told that by the guy who is no longer there....
I'm reading through the small print at the weekend. Had a quick scan and can see some of the conditions you were caught out on.
If anything, it is certainly a lesson to read the documentation. I'm not liking some of what I read, especially on the insurance side. Anyone who forces me to take their insurance won't get my business as Letton Percival's cover seems much better - albeit with a £250 excess - and at lower cost.
We will see.
Hope you are now settled in and can put that experience behind you.
I'm reading through the small print at the weekend. Had a quick scan and can see some of the conditions you were caught out on.
If anything, it is certainly a lesson to read the documentation. I'm not liking some of what I read, especially on the insurance side. Anyone who forces me to take their insurance won't get my business as Letton Percival's cover seems much better - albeit with a £250 excess - and at lower cost.
We will see.
Hope you are now settled in and can put that experience behind you.
#100
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 232
Re: our shipping company search
Edinburgh was supposed to be to Vancouver although now off to Kelowna BC . Was happy with our Vancouver quote of £4k, now that we're off to Kelowna, the additional handling and mileage means we're looking at another £750...more money to be thrown into the PR money pit.
#101
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 251
Re: our shipping company search
Ok my 2 pennyworth.
We leave for Calgary on 13 April.
I sold my flat which completed 1 March so have sale proceeds. My wife finishes her job next week, I am studying for a Canadian exam on 30 March.
We sold all electrical goods and furniture and my parents are holding 2 crates of books and CDs at their house. We have temporarily moved into my brother's house who is living/working in Dubai and have 20 Ikea boxes (medium sized between 15-25kgs each approx) and have packed all clothes, possessions, kitchen bits and extras and Tranglobal Express appear to be best quoting international courier at just under £800. We'll land, find an apartment to rent then provide destination address and courier will collect boxes from my parents etc so we shall have to live out of suitcases for a couple of weeks. Insurance is an important point too and probably expecting this to maybe be 50% of the shipping cost again. Its not worth shipping lots of large items - not cost effective - don't really know why people do it. Our laptops, cameras, kindles and iphones are going in luggage so everything else doesnt have that much individual value. On Air Transat you can take your laptop +10kg hand luggage +23kg stow luggage which is a lot really.
Good luck all, please reply if you have any other good courier options.
We leave for Calgary on 13 April.
I sold my flat which completed 1 March so have sale proceeds. My wife finishes her job next week, I am studying for a Canadian exam on 30 March.
We sold all electrical goods and furniture and my parents are holding 2 crates of books and CDs at their house. We have temporarily moved into my brother's house who is living/working in Dubai and have 20 Ikea boxes (medium sized between 15-25kgs each approx) and have packed all clothes, possessions, kitchen bits and extras and Tranglobal Express appear to be best quoting international courier at just under £800. We'll land, find an apartment to rent then provide destination address and courier will collect boxes from my parents etc so we shall have to live out of suitcases for a couple of weeks. Insurance is an important point too and probably expecting this to maybe be 50% of the shipping cost again. Its not worth shipping lots of large items - not cost effective - don't really know why people do it. Our laptops, cameras, kindles and iphones are going in luggage so everything else doesnt have that much individual value. On Air Transat you can take your laptop +10kg hand luggage +23kg stow luggage which is a lot really.
Good luck all, please reply if you have any other good courier options.
#102
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: our shipping company search
Ok my 2 pennyworth.
We leave for Calgary on 13 April.
I sold my flat which completed 1 March so have sale proceeds. My wife finishes her job next week, I am studying for a Canadian exam on 30 March.
We sold all electrical goods and furniture and my parents are holding 2 crates of books and CDs at their house. We have temporarily moved into my brother's house who is living/working in Dubai and have 20 Ikea boxes (medium sized between 15-25kgs each approx) and have packed all clothes, possessions, kitchen bits and extras and Tranglobal Express appear to be best quoting international courier at just under £800. We'll land, find an apartment to rent then provide destination address and courier will collect boxes from my parents etc so we shall have to live out of suitcases for a couple of weeks. Insurance is an important point too and probably expecting this to maybe be 50% of the shipping cost again. Its not worth shipping lots of large items - not cost effective - don't really know why people do it. Our laptops, cameras, kindles and iphones are going in luggage so everything else doesnt have that much individual value. On Air Transat you can take your laptop +10kg hand luggage +23kg stow luggage which is a lot really.
Good luck all, please reply if you have any other good courier options.
We leave for Calgary on 13 April.
I sold my flat which completed 1 March so have sale proceeds. My wife finishes her job next week, I am studying for a Canadian exam on 30 March.
We sold all electrical goods and furniture and my parents are holding 2 crates of books and CDs at their house. We have temporarily moved into my brother's house who is living/working in Dubai and have 20 Ikea boxes (medium sized between 15-25kgs each approx) and have packed all clothes, possessions, kitchen bits and extras and Tranglobal Express appear to be best quoting international courier at just under £800. We'll land, find an apartment to rent then provide destination address and courier will collect boxes from my parents etc so we shall have to live out of suitcases for a couple of weeks. Insurance is an important point too and probably expecting this to maybe be 50% of the shipping cost again. Its not worth shipping lots of large items - not cost effective - don't really know why people do it. Our laptops, cameras, kindles and iphones are going in luggage so everything else doesnt have that much individual value. On Air Transat you can take your laptop +10kg hand luggage +23kg stow luggage which is a lot really.
Good luck all, please reply if you have any other good courier options.
As to why people bring furniture etc., if you look at prices to purchase large items here you will see that it is actually quite often cheaper to ship them than to replace them.
#103
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 251
Re: our shipping company search
I'm very surprised re comment on furniture as looked into this and my oak dining table and chairs were very expensive to ship. The cost to bear in mind is not necessarily the new/replacement cost but the value of the items as second hand - it rarely makes sense unless valuable and nearly new.
The complication in using Air Transat cargo is we don't have a settling address at the other end - we are staying a hotel for a week or two then finding an apartment to rent - also you have to arrange transit at both ends which is added complication and cost.
The complication in using Air Transat cargo is we don't have a settling address at the other end - we are staying a hotel for a week or two then finding an apartment to rent - also you have to arrange transit at both ends which is added complication and cost.
#104
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Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Hubley, Nova Scotia (from Scotland via Yorkshire and London)
Posts: 1,190
Re: our shipping company search
Shipping c. £4.5k.
We're not taking white goods though - voltage issues rather than shipping issues. Simply can't be bothered with all that transformer lark and our white goods are old - time to replace anyway.
#105
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: our shipping company search
I'm very surprised re comment on furniture as looked into this and my oak dining table and chairs were very expensive to ship. The cost to bear in mind is not necessarily the new/replacement cost but the value of the items as second hand - it rarely makes sense unless valuable and nearly new.
The complication in using Air Transat cargo is we don't have a settling address at the other end - we are staying a hotel for a week or two then finding an apartment to rent - also you have to arrange transit at both ends which is added complication and cost.
The complication in using Air Transat cargo is we don't have a settling address at the other end - we are staying a hotel for a week or two then finding an apartment to rent - also you have to arrange transit at both ends which is added complication and cost.
For instance, I sold my 1920's solid oak drawleaf table in the UK for £75; had I bought with me I could have sold it for thousands - it was identical to the one in the link. To replace it here cost me considerably more than it would have cost to ship it. Most dining sets here are 'oak' (or insert other colour) finish or an amalgamation of different woods - not solid oak.