shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

We've had amost identical quotes from Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads to ship a 40ft container London to Houston (once you include insurance as Anglo packing /shipping quote much higher).

I wondered if anyone had used either of them recently (especially on this route). I have searched under their names but mostly old comments on them (which might be a good sign as no-one moaning about either of them....)

For the US end, Britannia will be using a company called intersect sytems and Anglo have 'a number of people they use all the time.'

Also is it worth paying for the extra mould etc insurance or just go for basic - how was your stuff once it had spent a few weeks cooped up?

Many thanks for any thoughts

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

OK not recent as you asked but: we used Anglo P a few years ago. Had no problems with them. Their local agent was efficient enough. I would think that's the link you want to be more concerned about!

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

yes both London offices seem very efficient so nothing to choose from there! Any chance you remember who their local people were?

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

Ask them specifically who they will use locally, check them out against that movingscam.com website.

As for mould and stuff, don't know, in humid areas, and up my way I'd say it's worth it, but it might not be down your way, especially if your not having it stored for any length of time.

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

Thanks Bob and RobertG for replies. I've pinned down Anglo and they will be using Schumacher Cargo Logistics as the US agent and they seem to come up well on MovingScam.

I can't find out any more info on Intersect Systems (which would do the US end for Britannia) which slightly concerns me - their website says they are members of the following associations:

Household Goods Forwarders Association
Claims Procedure and Prevention Council
Employee Relocation Council
The International Movers Network

Should I be looking for a more official membership / licence in the US?

Thanks again for the advice

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

Nothing solid, they're all just badges they pay for and don't prove anything, unfortunately.


Can't help if the place is any good or not though, but you usually find plenty to say about something being rubbish over something good as happy people don't tend to post about it.

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

Sorry, can't remember who they used in the US. You'll probably find they'll sub it out anyway locally to deliver to your new home (and I think that's what happened to us).

As long as your contents are dry when getting packed and they're packed well (Anglo certainly did a great job on that) I wouldn't really worry about the removals a whole lot. You presumably have to buy the insurance so you're covered for damage etc. I didn't buy any mold coverage that I remember.

A lot comes down to the skill of the guy actually overseeing the loading of the container, so it's packed tight to stop movement! Ideally they should deliver to your new home in the same container (seal intact, unless DHS have opened it!).

Happy moves, Houston's a nice place.

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

Hi WS,
I used Anglo Pacific this month to move a few crates of personal belongings by air courier, not the same as your 40ft container I know but all the same they were efficient, polite and helpful with the paperwork. Crates arrived in tact, exactly seven days after despatch which I thought pretty impressive.
Also just wanted to wish you good luck with the move.

Matt.

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

thanks too fromthemanorborn - it is good to know they are efficient as I had that impression too. Unfortunately it doesn't make my decision any easier as so are Britannia!

DH's company have approved the spending so I'll book one of them in the next few days and I am thinking that either of them will be fine. Oddly although they both use the same insurance people only Britannia have an optional extra to cover mould/moths and a few other things like replacing whole sets of furniture if only one piece gets broken etc so I think we may well end up with them.

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

I also had a good experience with Anglo Pacific. Just make sure that whoever you choose - be prepared to educate yourself on the shipping process, and be proactive, checking and chasing your shipment through the various stages.

I originally put my work address on the shipment as I didn't have a US home address sorted out yet. I had to update both Anglo Pacific and their US logistics partner of my new address - AP hadn't relayed it to the other links in the chain.

Overall a positive experience though.

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

We used Anglo Pacific about a year ago - everything went smoothly, was especially impressed with the three guys who turned up to pack our stuff in the UK. Very friendly and did a good job. Would use them again

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

This reply is prob superfluous given all the other replies but we used Anglo for a move from Essex to Houston last May and they used Schumacher to fulfill the US side. Absolutely no complaints, didn't buy their insurance and had no breakages, quick and efficient both ends, we had no delays or extra customs charges.

So would recommend them. Obviously have nothing to compare it with though...

Good luck!!

Doug.

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

We used Anglo Pacific to ship from London to San Francisco last November, they did a good job, they also used Schumacher Logistics on the US side over on the west coast, again no problems encountered

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

[Should I be looking for a more official membership / licence in the US?
Thanks again for the advice[/quote]

Yes there is! The best one to look for in the UK and US agent is FIDI FAIM, it's not just a membership it's a quality accreditation so the companies are independently audited for their quality of service, equipment, materials, training of staff, insurance claim records etc (www.fidi.com for more details) so provides a more solid guarantee of consistent door to door service and there are members all over the world. There is a member list on the FIDI website if you want to check the origin and desination company - I would highly recommend it!

hope that helps!

Re: shipping - help me choose between Anglo Pacific and Britannia Sandersteads please
 

Please do not use Anglo Pacific.
We used them 3 years ago to move to Florida. They sounded and their literature looked extremely professional but that is just a guise!
As we were moving quite a few antique pieces over and in order for these pieces to be insured correctly, we had to have their packers re-pack the items. What a poor job they did. As their unpackers at this end worked at such a speed and you can imagine how hectic everything was on the arrival of all of our furniture etc., as the days passed by we discovered many small scratches, chips etc from lots of the pieces. In addition, the rest of our belongings, after being carefully packed by myself, had been unpacked and thrown together, with no order whatsoever. Beautiful small items of furniture had had my bubble wrap etc. taken off and been dumped into boxes and then had other smaller items put in on top and around the sides, thus causing scratches. They had even unwrapped an 8 place dinner service and put it into a box marked books, which had obviously been handled roughly. It is now only a 4 place setting.
Their basic compensation at that time was only 40 pounds a box, not an item so, this in no way covered our losses. My lovely evening handbags and been put into boxes of books and hasd been crushed, making them useless. Think of how many small items it takes to fill a box and work out the mathematics!
It still upsets me to think of the way our belongings (many of which had great sentimental value), had been treated.
On the other hand, when looking at the forum not long after our arrival, I realized how lightly we had got off compared to many other people using different movers.
On a happier and more positive note - we've enjoyed every minute here and made so many great friends that all this tends to fade into insignificance.
Good luck with your move.