Shipping companies for the big move

[Mollusk 2]

Hi all,

We're gearing up to move our worldly possessions to the US from London at the end of August/beginning of September. We won't have much furniture, if any, but we will have the belongings of two adults, a toddler and a baby. It wouldn't be enough to fill a shipping container, but it will be too much to send airmail or whatever.

Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced shipping company that will take less than a container's worth of stuff? And generally how far in advance do you need to book? We're not ready to pack up the whole house, so we won't know exactly how many boxes we'll have until probably mid-August.

Thanks in advance.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You can't get a good quote until you know how much stuff. But I thought this company was super with a partial container. Watch the video. 1st Move International. http://www.shipit.co.uk

Tip:Make an inventory list as you pack. You need it in the paperwork.

[Mollusk 2]

Thanks - have requested a quote. Now to ramp up the packing...

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

We had good customer service from them via phone and emails. Everything arrived in perfect condition. We picked ours up at the port warehouse so it was still wrapped and palleted with the seals unbroken. I guess the cross country trip via truck is always open to carelessness of the US side provider since they would probably breakdown the shipment before loading. Ours was all boxes except for a custom foam lined crate with a family antique wall clock.

[JFH 12,191]

In the meantime it's worth going through everything and asking:

- do we really need this?

- when did we last use it?

- would we have a use for it in our new place?

- how much would it cost to replace it there?

[NicolaRobert 7]

I got a pretty reasonable quote from one company. I think it was Anglo Pacific - something like that. I was just trying to get ideas of cost seeing as I didn't even have an interview date at the time. But they called me up and we discussed exactly what kind of stuff I had and approximately how much, and they seemed pretty good. Very helpful over the phone and the quote they gave me for door to door was really reasonable. Though it might change once I see exactly how much stuff I have!

Admittedly I mostly have boxes and boxes of books. So I'm just happy as long as I pay by volume not by weight.

I got a pretty reasonable quote from one company. I think it was Anglo Pacific - something like that. I was just trying to get ideas of cost seeing as I didn't even have an interview date at the time. But they called me up and we discussed exactly what kind of stuff I had and approximately how much, and they seemed pretty good. Very helpful over the phone and the quote they gave me for door to door was really reasonable. Though it might change once I see exactly how much stuff I have!

Admittedly I mostly have boxes and boxes of books. So I'm just happy as long as I pay by volume not by weight.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Ages ago we used Excess Baggage (now Excess International Movers) to ship about 20 boxes of varying sizes. We did point to point delivery from our old flat in London to my parents' place in Connecticut via sea freight, using a partial container load. Service was prompt and affordable, and not a single item was broken or lost, even in transit by truck from where the ship docked. It was a great option for us since we weren't shipping over anywhere near an entire home, just a lot of books and vintage hi-fi equipment.

http://www.excess-international.com/international-removals

[Mollusk 2]

Thanks, everyone - I'm getting quotes from all three recommendations. It's liberating going through everything and chucking tons out - I'm down to "only" five boxes of books. Now I've received a quote from one company, I'll be even more ruthless!

[NicolaRobert 7]

Only 5 boxes of books? That's pretty impressive. I'll be happy if I can get my stash down that low!

[JFH 12,191]

I was playing around on a website where you "rent" part of a shipping container. It's very slow of course but seemed ridiculously cheap. From Southampton to Seattle (very convenient as I am currently in Dorset and going to Seattle) it takes 46 days but it appeared to cost about £200 to send 20 boxes. I don't even know if I will take 20 boxes, I was just playing around with the quote page. They said there would be a fee of $150 on top for the broker. That still brings it in around £300.

Anyone used anything like this?

Edited July 14, 2016 by JFH

[NicolaRobert 7]

I was playing around on a website where you "rent" part of a shipping container. It's very slow of course but seemed ridiculously cheap. From Southampton to Seattle (very convenient as I am currently in Dorset and going to Seattle) it takes 46 days but it appeared to cost about £200 to send 20 boxes. I don't even know if I will take 20 boxes, I was just playing around with the quote page. They said there would be a fee of $150 on top for the broker. That still brings it in around £300.

Anyone used anything like this?

What was the website?