Freight/shipping
and storage
If
you've decided it's time to get yourself and your several souvenirs back to the
homeland or that you need a rest from all that hard slog and have booked a
severely extended holiday that we Southern hemispherer's are renowned for then
you will no doubt be considering either shipping or storage of your goods.
Okay, so you've decided to return to sunnier climates or your visa's about to
expire. But before you go, you obviously need to ship some of your stuff you
have collected here in the UK. Alternatively you may want to send some of your
valubles from home to the UK, ie. mountain bike, snow/surf board, etc...
CHOOSING A PRIVATE COMPANY
o Plan well in advance. Check to see if the company charges by weight. If
they do (and most should), ensure that your package is just below - rather than
just above - the next price bracket.
o Stuff your parcel with newspaper to prevent valuables from rocking
about and breaking.
Packages are thrown from ship to ship, so the more sturdy the better. If
you need boxes of varying sizes or protective paper, pop down to the local fast
food store or supermarket and ask if they have any throwaway boxes or packaging.
o Inner-wrap all your contents in plastic bags to protect against oil
spills and water leakage on deck.
o Opt for an established company so as to minimise the risk of it going
out of business. Your goods might take three months to transport. If the
organisation 'folds' during this time, your luggage could be left stranded in a
remote part of Asia.
o Shipping companies offer two types of service: 'Door-to-Door' or
'Door-to-Port'. Door to Port is cheaper at the outset, but will incur further
costs, including handling charges, unloading charges and customs fees. These
could be at least £100.
o Shop around for the company that best serves your destination. Compare the price
rates, quality control and expected delivery dates.
SHIPPING YOUR LUGGAGE
No matter how hard you try not to pick up various objects, you will
always end up taking out more than you brought in. Don't think it won't happen,
because it will. The question to ask is not how it happened but what you should
do.
Firstly, off-load any non-essential items on friends or nearby charity
shops. Now is not the time to be accumulating junk.
If you have anything which is not practically worthless, you could try
selling it by placing a free ad in Loot or a similar publication. You can also
try our message board.
Once you have filtered the good from the bad, save yourself from
exorbitant airport fees for excess baggage by sending the bulk via surface or
sea.
Choose from the plethora of independent shipping companies advertised in
local magazines or papers or opt for the government-run Royal Mail
and Parcel Force.
Good deals can be had from shopping around - take note of our tips on
choosing a private company.
PROCESS
Arranging transport of goods
You can either send your goods via sea or air. Keep in mind that the
cheapest (however longer) way to send goods is via sea. If money is not
an issue and time is precious look into sending your goods via air. Also
find out about insurance for your goods, particularly if you have some
valuables.
There are mainly two ways that you can arrange for your goods to be
delivered to your final destination. There is a door-to-door service,
where your goods will be picked up from you, shipped or flown and then
taken directly to the door of your final destination. The other option,
which is usually slightly cheaper, however can take longer and is less
convenient, is having the goods sent to the port nearest your home and
you make arrangements for the pick-up yourself.
Packing goods
When you are happy with a particular company's quote, try and get a
description on the size and types of boxes and cartons they have
available so that you can work out how many you will need to send your
goods in. You can usually get small boxes, such as 'bookcases', to large
'tea-chest' boxes.
Give yourself a few extra days before you need to ship your goods and
arrange to have some empty cartons or boxes dropped off (this is usually
free of charge once you have had a quote) so that you can begin packing.
Most shipping companies can also provide packing materials such as
bubble wrap, free of charge, so make sure you ask for plenty.
The company will provide several forms for you to fill out, including a
customs declaration form - PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS COMPULSORY TO FILL IN
- so that the goods can be delivered to your final destination with as
little hassle as possible. Make sure you write a clear description of
the contents of your goods, the value of the goods and clearly indicate
the final delivery address. This will avoid arousing suspicions or
curiosity from customs and in turn, avoid more charges later on for a
thorough check on your goods.
If you will not be there when your goods arrive, authorise someone else
to take care of the goods on your behalf.
It's a good idea to take a copy of the papers that will be sent with the
shipment so that you have a record of the contents and shipping
arrangements.
Inquire about insurance for your goods. If you have anything valuable it
would be wise to take out insurance.
Arranging pick-up
Once you have packed your goods securely, simply arrange a time for
pick-up and the company will come and pick up your goods along with the
necessary paperwork and payment for delivery.
Final Destination
The arrival of your goods at the final destination will depend on which
way you send them. For shipping goods via sea, the duration could be up
to 10 weeks. If you send your shipment via air it could take up to 2
weeks.
When your shipment arrives at the final country of destination, it will
need to be checked by customs. Be prepared, you may have to pay a fee
for customs to double-check that your goods are okay to enter the
country. This is not included in the initial fee for pickup and delivery
of the goods. This is why it is a good idea to clearly describe what the
contents of your goods are, so that customs will be less inclined to
search the entire boxes.
COSTS and
TIME FRAME
Almost
all shipping companies will supply and deliver (Mon. to Sat.) tea chests,
cartons and wrapping materials free of charge and then collect them when you're
ready. Sea freighting costs are calculated by volume not weight so this will
almost definitely be the most inexpensive method of delivery but, of course, the
slowest- approximately 8 to 10 weeks for door to door delivery to NZ.
You can also choose to have your goods held at a storage depot at the other end.
Expect
to pay around £110 for one large tea chest door to door ,with reductions for
additional chests sent, including everything except insurance where you nominate
the value of your goods and then pay either 3.5% of value to cover loss of goods
only or 5% for full insurance but definitely call around for competitive quotes.
A kiwi mate recently paid £135 plus £25 insurance for
a 10 week delivery time to Auckland of 1 large tea chest, 1 half tea chest and a
set of ski's...no problems encountered. The more you send the cheaper it is. One
thing worth noting is that they are only cardboard boxes hence lining with
rubbish bags to give them a bit of protection is a good idea depending on the
contents.
Air
freight will be a lot more speedy (apx 7 to 14 days depending on destination)
and expensive but probably a good idea if you don't want to get caught out by
hefty airline excess baggage costs and want your surf board and golf clubs to
arrive as safely and as quickly as you do.....ahhh the price of pleasure......
There's
also the possibility of your goods being subjected to a random quarantine check
on arrival.
Unless
you have kind friends with big cupboards who are sticking around London for a
while you will probably need rental storage for any goods you want to see on
your return to the U.K. You can rent almost any size of storage from a locker to
a ballroom so costs will depend on how much paraphernalia you've gathered. For 2
large tea chests to be stored for 2 months would be £40 according to a shipping
company with
an extra £10 for supply, deliver and collection of boxes. Easy and safe! Try
the recommended companies below for quotes and maybe try the minimalist approach
to save yourself some cash.
ROYAL MAIL AND PARCEL FORCE
If you only intend to send small letters and parcels it is best to deal
with Royal Mail. Larger deliveries will be handled by Parcel Force.
For an indication on cost consult our price guide below. Air mail will
normally take around five to seven days to reach its destination.
Surface mail takes approximately six weeks and sea mail can take up to
three months.
The cost of each service is relative to its speed. For further details
drop in to your local post office or call Royal Mail on 0345-740 740 and Parcel
Force on 0800-22 44 66. A good selection of private agents sit along London's
Earls Court Rd (SW5).
SHIPPING INSURANCE
Shipping companies' insurance policies vary greatly from one outfit to
another. Gather a few together and compare the terms and conditions.
Be wary of the numerous exclusion clauses - read the small print before
signing anything.
Ensure the insurance policy is arranged through a well-known and
reputable underwriter who has offices near the destination.
Ask for the name and address of the settling agent before heading home.
