Shipper UK-USA small volume not weight???

I am still at the find a shipper stage argh!  Since we arent shipping much 215 kg/2.11 cubic meters (thats including 7 guitars) the air ship price of £2.93 per kg from Virgin was reasonable.  But by air shipments you are charged by weight or dimensional weight which ever is greater.  To calculate dimensional weight you take the total cubic meters and divide by 60.  So we were still looking good, until I read line #11...  

11. You are responsible for arranging Customs clearance of your goods at destination, we do not offer a Customs clearance service.

So now I am trying to figure out what is involved in clearing customs/documents/process.  Once I find that out I will pass it on.  Now also its only an airport to airport service.

Ok, I picked a shipper finally!  I ended up going with Upakweship, because their prices for ocean & air shipment were good plus they have received good reviews.  From Portsmouth, UK to Los Angeles...ocean was £190 1st box & £50 ea additional box, with each box max weight 40kg.  Air shipment £2.80kg plus some additional charges for airport & customs.  The ocean shipment will cost me £40 for pick up cause Portsmouth far from London, but good side the prices for each box includes delivery to door in California even though I am 150 miles away from port, so thats a real plus.  Most wanted to charge alot of money cause I was so far from port.  Plus I will just have them pick up the air shipment at same time.  The air shipment price is pick up their warehouse Los Angeles, as to door would be £6.50kg.  Its ok we can make a day of it going down to LA.  Even tho its now June 21st I still able to get a Jul7 5th pick up date, which is a relief.  I hope all this has been usefull & when & if I have more I will post it.

I ended up going with Upakweship.  Ocean shipment we ended up with 6 boxes 20 inches squared packed up to 40kg.  First box £190 ea additional box £50 &  £40 for pick up for a total of £480 & this is door to door even tho I am over 250 miles from the port.  Air shipment is pick up at airport but shipper been so helpful he is having it arrive when we do & says picking up air shipments from customs doesnt take long.   Air shipment shipping 8 guitars & 2 packed up pkgs of fishing poles 99 kilos X £2.80 kilo plus £45 in fees total of £322.20.  So costs are good except insurance on value is times 3.5% OMG it will cost more in insurance than total cost to ship items.  So now I am desperately looking online for my own insurance, argh!  I didnt realize how stressful the shipping part was going to be.  The shipper has our stuff already so I have to make a decision tomorrow argh as he needs to be paid.  Oh & to pay by credit card theres a 5% fee, argh!  I dont know how much more of this stress I can handle, argh!