[bobbyj]

Hi guys...I have done a search but can't seem to find the info I am looking for. We have booked our shipping through 1st Contact but they are charging us 5% total value for the insurance. I know we can get this cheaper elsewhere but I've come up against a bit of a problem. A few people here recommended Percival Letton who were great, but said they wouldn't insure me unless the boxes were professionally packed...which is a bit of a bummer because we are packing ourselves. I found a few other companies on the internet but they said they would only cover me for the boat sinking, fire etc and not damage to the goods...unless they were professionally packed. My question is, has anybody on here got insurance through a company other than the one who is shipping their stuff, got a decent rate of less than 5% AND are covered for accidental damage despite packing themselves??

Cheers

Bobby.

[james the mechanic]

Hi there bobbyj,

We’re off just before you on the 3rd of February and are in the same boat; (or quite possible on it:D ) for logistical reasons our only viable option was to self pack. I am still looking at shippers and insurance and basically have the same problem as you. Our possessions are all very well packed and I am convinced that unless the container is dropped, nothing will get damaged. However, the chance of a container being dropped is probably quite hig, thus the need for insurance and what about theft.
I know lots of people from the US have self packed, but what about the UK.
Best wishes:nice1
James

[Phil & Ali Smith]

We're self packing. I've just rang our shippers and they quoted 1½ % of the value of contents, for a container that's 'self packed'. I thought that was quite reasonable, we reckon the value of contents to be about £15,000 (therefore £225 insurance).
Like you say James, we've packed our stuff very well and unless the container is dropped or 'sinks', we're not covered for other damage.

Cheers, Ali

[bobbyj]

Cheers guys.

James...the missus said the same - its unlikely to get damaged as its well packed, we are mostly worried about it falling off the boat or the boat sinking. I've got a couple of items I'm really worried about but we are only shipping a very small amount of stuff and the insurance is working out at more than the cost of the shipping!! If you are getting quotes, first contact are very reasonable and quick. A few of the smaller firms were telling us it would take over 12 weeks to send, first contact have access to a few boats so your stuff won't be sitting in a port for a couple of weeks waiting to go.

Ali...who are you shipping with? Does your insurance cover you for damage or is it just loss?

Bobby.

[Phil & Ali Smith]

Bobby,

We're using Mark Chudley Ltd., here in Somerset. Others on this forum have used them & they are said to be very professional.
Not having seen the insurance policy, I can't tell you exactly what is covered. However, Chudleys are coming next week, so I'll find out more for you (and me) then. I don't think it's just for total loss, but I'm sure it doesn't cover knocks & scratches.

[james the mechanic]

I have just called a few shippers,
I first explained to them all...
Everything that we want to be shipped is currently in a storage unit that measures 2470mm high by 2340mm wide by 4270 long, is well packed, numbered and itemized. I explained that there is nothing contained within, that will be of interest to MAF, the storage facility is located less than one minute off the M23 at Gatwick and I require it to be at my house in Napier NZ, on or around the end of the first week of February ’08.

Right said the first, ‘that’s just over the volume of a 20ft container, so you will require…

‘That will be approximately 500 cubic meters’ said the second ‘which will mean…

'We would need to send, an estimator, in order to calculate the volume,' said the third..

20 Foot Dry Freight Container:-
Interior Dimension L:5925mm W:2340mm H:2379mm
Door Opening W:2286mm H:2278mm
Cubic Capacity 33cbm

Can anyone recommend shipping company please?:confused:
Is it me?:laugh
James

[dharder]

Can anyone recommend shipping company please?:confused:
Is it me?:laugh

I was surprised at how similar the three guys who estimated our stuff thought it was in cubic feet. However, when it came to how it was supposed to get there, we had

a) "well, you might get away with sharing in a big container, but you might have to get your own 20ft container"
b) "well, you might get away with a 20ft container, but you might have to have a 40ft one"
c) "well, that'll be more than one 20ft container, so you will have to pay extra or get the 40ft one"

I'm sure a 4th one would have told us we need the whole cargo ship...

In the end, it all fit into a 20ft one.

Daniela

[Caroline and Dave]

Hi,
We are using Orbit Protect who are a NZ based insurance company who only charge 2.2% and you can pack your own stuff.For full details of their cover see here http://www.orbitprotect.co.nz/marine/

Also check here
http://www.orbitprotect.co.nz/marine/assets/pdf/transit_policyguide.pdf
Hope this helps

Dave and Caroline

[james the mechanic]

Thanks Caroline & Dave; once again you have a link for everything,
Just tried to give you rep but it wont let me so have this instead. :raebanana
Who are you shipping with? Can they do basic maths? :laugh
Orbit Protect look good, they exclude work related tools (of which I have many) unless agreed with them prior, so I will have to contact them on that score, but other wise just what I’m looking for.
Has any one actually used them, i.e. been unfortunate enough to have to make a claim?

Best wishes:nice1
James

[Caroline and Dave]

Thanks Caroline & Dave; once again you have a link for everything,
Just tried to give you rep but it wont let me so have this instead. :raebanana
Who are you shipping with? Can they do basic maths? :laugh
Orbit Protect look good, they exclude work related tools (of which I have many) unless agreed with them prior, so I will have to contact them on that score, but other wise just what I’m looking for.
Has any one actually used them, i.e. been unfortunate enough to have to make a claim?

Best wishes:nice1
James

Hi James
We are using Crown.
Now Crown are not the cheapest but we are very impressed with them so far and the fact that they have their own depots in New Zealand and do not use other companies swayed it for us.Plus the fact that their main Auckland depot is in Albany.
We have also used Orbit for student insurances and they are very good

Dave and Caroline

[mgf]

Anyone know of a good shipping company to use from the US? I have checked with a couple and they have been quite expensive.