moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
May 15th 2013, 8:25 am
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Location: Seattle, USA
Posts: 7
moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
Hi,
I'm new to the forum though have been reading for a while (baby and toddler have prevented me from contributing thus far, but I plan to from now on!), and have felt encouraged and understood just from reading many of your posts.
We'll be moving back to the UK this August (not easy for my husband) and I'm looking into moving companies. I searched for threads on recommendations but have only found one for Canada to the UK. Anyone moved from the Pacific Northwest to the UK? Recommendations or warnings will be much appreciated!
I'm new to the forum though have been reading for a while (baby and toddler have prevented me from contributing thus far, but I plan to from now on!), and have felt encouraged and understood just from reading many of your posts.
We'll be moving back to the UK this August (not easy for my husband) and I'm looking into moving companies. I searched for threads on recommendations but have only found one for Canada to the UK. Anyone moved from the Pacific Northwest to the UK? Recommendations or warnings will be much appreciated!
May 15th 2013, 9:22 am
#2
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
We got quotes from a few and have been reading about them on movingscam.com
So far Rainier is winning, quick with replies, east to read quote and very polite, and they have excellent reviews.
They are based out of Washington state but have agents in other areas.
So far Rainier is winning, quick with replies, east to read quote and very polite, and they have excellent reviews.
They are based out of Washington state but have agents in other areas.
May 15th 2013, 9:35 am
#3
Firetrak
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 577
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
what is the website for Rainier?
May 15th 2013, 12:05 pm
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Location: Seattle, USA
Posts: 7
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
http://www.rainieros.com/
Thanks for that - they were on my to contact list so now I've done it. Good to know they're living up to the good reviews so far for you, Mummy in the foothills. It's hard to know which reviews are genuine with this moving minefield - so much stuff on the internet!
Thanks for that - they were on my to contact list so now I've done it. Good to know they're living up to the good reviews so far for you, Mummy in the foothills. It's hard to know which reviews are genuine with this moving minefield - so much stuff on the internet!
May 15th 2013, 12:18 pm
#5
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
Here they are.
http://www.rainieros.com/
http://www.rainieros.com/
May 15th 2013, 12:25 pm
#6
Firetrak
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 577
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
thanks guys i've also sent off for a quote.
May 15th 2013, 7:51 pm
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: UK & USA
Posts: 46
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
Hi, I moved from Bellingham, WA to the UK last year. When we moved to the US we used a moving company to handle the whole transaction, I was very disappointed with the quality of the packing, the additional cost, port fees, customs etc. We had breakages, which of course were not covered by the premium insurance we were sold. So when we moved back I decided to approach it that I would be disappointed with however I used. So I arranged the move DIY style.
Several months before we started packing using the garage for storage, I brought in the labor of a local moving company from craigslist to help, I used them on and off for 3 days to help package the big stuff. I wanted to build a rapport because I need to labor to help load the container on the move day. The day before we the container arrived I booked them for the whole day to pack up beds etc. On the day everything worked well, I told the packing guys I would give them a bonus if they could load the container in four hours which they did. (I got four hours free from the trucking company then it was $100 per hour). On arrival into the UK I used a local agent to clear customs, and a local trucking company. Friends and new neighbor’s pitched in to help unload which with the help of a van with a rear tail lift dididnt take long. So the bottom line.
40 foot high Cube container (same price as a standard 40 foot oddly) $ 2800
US misc cost relating to trucking, freight agent fees etc. $1000.00
US Labour $ 720
Packaging supplies $1000
UK port fees GBP 280
Custom broker GBP 290
Trucking company to South Somerset GBP 600
UK van rental with tail lift GBP 80
Total UK in $ 1875 approx
Grand total $7495 approx
I used Anderson packaging in Bellingham for shipping supplies. Pacific Rim forwards Seattle, Vanguard Customs in the UK. www.randjtransport.co.uk in Tilbury to truck to Somerset.
And no breakages!
Several months before we started packing using the garage for storage, I brought in the labor of a local moving company from craigslist to help, I used them on and off for 3 days to help package the big stuff. I wanted to build a rapport because I need to labor to help load the container on the move day. The day before we the container arrived I booked them for the whole day to pack up beds etc. On the day everything worked well, I told the packing guys I would give them a bonus if they could load the container in four hours which they did. (I got four hours free from the trucking company then it was $100 per hour). On arrival into the UK I used a local agent to clear customs, and a local trucking company. Friends and new neighbor’s pitched in to help unload which with the help of a van with a rear tail lift dididnt take long. So the bottom line.
40 foot high Cube container (same price as a standard 40 foot oddly) $ 2800
US misc cost relating to trucking, freight agent fees etc. $1000.00
US Labour $ 720
Packaging supplies $1000
UK port fees GBP 280
Custom broker GBP 290
Trucking company to South Somerset GBP 600
UK van rental with tail lift GBP 80
Total UK in $ 1875 approx
Grand total $7495 approx
I used Anderson packaging in Bellingham for shipping supplies. Pacific Rim forwards Seattle, Vanguard Customs in the UK. www.randjtransport.co.uk in Tilbury to truck to Somerset.
And no breakages!
May 16th 2013, 9:25 am
#8
Firetrak
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 577
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
Hi, I moved from Bellingham, WA to the UK last year. When we moved to the US we used a moving company to handle the whole transaction, I was very disappointed with the quality of the packing, the additional cost, port fees, customs etc. We had breakages, which of course were not covered by the premium insurance we were sold. So when we moved back I decided to approach it that I would be disappointed with however I used. So I arranged the move DIY style.
Several months before we started packing using the garage for storage, I brought in the labor of a local moving company from craigslist to help, I used them on and off for 3 days to help package the big stuff. I wanted to build a rapport because I need to labor to help load the container on the move day. The day before we the container arrived I booked them for the whole day to pack up beds etc. On the day everything worked well, I told the packing guys I would give them a bonus if they could load the container in four hours which they did. (I got four hours free from the trucking company then it was $100 per hour). On arrival into the UK I used a local agent to clear customs, and a local trucking company. Friends and new neighbor’s pitched in to help unload which with the help of a van with a rear tail lift dididnt take long. So the bottom line.
40 foot high Cube container (same price as a standard 40 foot oddly) $ 2800
US misc cost relating to trucking, freight agent fees etc. $1000.00
US Labour $ 720
Packaging supplies $1000
UK port fees GBP 280
Custom broker GBP 290
Trucking company to South Somerset GBP 600
UK van rental with tail lift GBP 80
Total UK in $ 1875 approx
Grand total $7495 approx
I used Anderson packaging in Bellingham for shipping supplies. Pacific Rim forwards Seattle, Vanguard Customs in the UK. www.randjtransport.co.uk in Tilbury to truck to Somerset.
And no breakages!
Several months before we started packing using the garage for storage, I brought in the labor of a local moving company from craigslist to help, I used them on and off for 3 days to help package the big stuff. I wanted to build a rapport because I need to labor to help load the container on the move day. The day before we the container arrived I booked them for the whole day to pack up beds etc. On the day everything worked well, I told the packing guys I would give them a bonus if they could load the container in four hours which they did. (I got four hours free from the trucking company then it was $100 per hour). On arrival into the UK I used a local agent to clear customs, and a local trucking company. Friends and new neighbor’s pitched in to help unload which with the help of a van with a rear tail lift dididnt take long. So the bottom line.
40 foot high Cube container (same price as a standard 40 foot oddly) $ 2800
US misc cost relating to trucking, freight agent fees etc. $1000.00
US Labour $ 720
Packaging supplies $1000
UK port fees GBP 280
Custom broker GBP 290
Trucking company to South Somerset GBP 600
UK van rental with tail lift GBP 80
Total UK in $ 1875 approx
Grand total $7495 approx
I used Anderson packaging in Bellingham for shipping supplies. Pacific Rim forwards Seattle, Vanguard Customs in the UK. www.randjtransport.co.uk in Tilbury to truck to Somerset.
And no breakages!
May 16th 2013, 10:50 am
#9
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
We've only got a couple hundred cubic feet. our quote is about $2000 from warehouse to door.
May 16th 2013, 11:31 am
#10
Firetrak
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 577
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
May 16th 2013, 6:09 pm
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: UK & USA
Posts: 46
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
The 40 foot HQ container has 2697 sq feet of internal space. I only got one quote to compare which was from Allied, they quoted $13,500 plus anything that hadn't been able to calculate in advance, which I guess would have been another $1000
May 16th 2013, 9:05 pm
#12
Removals Specialist
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Sussex, England
Posts: 728
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
Hi,
I'm new to the forum though have been reading for a while (baby and toddler have prevented me from contributing thus far, but I plan to from now on!), and have felt encouraged and understood just from reading many of your posts.
We'll be moving back to the UK this August (not easy for my husband) and I'm looking into moving companies. I searched for threads on recommendations but have only found one for Canada to the UK. Anyone moved from the Pacific Northwest to the UK? Recommendations or warnings will be much appreciated!
I'm new to the forum though have been reading for a while (baby and toddler have prevented me from contributing thus far, but I plan to from now on!), and have felt encouraged and understood just from reading many of your posts.
We'll be moving back to the UK this August (not easy for my husband) and I'm looking into moving companies. I searched for threads on recommendations but have only found one for Canada to the UK. Anyone moved from the Pacific Northwest to the UK? Recommendations or warnings will be much appreciated!
Might also be worth trying UK based companies for a comparative price? They will just work in reverse and use a partner at origin instead of the US company using a partner at destination.
May 17th 2013, 12:37 am
#13
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,024
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
Wheaton Worldwide - used them twice and they did a decent job both times. the UK end of one of the moves wasn't great, but other than a small number of items that went missing (partial shipment), nothing major.
In 2006, I paid over $6,000 for a 20-ft container from Rinkens. I would not use them again, but they generally get good reviews on here.
In 2006, I paid over $6,000 for a 20-ft container from Rinkens. I would not use them again, but they generally get good reviews on here.
May 18th 2013, 5:49 am
#14
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2013
Location: vancouver, bc
Posts: 5
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
hi,
we're moving back to the UK from Vancouver BC end of June 2013 and are using bekins. We've shopped around and found them to be the cheapest, 1-800-456-8092. They are in Seattle too.
Good luck with your move.
we're moving back to the UK from Vancouver BC end of June 2013 and are using bekins. We've shopped around and found them to be the cheapest, 1-800-456-8092. They are in Seattle too.
Good luck with your move.
May 19th 2013, 5:56 am
#15
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Location: Seattle, USA
Posts: 7
Re: moving company recommendations Seattle to UK (Oxford area)
Thanks, I'll look into them. Rainier have not responded to my online estimate form I submitted several days ago, so I'm disappointed with them already. I feel I shouldn't have to follow up these things they ask you to fill out with a phone call, which I could have done in the first place!
