mdrallew

Apologies in advance if this is OT, FAQ or any other annoying acronym but we really need advice.
My (American) wife and I are finally moving to Philadelphia in October, after ten years of marriage and London life. However, we are both really very bad at getting things together and so we still haven't sorted out a freight shipping company to get our many books, videos, DVDs and other impedimenta sent over.

Do any of you have recommendations or warnings about shipping companies that you would be prepared to share ?
Any other general emigration advice would be most gratefully received.

Many thanks in advance,
Martin

P.S. Has anyone ever transported a parrot or other bird ?

dunroving

It depends on how much stuff. There are removals companies (whole house contents, 20 ft or 40 ft container) - recommended companies are Rinkens and Wheaton Worldwide (you might contact them via their US Web site and they can set up from there or tell you who their UK agent is in your area of the UK.

If it's a dozen boxes, that's a different story, and I can't recomend any companies.

Dead or alive? Sorry, no clue but I'm sure someone will be on here with advice.

TruBrit

hiya and welcome to BE

we lived down south and used luxfords of weybridge and they were ok. i'd suggest taking photos of all your inventory that way should something get lost or damaged you have a photo to back it up.

we brought our two cats with us from the uk but sorry don't know about birds.

good luck!

kirstyp

Hi Martin,

Recommended company's will vary depending on where you are moving from and the quantity of items you are hoping to take with you, but I would recommend getting at least 3 companies in to provide a quotation (these should be free and without obligation) so that you can compare both on price, and more importantly quality of service.

With regard to the parrot / birds I found the following on a help sheet one of our preferred pet shippers provides: "Birds entering the US are quarantined for 35 days at Government Quarantine Establishments in New York, Miami or Los Angeles. A CITES Import and Export permit is required and an Import Permit from the US department of Agriculture and Fisheries". I dont know if that helps at all? Any good removal company should be able to recommend a pet shipper, or include the cost in a quote for shipping your household effects.

I hope that helps, any other questions just ask!

Kirsty

mdrallew

Thank you all so much for your advice.
Essentially we are moving a bunch of books, CDs, DVDs, a few computers (small, no monitors) and no big furniture. Nonetheless we have a *lot* of this stuff.

Thanks for your prompt advice.

Martin

TN-Dave

I shipped about 30 boxes of stuff from Southampton to Philly in a container.... I used a small local company in hampshire, and it was great. Dropped everything off one day, and didn't see it all for 6 weeks - then it turned up on my doorstep.
(we actually had it trasnported further, but it came into the US via philadelphia docks).

MsElui

we are due to move out in October as my husbands job is being relocated. His firm have organised Pickfords to do it. we get a 6x6 airfreight box that should take 2 weeks, followed by the 40ft container that should take 6-8 weeks. We didnt have any choice in the supplier - and cant comment on value as its paid for by the company. So far they have come to do a site visit to see if what we were planning to take will fit, and are coming next week for 1 day to do a partial pack to give us more space in the house to finish of the redecorating we have to do to let it out. They then come mid october to do 1-2 more days to finish it all off.

mdrallew

Thanks for the advice - do you know the name of the company ?

mayhemuk

We had quotes from Britannia (A local agent) and Pickfords.
In the end we went for Pickfords as their global franchcise (Allied Pickfords) goes direct to SanFran and hopefully will shorten the transit time.
We had similar types of stuff (books, CDs, etc etc) that came to 184 cu ft (About the size of a transit) so it goes for consolidation at Enfield.
With insurance it weighed in at approx £1450 inc vat and taxes.
They packed it very well and couldn't fault the two guys on that. Showed great care.
Just have to see now if it arrives OK.

Heather142

We used Bishopsmove and they were fine. They packed everything at out place and numbered each box, giving me a copy for checking the other end. Delivered right on time, all boxes - i double checked! - and even came back a few days later to pick up all the packaging and recycle it - at no cost. I had over 50 boxes and some large furniture items; the only damage was to a couple of glass mixing bowls etc - nothing major!

We brought a cat with us and used a full package pet shipper located near Heathrow airport - Airpets I think the comp was called. The arranged everything, including carrier, vet inspections etc., and boarding our cat before departure.

I guess the best advice would be to get some quotes - shop around for the best price.

Have fun and try not to stress!

lapin_windstar

How much did you pay, if you remember?