Happy Hammer Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 We are planning to move soon to the Sydney area and have to start contacting removal companies. I saw a recommendation for Anglo Pacific so will try them but has anyone else have any other suggestions. PSS and John Mason are another two I was considering. Advice welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1cha3la Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 (edited) Welcome to the forum :ssign18: We have not actually shipped our stuff yet, but had Doree Bonner in to quote and they seem very professional. I have the others you mentioned coming in later in the month, so will be able to compare prices then. I have been put off by John Mason though as their call centre/number I have is only open 9am - 5pm UK time, which makes it a bit awkward to get hold of them for me. Will also be more difficult with time differences if calling. It may sound silly, but if they are all similar in price it will be the little things like that that are the decider for us. You will get some really good reccomendations on here, and there some really helpful posts from people who have already shipped. I dont think you can really go wrong with any if the ones you have mentioned. Edited March 12, 2016 by M1cha3la Addition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 I saw a thread recently on http://www.perthpoms.com where Anglo had taken more money or tried to than what they said. Get a few in to quote, try PSS and John Masons both have excellent reputations. Also don't forget to go to Letton Percival for the removal insurance it's so much cheaper than direct with the companies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peachy Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 We have several quotes including PSS and Doree Bonner. Doree Bonner were brilliant. Weren't impressed with PSS and then received calls for months afterwards from their 'partner organisations'. From recollection PSS also tried to flog us their bird poo cover - in case your container gets pooed on by birds while crossing the ocean. Packers at Doree Bonner were fantastic. Extremely efficient and not a thing broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 We have several quotes including PSS and Doree Bonner. Doree Bonner were brilliant. Weren't impressed with PSS and then received calls for months afterwards from their 'partner organisations'. From recollection PSS also tried to flog us their bird poo cover - in case your container gets pooed on by birds while crossing the ocean. Packers at Doree Bonner were fantastic. Extremely efficient and not a thing broken. With Doree it's already built in to the quote, there are only Masons and PSS who do it as an optional extra. It's silly as both these companies don't believe everyone should pay for it so offer it as an extra just in case it does happen and over the years here I've known a few be caught out. However, people like yourself seem to knock them for it, maybe they would be better just adding it on to the cost. It's not that much extra anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patphillips47 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 We are using Allied Pickfords ,we have used them before and they were good ,their quote was reasonable based in a ball park figure I gave them ie what we shipped from Oz to UK However we got their rep out and it went even lower by around £500 we are using a 40ft container to include the car from North East England to Adelaide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peachy Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 With Doree it's already built in to the quote, there are only Masons and PSS who do it as an optional extra. It's silly as both these companies don't believe everyone should pay for it so offer it as an extra just in case it does happen and over the years here I've known a few be caught out. However, people like yourself seem to knock them for it, maybe they would be better just adding it on to the cost. It's not that much extra anyway. That sounds odd because I queried it with Doree Bonner - they were so surprised by my question that they took it to a senior manager who had never heard of it and had never heard of anyone ever being charged for this by customs. Would be interested to see some stats of how many people have ever been stung by customs for bird poo cleanage! Hopefully the OP can weigh up the different costs v policy options to reach an informed decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patphillips47 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Thinking wouldn't it be the shipping combines liability for the actual container to be cleaned ? Must admit I have never heard of the bird poo thingy ! Santas wand yes , steam cleaning an electric lawn mower yes ( it was ruined by the way ) containers going over the side yes so I suppose anything possible ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melb2016 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 We have had quotes from PSS, Anglo Pacific and Masons. Quotes were all fairly similar; will pick between the first two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 That sounds odd because I queried it with Doree Bonner - they were so surprised by my question that they took it to a senior manager who had never heard of it and had never heard of anyone ever being charged for this by customs. Would be interested to see some stats of how many people have ever been stung by customs for bird poo cleanage! Hopefully the OP can weigh up the different costs v policy options to reach an informed decision. Maybe it's their clients who end up with a $500 bill then. Australia customs are very strict and if a container is soiled from the outside then they will insist on it cleaning before it brings any infection to the country. It isn't often that it happens but it can happen, as mentioned over the years I've known around 10 members be stung for it, the odds are slim hence why PSS and Masons offer it as an OPTIONAL extra, you don't have to take the cover. Here is what the government says The department is improving the way it carries out sea container inspections. Over the last decade the department has inspected more than ten million sea cargo containers and recorded the inspection results. This information has enabled the department to improve their processes and focus resources on identifying and inspecting containers coming from countries that pose a higher than normal biosecurity risk, and those that are destined for Australia’s sensitive regional and rural areas. These improvements allow shipping containers that pose a nil or low biosecurity risk to move more quickly and efficiently through the wharf clearance process. This new approach stems from One biosecurity: a working partnership review (the Beale Review), a major independent review of Australian biosecurity arrangements conducted in 2008. The Beale Review recommended that the government focus resources on areas of highest biosecurity risk rather than unproductively inspecting cargo of negligible risk. The government’s acceptance of the Beale recommendations is not about reducing biosecurity vigilance or staff. The department intends to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system so we can tackle the increasing biosecurity risks posed by travel, climate change and other factors. I am very surprised that Doree's senior manager knows nothing about this, in fact it's very worrying that he doesn't know the biosecurity of Australia. Maybe you can send them the government link explaining the process. http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/arrival/arrangements/compliance-agreements/sea-container-cleaning-standards#purpose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Redd Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 We are using Allied Pickfords ,we have used them before and they were good ,their quote was reasonable based in a ball park figure I gave them ie what we shipped from Oz to UK However we got their rep out and it went even lower by around £500we are using a 40ft container to include the car from North East England to Adelaide If you don't mind me asking, how much are you paying for a forty foot container? :smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerberus1 Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Allied Pickfords can probably afford to quote lower - less overheads after they went into administration in order to jettison the company pension scheme around 3 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Hammer Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 Thanks for input. Have arranged for Pss and John Mason to come this week for a quote and see what they come up with before trying anyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benthomas010 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 We got quotes from PS, John Masons and Pickfords, Pickfords were the cheapest and least pushy to deal with. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melb2016 Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Removals (Anglo Pacific) came today as scheduled and packed our stuff into their van. They were pretty good and did the whole flat in about 5 hrs. I had dismantled all furniture / bed and the wife had organised everything yesterday so all they had to do was put stuff in boxes and load up the van. So, nothing untoward to report for this end of the removals; hoping for the same at the other end in 10-12 weeks time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Hammer Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 Had my quotes through this week from John mason and Pss and they were very similar. Leaning towards John mason at the moment as Pss have asked 3rd party's to contact me when I didn't ask them to. Very annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyH64 Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 If you don't mind me asking, how much are you paying for a forty foot container? :smile: I'm moving to NSW this June and too would be interested in "ball park" quotes others have had on a 40ft container from the UK. I have a quote from Doree Bonner who seem very professional, but it seems a bit expensive. I haven't gone through this process before so I haven't got anything to base this on. Any feedback would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryannen Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 (edited) Am using Santa Fe Wridgways for both my move from the UK back home to Aus and also my folks move from west to east of Australia....so it's an overseas move plus an interstate one. Over the years have used them on multiple occasions ...too many to mention. Reason we chose them was our own past experience with them ....not once have they ever failed to show up, packed our items with great care, have never failed to deliver nor ever lost or damaged any of our property. John Masons who work with them from the Uk end are actually picking up my gear on behalf of Santa Fe Wridgways and I'm very happy with the levels of service and responsiveness I've had from both companies. I would not hesitate to recommend. Have also used Grace Brothers in Australia for interstate and overseas moves and can say pretty much the same as above for them...again wouldn't hesitate to recommend. I can't say the same for Allied Pickfords unfortunately I just can't recommend them ....little and not so little things ....a couple of examples ....one move which was only within one state ....despite my mum stating it had to be white butcher's paper they came with newspaper on the day of packing ....she refused to allow them to wrap any items in that as she didn't want newsprint all over her goods they had to go get the butchers paper which caused a delay of course ...they also damaged the legs of my mum's vintage bedroom furniture, wardrobe, dresser, chest of drawers, and what really got her offside was they tried to deny it or say it was there beforehand when it simply wasn't ....they failed to strap it carefully enough so broke legs or cracked them ....to be fair they ended up taking the damaged furniture away and getting it repaired ...BUT only when my mum point blank refused to allow them to offload it into the new house nor allow them to continue with anymore of the unloading until the issue was addressed by the company and my dad's company who had organised them...ended up with her and the supervisor plus relocation manager for dad's company who both arrived literally checking every item as it was offloaded and returning any damaged items to their van for immediate repair....she vowed then and there to never use them again and she hasn't since that day!! Despite that in the past ....I thought well things change ....this time I thought well I'll see what they quote for my move ....rang up was given another number to call the first guy seemed helpful ....but then rang that number multiple times on different days, went straight to voicemail and couldn't leave message as it was full it remained that way until I thought well this tells me something when they can't even see to and clear their voicemails ....I also never got a call back from their pets specialist movers despite them supposedly going to ring me ....suffice to say they I made the decision to not try them again...BUT they can never claim I didn't give them the benefit of the doubt. I am sure they do many moves that there's no issues but I can only base it on my own experience with them and my families and say never again. Just a couple of my experiences. Edited April 15, 2016 by maryannen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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