has anyone had luck with upack?

[leolexi 0]

saw the link in another thread, and a rough estimate from their site is ~$1400 from ontario to CT. uhaul is $700 to $800.

with upack im nervous b/c we arent at customs with them to provide the inventory. is this an issue? also it says its a 2-3day transit time. is this tpyical as well?

for double the price it doesnt seem bad at all, esp with peace of mind for gas an breakdown costs with the uhaul, b/c that always happens with their damn stuff!

im guessing proper moving quotes will be astronomically more so i havent even entertained them.

thx for the help

This was included at the bottom of the upack quote. thats a bit nerve racking.

Requirements for shipping household goods from Canada into United States:

1. Proof of Status - VISA, Passport and Birth Certificate. You must have a picture ID. The local ABF terminal will need photocopies of these when the shipment is picked up.

2. A complete itemized list of your items with an approximate dollar value of the shipment.

3. A completed U.S. Customs Form 3299, https://forms.customs.gov/customsrf/getformharness.asp? formName=cf-3299-form.xft

4. You will need to supply all of the above documents to the driver upon pick up of the loaded trailer. The driver can present the paperwork to the Customs & Border Protection Agency (CBP) for clearance at the border.

5. ABF is not responsible for clearing the shipment with the CBP.

6. If preferred, you may hire a broker for clearing of your items at the border.

7. If the shipment does not clear customs at the border, the shipment may move inbond, at the discretion of CBP, and must be cleared prior to delivery. A bond fee will be assessed.

8. The most common reasons a shipment fails to clear at the border are:

1. If paperwork is not filled out properly

2. All necessary paperwork is not provided

3. Improper/Insufficient identification

9. All U-Pack shipments are quoted in U.S. dollars. Any applicable custom fees are not included.

[bctoboston11 0]

Well we're using them this week to get Dave's stuff from Vancouver to Boston.

They've been pretty helpful with everything.

However they will not bring your stuff across until YOU are cleared across. In other words, when we cross in Buffalo on Saturday, we'll get stamped etc...

We have to fax a copy of the stamped visa, entry documents, etc etc to prove he's in the country.

At that point they'll take the stuff across the border.

Dave has been dealing with everything, (since he's the one moving), so I don't have specifics, but I should have a better idea after this weekend is over.

[Cassie 8]

I used a moving company, and they were completely prepared for dealing with customs on my behalf. I left the packet of forms and documents required with my parents, who handed them over to the driver when they came to pick up my stuff. It's easier to do than it looks.

[Shauna 0]

Interesting. I have contacted Upack, both the local Canadian office and the American one, and they told me that as far as the visa part went, I had to make a copy and give it to the driver when he picked up the cube. No one said anything like.. oh and by the way we won't send it til you actually cross... I will have to email them back on that one.

Does that Uhaul cost include gas? I think that for the less hassle part, probably sending it with movers is easier. I have hardly anything except personal items, computer and tv, so I am going to get a cube.

The 3299 form is on the Upack website and its pretty clear. You have to say when you are crossing, and make a detailed list with values on it for them. I have really enjoyed repacking all my things so that I can see what is in each box. Grrr. Oh well, could be worse.

[leolexi 0]

Well we're using them this week to get Dave's stuff from Vancouver to Boston.

They've been pretty helpful with everything.

However they will not bring your stuff across until YOU are cleared across. In other words, when we cross in Buffalo on Saturday, we'll get stamped etc...

We have to fax a copy of the stamped visa, entry documents, etc etc to prove he's in the country.

At that point they'll take the stuff across the border.

Dave has been dealing with everything, (since he's the one moving), so I don't have specifics, but I should have a better idea after this weekend is over.

this is interesting. it means that although its an 8-12 hour drive from her house to mine, the cube will be a minimum of a day behind us. if we leave on a thurs of friday, it wouldnt come until mid the following week probably. maybe a uhaul is easiest since we can control the timing.

movers would be nice but i rather use the cost for something in our new house.

uhaul quote didnt include gas, but at 10mpg, and ~550 miles, its about $165US in gas. a lot no doubt but still less than other choices. reliability is our biggest concern, of course.

well i think ill call upack with the questions.. see if it looks promsing.. thx for all the comments!

[bctoboston11 0]

From what I understand, the deal is that you have to come first, and then your stuff :-)

We're going completely cross the continent, so our situation might be a bit different, since they choose to cross between b.c. and washington state (i think because driving-wise, gas is cheaper here in the states).

Good luck with everything! We'll let you know how it all goes!

[leolexi 0]

From what I understand, the deal is that you have to come first, and then your stuff :-)

We're going completely cross the continent, so our situation might be a bit different, since they choose to cross between b.c. and washington state (i think because driving-wise, gas is cheaper here in the states).

Good luck with everything! We'll let you know how it all goes!

i can see why youd be more interested.. im hesitant for a 12 hour trip, forget about cross country!

ill do the same

[Kathryn41 3,205]

We looked at upack and ended up going with professional movers because the work involved in loading the upack was more than we really wanted to do. It was expensive, but absolutely worth it since everything arrived in perfect condition and they did all the loading and unloading. I packed up everything except the china so it was ready for them.

You do need to cross the border first before your belongings can cross. I left all of the documentation and inventories for the movers and got a fax number from them so I could fax a copy of my I-94 back to them. They took two days from packing to arrival and definitely had to show the fax at the border before they were allowed to enter.

We also looked at Uhauls, but again it was more work than we wanted to do, plus we needed to move my cats and there was just no room in the cab for the cats and ourselves. Plus, we worried that if there was a breakdown along the way we would be stranded and have real problems. It wasn't worth the hassle.

Good luck with your move.

[leolexi 0]

We looked at upack and ended up going with professional movers because the work involved in loading the upack was more than we really wanted to do. It was expensive, but absolutely worth it since everything arrived in perfect condition and they did all the loading and unloading. I packed up everything except the china so it was ready for them.

You do need to cross the border first before your belongings can cross. I left all of the documentation and inventories for the movers and got a fax number from them so I could fax a copy of my I-94 back to them. They took two days from packing to arrival and definitely had to show the fax at the border before they were allowed to enter.

We also looked at Uhauls, but again it was more work than we wanted to do, plus we needed to move my cats and there was just no room in the cab for the cats and ourselves. Plus, we worried that if there was a breakdown along the way we would be stranded and have real problems. It wasn't worth the hassle.

Good luck with your move.

bah, youre too realistic for me. lol

my smart side agrees with you. i guess we will see how risky we are feeling :/

[Shauna 0]

I have booked with the Upack people for next week, but they don't have cubes here so they are sending a trailer. Too bad! Oh well, I have 2 parents, an aunt and an uncle, and I know I can get a couple of young guys from the local student employment casual office to help out - I really don't have that much stuff and literally no furniture. Should be quick and painless. They certainly have been helpful on the phone so far and yes, you have to fax the copy of your stamped visa before they can bring it.

[jen&darcy 0]

I am looking into Darcy using U-pack as well. We got a quote from U-Haul and it was $928 CDN before tax and fuel.

We have a confusing situation so I am trying to weigh all of our options. His interview will be in Vancouver because he lives in Kelowna, BC. His stuff is in Winnipeg, MB in a U-Haul storage locker because this is where he used to reside in 2005. We were going to fly from Kelowna to Vancouver for the interview. Then fly from Vancouver to Winnipeg to visit his grandmother for a few days. We would then go to his storage locker at U-Haul pack up a truck and drive the 16 hours to get to my house here in Ohio.

I am just trying to figure out the best way.

[leolexi 0]

our upack shipment is in transit! we crossed the border today, had a great interview last friday, and a good experience once we got to the border agent at lewiston today.. so far, all has been great

[zyggy 9]

saw the link in another thread, and a rough estimate from their site is ~$1400 from ontario to CT. uhaul is $700 to $800.

with upack im nervous b/c we arent at customs with them to provide the inventory. is this an issue? also it says its a 2-3day transit time. is this tpyical as well?

for double the price it doesnt seem bad at all, esp with peace of mind for gas an breakdown costs with the uhaul, b/c that always happens with their damn stuff!

im guessing proper moving quotes will be astronomically more so i havent even entertained them.

thx for the help

This was included at the bottom of the upack quote. thats a bit nerve racking.

Requirements for shipping household goods from Canada into United States:

1. Proof of Status - VISA, Passport and Birth Certificate. You must have a picture ID. The local ABF terminal will need photocopies of these when the shipment is picked up.

2. A complete itemized list of your items with an approximate dollar value of the shipment.

3. A completed U.S. Customs Form 3299, https://forms.customs.gov/customsrf/getformharness.asp? formName=cf-3299-form.xft

4. You will need to supply all of the above documents to the driver upon pick up of the loaded trailer. The driver can present the paperwork to the Customs & Border Protection Agency (CBP) for clearance at the border.

5. ABF is not responsible for clearing the shipment with the CBP.

6. If preferred, you may hire a broker for clearing of your items at the border.

7. If the shipment does not clear customs at the border, the shipment may move inbond, at the discretion of CBP, and must be cleared prior to delivery. A bond fee will be assessed.

8. The most common reasons a shipment fails to clear at the border are:

1. If paperwork is not filled out properly

2. All necessary paperwork is not provided

3. Improper/Insufficient identification

9. All U-Pack shipments are quoted in U.S. dollars. Any applicable custom fees are not included.

If you don't have the I-94 with the CBP Form 3299, they'll let you go but will require you (or your broker) to post a bond until you can get them an I-94 to clear the shipment. To get the bond back is a big bureaucratic mess. Believe me.. it's better to wait until you get the I-94 before they leave..

[A-PhiJill 0]

My friend Kim swears by U-pack. they used them to move from Coquitlam, BC to San Jose, CA

Dave's company is having professional movers for us. Cause if not, hell i would use UPack

[jen&darcy 0]

We decided we are going to use Upack too. Its going to save us a ton of money rather than using U-Haul. It will just be a plane ride home rather than a 16-hour trip in a U-Haul.

Once we get to that point, I will post our experience so others will know.