thesuz

I am moving to California in Dec. Does anyone know any cheap shipping companies that allow "Part load shipping"?

Wibblypig

Pickfords, but they are not cheap!

monkeybarry

not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for or what budget you had in mind

but you could check out movecorp.co.uk

i googled a few ago and found quite a few companies - would suggest googling any company to check their quality before commiting.

dont forget to look at the insurance they provide as well

ottotheboar

Be very careful on going cheap with part loads or LTL (less than load). I have heard some some ridiculous fees tacked on just to make a few extra dollars. Research the company very carefully. As I have said before some companies work on the fact they have your boxes in their possesion and as a new arrival have neither the time, inclination or knowlege to fight them.

bivlover

Avoid any company that uses Graebel as a local carrier. My stuff spent more time in their warehouse, 20 miles from my house, than it did on the boat. And they were very unhelpful whenever I called them about it, refusing to even confirm that the container had been unloaded sucessfully.
Oh, and they demanded money from me for a customs scan without providing any proof of the scan. These charges are pretty common, but it was their attitude that stank. No please, thank you or "unfortunately we are subject to extra charges...", just "pay up now or you never see your stuff again."
The fact that we did eventually get it all back with no damage was little consolation.

Gerber

Don't use Anglo Pacific....they charge more for part loads than a whole container and their customer service is lacking.

ottotheboar

This is a quote I received yesterday based on the pallet being dropped off in Leicester UK and picked up in Norfolk VA. As your. shipment is personal effects some of the charges may not apply. Cost of 1 pallet weight 300kg : UK exports docs $100, Ocean freight $150, AMS filing $40 (Automatic Manifest System), ISF filing $40 (Importer Security Filing), customs clearance $150, customs bond $85, warehouse handling fee $50, warehouse loading fee $50 and admin charge $60. If you are given a quote ask about all of the above fees, there should be nothing else tacked on. I did not shop around this is from an shipper I have used for the last 15 years or so for import and export.

RayM

Doree Bonner do part loads. They work by volume. I shipped about 71 cu ft for £750 plus marine insurance. That included packing and transport from my house in the UK to my new home in MO.

mayhemuk

Compare quotes and get granular on what is and isn't included.
We used (Allied) Pickfords. Cornwall to Bay Area.
They included packing (materials included), loading, consolidation, shipping, delivery, unpacking and taking away the packing materials!
I think it was about 12 weeks door to door in the end.
In transit insurances were included.
We also had a period ( I think it was 90 days) from our 'stuff' clearing 'immigration' of free storage at no additional cost until we were ready to receive delivery.
The above came in at about £1500 for 200 cuft. (This was '07)

We did get hit with additional inspection on the US side of about $500 I think it was. This was apparently due to inspection and 'spray' fees!

Good luck!

Roys

moving to PA in may but the quotes i am getting are all over under 500 to well over 1000 seems funny as they offer the same thing any help???

GeoffM

My quotes ranged from about £750 to £1250 I think (to CA, not PA)

celticgrid

I can't remember the totals involved in our move (2008) but recall the quotes for a part container ran from about 8-12 pounds per cubic foot.

Of course the companies didn't quote in cubic feet but that was the way I planned what to ship and what to sell/replace. You can get a high value of books into a cubic foot, but the bookcase itself was not shipped.