Shipping Quotes

I've contacted Allied-Pickford (http://www.allied-pickfords.co.uk/) and PSS International Removers (http://www.pss.uk.com/Home.htm) for quotes on shipping our stuff. We son't have a lot to ship, just mainly one great big bookshelf & boxes. The bookshelf is far too sentimental too give up, otherwise the shipment would be easier. There's no way we'd fill a container, so I think I'm getting quotes for a shared container, where we only pay for the weight or space we use up. I'll be posting here when I get my quotes from them (early June) - but wondered if anyone had experience with them, or maybe what company you are using instead?
 

We are preparing our move from Southampton, England to San Antonio, TX.
We are not planning on taking any furniture either, just personal effects.
My hubby has contacted some shipping companies too and are expecting some quotes soon.
We will post any info that we find here too for y'all to share.

Shipping companies that we have contacted so far include:

• www.fnworldwide.com
• www.excess-baggage.com
• www.shipit.co.uk
• www.britannia-movers.co.uk 
• www.leatherbarrows.co.uk (affiliated with britannia movers) - received reply, awaiting quotation
• www.bargateinternational.com - received reply, awaiting quotation
• www.internationalhouseremovals.com
• www.bishopsmove.com

THanks Melanie. So are you getting personal-visit quotes from all of them?

   We are moving from London to Houston Texas at the end of June-next month!

i was planning to just excess baggage things because we arent taking any furniture and all the other odds/ends I figure we can replace cheaper than we can ship them-- but Now I am starting to panic that its just too much!\
BA does excess bags at  max weight 32kgs for 70pounds-
Does anyone out there thats shipping just a few boxes know if that is such a terrible price?

I got a quote on Tea CArtons that started at 70pounds for the first carton and then 40 pounds for each consecutive carton- but that is for door to port and then we dont get out stuff for 6 -8 weeks
and with BA excess baggage we have our stuff immediately so it seems a good deal in that way.

I am very interested to hear what quotes you get for your things to San ANtonio- as it must be going thru Port of Houston.

thanks for all the info you guys have shared so far-I ve been lurking and learning a lot!
mary

Ive had personally viewed quotes from about 10 shippers for a UK to Houston sea consignment (door to door plus packing) and they came to about £2500 - £4000 for a 3 bedroom house. Because of that quote we have decided to take only a few key pieces of furniture, a bunch of china, and other personal effects. We'll probably generate about 250 cu ft or half a 20 ft container load. So we'll also be looking into a shared container rather than a sole use container. The companies I liked the best were PSS, Sterling, and Euro-USA who ship for the Department of Defense. Sterling is rather expensive, PSS is the cheapest with what seems to be simmilar service, and Euro-USA was about in the middle. I am now looking into Mayflower.

Hey Marsbar,

Seeing that we are both going to Houston, lets share a container... My hubby has a shipping company coming around today to get a quote.  We are not taking any furniture, just alot of personal items, and my clothes which should take up most the container anyway.

We will let ya'll know what we come up with.

MelanieB

That would be great if we left around the same time! I dont know the logistics of it but we could certainly watch how things progress Looking forward to hearing what your quote was.

Just thought I'd throw this out there-

Ive contacted lots of international shippers as well and most- including PSS have stated that as far as the UK to USA goes smaller quantites of personal effects go-ie- just boxes and no furniture-- air freight comes out cheaper than by sea- and a plus is its a lot quicker, of course.

This is most helpful for those shipping from London to Houston or another major port city  so it may not help anyone but cause MelB just happens to going to San Antonio I thought Id mention it!

flat rates ive gotten are 2.25 pounds per kilo for air freight to houston airport- and then of course charges vary as to where you want it to go after that.

this is very comparable to airline excess baggage rates- loads easier for us cause here in london they'll provide boxes for free and pickup free as well.
Ive gotten best quotes from Interpack- 0800 970 1990
-

Thanks for the suggestion! I hadnt really thought that air freight would be an option. Funny, I had a feeling it would be more expensive!

Well, we've had our first quote by telephone - just waiting for confirmation in the mail.

www.leatherbarrows.co.uk have visited us and have estimated our shipment to be approx 6.3 cubic meters (If I remember correctly, they said 230 cubic feet).

They have quoted us, door to door, for £1624.00.

I'd allocated £2500 so have been pleased so far, although "I need more quotes!"

With reference to the other shipping companies I've contacted - No reply yet (other than Bargate International, who I need to contact once Leatherbarrows have mailled me their quote) - I guess that they don't want our business!

Today, I've submitted a request to PSS removals, and am about to do the same with Allied Pickfords - both of which I am requesting their comments regarding whether to ship or fly our belongings, based on previous postings here.

Will keep y'all updated.

Might want to try Euro-USA as well. They had quite a good quote for what seemed like very comprehensive service. Sounds like your estimate was about right - we were quoted at 500 cu fit for around £3000, so cut that in half and you have your quote. Good news that they came in less than your allocation. Also looking forward to hearing what the other companies say about air shipments vs sea.

i requested quotes from PSs and Allied via their websites a week ago and haven't heard anything - I'm annoyed. Now I have to call them. I hate using telephones! 

2 comments so far:

Allied Pickrofs has been *super* helpful, really friendly over the phone, and have arranged a guy named Andrew to come around in 2 weeks to give me a complete estimate. Really good service so far.

PSS have been jerks. They didn't respond to my online query, so I called and they were really apathetic. They said they wouldn't send anyone out to my house because we won't be shipping a full house full of furniture (only select pieces), so insted sent me a form to fill out. A form that allows no space for putting in measurements of furniture or anything. Really, really unhappy with them so far - so we're not going to bother with them anymore.

PSS did the same to us as well, they just sent us a form.  They won't be getting our business.

MelanieB

The company we are using to go from the USA to the UK also goes from the UK to the USA.

It involves a little more legwork in that you have to pack your own stuff to get the cheapest rate, but they are fairly competetive.
 
http://www.upakweship.co.uk/shipping.htm 

If they don't answer an email inquiry let me know and I will give you the ladies email I am dealing with!