Guest ComingDownUnder Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Hi all, a little advice please... After deliberation we have decided not to take any of our furniture or household goods with us when we move as none of it is irreplaceable and it would be more hassle than it's worth as none of it was particularly expensive and we are not attached to it. So all we want to take is the children's toys and books, our clothes, two laptops, photographs and keepsakes like the children's first birthday cards/baby blankets/first outfit etc. all those sentimental things, a box of old books which I have collected over the years and my Christmas tree decorations as I have acquired them over many years, love them and couldn't leave them! My questions are, can we take the laptops in our cabin baggage to save transporting them? As there is nowhere near enough stuff to require even a proportion of a container, are there any companies that transport small quantities like this (hubby asked whether someone like DHL would do it?) Anyone have any experience of only taking a small amount like this and the names of any companies I should look out for? Thanks in anticipation of your excellent, as always, advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 There are a number of companies out there that just ship a few boxes. Seven Seas is one that I know of. I'm sure others that have used one of these companies can give you (actually us as I'm also planning to just take a few boxes) a list and/or recommendations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ComingDownUnder Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Thanks very much, will check that one out :biggrin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Yes you can take laptops as hand luggage. Just be prepared to take them out of your bags during security scans etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helene73 Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I know a few people who have used seven seas and they come highly recommended, we too are leaving all the furniture and just taking clothes and bits and pieces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalejaneaustralia Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 We got a quote from PSS of £860 . This included, 2 bikes, golf kit, power tools, ironing boards and 20 boxes. Didn't think was two bad as replacing our bikes like for like would be much dearer that this, that was our reasoning on it. We were going to take all the little bits that will mount up to replace, kitchen items, linen etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ComingDownUnder Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Thank you all for your replies. I did a rough quote on the Seven Seas site and it came out really quite reasonable. I also had a little look at DHL and there wasn't a great deal of difference in price. I was just unsure as to what would happen in terms of the fees you have to pay once they arrive in Oz to have it all checked (sorry not up with the terminology yet, I am sure there is a proper name for it!)? Pleased to hear we can take the laptops in hand luggage, would be nice to know they are safe with me as they have all our photos of the children on and I would ideally like to keep those with me for safekeeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pixie10 Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 We have packed our boxes with sevenseas today! There is the actual shipping fee plus insurance- 2 options total loss insurance £3.50 each box = £100 back if total loss but 0 if partial loss. Or you pay 5% of the total value of each box and get full insuance (ie total/partial/damage insurance) or no insurance! No box can weigh over 40kg. On top of that there is the Aquis fee/customs fee at the Oz end this is done on the amount of boxes ie ours is £150 for 5/6 boxes. Sevenseas have been great so far and I was recommended them by others who are now in Oz ... you pay £50 deposit on booking with them, can get the boxes asap and then pay full amount when collected from your house. We are taking laptop in hand luggage too. Good luck x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ComingDownUnder Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Thank you for that, very useful information especially the Aquis fees as I had no idea about how much that might be. I started making an inventory last night of the things we want to take so think I might get some packing boxes and work it out in boxfuls and then speak to them. We are moving out of our house on 6th Jan (though not moving to Oz until between Feb and April) so could do with getting a move on with the packng!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pixie10 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 No problem- you can order say 3 tea chest boxes and a book box and they will also send you extras that you can return if not used... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ComingDownUnder Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Brilliant, thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RobynT84 Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Hi All, I thought I'd hijack this thread rather than starting another (very similar) one. I hope nobody minds. I am in a similar situation to some of you in that we are taking only clothes, books, personal items and some other small household items. The problem I have is that I'm finding it really difficult to estimate the total volume and how many boxes we'll have. Is this a problem when contacting companies for quotes? Also, we have a temporary rent for just two weeks on arrival and have no idea where we are going to be long-term. Is anyone in a similar situation and do you have experience of a shipping company that can also store your goods on arrival? Or is it possible to coordinate so that your items arrive in your first couple of weeks after arrival? I thought the visa process was stressful but, as it turns out, it was childsplay in comparison to organising the move! Thanks All! Robyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bensdad Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 We did exactly this Singapore do not class laptops as hand luggage and will allow you a laptop in a bag plus your 7kg hand luggage. We also sent 7 tea chests with pss which cost us incl insurance £335 door to door. If travelling on an unvalidated visa remember to ask for the extra 20kg baggage allowance as well. Counting down the days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Covkid Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Hi Coming down under, I paid $550 for Australian Qarantine Inspection on 69 packages last month. We had a whole container but it was only 2/3rds full. I've dealt with qarantine on 4 or 5 occassions over the years and they always inspect personal belongings, no matter who or where you are coming from. Can i make a suggestion, pack and wrap all your clothes, bedding etc first in clear plastic bags before you pack in your boxes. Sometimes they will pick out a container and 'gas' it here. We got caught with that one when we came back from a 3 yr work stint in the UK in 2006. Our clothes and bedding stank of the gas, wife had to operate like a Chinese laundry for 2 days to wash the smell out. Qarantine can be really anal here, and they WILL always check at least 6 boxes themselves to have a look to ensure what you state on your invertory is actually in there!! Welcome to Aus, the qarantine is the first 'tax' they will hit you with!! Happy shipping Covkid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Covkid Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Robyn Visas the easy bit. All the hassle is yet to come when you get here. Thats when the fun begins and the Aussies will test your patience, so make sure you've plenty of it as there will e a lot of nail biting! You'll be fine once your here you will need time to look for a house and good area to rent in. Rents are pretty expensive here now with $450 pw for something half decent in most states. Cars are expensive even 2nd hand ones that you'd see in a scrap yard in the UK. Make sure you have plenty of cash as it will come in handy! Covkid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lindon Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 We have packed our boxes with sevenseas today! There is the actual shipping fee plus insurance- 2 options total loss insurance £3.50 each box = £100 back if total loss but 0 if partial loss. Or you pay 5% of the total value of each box and get full insuance (ie total/partial/damage insurance) or no insurance! No box can weigh over 40kg. On top of that there is the Aquis fee/customs fee at the Oz end this is done on the amount of boxes ie ours is £150 for 5/6 boxes. Sevenseas have been great so far and I was recommended them by others who are now in Oz ... you pay £50 deposit on booking with them, can get the boxes asap and then pay full amount when collected from your house. We are taking laptop in hand luggage too. Good luck x Hi , Just wondering.. Does the customs fee depends on what kind of things you transport or is the same for everything? Im gonna send my clothes, personal items etc. Nothing suitable for re-sale. Also, I have read on seven seas website that the fee is $90 per checked item. I am not sure how I should understand it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ComingDownUnder Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Thank you all for your help and for sharing your experiences. PIO is proving to be a Godsend already and we are still only very early days! Can I just ask, what are the dimensions of the tea chest boxes? Also, can you pack different things in the same box so long as they are obviously all included on your inventory, or do they have to be the same e.g. all books together, all linen together etc. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Covkid Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Coming down under. You can pack whatever you want in each carton. A point to remember a carton will be given a number... so its easier to say No. 1 is.... kitchen utensils No.2 bed linen. No.3 Clothes and so on. Makes it easier when you are filling in the paperwork. Cartons come in all sizes, theres no thing today as a 'teachest'. That thing went out yrs ago.... there's cartons today for clothes, TV's, bikes, etc. Shipping has come long way Cheers Covkid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PositivePixie Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Hi All,I thought I'd hijack this thread rather than starting another (very similar) one. I hope nobody minds. I am in a similar situation to some of you in that we are taking only clothes, books, personal items and some other small household items. The problem I have is that I'm finding it really difficult to estimate the total volume and how many boxes we'll have. Is this a problem when contacting companies for quotes? Also, we have a temporary rent for just two weeks on arrival and have no idea where we are going to be long-term. Is anyone in a similar situation and do you have experience of a shipping company that can also store your goods on arrival? Or is it possible to coordinate so that your items arrive in your first couple of weeks after arrival? I thought the visa process was stressful but, as it turns out, it was childsplay in comparison to organising the move! Thanks All! Robyn If you are only taking a few things they will be sent groupage, where they have to wait for the container to be full before they send it, so it could take a few weeks of sitting around in the UK before it goes. Then theres the actual shipping time, and then clearing customs etc in Oz - we've had estimates from shippers from 12 weeks to 20 weeks for our groupage stuff. So....if you get it picked up from you just before you go, you probably will be in your long term rental place before it gets to oz, and can have it delivered there. Alternatively they all (or at least, the vast majority) do storage as well - we are having all our stuff stored for at least 6 months as we are off travelling for a bit first - its coming in at about £20 a week + a one off fee of anything from £40 to £120 for about 200 cubic foot of stuff, if that helps at all? With regards to quotes - imho, unless you are only taking a few boxes (in which case its easy to calculate as boxes are a standard size - either 18x12x15 (for books), 18x18x20 or 18x18x30 for normal boxy boxes (if that makes sense lol)) get them around to quote - when we moved in the UK we had massive massive massive issues because the company didn't actually see the items we were taking (one chair and table is not the same as another table and chair!), so all of the companies we are asking for quotes are coming out to see the pitfully small amount of stuff we are taking and doing so happily (we are taking a few boxes, 2 suitcases, 1 small table, 1 small chair, 1 blanket box, some oil paintings and a rocking horse that needs crating. That's it). If you just need boxes alone, measure out what an 18" square is to give an idea of size - tbh I think they are massive, and you can get loads in, but don't forget the weight issue as well! (a couple of heavy things, with clothes/blankets/pillows etc padding out the top) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RobynT84 Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Hi Positive Pixie, Thanks a lot, the info is really helpful. We have thought about getting some companies out to quote but can they do that whilst the stuff is not yet boxed up? It's the coordination of everything that's getting me worried - we're not ready to pack yet but we want to get some quotes and secure a company ASAP. I think we'll have to arrange storage for the arrival but judging by your comments, that won't be too expensive. Thanks again, Robyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PositivePixie Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Hi Positive Pixie, Thanks a lot, the info is really helpful. We have thought about getting some companies out to quote but can they do that whilst the stuff is not yet boxed up? It's the coordination of everything that's getting me worried - we're not ready to pack yet but we want to get some quotes and secure a company ASAP. I think we'll have to arrange storage for the arrival but judging by your comments, that won't be too expensive. Thanks again, Robyn If you don't know how much stuff it will be boxed up, then imho its better to get a quote when its not boxed up tbh - we've shown them a bookcase, for eg, and said 'these three shelves are coming, the rest isn't' and they've estimated how many book boxes that would be, and so on....HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ComingDownUnder Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Thanks very much for that, very helpful advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oldmarried Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 There are a good number of international removal specialists in the UK who operate a groupage service. You will know if they are any good by how often they load. About once per month to the various Oz ports would be a reasonable indication. They will be able to estimate the volume involved without it having been packed up already, especially if they come to view it. The decent companies will come to have a look without charge if you are likely to send more than 100 cuft. Otherwise they will ask you to describe in detail and give you a price based on that but will limit it. So for example "goods not to exceed 6 standard cartons". If you then send more they will charge more. Make sure they are a member of the British Association of Removers Overseas Group. You can check out they membership at www.bar.co.uk. Just because they are a member of BAR does not automatically make them a member of the OG. With this membership you get some financial guarantees in case they should go bankrupt whilst the stuff is in their possession. You can read about the protection on the BAR website. Make sure that when you compare quotes they are like for like, some will include the handling in OZ and some will not. Aqis is usually charged extra in Oz but they should be able to give you an indication of costs involved. Insurance is extra and should be given serious consideration. Not only does it provide protection against loss/damage but also against your liabilities in the event of a marine catastrophe of the vessel (yes - you are responsible for the costs of this under international maritime law). You should provide a realistic valuation of the goods, you will be surprised how it mounts up. Insurance companies base their premiums on average household contents, so if you only insure your high value stuff the insurer could adjust settlement accordingly. I realise it seems very daunting but if you pick the right company they should massively relieve this burden. Its not always just about price, pick someone you feel will give you the right support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ComingDownUnder Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Thank you so much for that, lots I hadn't even considered there for me to think about. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea4two Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 Coming down under.You can pack whatever you want in each carton. A point to remember a carton will be given a number... so its easier to say No. 1 is.... kitchen utensils No.2 bed linen. No.3 Clothes and so on. Makes it easier when you are filling in the paperwork. Cartons come in all sizes, theres no thing today as a 'teachest'. That thing went out yrs ago.... there's cartons today for clothes, TV's, bikes, etc. Shipping has come long way Cheers Covkid I just did a quote for Seven seas and one of the options is teachest? How do you say there is no such thing? X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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