For all the UPAKWESHIP-ers, I got a question!

My experience with UPak is that I dropped my boxes off at a vanline warehouse they instructed me to go to in Austin, TX where I lived. I took 28 boxes that I'd packed and labelled carefully myself, and watched as the men there stacked my boxes onto two small wooden pallets, then shrink-wrapped everything into place.

They made small stacks of my boxes on their pallets in as compact and squared-away a configuration as possible (some were differing sizes), and they shrink-wrapped these stacks very securely, manually going round and round and in every direction so that nothing will shift. I think you also have the option for the boxes to be crated or have a crate built around them, but the cost is higher than pallet/shrinkwrap.

What they wind up with is a tight little stack stuck to its pallet. They truck that to the nearest port, in my case Houston, and what I gather is that they then load these small, palletised shipments into spaces in the actual containers (which are huge, the size of a large room) usually yes it is in with other people's stuff, but your boxes should be labelled by you with all your contact details and numbered (mine as "1 of 28", "2 of 28" etc.).

My ship just docked last Friday so I am still waiting to see how my stuff did...keep your fingers crossed...So far I have been happy with the level of service and everyone has been friendly and helpful along the way.

I used a company called Schumacher Cargo Logistics.  I shopped around for prices and this place came in a lot lower than the others I called.  I was happy with their service and felt very comfortable using them.  Their prices were all inclusive for port to door services.  I only had a small shipment of boxes but they also do whole houses and automobiles.

http://www.schumachercargo.com/terms.html

Just wantd to report, my shipment was delivered last week, everything all present and correct, and the only breakage was the glass in a picture frame that is replaceable anyway!

I shipped 28 boxes with UPakWeShip, dealt with a lady named Alison on the US side, arranged warehouse-to-door delivery (I took my boxes to a local vanline warehouse, they transported it to my nearest port, over here it was delivered to my accomodations), the company dealing with this end was EuroUSA.

I made my warehouse delivery in Austin TX on July 18th, and took delivery in the London Essex border on September 9th. The freighter docked on August 29th, my stuff went through customs clearance very quickly and I was surprised by a call from EuroUSA saying they could deliver earlier than expected! I was worried about this entire process, hearing stories of being charged further costs, stuff held hostage, etc. I've been very satisfied with the smooth service and feel fortunate, not to mention, whew, I've got my stuff I was starting to need! Yay!

All I know is, every person I dealt with in all three entities of the process were amazing: friendly, helpful, and reassuring. I know there are negative reports about UPak but I just wanted to post my experience, as I'm thrilled my stuff is here and everything went perfectly.

What I'm hoping in posting this is that it may be a reassurance to anyone in the middle of using this company right now.

Edit, well I just felt glad that my stuff got here, as I'm sure we've all been through the waiting and wondering and then rejoiced at seeing it again..... never mind... *crickets chirping*.....