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Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Hi all,
I'd like to ask some questions about the actual logistics of shipping over your items to Canada. My wife and I are deciding on what is important to us to take over, and what we would be willing to buy new / 2nd hand over there. On thinking about it, it's really the small things such as Photographs, old documents, certain kids toys, clothes etc that are a definite. Everything else I could take or leave. So as far as we've discovered, the options could be: Using a shipping company and fill a large container. (That's if we want to take all our larger items - beds, dining table, suite, white goods, tv etc etc Fill a couple of small scale boxes and send them cargo. Use a courier company for even smaller scale items / boxes. When a container is used. How do people manage the logistics of sending their household goods over X amount of weeks before they go? (I've read containers can take 6+ weeks?) Are you then left to manage in the uk with an almost empty home? Or do you fly over with your family first, source temporary household essentials/part furnished property, then wait for your items to arrive? If it's a few 'boxes' sent by cargo, (on the same flight you are on) How would we organise getting the boxes, plus all our suitcases and our jet lagged selves to the desired destination? Rent a van? I presume there are companies that can assist with this, can anyone recommend any? (Greater Toronto area) I'm sure everyone has different experiences but what were you glad you took over, what do you wish you had left and bought new? In your experiences, and with hindsight, what was the least stressful and cost efficient way of going about it all? I have many more questions in my head but ill leave it there for now! Thanks |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Hi Roberto,
You can also use a shipping company if you don't want to fill a whole container, most do part loads too, couriers or excess baggage are a good option if you've only a box or two or a couple of suitcases. Here's an explanation of some of the shipping options. If you go down the shipping company route here are some tips for finding and choosing a reputable international mover. Hope it helps! |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
KirstyP has given you a couple of links to (I'm sure a completely non-biased :)) set of information if you decide to ship stuff over. Bournes is as good an option as many others...
As to how much to ship and when, there are two distinct schools of thought. Either take the minimum you can get away with and start again when you get here, or throw everything including the kitchen sink into a container and ship the whole lot. I am definitely in the latter camp. I think you mentioned elsewhere that you have kids: there's a whole heap of anecdotal evidence on the forum and elsewhere that having their "own stuff" around them can help children to settle more easily into a new environment. Also, don't underestimate the cost of furnishing a household from scratch. If you bring everything, even if (like me) much of it is saleroom furniture or IKEA's finest, then you can shop for replacements at leisure and in the sales, rather than having to go out to buy however many beds, chairs, tables, etc all at once. Plates, knives & forks, pots & pans, etc too... Don't bother with the white goods, though. There's a wiki article on compatibility of electrical goods that goes through the ins and outs of your options; bear in mind, too, that many properties for sale and the vast majority of rental houses come with major appliances. But bring everything else (including a kitchen sink, by all means, if you like an integrated draining board with yours, as these are not common in Canada for some reason!) As to timing, it all depends where you're going and what arrangements you've made for your first few days' accommodation. Containers to Vancouver obviously take a bit longer than shipping stuff to Halifax... a lot of goods to Toronto come up the St Lawrence as far as Montreal and then do the last leg by train. Ours took just a shade over a month, and we ended up having to pay to store it for a while at this end while we closed the house purchase. The container left the UK a week before we did (we were selling a flat; we camped out for a day or two with borrowed bedding, then stayed in a hotel for a few nights so we could give the place a thorough clean) and we were in a serviced apartment for the first couple of weeks in Canada. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
+1 for pretty much everything Oakvillian said, he's got it spot on.
We were living in a furnished flat in the UK so we didn't have a lot as far as furniture and larger goods... which meant we didn't have anywhere near enough to fill a full container, so we did groupage - you share a container with a few other people who also don't have a full container themselves. It takes a bit longer to shop as they have to wait for enough pieces to have a full container, but it's cheaper than buying a full container and then only using a quarter of it. We shipped our stuff at the end of August and it arrived at the beginning of November, about 9 weeks. We were living with my parents, so the delay didn't matter that much. The shipping company just chucked it all in my parents' basement, and we moved it about a month ago (after it being stored for over a year, haha) into the new house. I also agree with taking over most of your belongings, particularly for helping the kids with the transition... but don't bother with larger electrical stuff - white goods, television, etc. (Laptops, cell phones, etc are all fine.) White goods run a huge risk of not working properly over here, and televisions can be temperamental depending on compatibility - some are better than others, but generally televisions aren't crazy expensive over here either, in comparison to UK prices. (Extra bonus if you make a weekend trip to the US and bring back something you find on special. We got a 32" Sony for $200, and a 55" JVC with a Roku Stick for $550. If you go to the US for more than 48 hours, your allowance is $800 per person, so no duties on the way back in!) Trying to furnish everything from scratch will be a royal pain in the backside, and remember as well that you'll be trying to do it without a great knowledge of what the good or bad places to go are, or where there are good shops, etc. You know all that in the UK so it's easier to think about, but in a country where you don't know your way around can make that task really stressful... so I think bring over as much as you can and just sort out buying white goods and larger electronics when you're here. Serviced apartments are useful if you need a bit of time in between getting your own place or waiting for your stuff to arrive. Good luck! |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
this is all really good info! I hope to find myself with these dilemmas in the coming future
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Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
For us it was a no brainer. We had a 5 bed house and half a lifetime's worth of "stuff", not to mention 2 kids, 4 bikes, antiques, kitchen appliances, stereos etc etc. Once we realised we were going to need our own container we resolved to keep and ship almost everything (although it was an opportunity to de-clutter and to throw away all the "duplicates" of things we had replaced but my wife insisted made a good backup!). With the aid of a couple of inexpensive transformers, blenders, toasters, kettles etc worked fine. In time, of course, we replaced them with North American stuff. I even discovered I had 220v mains power in the garage. I can't remember now how much our 40ft container cost door to door, but I'm going to say about GBP7000. Just a couple of modest sofas are going to cost you at least $2000 (more like $3000) to buy here. Just think what you (hopefully) insure your house contents for and that will maybe give you an indication of replacement costs.
Overall we find the cost of living for us in Canada is cheaper, but to kit out a house from nothing, I think, would cost a whole lot more than the cost of shipping. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by rivingtonpike
(Post 11523889)
For us it was a no brainer. We had a 5 bed house and half a lifetime's worth of "stuff", not to mention 2 kids, 4 bikes, antiques, kitchen appliances, stereos etc etc. Once we realised we were going to need our own container we resolved to keep and ship almost everything (although it was an opportunity to de-clutter and to throw away all the "duplicates" of things we had replaced but my wife insisted made a good backup!). With the aid of a couple of inexpensive transformers, blenders, toasters, kettles etc worked fine. In time, of course, we replaced them with North American stuff. I even discovered I had 220v mains power in the garage. I can't remember now how much our 40ft container cost door to door, but I'm going to say about GBP7000. Just a couple of modest sofas are going to cost you at least $2000 (more like $3000) to buy here. Just think what you (hopefully) insure your house contents for and that will maybe give you an indication of replacement costs.
Overall we find the cost of living for us in Canada is cheaper, but to kit out a house from nothing, I think, would cost a whole lot more than the cost of shipping. I am currently in the process of moving to Toronto. It will be an internal company transfer. (Work in the UK for a Canadian company) I am coming over this coming Sunday for another 2 weeks where hopefully I will be going to visit immigration with the company lawyer to sort out some kind of work permit. I have been working 2 weeks in Toronto and 2 weeks in the UK since October. As soon as this is sorted, I can start arranging shipping and deciding who will be paying. If my company is paying for the shipping then almost everything will be coming with me including my motorbike. If I have to pay myself then I will have to be a bit more economical and take the essentials and the high cost goods. Either way, I expect to be in Canada permanently by February or March. The most daunting thing for me is turning up on the other side of the Atlantic with no car, no house and unable to get any credit facilities. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by Goodbhoy
(Post 11524283)
I am coming over this coming Sunday for another 2 weeks where hopefully I will be going to visit immigration with the company lawyer to sort out some kind of work permit.
I have been working 2 weeks in Toronto and 2 weeks in the UK since October And you've been working in Canada for 2 weeks out of every month?! :eek: might not want to mention that to immigration, hopefully you don't mean it as it sounds, because it sounds like you've been working illegally without a work permit! :lol: |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by christmasoompa
(Post 11524319)
Is your immi lawyer going to be on the plane with you? Because immigration is there when you get off the plane, he can't come through and meet you there unless he's also an air passenger.
And you've been working in Canada for 2 weeks out of every month?! :eek: might not want to mention that to immigration, hopefully you don't mean it as it sounds, because it sounds like you've been working illegally without a work permit! :lol: Immigration lawyer is a woman and will already be in Canada. We will sort something out with immigration within the next 2 weeks. When I arrive in Canada, I will be visiting another manufacturing plant within our company. Not working as that would be illegal. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by Goodbhoy
(Post 11524935)
Nope.
Immigration lawyer is a woman and will already be in Canada. We will sort something out with immigration within the next 2 weeks. When I arrive in Canada, I will be visiting another manufacturing plant within our company. Not working as that would be illegal. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by rivingtonpike
(Post 11526610)
When you arrive you'll be visiting another of your company's plants? Will you still be being paid? If you are it sounds like work to me. Former Lancastrian is likely to know better.
I am allowed to visit other plants. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Thanks for the replies folks. Some good advice
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Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by Goodbhoy
(Post 11527074)
I will be getting paid from my UK employer in pounds sterling.
I am allowed to visit other plants. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by Goodbhoy
(Post 11527074)
I will be getting paid from my UK employer in pounds sterling.
I am allowed to visit other plants. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian
(Post 11528060)
As long as visiting and meetings etc then you are ok. Any hands on is a NO NO until a work permit is secured.
Not this time though, I will be applying for a TWP upon arrival at Pearson. The Lawyer has compiled all the relevant paperwork. Looks like I will be travelling on Wednesday now. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by Goodbhoy
(Post 11528083)
Yes, I agree. That is exactly what I tell customs though.
Not this time though, I will be applying for a TWP upon arrival at Pearson. The Lawyer has compiled all the relevant paperwork. Looks like I will be travelling on Wednesday now. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by rivingtonpike
(Post 11528096)
Have a good trip. I hope everything runs smoothly with the TWP. I'm sure it will. Will you be out East?
The Lawyer is pretty confident and all the paperwork looks good. Plan to get the first couple of months under my belt before the Lawyer starts the PR routine but again, she feels confident on this also. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Hi, reposted my experience for you, good luck in your new adventure.
Container from U.K to Toronto Hi, My Husband and I are in the process of moving to Canada, we had three quotes to pack our furniture into a 20ft container, the quotes came in between £4600 and £5400, they also said we would need to purchase our own insurance which for me broke the camels back, I wanted to know why they wanted me to pay £350 insurance for them to pack and move my stuff, surely it should be them insuring it considering they are packing it. so, after doing some homework on this site and others, we decided to have upakweship drop off a container and we packed it ourselves, it was shipped out of Liverpool on 3rd September, arrived in Montreal 12th and landed in Toronto via rail today 17th September, total price for this was £1700. it was hard work but worth the saving, we arranged insurance for £140 which was the same coverage the movers quoted but the extra money stayed in my pocket rather than theirs. a couple of tips we really feel we need to mention, buy plastic pallets to put your furniture on rather than untreated wood, dont pack any pine cones or any untreated wood otherwise they will need to fumigate your container, make sure the shipping company forward your telex release form (we had to chase that up today but an easy mistake) otherwise they wont release the container without it. Chris Smith at upakweship was very helpful and provided us with all the documentation we needed, we did have to pay $385.00 Canadian when it landed and I am sure my husband knows what this was for but I have no idea lol..we took photos of everything what went into the container, we itemised what was in every single box and they want a total of all items in the container, we had a total of 174 items, we had no trouble at customs and they told us because we had itemised everything they would not need to do an inspection which would have cost us $500.00 cdn. the lists are very important, for example, we would put Christmas decorations and then in brackets, write that there are no pine cones, we would write that any items with batteries would have the batteries removed, they just want to know that you are taking your move serious and you have done everything in your power not to bring any tainted items, we power washed all the tools and left behind any rusty hammers etc. the content insurance was recommended on this site, Brian Naughton <snipped> My husband just asked me to add a couple of things, he says the container ends up at the CP rail yard in Vaughan, you can then hire a company called International freight forwarders <snipped> to take the container to your new home or storage, the owners name is Amir and the drivers name is Nick, they have also been very helpful. we paid $325 tax included for this service and other companies quoted $600. I thought I would send this information whilst still fresh in my mind, was it hard work? absolutely,but we would do it again in a flash, every item has been packed by both my husband and I and no moving company would have packed my possessions with more care than we did. Hope this helps someone Lynn |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Hello we sold everything before we moved ,white goods,tv and anything electrical is not worth bringing .worked out a lot cheaper to buy new in canada(bed sizes are different in canada)
Hope this helps |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by GrandmaLynn
(Post 11528180)
Hi, reposted my experience for you, good luck in your new adventure.
Container from U.K to Toronto Hi, My Husband and I are in the process of moving to Canada, we had three quotes to pack our furniture into a 20ft container, the quotes came in between £4600 and £5400, they also said we would need to purchase our own insurance which for me broke the camels back, I wanted to know why they wanted me to pay £350 insurance for them to pack and move my stuff, surely it should be them insuring it considering they are packing it. so, after doing some homework on this site and others, we decided to have upakweship drop off a container and we packed it ourselves, it was shipped out of Liverpool on 3rd September, arrived in Montreal 12th and landed in Toronto via rail today 17th September, total price for this was £1700. it was hard work but worth the saving, we arranged insurance for £140 which was the same coverage the movers quoted but the extra money stayed in my pocket rather than theirs. a couple of tips we really feel we need to mention, buy plastic pallets to put your furniture on rather than untreated wood, dont pack any pine cones or any untreated wood otherwise they will need to fumigate your container, make sure the shipping company forward your telex release form (we had to chase that up today but an easy mistake) otherwise they wont release the container without it. Chris Smith at upakweship was very helpful and provided us with all the documentation we needed, we did have to pay $385.00 Canadian when it landed and I am sure my husband knows what this was for but I have no idea lol..we took photos of everything what went into the container, we itemised what was in every single box and they want a total of all items in the container, we had a total of 174 items, we had no trouble at customs and they told us because we had itemised everything they would not need to do an inspection which would have cost us $500.00 cdn. the lists are very important, for example, we would put Christmas decorations and then in brackets, write that there are no pine cones, we would write that any items with batteries would have the batteries removed, they just want to know that you are taking your move serious and you have done everything in your power not to bring any tainted items, we power washed all the tools and left behind any rusty hammers etc. the content insurance was recommended on this site, Brian Naughton <snipped> My husband just asked me to add a couple of things, he says the container ends up at the CP rail yard in Vaughan, you can then hire a company called International freight forwarders <snipped> to take the container to your new home or storage, the owners name is Amir and the drivers name is Nick, they have also been very helpful. we paid $325 tax included for this service and other companies quoted $600. I thought I would send this information whilst still fresh in my mind, was it hard work? absolutely,but we would do it again in a flash, every item has been packed by both my husband and I and no moving company would have packed my possessions with more care than we did. Hope this helps someone Lynn I would not like to leave my wife to do all that in the UKy herself. |
Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Thanks for this info on beds...just considering taking them FROM Canada to the UK. :)
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Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
Originally Posted by CJ2015
(Post 11638923)
Thanks for this info on beds...just considering taking them FROM Canada to the UK. :)
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Re: Shipping over goods. Experiences, basic questions
We brought everything with us and got rid of a ton of stuff. We filled a 20 foot container to the rafters.
We used GB Liners as I trawled through around 30 pages of info on here and they were the ones with the best reviews. A couple of things got damaged but to be expected. We didn't bring many white goods - microwave didn't work over here and neither did the lawnmower. TV works just fine and still going strong. Like another poster we had some really decent furniture that we weren't going to sell for a song. We shipped 10 days before we left and just borrowed stuff from friends to get by. Our bed was old in the UK so we used that and then dumped it last minute. When we arrived people helped us out here (people from this site funnily enough) and our stuff arrived in under 3 weeks. We stayed in a hotel the first week. Cars - we had to put a huge deposit down to get one but still managed to finance the rest. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck! |
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