$7000 to ship 3000lbs? really?

We're moving from St Louis to London this summer. I called three of the 4 companies recommended by movingscam.com.

Just got our first quote from one of them, Rainier, which in my opinion got the best reviews (imo) on those forums. Basically we had enough stuff to just over half-fill a 20' container.

$7000 

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but seriously, $7000!

We're only bringing our kitchen stuff, one queen size bed, one dresser, several framed pictures, a couple boxes of books, and a bunch of misc stuff in a dozen plastic bins.

I don't doubt Rainier is giving me an fair estimate, and I'll have others to compare the price to soon, but I we've given away soo much stuff and sold so much other stuff, I just thought we'd be more in the 2-4,000 range.

Starting to think I will show up with what I can fit in my suitcases and smile, and thats about it.

I haven't seen the official quote, my wife just broke the news to me over the phone, and said we could lower the price if we got down to 2000lbs. I expected the quote to be based on cubic feet, but maybe its because we're in the midwest, and not on the east coast. Who knows.

-Brian

Well, I paid $1200 to ship 400 lbs--just clothes, kitchen stuff, computer, and a few books. Via UPS, 18 months ago.

Actually bch820, I had a bit more than you moved to the UK about 8 years ago and it cost me £3500 so I'm thinking your quote is pretty accurate.

Starting to think I will show up with what I can fit in my suitcases and smile, and thats about it.

You probably need to have a serious think about what you want to take and see how much you'd pay to replace it in the UK.  Remember the UK (especially London) can be expensive, so something that cost $200 in the US may cost £200 in the UK.

Also, when you buy new furniture, etc.. you'll have to pick it out so not only will you be paying for the items, but your time will be spent finding it.

I guess its just weighing the choices and seeing which works best!

Good luck.

I can't remember the weight, but our 20' container was a little over half full.  We paid slightly over $7000 three years ago going from Houston to Southampton. 

Well, we got it down to 2000lbs for $5000.

Strangely, we have to be in the UK when the stuff arrives. It takes 5-8 weeks from next Friday to get to London, and we don't plan to be there for about 9 weeks. We can have them keep our stuff in storage ($600 to get it to the warehouse, $75/month there after), or my wife may be going over early.

Hello
I am facing the same problem like you moving from UK to NL but I am dealing with Mr £ and his brother  Euro

What kind of Packing and wrapping are you getting with your quote ?

You can try  doug@rainieros.com
This is my old quote  from  rainieros.com  two year ago

Estimated cubic footage 600-800Cf.
The cost to professionally export pack, wrap and load your goods into a 20ft
steamship container at your home in GA., truck the container to port
Savannah , load it on to the steamship, pay all US port/terminal fees and
take care of all US export documentation, ocean freight to port
Felixstowe,
clear through UK Customs and deliver into your new home in London will be
approx. $5700.00 door to door. Transit time 25-35 days. Storage in UK
approx. $300.00/month and warehouse handling into storage approx. $350.00

Insurance [full value, all risk coverage] is $23.00/$1000.00 value.
I was very happy with the
With the following Packing and wrapping .

    Packing paper secures items to prevent knocking and chipping
     mattress cover, ideal for keeping mattresses clean and dry during the removal process
    Bubble wrap squares, great for wrapping small picture, ornaments Buy onlineand
    general crockery
    Special Box for palsma 42inch inch TV , Frig, Wahser and Dryer

 
$75/month  is very sheap  ..  I was aked £75 per week in UK

You could try to store them in USA to save some money .. £ is strong and $ is weak.
Good Luck ..
I need to post mine  now ..

PS:
Do you have accomdation yet ?. you may have to pay 6 months in advance like me  with no credit history in UK ..

Not sure about the packing materials, i'd have to check.

My wife is going to go over earlier than me to receive the shipment and avoid storage. We'll be apart about 2 weeks, but it'll save $600.

We're staying with her parents, so we're good on accommodation. We plan to stay with them and save to buy a flat. Otherwise I don't think we'd ever be able to save enough to get on the property ladder if we're paying rent somewhere.

Thanks for posting your old quote.

Well, I paid $1200 to ship 400 lbs--just clothes, kitchen stuff, computer, and a few books. Via UPS, 18 months ago.

Red5 or someone else...
We're just going to ship some personal items like clothes, some frames, books and toiletries.  Do you think it's worth just using UPS to ship our stuff?  There is nothing fragile or extra large that needs to go...

What are the disadvantages of using UPS? 

Theresa

I stopped at the UPS Store last week and asked about shipping three boxes (18 gallon Rubbermaid tub size) weighing approximately 20lbs each.  The UPS cost was over twice as much as USPS.  I was surprised.

We're moving from St Louis to London this summer. I called three of the 4 companies recommended by movingscam.com.

Just got our first quote from one of them, Rainier, which in my opinion got the best reviews (imo) on those forums. Basically we had enough stuff to just over half-fill a 20' container.

$7000 

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but seriously, $7000!

We're only bringing our kitchen stuff, one queen size bed, one dresser, several framed pictures, a couple boxes of books, and a bunch of misc stuff in a dozen plastic bins.

I don't doubt Rainier is giving me an fair estimate, and I'll have others to compare the price to soon, but I we've given away soo much stuff and sold so much other stuff, I just thought we'd be more in the 2-4,000 range.

Starting to think I will show up with what I can fit in my suitcases and smile, and thats about it.

I haven't seen the official quote, my wife just broke the news to me over the phone, and said we could lower the price if we got down to 2000lbs. I expected the quote to be based on cubic feet, but maybe its because we're in the midwest, and not on the east coast. Who knows.

-Brian

I used Rainier coming here last year and paid just over $7K for a 20' container. I'm using them again to go the other way in July and its $9700 for a 20' container. The problem is, if you use more than X% of a container you're likely to get billed for the full container (in fact it often works out in your favor that way). Sounds like they're billing you for the full container and no one else will be sharing it. REducing your load and sharing your container will be the way to get the cost down.

I have to say that I'm going with Rainier again because there were absolutely no hidden fees. Also find out what movers they use on each end because the experience is only as good as the weakest link (especially determined by who packs/loads your goods).

Well, we got it down to 2000lbs for $5000.

Strangely, we have to be in the UK when the stuff arrives. It takes 5-8 weeks from next Friday to get to London, and we don't plan to be there for about 9 weeks. We can have them keep our stuff in storage ($600 to get it to the warehouse, $75/month there after), or my wife may be going over early.

its not that strange, if you were not in the UK and did not setup storage with them, what would they do with your belongings?

good luck with your move!

its not that strange, if you were not in the UK and did not setup storage with them, what would they do with your belongings?

Well, we're shipping it to my in-laws house, so they could have received our stuff for us. As it is, my wife is going to go over 2 weeks before me to receive our stuff. We have a 10 month old son, so I'll miss him (and my wife), but other than that its not a big deal.

Well, we're shipping it to my in-laws house, so they could have received our stuff for us. As it is, my wife is going to go over 2 weeks before me to receive our stuff. We have a 10 month old son, so I'll miss him (and my wife), but other than that its not a big deal.

gotcha. that does suck! glad you got it worked out though.