[gotourvisa]

Hi folks
Can anyone help? I've had quotes for shipping, the problem is the amount of space. The company I would like to go with has quoted the smallest amount of space which gets me thinking there could be trouble when they come to pack. Has anyone had problems with companies asking for more money? Any comments would be appreciated.

[Smiler]

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5338

see this thread for Park City's experience. I'd ask them to come back and double check and make sure you have shown them everything. Is it crucial ie do you only have a 20fter ordered?



D

[Peter]

Did you have a packing survey carried out? This is where a surveyor comes to your house and records all items and boxes to be shipped. From the list they can calculate the amount of cubic metres (m3) of shipping space required. A 20' container totals 33.2 m3 and a 40' totals 67.7 m3. Bearing in mind that these are based on corner to corner dimensions, you will never fill either container to it's limits with household effects due to the irregular sizes of goods. Therefore a good shipping/removal comany can judge how much can go into a container. To give an example, the contents of an average 3 bedroom house would fit into a 20' container. If you are shipping much less then it is likely that the shipper with send your goods 'Groupage'. This means your goods are shipped alongside other goods going to the same destination. The problem with groupage is that it can take a little longer to deliver your goods as there are multiple drops involved.

If you have not arranged your shipping yet, get another quote. Check out http://www.bargateinternational.com and request a packing survey.

regards
Peter

[Peter]

It should be noted that shippers to N.Z. can offer 'Reefer' containers. Besides being internally small than a standard container, they are basically insulated containers used for transorting chilled or frozen products,in the case of N.Z. it could be meat products. As these containers are to be shipped back to N.Z. shippers will offer good rates on these boxes. If you are offered a Reefer make sure it is dry and fumigated before you load your goods. The last thing you want is contamination of your goods in transit. There have been a number of incidents over the years where Reefer containers have been used and the goods arrived damp or covered in mildew or fungus.

To give you some indication on sizes, the standard boxes are as follows:

20' L 5.90 x W 2.35 x H 2.35 metres Total 33.2 cubic metres
40' L 12.03 x W 2.35 x H 2.35 metres Total 67.7 cubic metres

The total Cubic metres of each box is based on corner to corner dimensions so do not expect to fill a container to it's limits. As an indication, goods totalling around 16.0 m3 would be economical to ship in a dedicated 20' container rather than going Groupage.

Peter

[katandbob]

thanks for the posts Peter as this shipping lark is harder than dealing with NZIS!

wish I could just ring up one of the shipping companys that we work for and ask them to drop my stuff off.....shame its not that easy!

[Timbo]

From personal experience, I would advise against using PSS, as they have been anything but helpfull\professional.
There surveyor checked everything in our place and concluded that it would be circa 570 cu ft. The packers came and upon completion, agreed that the original estimate was about right in their opinion. When PSS eventually made contact with a final figure, the quantity had jumped to 720 cubic feet. This meant a very big price hike.
The packers came on Nov 21st 05, and I am still chasing for a written invoice as I write. When I questioned the figures, I was basically told that the surveyor had been doing this job for 40 years and simply would not make such an error. In other words, we must have conjured up the extra goods once he had been and gone.
Make sure that they list EVERYTHING that is is to be shipped on the ESTIMATE, as against just on the final list. This should prevent you getting caught out.