Had stuff "missing" from your shipment?

[siamsusie]

Originally Posted by mc27

Hi
You got me worried now! We are having JM over next week to pack our stuff. We are also going to the central coast. I wasn't planing on watching their every move but I might re-think that now. I would always expect a few things to break or disappear but it is terribly annoying if these are treasured items. We are having a full container which should arrive at the end of August. Will keep you posted!
Oh, and I am taking ALL of our photo equipment in the plane after what you have said!
Ulrike

Personally Urike, I would express these concerns you have with the company. I had a 4 storey home in Scotland to pack up and it would have been physically impossible to have kept an eye on the two guys who packed for me. Also, they slept in their van for two nights so theft can occur at any time. I must say I was delighted with the quality of service that my removal company gave me. They were rewarded with a constant supply of food/showers etc. I paid for my shipment to be unpacked and erected at the Tasmanian end and this was stipulated in the agreement. This didnt happen, nice enough lads but they dumped and left! I refused to sign the delivery sheet due to insurance implications. I dont believe for a moment that Quarantine would thieve, but there appears to be room for theft at the Australian end as well, after all they do have the key to the container. Just ensure that your inventory is methodically filled out and valued. Best wishes

[mc27]

Originally Posted by siamsusie

Personally Urike, I would express these concerns you have with the company. I had a 4 storey home in Scotland to pack up and it would have been physically impossible to have kept an eye on the two guys who packed for me. Also, they slept in their van for two nights so theft can occur at any time. I must say I was delighted with the quality of service that my removal company gave me. They were rewarded with a constant supply of food/showers etc. I paid for my shipment to be unpacked and erected at the Tasmanian end and this was stipulated in the agreement. This didnt happen, nice enough lads but they dumped and left! I refused to sign the delivery sheet due to insurance implications. I dont believe for a moment that Quarantine would thieve, but there appears to be room for theft at the Australian end as well, after all they do have the key to the container. Just ensure that your inventory is methodically filled out and valued. Best wishes

Thanks Siamsusie, will do! Can't really say there is much of any value in our shipment anyway. Couple of things with sentimental value but I guess you can't be sure of anything as these items could always break in transit.
What I am trying to say is that I am prepared for some collateral damage anyway.
Keeping my fingers crossed for the move tough.
Thanks for your advise.

[Lanky Lad]

Originally Posted by Glynn2547

hi,

this is very interesting, we are moving this year and had two quotes. one form JM and the other international movers. We were going to use JM because the guy in the dickie bow came round and was very informative. basically about washing stuff in jeyes fluid and Milton fluid which International movers did not. I.M. were very gizmo orientated where JM seemed more personal. After reading this post I'm very unsure if we should continue to use JM unless anybody on this site can convince me otherwise. Any feedback regarding international movers would also be appreciated.

Kindest regards

Glynn and Family.

The dickiebow guy is the guy who did our survey - we assume he's with the Liverpool branch who moved our stuff. I made a firm point of advising that i use a number of "ex-pat" forum and have seen many instances of thefts being reported. He assured me everything was managed and secure through the entire process. As it turned out, his words were a little premature.
Following my complaints to JM,as you will have read in my posts no boxes were short or opened except customs. I pointed out to JM that it would seem that goods were taken from my home and were not in any of teh 142 sealed boxes we signed for - but were not allowed to check on their van, and did not arrive in Oz -which left me with only one conclusion.
This is a part reply from an email from JM Liverpool staff:-
Whilst we understand your concern, we cannot agree with your suspicions that our own staff has stolen items belonging to you. The packing crew have given John Mason long and honest service (32 and 28 years) and your goods were held in sealed containers prior to loading into the groupage container, again by long service warehouse staff therefore, we are extremely surprised by your inference. By all means however, if you have absolutely no doubts whatsoever, then we welcome you involving the police in this matter as we would like this issue to be resolved one way or another.

In later emails, he had to confess that there were instances where these long standing honest professionals made mistakes - which you will have read about.

We had a shared container, which means they pack into boxes and load onto a van. I suggest these boxes are vulnerable to pilfer anywhere in the JM system until they are loaded into a container. Their packing tape and boxes must be available to virtually anybody within the Liverpool set up - if not and only packers have access.....think what you will.
Others using a full container tell me the box turns up at the home is loaded and sealed in situ, so at least half a chance of being untouched.

As I have said before, because its mainly small items or not too high a value items, victims just give up and write them off or are not insured and have - theoretically - no complaints procedure other than JM 's internal - which believe me offers no chance and can intimate that goods were left in the UK.. I think this means..yeah OK mate nice try..but yer gettin nuttin from us ( Liverpool accent!!!)

In fairness to JM...who I personally hope read these posts and find somebody big enough to address the problem, other shippers get equal complaints about thefts, but because no matter how many appeals are made, most will not send details to people like me trying to build a provable picture to address to all shippers for comments.

The only company that I have yet to be advised of any losses in transit, is Crown - who we first appointed and ducked out to Jm to save cash.

We are lucky it seems because we have just had a full insurance claim settlement.
But we lost more than we claimed for and all seemed petty items. Who would want an old framed photgraph of The Louvre , Paris 1997? Well somebody did coz it went absent along with other bits that only weeks and months after are suddenly noticed missing... like a plastic storage tub fron an IKEA art bin! iPod earphones and charger cable! It goes on.

L.L.

[Lanky Lad]

Originally Posted by Lanky Lad

This is a part reply from an email from JM Liverpool staff:-
Whilst we understand your concern, we cannot agree with your suspicions that our own staff has stolen items belonging to you. The packing crew have given John Mason long and honest service (32 and 28 years) and your goods were held in sealed containers prior to loading into the groupage container, again by long service warehouse staff therefore, we are extremely surprised by your inference. By all means however, if you have absolutely no doubts whatsoever, then we welcome you involving the police in this matter as we would like this issue to be resolved one way or another.


L.L.

Remeber this -we are extremely surprised by your inference ..( that just maybe the stuff was put on the van by the packers...and never got to Aussie or further than Liverpool )

It sort of indicates that only me and the OH have ever made a claim - or reported stuff missing.

So, having got the insurance payout in our bank..first time an insurance copany paid without reducing the amount or questioning anything or even asking fo reciepts of original purchase of the lost items; I compliled an email including comments from posts on here and other forum about lost items. This to inform them - as if they did not know - that "losses" from goods shipped out after the owners are in their new country are an ongoing situation which gets no reaction from shippers other than..."make a claim!" or " are you sure you have not left it behind".

Well John Mason Liverpool now know for sure about thefts or losses from shipped goods. The also now know that forum like this pass negative feedback to others asking for advice on shippers.

What reply did I get back..... none!

Which to demonstrates to me at least, that this particular company branch have no interest in ensuring any changes can be implemented to further secure a customers goods are safe from pilfer starting in the home.

Any business getting negative feedback must surely want to investigate the reports and even if they have long serving trusted staff...there is always room for improvement and updating.

Further I cant believe that I am the only person to advise JM about "lost goods".

Sadly I dont believe that JM are alone in this attitude and if victims will stop being complacent and reporting these losses..no matter ho wever trivial, very soon we would have a blacklist shippers would soon change if they lose more business.

The items that go missing are usually those not itemised and valued on the insurance forms. There is a "bulk" listing option such as "computers".
We listed "art marerials and equipment" . This mostly ensure that related items under these headings can be claimed for even if not itemised, as was our case.
I previously advised that 2 pro digital and about eight other digital and film camera's arrived safe... which indicates the magpies dont want to create a situation that can be involve traceable items or proved that they were collected and shipped.

If we were to employ shippers again, I think we would itemise everything down to a pencil and make a list complete with values and have it included in the insurance forms. hard work...yes but at least it gives a fighting chance to stop the magpies.

L. L.

[The Yuills]

We packed oour own container, but on arrival in Fremantle, had to hand over to a freight forwarder and they arranged transfer to a approved unit for customs and then delivery to us. We we advised that we could collect from the port, I was told def. not once it had arrived.

Well had a box of photos missing (all my kids pictures) and our electrolux hoover suddenly sprouted Dyson parts!!!
When I spoke to forwarder they insisted that I probably forgot to load photos and would not comment on the hoover parts. We have since found other small bits missing, socket sets and ornaments - things you would not notice straight away.

Well when I tried to speak to original company, I have had no reply from faxes or emails. I was not accusing anyone of taking these items (who on earth wants baby photos) just that maybe when being unloaded for customs they mixed the items up!

God only knows. I wish now I put all my photos in my suitcase. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Sue x

[Lanky Lad]

Originally Posted by The Yuills

We packed oour own container, but on arrival in Fremantle, had to hand over to a freight forwarder and they arranged transfer to a approved unit for customs and then delivery to us. We we advised that we could collect from the port, I was told def. not once it had arrived.

Well had a box of photos missing (all my kids pictures) and our electrolux hoover suddenly sprouted Dyson parts!!!
When I spoke to forwarder they insisted that I probably forgot to load photos and would not comment on the hoover parts. We have since found other small bits missing, socket sets and ornaments - things you would not notice straight away.

Well when I tried to speak to original company, I have had no reply from faxes or emails. I was not accusing anyone of taking these items (who on earth wants baby photos) just that maybe when being unloaded for customs they mixed the items up!

God only knows. I wish now I put all my photos in my suitcase. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Sue x

Hi Sue,

Welcome to the club!

The shipping companies know about the problems, you reported your losses. we all do..so why do they react as though its the first time anybody complained.
Answer, they dont give a toss. Why should they... afterall not too many people on average make the same trip from the UK twice, so not much ongoing business from you to worry about.
If I ran a shipping company and had reports of losses, - ignoring basic thieving as teh cause, the first consideration is HOW and WHERE "losses" couls occur if legitimate.
IF losses were reported - say from a depot where they have 3 vans and 6 staff, it would be easy to look at teh documents and see which team of two handled what shipping jobs and how many negative reports flowed back concerning each team.
Its all pretty basic stuff! BUT too much trouble for the shippers.

Like you I never said anybody STOLE the items, i reported them as "losses" in that they went out of our front door onto thier van..and did not arrive in Aussie. During that time they were in the care and control of the shippers, who must accept full responsibility.

Its always bits though, as I repeat about my camera's being safe. Small stuff is ignored by most and they will not report it or have no insurance to cover losses.

When you say "who wants pictures of kids" - I assume you are a nice person and think no ill of people - or you may be really worried.

Photographers are arrested almost daily for taking photo's in area's used by ...kids... usually near schools, beaches, play area's etc,.
Unfortunately, there are people who will pay for pictures of kids. And to be honest if I was in your position, I would report the loss to the UK police nearest your point of departure. You actually have more chance of an investigation that most other losing only goods.

Sorry to hang a cloud on your already bad experience, but this aint a nice world at times.


L. L.

[emu]

Originally Posted by The Yuills

We have since found other small bits missing, socket sets and ornaments - things you would not notice straight away.
Sue x

Hi Sue, the some weird thing has happened to us, from time to time we wonder where something is, that we packed and realise that we don't have it anymore! It's a very strange feeling that so many small bits disapeared.

[Lanky Lad]

Originally Posted by emu

Hi Sue, the some weird thing has happened to us, from time to time we wonder where something is, that we packed and realise that we don't have it anymore! It's a very strange feeling that so many small bits disapeared.

Need some help folks......

I am writing a fiction article for an online magazine, its about Martians moving to Earth.

I have a Martian family selected by the Martian MI5 ( Martian Intelligence, section 5 ) to take human form and infiltrate into the Earth population to collect information about the Earth people , their habits and way of living.

They are transported in the latest Z craft- which still have some teething troubles and tends to leave marks on teh landing area, som eare circular, but the modified versions leave even stranger geo-excentric patterns, especially in crop fields.

The miltary select an obscure and rundown area known as Liverpool -where there is a large percentage of low intelligence labour available, ensuring nobody will notice the earth visitors as they mingle and work.

The famly move into a run down rental, unpack their standard issue airbed and thrmal blankets and settle down.
Scanning the local papers they look for jobs to mingle with the workers, a sure way to gain political opinions. Soon they realise that the area is in fact the centre of a potential war zone. News that Manchester United FC have agin knocked the Liverpool Scallies down the pecking order of top football clubs, seems to have upset the sub-human section of the area...again.

Mahogditto, quickly found a job. He was taken on as a packer with a shipping company....

A few weeks into the job, we find Mahogditto coming home after a busy day. His mate stops teh van and they begin to take off all the "surplus packing papers bits and empty tape rolls".

His mates drives off, his van sagging on its springs ..even after unloading a customers stuff atthe warehouse.
Mahogditto is greeted by his "wife", he walks through the living room, now full of little homely items and some not yet in use lay in the original packing waiting for space or maybe a foray onto eBay to investigate the potential source of income for other agents about to follow.

As he moved from room to room distributing items from the box he struggled to carry into the house.
"Tell me darling" says the wife, in a newly acquired scouse accent, what have you got today and how did you manage to find these items".

Mahodditto explains, " Well as you know my darling, today we had a job with some peopel deciding to move to a great desert country where there is sun and warmth and kangeroos ( whatever they are). These people are unlike us, who travlled from our homeland with just our issue blankets and baseball caps. They take everything they own- even pots and pans and orniments... really stupid people!

So I thought examples of these people can be taken and sent to MI5 Scallie section in Birkenhead. Today, we skillfully selected items which these silly earth people will not even notice because it will take about 12 weeks or more to transport these things by primitive ships instead of a Z craft cargo ship which would be there in 6 minutes. Surley Richard Branston our Earth Transport Director knows this.....

Anway, these people will be so happy to have a new life and may have to store many boxes until they have a house to live in or too much and leave them packed for weeks more.
After that, who will listen to them talking about thefts or losses, ( starts laughing so much his false head falls off revealing no human brain inside.
Gathering himself, he said" Nobody even belives a thing about the Z craft marks, especially since Agents Hog baldok and Himterelse went on Tv and "confessed" it was a prank. ( more hysterical laughter)

The more obvious it is, the more people who should know better ignore the facts and even the greater mogal miester in top offices dont even get to hear about these things anyway..or they have reason to worry about the scouce scallies they enslave.

Working as a packer means we can go back to Mars 12 months sooner than planned because we gathered so many example of human households and behavior in such a short time.

That night in Australia a pommy wife shouted to an harrassed husband..."where did that photo of gran get to? And you will have fert wait for tha tea..can't cook owt yet coz I can't find me baking trays fert thoven ( from Manchester! )

The husband was having a smoke stood outside in teh warmth of teh ozzie evening, looking up at the Great Southern Cross, he shifted his glance to see a bluish flash going up into the night sky.

Like lots of items in shipping cartons.. Mahogditto disppeared off the face of the Earth... the sound of his laughing at how easy his mission had been ..still echo's daily in Scallie Town.

Well its all fiction....... and if anybody can help with further storylines...

L.L.


With apologies to the nice folk from Liverpool and district......