Shipping companies - A recomendation and a great service

[Deefa]

Just finished unpacking our container which arrived on Friday and thought that the company concerned did a fantastic job, especially in light of some horror stories I have been told.

Firstly - I am in no way affiliated to this company. I heard of them through a recommendation from this website some 4 or 5 months ago (many thanks whoever you were... too long ago to remember)

Anyway the highlights.

They came to our home in the UK (London) 2 months prior and conducted a survey, assessing everything that needed special treatment.

They provided a comprehensive pack of do's and don’ts for Singapore, as well as tips and tricks for what to take and what not to, what would survive the journey and what wouldn't.

Our Surveyor concluded that our best option was a 20ft container sole use. (Contents of a 2 bed flat + a storage unit and a few other bits.)

They kept in contact with us all the way through.

On the day of departure they sent a team of 6 people to assist my wife at home and packed everything themselves (a prerequisite of their insurance and fine by me)

Took 1 day to wrap and pack everything and 1 day to load the container, this then departed to Southampton by road.

3 weeks later the container arrived in Singa. Due to a public holiday in the way, customs clearance meant that we did not get the container till the next Friday.

Our UK shipping agent had sourced a local company to the unpack. They completed this task in a world record (it must have been) 6 hours and were exemplatory.

First they laid protective card on all the floors and the door jams, then they started bringing everything in with my wife as "loadmaster". Each time they brought a box in they shouted the number to my wife "28 Ma'am", and she ticked it off and directed them as to where it goes.

They then proceeded to put all the furniture together (beds, sofa, chairs, dining table, lamps etc) and cleared all surplus packing away.

They are coming back next week to clear away any more packing we have left over.


Nothing has been broken.
Nothing is Mouldy
Everything is here

Fantastic Job.

If anyone is looking for a relocation company from Europe (I gather they operate in other countries than just UK.

Try Sterling - http://www.sterlingrelocation.com/

And in Singapore they used Helu-trans.

Once again, I am not affiliated, just a very happy customer! Feel Free to PM me if you want to know any contact names etc.

[ScoobyDoes]

I am thinking this is your first move?

[Deefa]

I am thinking this is your first move?

first move that involved Deap Sea to another continent.

Only "long distance" moves previously have been trans continent by road which is quite different.

Just thought i would put that up because i have seen quite a few other people after recomendations / explanations of what is involved and though i would put up a "my experiance" for other first timer's benefit.

Also my move was done private, so no company backup, company provided relocation agent or big chequebook.

[jumping_gene]

good post, deefa. i',m sure there will be many who will benefit from your feedback.

we're in the middle of packing, and for budget reasons, we're going DIY with another company, i.e., we pack, they pick up and ship. we just have a few items, requiring not more than 5 cu.m space, so it's not a big deal. but would you mind sharing what items you were advised not to pack and what won't survive the transfer?

thanks!

[Deefa]

but would you mind sharing what items you were advised not to pack and what won't survive the transfer?

thanks!

Mostly obvious stuff like no foodstuffs / perishables / things that will be damaged by heat. (We had one candle that melted in its box .... )

Booze will need to be declared and duty paid
Same for tobacco.
Theoretically DVD / VHS tapes need to be declared and subject to censorship.

I think the big thing that we had from our shippers was the way that they packed everything. Lots and lots of paper wrapper (acid free) and all very well padded and packed in with more paper. They used no bubble wrap or foam "wotsits" and lots of silica jell packs were put in each box too.

Good luck with your move !!

[kikapo]

Hello and congrats on the completed move, Deefa -

I'm relocating from Thailand and have a tiny shipping budget ... most companies here will handle everything Thai side but haven't included any quotes for costs on the Sing side.

Any info on unloading/dock costs and what paperwork you had to handle (if any - I know Sterling is top-notch, but probably out of my budget, so perhaps my fellow DIY packer can add some insight??) would be appreciated.

I know to get stuff in before my 6 months' "anniversary" ... but I'm close enough to come over for a settle-in before I have to ship...

[jumping_gene]

deefa: thanks for the feedback. we've got no "perishables" and the only stuff that might get damaged are the books, should they get wet (a bit moisture would probably be no prob, given the humidity in singapore). i'm very worried about the chinaware, though.

kikapo: check out the movers in singaporeexpats' merchant directory: http://www.singaporeexpats.com/products ... tation.htm

or here: http://www.contactsingapore.org.sg/movi ... tion.shtml

we're going DIY with crown relocations. we pack; they will ship, handle the paperwork (both sides), and deliver to our address in singapore.

get a quote from a couple of these international movers. maybe it might be less of a hassle if you just deal with one shipping company.

[Deefa]

only stuff that might get damaged are the books, should they get wet (a bit moisture would probably be no prob, given the humidity in singapore). i'm very worried about the chinaware, though.
.

Plenty of silica gell sashets were thrown in with the boxes of books for teh moisture, as i guess it gets fairly humid in the container.

Same reason the Crockery was all wrapped in lots of paper (same sort of stuff that your local department store will use, so go thieve some )

Good luck

To the other guy, no idea on local shipping inbound, but i would imagine that everything is on a government website somewhere, everything else is!!

Good luck to you both!

[HunBunny80]

Our chinaware and crystal survives.
To be careful if you are packing candles and things that will melt in the heat. My candles melted and was all over the box.
I unfortunately shipped my creams over and some of them very damaged so it is best to buy your supplies in the duty free.
For fur coats (if you are bringing them over), make sure they are hang and wrapped up individually. For leather clothes, hang them up as well. I have my skirt folded. It sticked and now I cannot get rid of my creases.

Good luck

[finn55]

deefa et al,

please could you advise the prices you paid for a 20' container all inclusive service (door-to-door) for the UK/LOndon - SG route.
What are the prices for "self-packing, ship and SG delivery" service?

I am quoted ~£2900 for all inclusive service by a UK company (PSS) but I wonder if SG-based firms or self-packing option can come with much better price?

We are trying to sell all UK furniture and bulky items, so we might end up only with 10-20 boxes of clothing and smaller items. How much a small groupage sea-shipment cost (per sgf) if anyone used such?

cheers and many thanks

[viajera]

we paid crown relocations less than €2K to ship 5 cu.m.-- we packed (except for a few things which they packed for us for free), they picked up, shipped and delivered to our place here in singapore. they don't provide insurance if you pack your boxes yourselves. great service, though, not a single glass was broken.

finn55: you might want to get a quote from crown, too.