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Junnifer USA
Testing The Water
Joined: 15 Aug 2004
Posts: 6
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 10:12 am Post subject: |
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We are shipping a small 2 bed room house worth of items from the east coast of the US to NZ. Does anyone have tips on shippers from the US? Who have you found to be the best priced.
By the way, I have shipped 4 times from the US to Tokyo by container. On those moves we had professional packers...I just helped along the way. None-the-less, we never had moisture damage and we did not pack in plastic or take any extra precautions...has anyone had a different experience. Is there something I should know about this?
Thanks.
J |
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Raeven
Valued Member
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 156
Location: Central Coast of California
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 10:54 am Post subject: |
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Hi, Junnifer,
Welcome to the forum!!
LOL, based on your experiences, I'd say you're the expert among us for container shipping!! I'm most relieved to hear about your lack of moisture issues. I'll bag the trash bag idea, 'scooz the pun.
Getting information on shipping costs from the US is scarce. I've been quoted $8,800 for door-to-door from an inconvenient spot in California, nowhere near a major port, to the Top of the South. The price is for a 40' container, does not include insurance over and above the required amount provided by the carrier but does include shipment of a small car -- which may or may not be coming over with us. Shockingly, the cost for a 20' container and no car was $8,600. Obviously the carriers get their bucks up front! The carrier is Allied. I have one more outfit to contact but have held off until we get our house sold, which hopefully will be any day. I will post further information when I get it.
Glad you've joined us!
All the best, Rae |
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Raeven
Valued Member
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 156
Location: Central Coast of California
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 11:10 am Post subject: |
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| BJ wrote: |
1..Can you tell me how long doe's it take for your container to get to NZ?
2..Where are you going to stay when you arrive, ie B&B or rental ect? and for how long before you buy.
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Hi, BJ,
Glad you could join us! There are others on the forum far better qualified to answer your questions than me, as I've not actually gone through the process.. but I've been here awhile, review posts obsessively and am happy to share what I've gleaned.
As to your first question, I've heard anywhere from 4-12 weeks. Most often 6-8 weeks. It depends on where you're shipping from, where you're shipping to and if you're sharing a container or using one dedicated to your exclusive use. If you're sharing, it will cost less, but you'll have to wait for someone to share with. That builds in delay.
As to your second question, we're back to the old reliable answer, it depends! Where are you headed to? In some areas, rentals are scarce and cost a lot. In others, rentals are flooding the market and you can probably do better cost-wise. I haven't heard of too many people opting for B&Bs for longer than a week or two while they look for a rental.
With respect to buying, again, it really depends on your individual circumstances. It's comparatively easy to purchase property in NZ and is a quick process compared to the US and the UK. But let the buyer beware! The disclosure laws in NZ are basically non-existent. They will pretty much share negative information information with you only if you ask. Karl recently posted a terrific and informative post on buying property in NZ: http://www.emigratenz.org/community/viewtopic.php?t=1095
You'll learn a lot from reading it. But in a nutshell, you want to give yourself lots of time to do your homework on properties in NZ. Personally, I'd want to learn about flood areas, heating issues, neighbors, potential highways to be built.. that sort of thing.
Where are you headed? Where are you coming from? Welcome!
All the best, Rae |
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wilson182
I Like It Here
Joined: 16 Feb 2004
Posts: 91
Location: half in UK - half in NZ
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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Hi BJ
We went over for a month initially, and opted to stay in Holiday homes and motels. As far as the holiday homes go, you get what you pay for!!!!  The motels were great tho, and the one in Taranaki even had a heated indoor swimming pool, which was like getting in a huge bath. Currently we are renting, and will probably continue to do so for at least a year. Mainly so we can find our ideal place, and to give ourselves that time to decide whether we have really done the right thing, without having "cut all ties".
I think Rae is correct as far as shipping times go. We are going down the shared container route, and Pickfords told me it shouldnt delay things too much as there is a lot of freight going that way!! 
Good Luck |
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veronica
Valued Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2003
Posts: 142
Location: christchurch
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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| we packed for ourselves, we didn't use any special containers, just cardboard boxes, but we did ensure that everything we packed was dry and well packed with mainly linen and towels etc. its all got here safe. Insurance, well we opted to go for total loss, ie container overboard. From what I have gathered even with stuff packed by packers its job getting money out of 'em. |
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wilson182
I Like It Here
Joined: 16 Feb 2004
Posts: 91
Location: half in UK - half in NZ
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Veronica
Did you send any of your telly's, dvd players or anything like that? Does everything work ok?
Debs |
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Dianne
I'll Hang Around A Little
Joined: 19 May 2004
Posts: 23
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 5:35 am Post subject: |
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BJ,
we were told that from the Uk to NZ (Auckland in our case) would be about 12 weeks, give or take 2 weeks depending on availability and sea conditions etc.
As for where to stay, we're lucky and we're being put up by rellies, but I hear there are a fair few rentals that will allow short-term leases.
Where are you off to, then?
Dianne |
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Tanya
I Like It Here
Joined: 04 Mar 2004
Posts: 69
Location: Nottinghamshire UK
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 7:32 am Post subject: |
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BJ
We are heading to Christchurch and have been told 6-8 weeks!
Tanya  |
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veronica
Valued Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2003
Posts: 142
Location: christchurch
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:39 am Post subject: |
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| t.v.s don't work, apparently some can be adjusted. We brought ours anyway to use as a DVD / Video TV and to use with the playstation. got here ok wrapped in a duvet in a big cardboard box. Where ever they hire TVs is a good place to scrounge good big strong boxes. |
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veronica
Valued Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2003
Posts: 142
Location: christchurch
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:46 am Post subject: |
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| About timing..... we packed ours on Friday 30th April and unloaded it on the 18th June in Christchurch which is about the 6 weeks. Our daughter is in Auckland and they came over in January, theres was with them within a calender month so was about 4 weeks. They apparently send direct when it goes to Auckland but stop other places en route to Christchurch. |
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Dianne
I'll Hang Around A Little
Joined: 19 May 2004
Posts: 23
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:29 am Post subject: |
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That's excellent news, everyone - the sooner you get your personal goodies, the sooner it feels like home, I guess?
Dianne |
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wilson182
I Like It Here
Joined: 16 Feb 2004
Posts: 91
Location: half in UK - half in NZ
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 5:28 am Post subject: |
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| veronica wrote: | | Where ever they hire TVs is a good place to scrounge good big strong boxes. |
Never thought of that   |
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