I know its been posted a zillion times...but I did a search and found nothing that helps...so if you know a thread that shows the info I look for.....

Shipping agents. Costs and quality of service

Good and bad is it fact - opinion or based on results?

We are looking at shippers but not taking a lot of furniture. Mostly Flat screen LCD TVs, DVD players, computers, sewing machines arts and crafts studio, personnel stuff basically - because furniture can be replaced.

It looks to us, assuming its stacked up in a containers and not just laid out of the floor, as being only 50% of 20ft container. So "worst case" is a 20ft for our use only.

Just wondered which shippers top the list for value for money and quality.

TIA

if you think u are only going to be filling 50% of a container then look at shared container

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...g+to+australia

You are right. This has been done to death already.

Do a search for shipping+container.

Also do searches for Crown, John Mason, Robinsons, Doree Bonner.

For insurance: Letton Percival: www.lettonpercival.co.uk

Gina

and white and company

Did you not have any luck with John Mason?

Yesterday and today we have had Doree Bonner round packing our stuff. I was so stressed before they arrived but they have been brilliant. Really nice blokes, cracking jokes etc. Been very respectful of our belongings. So far so good!

Nikki

John Mason coming tomorrow noon to do quote

Doree Bonner, coming next Thursday..... bit of a rush now
coz we hope to be on our way with 2-3 weeks max!


Today ( 25th) makes it ( after 2 years waiting to apply) 16months to the day
from CP 143 Ack of our application, passports in London today...maybe back tomorrow or Saturday!

Getting excited yet????

I did a search on the net for each shipping company and 'complaint' then saw what came up.

I used that to find out what each company was like. I ended up taking one of the more expensive shippers because i couldnt find anything bad about them. One of the cheapest I saw had some really crap stories, so decided not to use them. I didn't send anything breakable over - was more worried about it being sent somewhere else and never be seen again! OK there's insurance but some of my stuff had personal value to me.

Maybe a 1 to 10 rating table would help others.

BUT I suppose that even the best of the best..will have somebody who had a bad time.

I suppose though it may be unfortunate if somebodies stuff goes missing, but it's about what the shippers do to find it again.

The two stories about one firm that put me off were:

Somebodies stuff went missing for over a year. When it finally turned up (hadn't left their depot) they tried to claim storage fees.

The recipient agent in the country the stuff was being shipped to was accused of making up charges.

None of those shipping agents you mentioned service the US? Who should I go with????

I could probably tell you who you should not go with, if I could only find a bill - they are on the east coast in a few ports and do international shipping. The eventual bill was about 4 grand over initial quote. When you call them for quotes, remember to ask if they include packing (what they try to do is to convince you that your packing is so bad it won't make it in one piece) and materials in the price. The packing materials could cost arm and leg (anything bought from someone else won't make it either, you know). The other thing - the movers are supposed to prep the inventory and customs papers - don't let them, do it yourself and do it upfront - I could not read a damn thing what those guys wrote in the way bill-- chicken scratch will definitely be an issue at customs.
HTH

NJ

So just who on a scale of 1 to 10 is the best to go with?

Jackie
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