If you don't mind my stretching the meaning of DIY, can anyone offer advice on shipping - that is, the shipping of a large household items from the UK to Canada's Atalantoc coast?
The typical consumer-friendly couriers (TNT, FedEx and so on) are quoting unaffordable prices, but I have been informed that it's possible to get a more traditional shipping company to do it for much less.
However, it involves a bit more work - and I don't even know what to look for in the Yellow Pages, or what to ask for should I find one.
You need to talk to an independent freight forwarder (or three for price comparison). They abound near airports. Haven't used one for years, so I can't make a recommendation.
When you find one, just ring them up and tell them what you want to do, they will lead you through all your options.
Google for "freight forwarder" or "freight forwarder uk canada"
If you are into getting your stuff shipped by container, the dimensions of containers are here:
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you start, you should also bone up on Incoterms 2000 as this may come up during your discussions with your forwarder.
A relative (no longer alive, so I can't get further details) moved out to Canada, and some years later, moved back again. It was done by buying space in a shipping container. ISTR you bought a whole container or half a container (other fractions might be available). Of course, your items can only travel when there's a ship going, so unlike a domestic move, you either have to pack up and wave goodby to everything a couple of months before you move, or you have to wait a couple of months for it to arrive at the other end.
don't mind my stretching the meaning of DIY, can anyone offer
Sea freight - and it's surprisingly cheap too. Unless its a a very small quantity you should get three quotes. Freight forwarders will typically give you a price - broken down - to provide a full packing service at the origin, transportation by sea freight, customs fee's, delivery to destination and unpacking. These quotes also often include one month of free storage at the destination. The prices will typically include for insurance of the goods based on a percentage of the declared value. One aspect to consider - if it applies to your circumstances - is that the cost of of extended storage at the destination is fairly cheap but the additional insurance rates are often expensive.
FWIW I had 16 small/medium sized cartons of books and effects shipped from the UK to Australia last August and it cost me just under £500 at the UK end including packing. What I hadn't reckoned on was paying something like the equivalent of £100 to the receiving firm and another £200 to Australia Quarantine for having one box with wooden souvenirs in it fumigated.
The price was so cheap because they were shipped at part container rate. Basically the shipping firm has a container for (say) Melbourne sitting in the yard which gradually fills up and is only shipped when full. My stuff left my old home at the end of August, arrived here Dec 13, got stuck in the docks/customs Christmas/New Year close and finally got delivered to me late Jan.
Phone up freight forwarders. You probably need to crate up yourself in
19mm ply or chip, and make it palletable. Couple of 4x2s as runners underneath.
And take your chance on when there is container space..might take several months, but it gets there in teh end, and, being unliftable by humans, as long as it doesn't get a fork through it, will arrive intact.
Whatever you do, don't use Pickfords. You'd be better off building a raft out of your household effects and paddling there than using Pickfords. The little stuff thatisn't be stolen will be damaged and they won't give a damn.
I have heard that a "Container" shipment may be the best approach for this type of move. If the shipper only has a box of known and standard size used by all ports and transport methods they are much cheaper. You may have to pack it yourself but it might be worth consideration.
I talked to one a year or so ago like that - problem was that their "standard box" was tiny; OK for books and CDs and crap like that, but utterly useless for the majority of items.
They charged by weight, but I've heard that some firms go by volume instead (and so might be better for shipping your boat anchor collection ;)
My main worry is the customs procedure rather than the actual boxing up / moving - i.e. how to avoid / limit all sorts of fees at the final destination, how to properly label things, or to make sure I don't try to move anything that's just going to cause trouble at the far end.
I get the impression that most companies are just box-shifters; they can't really advise on all the other stuff - and for that reason removals specialist (Pickfords etc.) might actually be better.
Airfreight is typically weight, sea freight is typically volume.
Generally domestic goods don't get much scrutiny.
You pay a high price for them to lose and smash your goods. I had china and glass ware INSIDE my loudspeaker cabinets, books all round the outside etc etc, and rugs and clothes filling gaps.
What the forwarder will like is a well packed crate that he can fork lift around, stuff in a container, with clear addressing on it and a bill of lading or whatever its called, describing the contents. He puts in in a container, and kisses it good bye fr a nice commission.
You will always pay a handling fee at the far end, and ,may or may not pay duty. A lot depends ion where its going. And how you choose to describe the goods. A 'computer' may get different treatment from 'industrial spare parts' etc etc. So take the motherboard out ;-)
The other thing I found that with volumetric pricing, your crate is dictated by the size of the largest object. Furniture is not really worth shipping, but if you must take the antique table with you, you might as well fill the gaps with your books. The space is essentially paid for anyway.
The "good" thing about Pickfords is that you don't have to worry about Customs & so forth at the other end. Most of your stuff will be stolen 'en route' so there'll be nothing to charge duty *on*.
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