shipping personal affects

[madbathroomfitter]

good afternoon all finally decided to leave the uk with my thai wife she has been here in the uk with me for 4 years on a further leave to remain visa I've made the decision to not apply for indefinite leave to remain and then citizenship mainly due to cost and that we both want to live in thailand my question is does anyone have any experience in shipping personal affects via sea transport. maybe some one has had a good experience with a company that didn't cost the earth. we don't have a lot maybe 10 cubic meters would be enough space. any help or contacts would be helpful 

much thanks 

jeff

[The Hammer2021]

I have a bit of experience.  Be careful about perishable such  as sofas , carpets, textiles or anything  that might rot or be affected  by damp. Including  wood. A container is a damp dark environment.

Think  carefully  about what you really need to bring that is not  cheaper here

Is it easier  to sell stuff in UK and start again here.

Shipping  takes about 3 months. I've shipped from  the ME to Thailand  and UK and to  UK from Thailand so I dont know any specific  companies.

The companies  I dealt with were very good and professional - do not try to save money by 'packing' stuff yourself- leave it to the experts

[Boyn]

we are now moving to LOS and we are shipping using Pickfords they have already sent us boxes and the pricing seems reasonable. Its about having personal stuff with us not so much about replacing it over there.

[Robin]

My suggestion is that you think very carefully about what you take to Thailand.   Many things from UK, like older furniture, will not survive the Thai humidity.

Do you want to find your treasured heirlooms rotting away, or falling apart in LOS?  better to give them to someone who will appreciate them and care for them and see the ruined.

I would consider starting afresh in Thailand and disposing of your UK stuff before you leave.

There is also the other problem of bringing stuff back from Thailand if you change your mind What you ake to Thailand will stay in Thailand.

 

[soi3eddie]

From those I know who have done it, the advice is DON'T import personal effects! Cost, damage, hassles with customs etc. Sell stuff in the UK and take only personal items of sentimental value on the flight with you. You can re-aquire in Thailand.  

 

Strongly advise you to get your wife the "indefinite leave to remain" before exiting UK as it will make life a lot, lot easier if/when you return. It is worth the hassle. Curious as to why after 4 years no IDLR? My Thai wife (now ex) got that after just 1 year and British citizenship after just 3 years total.

 

Edited May 22, 2022 by soi3eddie

[gavlar]

I shipped all my personal  stuff ...in my Thai partners name ....took about 10 weeks to get here and no damage...and no custom payment as in partners name. I used a local company in Wales.....packed everything....great service.

[warrima]

19 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Be careful about perishable such  as sofas , carpets, textiles or anything  that might rot or be affected  by damp. Including  wood. A container is a damp dark environment.

Seriously? How do you imagine all that comes from China?

[KannikaP]

20 hours ago, madbathroomfitter said:

for indefinite leave to remain

Sorry a bit off topic, but....................Isn't English a crazy language. LEAVE & REMAIN mean the exact opposites.

[The Hammer2021]

6 minutes ago, warrima said:

Seriously? How do you imagine all that comes from China?

Not as personal  belongings LOL - Its factory  assembled and packed in special  containers

 

[warrima]

1 minute ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Not as personal  belongings LOL - Its factory  assembled and packed in special  containers

I've been in export/import for 20 years. What's a special container?? Interested to find out. We ship 2 a week including all materials - interested to learn something new here.

[The Hammer2021]

4 minutes ago, warrima said:

I've been in export/import for 20 years. What's a special container?? Interested to find out. We ship 2 a week including all materials - interested to learn something new here.

You have never had goods in your containers suffer from damp damage? In the three month journey  from the UK to Thailand.  I suggest you give your details to  the OP instead of trying  to be clever

[warrima]

Op its really fairly straight forward. Contact any freight forwarder and give them your requirements. As its only a 10m3 shipment it will go LCL (meaning less than container load). That's only 2 x 2 x 2.5m so it would likely get crated - Plywood box. They would drop it off at your address and pick it up. Shipping from UK to Thailand is 6 weeks on ocean. Will also take a few weeks to clear customs - forwarder will do all the paperwork for you. Direct to door delivery. It wont be particularly cheap so consider if what your sending is worth it. As a reference its costing us about 5k usd for a full container from thailand to uk + about 15% extra for landed costs. Shipping has doubled since covid. 

[warrima]

18 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

You have never had goods in your containers suffer from damp damage? In the three month journey  from the UK to Thailand.  I suggest you give your details to  the OP instead of trying  to be clever

No. The containers are 100ft above the ocean minimum. Ikea ship every item they sell in 40 ft GP containers around the world. Its 6 weeks from Southampton to Laem Chabang. Never mind - just keep guessing for answers.

[Muhendis]

 

https://www.removals.co.uk/

These are the people I used but many years ago. Put my house contents into a 20 ft container for me including packing into cardboard boxes. It took five weeks to get here and cost £5,000. And the delivery guys unpacked and put my bits'n pieces into the assigned rooms for me. Nothing has rotted from the Thai humidity. Grumpy about Thai customs bill of £600 though. Reason for that was because my wife didn't stay out of Thailand for the obligatory 1 year.

Here's a few limitations:-

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

Please note that the customer must be in the country when the shipment arrives to clear the shipment through customs.
All shipments are subject to inspection
Anyone with a one year Work Permit (or one year Visa) and returning Thai residents who have lived more than one year abroad (frequent traveling back and forth can cause problems) will be considered for duty-free exemption. Retirees with a one year permission to stay non-O-A ar4e still required to pay customs duty.
A person is allowed duty-free import of one air and one sea shipment from the country of last residence
Shipment must not arrive before the customer
Goods must arrive no later than six months after the date on the Work Permit
Goods must originate from the same country as the customer

DUTIABLE RESTRICTED ITEMS

New items (over six months old) require invoices

Alcoholic beverages
Tobacco products
Works of art and antiquities
Please note that only one type each of electrical appliance is allowed, additional duplicate appliances will be charged the full customs duty. Especially high duties apply to stereo and video equipment, all appliances, luxury items, carpets, foodstuff, and office equipment. Computers, faxes and phones my not be considered as household or personal effects but as dutiable office equipment.

 

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Narcotics and drugs
Medical equipment
Gold and silver
Plants (Health Certificate required)
Several plant and fruits are prohibited (inquire before importing)
Firearms, weapons, ammunition and dangerous objects (subject to taxes and licensing, which take very long; goods of this type MUST NOT BE INCLUDED in household goods shipment)
Radio equipment and transmitters of any kind
Pornographic material

 

All this is ten years old so may have changed in part

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

Sorry a bit off topic, but....................Isn't English a crazy language. LEAVE & REMAIN mean the exact opposites.

as it should I would think??

 

but in USA we park in driveways and drive on parkways... 

[blackshadow]

43 minutes ago, warrima said:

Op its really fairly straight forward. Contact any freight forwarder and give them your requirements. As its only a 10m3 shipment it will go LCL (meaning less than container load). That's only 2 x 2 x 2.5m so it would likely get crated - Plywood box. They would drop it off at your address and pick it up. Shipping from UK to Thailand is 6 weeks on ocean. Will also take a few weeks to clear customs - forwarder will do all the paperwork for you. Direct to door delivery. It wont be particularly cheap so consider if what your sending is worth it. As a reference its costing us about 5k usd for a full container from thailand to uk + about 15% extra for landed costs. Shipping has doubled since covid. 

door to door IS CALLED delivered domicile

[blackshadow]

where do you live in the UK??

[The Hammer2021]

2 hours ago, warrima said:

Op its really fairly straight forward. Contact any freight forwarder and give them your requirements. As its only a 10m3 shipment it will go LCL (meaning less than container load). That's only 2 x 2 x 2.5m so it would likely get crated - Plywood box. They would drop it off at your address and pick it up. Shipping from UK to Thailand is 6 weeks on ocean. Will also take a few weeks to clear customs - forwarder will do all the paperwork for you. Direct to door delivery. It wont be particularly cheap so consider if what your sending is worth it. As a reference its costing us about 5k usd for a full container from thailand to uk + about 15% extra for landed costs. Shipping has doubled since covid. 

Talk to the  OP. He's needs your  advice not me. With your attitude I would NEVER use your company. 

[The Hammer2021]

23 hours ago, Boyn said:

we are now moving to LOS and we are shipping using Pickfords they have already sent us boxes and the pricing seems reasonable. Its about having personal stuff with us not so much about replacing it over there.

When I shipped  from Saudi  to Thailand  and UK the staff  came round  to my villa - assessed the job then brought all the packing materials, cardboard, foam, tape and packed everything  really professionally in a way we could  not have done. They were specialists. Good luck doing  it your way.

In the 70s I sent stuff  from India to UK. Its a longer  journey  to Thailand. 

When/ if  I hire a shipping  company  to move my stuff  to London I will definitely  watch them doing all the packing and wrapping. That is their  job not mine.

 

[Andycoops]

I shipped a couple of pallets from a company based at Bristol docks.

It was 14 years ago and I don't have details which wouldn't be relevant now anyway.

The biggest problem you'll have is dealing with Thai customs when your stuff arrives here.

Good luck.

[kbb]

Schumacher Cargo Logistics

 

Used for move from San Francisco to Northern Thailand late 2020.

Wasn't cheapest, but am still so happy we have many items that are hard to get here in Thailand - Such as  really nice leather sofa, artwork and various pieces of furniture. 

 

https://www.schumachercargo.com/testimonials.html

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Schumacher+Cargo+Logistics,+1027+Newark+Ave,+Elizabeth,+NJ+07208&ludocid=11902040123540501701#lrd=0x89c252b875936267:0xa52c8a6ec213f4c5,1

Edited May 23, 2022 by kbb

[warrima]

13 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Not as personal  belongings LOL - Its factory  assembled and packed in special  containers

 

Here ye go buddy. We just received a container of flatpack kids wooden furniture from china this morning. Looks pretty dry - must be one of the special containers you mentioned ????

 

[blackshadow]

12 hours ago, 1FinickyOne said:

as it should I would think??

 

but in USA we park in driveways and drive on parkways... 

we park on driveways......but drive on ROADS.......!!!

[blackshadow]

13 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

You have never had goods in your containers suffer from damp damage? In the three month journey  from the UK to Thailand.  I suggest you give your details to  the OP instead of trying  to be clever

he is not being clever......

I had ALL MY STUFF  shipped over in a 20 footer 53 boxes in total.....golf clubs .....fishing tackle.....electrical goods.....mountain bike cutlrey.... pots.....plates....sound system.....laptop......tower unit computer....

of all the stuff, when un packing had ONE broken plate.

I paid  C . I.  F

[1FinickyOne]

2 hours ago, blackshadow said:

we park on driveways......but drive on ROADS.......!!!

no highways? expressways? 

[The Hammer2021]

3 hours ago, blackshadow said:

he is not being clever......

I had ALL MY STUFF  shipped over in a 20 footer 53 boxes in total.....golf clubs .....fishing tackle.....electrical goods.....mountain bike cutlrey.... pots.....plates....sound system.....laptop......tower unit computer....

of all the stuff, when un packing had ONE broken plate.

I paid  C . I.  F

Well bully for  you! I am happy  for you. But your single experience  does NOT represent  everyone's experience. Your friend  is trying to be clever by scoring points off me but not actually  giving  any helpful advice  to the OP. I did give helpful  advice based on my positive experiences of shipping goods  by sea since 1974, India, Kuwait, UK, Saudi , Thailand albeit intermittently. BUT  I also referred to other  experiences of people who suffered loss through damage caused by damp and other conditions in the container between UK and Thailand. Many items including wood and fabrics  suffered mold and other associated  damp damage. I suggest  your mate with his  20 years experience gives positive  support  to the OP instead of sniping  at me. I am anxious  to find  the name of his shipping company so I can avoid it as I don't like  his superior  attitude.

[The Hammer2021]

3 hours ago, warrima said:

Here ye go buddy. We just received a container of flatpack kids wooden furniture from china this morning. Looks pretty dry - must be one of the special containers you mentioned ????

 

How does that help the OP? What does it have do with individuals shipping household goods using portions of containers? Yes it does  look pretty dry. And yes: given the fact its  dedicated  to single  purpose  goods it is specialised. I see no domestic  household good in that load sent by individuals or groups  of individuals. Come back  to me when you have more experience shipping a wider variety  of goods including other countries. Have you contacted  the OP yet or are you  still using this thread  to score points? There comes a point where  you are just trolling for the sake of it.

[topt]

5 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Yes it does  look pretty dry. And yes: given the fact its  dedicated  to single  purpose  goods it is specialised.

Not sure where you are coming from on this. That is just a standard "dry" container. Standard 20ft and 40ft containers (unless refrigerated) are all pretty much the same and anybody asking to ship a container will pretty much get the same as anybody else.

See here for a run down of tyupes -https://www.bison-jacks.com/blog/shipping-container/11-most-common-types-of-containers/

 

As an example I had a company move to and from the Philippines many years ago and shipped household products including a couple of sofas that I still have to this day. They went LCL and as a poster mentioned the goods were packed in cartons/shrinkwrap and then enclosed in a couple of Plywood boxes/containers.

[Tropposurfer]

I used major named Aussie removalist/internationally experienced company. They do the whole thing at very competitive rates. NO HIDDEN charges dropped on you at any stage.

Shipped a load of all sorts of stuff. Right down to my personal gardening and hand tools. 

NO ISSUES with mould at all!

Packed and the delivered door to door .... bingo.

Took a tad under 5 weeks door to door.

We from Aussie to Thailand are allowed (as a bonafide retiree) one-off container shipment of PERSONAL EFFECTS AND BELONGINGS without any import tax.

I believe this is the same for every nationality.

We shipped a 20 metre container.

Happy packing and trails.

If you're paranoid about moisture n mould then you could invest in vacuum packing setup and pack lots of linen and stuff this way to ensure no moisture gets in.

[The Hammer2021]

9 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

I used major named Aussie removalist/internationally experienced company. They do the whole thing at very competitive rates. NO HIDDEN charges dropped on you at any stage.

Shipped a load of all sorts of stuff. Right down to my personal gardening and hand tools. 

NO ISSUES with mould at all!

Packed and the delivered door to door .... bingo.

Took a tad under 5 weeks door to door.

We from Aussie to Thailand are allowed (as a bonafide retiree) one-off container shipment of PERSONAL EFFECTS AND BELONGINGS without any import tax.

I believe this is the same for every nationality.

We shipped a 20 metre container.

Happy packing and trails.

If you're paranoid about moisture n mould then you could invest in vacuum packing setup and pack lots of linen and stuff this way to ensure no moisture gets in.

Good advice but I would replace  'paranoid' with 'concerned'.