Hi
We recently got PPR and plan to head off mid-May. Also just sold our house, so now definately going mid-May!
I wondered with shipping agents whats the sort of timescales involved. ie. if we get them out to quote in the next week or two, do they then offer you 'slots' when they could collect and ship your stuff etc??? Just wondering if this is something we should be sorting out asap.
Thanks, and any recommendations on shipping companies would be helpful too.
Nik

Hi NikkiNu
Loads and loads of threads about this if you click on the Search button up at the top on the sand-cloured bar, and enter Shipping companies - you'll have all the info and more.

Good Luck with everything

We used Pickfords - maybe not the cheapest but they know what they are doing.

Hi
We have just had 4th shipper round this afternoon,but are still waiting a quote from last week.
All four have said they need 2-3 weeks notice to book a slot. Hope this helps

Jo

We used Whites, price was good, they offer 8 weeks free storage in the UK if you need it, our shipment has just arrived, we did have a couple of breakages, one was our cabinet which was transported upside down which broke the top trim, was annoyed about this one as it was just carelessness. Two small items that were broken was again down to poor packing. When you get your quotes in ask how they pack, we found things shoved in all different boxes in no particular order, then labelled up as one thing when there were lots of other items in the same box, made it very hard to find what you wanted when it came to unpacking. I'm not sure I would recommend Whites from our experience on unpacking, they seemed very efficient but I have now seen the flaws!

I would start sorting out what you want to take now, and do a major decluttering exercise, when they come in their like a whirlwind and you need to be organised. As soon as you have decided which company you are going with you just give them the date you want it shipped and its booked. I wouldn't hang around too long now though.

Good luck with your move.
Sue

Thats a real shame about your experience with White and Co. We used them and they were excellent. Full 20ft container and not one breakage. Guys at this end in NS were excellent too and went out of their way to set up our 3 queen beds that had just been delivered by Sears

We used Pickfords as did my sister when she moved to the States...Would NEVER recommend them...They misled us from the very start and then kept us waiting almost six extra wks for our things....We ended up paying approx £2,000 more than they first told us...Could do nothing about it as of course they had all our things...
Found out later that my sister had also had problems.....delays etc....We had looked at Britannia and with hindsight I wish we had used them...!!!!
L

Like a lot of these things it clearly is based on the area, crew etc. Some people can have wildly different experiences of the 'same' company. Sounds like it's a lottery.

Thanks for the info and seems like we should be getting on with it really.
We arent really taking much furniture, just our belongings - which doesn't seem that much but think it may add up when packed into boxes. On this one and only situation I may be prone to under estimate/exaggerate!
Do the shipping company always pack for you? I was imagining my hubby and I would have an empty box, blank customs spreadsheet and go round the house adding things to the box & list or putting them in the get rid of pile.
I will make a few calls next week and get people out to quote. Thanks for all the useful info.
Nik

NikkiNu - hi - we go at the end of May - and we have had a few people round to do quotes. They need as much notice as poss, if only to book their packing crews ... I'll book mine after the Easter weekend to come and pack up my stuff mid May.

I would get some quotes in too asap, and ask for the 'full packing' service initially.

You can pack stuff up yourselves, certainly - but ask about the differing services offered by shipping co's - I've heard it said on here several times, but not had the rumour confirmed - that you run a greater risk of the customs guys going through your stuff in detail when you try to do it yourself.
(That could of course just be a rumour put about by the shipping companies?!)

If you are not taking that much, you would most likely 'share' a container with someone else - so also bear in mind to ask about timings for delivery (but often a huge variation in this anyway), 'cos the other occupants of your container could be going somewhere quite different and your stuff could end up going the longer way round to your destination !

So good luck - now, stop hanging around here on your computer, you've got lots of stuff to sort out !

Hi Nikki
Congratulations! Fantastic news!
We are flying out to the USA en route to Canada on 28th April.
I've had Robinsons round yesterday, and Avalon and White's early next week. They don't seem to have a problem booking us in for the end of April....but I'd give as much notice as poss. We've sort of been through this process before as we came close to moving to USA in 2003, and got all the shipping stuff sorted and the furniture packed before our business purchase fell though!
We land in Vancouver at the end of May.....
Let's keep each other informed on quotes and experiences over the next few weeks!
MK Murrays

I think its down the the crew that you get at the time, maybe we were unlucky, I had heard good things about Whites which was why we chose them, but there you go - that's life!!

Have shortlisted a number of agents I will ask to quote, and will contact them next week. It seems to be almost down to luck what your packing/unloading crew are like. We will probably have half a container but not sure I like the idea of all our stuff moving around Canada till it gets to us - more changes of breakages, delays and hassle. That will definately be one of the questions I ask the shipper about. To be honest if the price isn't too dissimilar for full or half container, may just ship all our crap!

Thanks for your useful replies everyone.

MkMurrays - will keep you updated.

Nik

Just a little snippet, we had a full container to ourselves, which was great as you have more control over when it is sent, also I'd say bring everything, we dumped some things thinking we'll replace them when we get there, only to find that our money was runing out quicker than we thought and then wished we had bought those dumped items. Something to think about!