Re: To ship or not to ship?
 

If money is no object then don't bother sending anything...but if it is then bring as much as you can cram into a container!! Especially as the exchange rate is disappointing at the moment...

It is the little things that start putting the cost on things. It has been said before things are not as cheap as you think.......$35 for lunch in McDonald's or KFC is the norm for the wife, me and the 3 kids...(all under 8 so have smaller tummies)..not suggesting you fill the container with fast food but if you want to have a small section filled with Galaxy choc the wife would be happy!:D

We were only going to send a few items but the quote for sending a few things wasn't far of sending a 20ft container.

Do you want to spend more money buying stuff the kids will ruin again? It was nice when our things turned up to have that feeling of my pillow and bed i hadn't seen for a number of weeks....

Really pleased with the guys we used F+N in UK and Thomsons handled it in Nova Scotia. Packed in UK in 2 days....unloaded and put in rooms 2hrs Canada (with a break)

Good luck

John

Re: To ship or not to ship?
 

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Default Re: Shipping costs for 40' container
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcdavis View Post
It seems that most people get a 20' container, however it looks like we'll need a 40' container (too much stuff). Initial quote is £10k , and that's without insurance.
Just wondered if anyone else had used a 40' container, and how much it cost please?
Have a search on this forum for shipping. I found through other posters had found a DIY firm which I had thought must be possible into but someone had helpfully found. I had spent ages looking into buying a container but had not come across this firm

Maritime Cargo Services

www.maritimecargo.com

Andy Booth 01449 616 100

Mention BritishExpats and you may well get a groan or a discount!

It is a freight forwarding company and you do have to pack, load and unload yourself as well as the paperwork for customs.

It may not be everyones cup of tea but we are certainly going to use it!

Most people accumulate furniture over a lifetime, and if you have antiques or quality stuff, the cost of total replacment is eyewatering. I am of course not talking about electrical appliances or large 'white goods' but the savings from self freighting could buy you top of the line, energy efficient appliances and one of those all important large screen TV's! (tongue firmly in cheek)

I am of course not talking about somewhere like IKEA. I have looked into this and as we know where we want to go ( Nova Scotia) the cost of new and very samey (as far as I am concerned) is big bucks. Also no IKEA in the Maritimes.

Do some Googling and find furniture retailers in the area you are proposing to settle, we have an all-inclusive phone package here in the UK ( unlimited International calls any time 24/7) so I just phone up and ask the prices!

As to the cost of shipping we were quoted in December 2008

from Windsor Berks to the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

£2,100.00 for a twenty footer

£2,695.00 for a forty footer

You arrange your own insurance, but they can reccommend someone I believe.

Re: To ship or not to ship?
 

Again thanks all. We are thinking the plan would be to move into a rented appartment while we settle into the area and decide where we want to live/what mortgage we could/want to afford so I guess if we were buying new out there it would be to furnish an appartment which might not necessarily be the stuff you would choose if you were furnishing a bigger house - so thats a plus for shipping.

I think from what you guys are saying that it does make sense to ship but I am just worrying about the cost as the more its costs the more delayed the move becomes while we save up - I am happy with 2/3k for shipping but 5k is just so much money to us.

I have contacted a couple of companies and asked about packing our own stuff and was told that because its Canada thats now allowed and they have to pack it for us - is this true or is do you think it is just that companies policy? This would definitely be our preference if it were possible.

Re: To ship or not to ship?
 

We bought our container, packed it ourselves, shipped it, and arranged pick up from port to our house, so they are BSing you, you can of course pack your own container, perhaps it is just company policy? If that is the case I would look elsewhere.

Re: To ship or not to ship?
 

Really getting nowhere with the reduced price for self packing option - I just called back the company that gave me the £5k quote and asked how much it would be if we packed ourselves. They were a bit funny about it and said it would only be about £100 or £200 cheaper and we would have to sort out our own insurance.

Do you think its just the companies I am trying (just gone for the big name co's that come out top of a google search so far).

Re: To ship or not to ship?
 

Have you got room where you are now to place a container?

Re: To ship or not to ship?
 

Yes we have (just about!).

Re: To ship or not to ship?
 

do the whole thing yourself then!, benefits are, time to pack, price, and if you want one you end up with a container!

Re: To ship or not to ship?
 

Its definitely a good idea and we will look into it. Not sure what we would do with the container at the other end though - especially as moving into a rented apartment to start off with so don't know where we would put it!

Re: To ship or not to ship?
 

mmm that might be a problem!

Re: To ship or not to ship?
 

I would imagine it would be a little more stressful doing it that way, just something else to worry about and emigrating is a big stress on it's own. It's stressful enough when the shipping company doesn't deliver when they say they will.