[Aug & Feb]

Has anyone on this forum pack your own container and use a freight forwarding company ship it to NZ ?

How were the experience with NZ custom and MAF ?

Please share.

Thanks.

[veronica]

we did and no problems. we actually used Crayford freight at Thurrock. We packed up all the boxes, furniture etc. and hired a van and took it down to them, (several trips). they then packed it all in the container and sorted the rest. At this end they have a Crayford Freight in Auckland and an agent here in Christchurch, Pengellys and they sorted all the MAF and customs things out for us. Because we have a business we brought out too and new stock each year we are now using them once a year, so far we have brought out 3 containers with them and no problems.

[baboonworld]

was it a lot cheaper than the prepack option (i got a quote but it didnt include that paperwork it was just from door to port in NZ). What else is involved at that end?

[veronica]

there was maf fees to sort but Pengellys sorted that for us. the container cost was cheaper, think it was about 3k for a 40 footer but about 2k for a 20 foot one. But its about 2 years ago , memory is rusty on that so can't be exact. Bear in mind we had a whole ski and snowboard shop but each freight company is going to have its own rates. I personally prefer to pack our own gear. only had one thing broken in 3 container loads and that was bad packing on my part, can't blame anyone else. When we moved fback and forth from Australia years ago we did our own packing then too and sent stuff groupage as we didn't have as much stuff. Phone around and get some quotes for a container.

[Avalon]

Aug & Feb,

Someone has recently posted on here about a problem with insurance companies not paying out if you pack your own stuff. May not be an issue for you - but if you do insure - make sure you are covered for goods you have packed yourself.

[veronica]

Insurers will only cover for total loss. but if you have packed it properly yourself there is less chance of breakages than if someone who doesn't really care about the stuff has packed it.

[Avalon]

Very good point!

[Hannah]

Yes i agree that if you pack yourself, carefully, then you avoid need to claim on insurance for damaged goods.

but what if your stuff goes missing/stolen. How can you get insurance that covers you for this. all the best packing in the world cannot help you if someone enters your container and steals stuff. Is there any way this can be avoided - ie. can you guarantee your container comes from door to door without being accessed by anyone. For example, does it have to be opened at customs to be checked (where it is not unfeasible that goods could be stolen). If this cannot be avoided can you get insurance to cover you for this, even if you have packed yourself???? Really worried about this as have heard horror stories of stuff being stolen on route!

[veronica]

we haven't had any thefts from ours, people would have to unpack the whole blooming container of boxes to sort out what was what and can't see much chance for them to do that.

[G&K]

Yep that was us - we used http://www.upakweship.co.uk/

Had a bit od a nightmare trying to insure our stuff - and ended up going with the insurers that they recommend - and they turned out to be the cowboys, not paying out on damaged stuff because it hadn't been 'proffessionally' packed

Had a bit of a rant on this thread I hijacked when it happened

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4940

I guess the moral of the story is - you get what you pay for (except for insurance when you pay out for diddley squat)

Get good insurance !