Here is the truth from The International Moving Doctor.

If you use good quality rubber tubs like the ones in this picture above, then you will be fine. They have the strength to be stacked up on each other so they will travel great with no issues or damage. Always stack the heaviest tubs at the bottom though.

The trouble happens when you use the cheaper plastic ones, often semi see through which are fine for your Christmas decorations to be stored in your attic or garage but not so good when you are using them to move overseas. The trouble happens when you stack four , five or six on top of each other. The one at the bottom can not support that much weight on top of it and starts to crack and split open. It might even crush and cause the ones above it to start leaning or falling which can make the whole pallet or U Crate to be unstable. On top of this (pardon the pun) the split open tub contents will get damaged and if there is anything liquid in there, it might leak which can then  cause damage to other things in your shipment, such as clothes or bedding.

If you are using a U Crate, the crate sides should support the load, even if the bottom is crushing but on a pallet you could end up with some serious damage as the load is only covered with shrink wrap and sharp pieces of plastic tub could tear the cover and loose items spill out from the pallet.

So, if using plastic tubs or crates, use good quality ones that are not cheap but they will ship just fine and be good for storage in your garage, shed or attic for years to come at your overseas destination. Cardboard moving boxes are great, and cheaper if you pack them full so they can not crush and you plan on unpacking everything soon after you arrive at the destination but if items might be staying stored then definitely invest in the tubs.

I hope that helps and don’t forget to ask the International Moving Doctor at UPakWeShip if you have any questions. If you are not sure what service you need, take a look at this You Tube video which explains all the different services we offer.

All our U Crate and pallet rates are online at www.upakweship.com so if you want to know how much it costs to move overseas, have a look at our international moving cost calculator.

If you need a personalized international moving quote, just click here.

Happy Packing folks

Cheers Mark Nash, aka The International Moving Doctor, UPakWeShip, your trusted International Mover.

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A Family company that specializes in moving Families!

There are big corporate moving companies that specialize in moving big corporate employees with big relocation budgets. There are also big corporate companies that specialize in moving Military families and Government employees. Most do a great job and offer what’s called a white glove service for their customers. But do they have the time, patience, staff and competitiveness to look after the family who is paying for themselves that need some handholding and friendly helpful advice through the process?

That’s where UPakWeShip comes into its own! UPakWeShip is a family run business with 7 family members spread between its offices in the USA, Europe and the UK. With operations on both sides of the Atlantic, most of our moves are controlled and managed by UPakWeShip with no third-party agents contacting you.

Why is having one company door to door so important?  It allows us to maintain a high standard of quality control, operational and communications, and most importantly stops extra fees being billed to you by third parties. How often do you see reviews online that say the move was ok, but we were charged an extra fee before delivery for various made-up reasons. It’s common practice for the delivery agent that probably only won the job by being the cheapest to make more profit by charging extras on the delivery. Not with UPakWeShip though!

Many years ago, we were so fed up with this practice and complaints from our customers when we used a third-party mover, that we decided to set up our own company in the UK and Europe so that we could make sure this did not happen anymore.

When moving with UPakWeShip, you will feel the difference between us and the big guys, we answer the phone, you can always speak to the same person you did last time and we are knowledgeable, friendly, patient and most importantly give you a lump sum all inclusive price without the worry of extra sneaky fees being made up to line some large corporations pockets! See UPakWeShip’s price guarantee here.

We are the UPakWeShip family that wants to help your family relocate with no stress or worries.

One company door to door. Get all inclusive moving and shipping rates online with our international moving cost calculator.

The post We are Family appeared first on UPakWeShip.

This is a popular question, and I’ll do my best to answer it for you here.

The quick simple answer is no, providing you have all your boxes in a row!

Here is the more detailed answer.

U Crates, Pallets and Shared Container Services

If you are shipping U Crates, Pallets or our shared container service we have a simplified customs clearance process at our the UPakWeShip office in Rotterdam which allows us to not charge you any customs duties or taxes on your shipment providing you provide us with your passport and a signed declaration that all the goods are yours and used and not for re sale. We also need a packing list with a non-detailed description of what is in each box. By that I mean box 1 Kitchenware, not 14 forks and 12 knives etc. It’s all very easy and simple.

We can also store your things in our warehouse if you are still looking for a place to stay. The storage rate is 25 Euros per pallet per week, so if you had three U Crates or pallets the rate would be 75 Euros per week.

20ft and 40ft Self Lod Shipping Containers

If, however, you are loading a 20ft or 40ft shipping container yourself, then the container will have to be shipped direct to the nearest port in the country you are moving to. As this is a large shipment and arriving in the country of final delivery you will have to abide by the customs regulations of that country. We obviously do provide you with the documentation requirements and it varies with each European Country, but you will need a visa to show you are approved to be moving there and complete numerous forms and often provide proof you have lived outside of Europe for the past 12 months. Many countries require an interview at the embassy or consulate in the USA before you get your visa to move. Providing you get all the documentation requirements to us before your container arrives at the destination, we should be able to clear it through customs with no duties or taxes, but if anything is wrong or missing, the local customs office in the European country might charge you duties and taxes so do your homework and prepare well in advance. Also worth noting here is most of the shipping lines that provide the containers to go on their ships, typically only allow 3-5 days free at the destination before they start charging you for keeping their container, even if it hasn’t cleared customs yet. The port also jumps on the band wagon and will charge for the space your container is using, sitting in the port after 3-5 days while waiting. This is called rent and demurrage and will be invoiced to you for payment before delivery if the container takes too long to clear through customs or if further documentation is required by customs or any hold-ups. This is typical in countries like Spain and Portugal where the process can be slow.

As the shipping lines own the containers and want them back asap so they can re load them, we can not offer storage for your container so after if clears customs if you need it stored, the best thing to do is find a local self-storage place where we can deliver the container to, for you to unload.

The post Will I Pay Duties and Taxes when shipping my stuff to Europe? appeared first on UPakWeShip.

Alicia Hawk is exceptional at providing information that helped guide us through the process of shipping from Austin Texas to Portugal.  There simply are not enough words to describe how terrific she is when communicating with someone like me, who tends to have a lot of questions.  And her responsiveness was impressive.

Elda Martinez, out of the European Office is also exceptional, providing the information needed to guide us after the crate arrived in Rotterdam.  From the date it left Rotterdam through the anticipated delivery date she was very responsive to my many questions. Her communication style squashed any fears I may have dreamed up.

Both women delivered information in a highly professional manner and represented your company in the best possible way.

It is my distinct pleasure to have an opportunity to draft this message to you.

By the way, the shipping went so well, we’re back in the states preparing to ship additional goods with your company.  The only items we will not ship with you are our oriental rugs and original artwork, both which require climate controlled containers.

Sincerely,

Kathleen

The post Read This before moving to Europe from the USA appeared first on UPakWeShip.

If you are moving overseas from the USA, Europe, or The United Kingdom, UPakWeShip can look after you with prompt communication, professional approach, friendly honest advice and above all a competitive all inclusive door to door price.

Nice job John Bonney and our customer service team!

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If you haven’t watched the International Moving Doctors video on how to complete a packing list when you are shipping your things overseas, then I suggest you should

It explains how to produce a “customs friendly” list of all your things you are shipping by typing a list as well as sticking the correct labels on all your items and numbering them so in the rare event that customs look at your list and ask to view item 22 they can easily identify it quickly without looking through everything else.

I know I’m biased but I really think its worth a quick watch.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGQ1Wjj6r4M

The International Moving Doctor  You Tube channel is full of helpful information on subjects like how to pack, how to tape a box properly, what to ship and what to leave behind as well as many great tips from the UPakWeShip coordinators on shipping self load hipping containers and U Crates.

Please also subscribe so that you get notified when the next video comes out. We try and do a couple every month. We are currently working on a video about how not to get scammed when moving overseas which will be full of great advice for people relocating overseas.

The post How to do The International Packing List appeared first on UPakWeShip.

Absolutely! There is a company in the USA called Movinghelp.com that is a great resource to find local help. If not call a local independent mover to quote you on providing a loading crew.

What the cheapest way to move overseas?

Obviously the less you send the less you spend. If you have nothing fragile then the UPakWeShip Pallet service is a very economic way to ship but its not as safe and secure as UPakWeShip’s U Crate service. Always go for a door-to-door option, thinking you are going to save money by collecting your things at the port is often a false economy. You will have to pay a bunch of extra fees before you are allowed to collect it and its probably going to be in a yard in a shady part of town you wish you were not in, let alone your belongings!

Do I need insurance?

Would you not insure your car or house contents? The chances are slim right, but you still insure them just in case. It’s the same with shipping insurance. 99% of the time everything is perfect but just in case something happens you will be pleased you got your money back on the shipping cost as well as being able to buy some new things to compensate for your losses.

   Shall I ship everything including all my furniture or just the personal stuff?

If you company is going to pay for everything you might as well ship everything but if you are on a lump sum relocation meaning you have a budget then may be consider just shipping your essential items like clothes, pictures, hobby stuff like your guitar, golf clubs, fishing poles, books, gaming chair etc and leave the rest behind. With the money saved, buy a new bed and sofa at your destination, and treat yourself to an upgraded flight!

Which companies should I get quotes from?

Using google, search for international moving companies that specialize in the are you are shipping to. For example, there is no point asking a company that specializes in South America if you are moving to London. Also, if you are paying your self and only have a few hundred cubic feet or 2500lbs for example there probably isn’t the need to use an expensive corporate mover however great their red carpet VIP service is!

Check out Facebook recommendation groups like Americans moving to Portugal or Brits in LA, or NY or moving to Costa Rica group for example. Many people will share their experiences and recommendations as well as other helpful advice.

  Google reviews are also important but don’t be put off if a company has just a few bad ones. Sometimes they are written by competitors and sometimes you just can’t please everybody however hard you might try.

Ask other expats who you meet at your destination who they used for shipping their personal effects and household goods. May be others at the same company you will be working for or same school or may be a local expat group or realtor.

What should I be looking for in a quote?

Check to see everything that can be is included. Some companies might miss out port charges or terminal or handling fees that you would have to pay at the destination. Your best bet is to prepay everything door to door in your quote. If its too good to be true, don’t book it! There are still some unscrupulous companies out there who will take your money and run! Bottom line you are looking for a decent door to door all-inclusive lump sum price.

Questions to ask the mover.

Once you have narrowed it down to a few movers, ask them some questions. How long have you been in business? Do you have a license and what’s the number? Do you have references?  What’s the transit time? Who do you use overseas at the destination you are moving to? Do you have your own warehouse? How many employees do you have? I’m all for small business support but you don’t want to have all your treasured belongings being taken care of by a one-man band working from their basement, do you? Ask the company about the destination you are going to. If you are moving to Edinburgh but they have no idea where that it and can’t pronounce it, it’s probably not the right fit for you. Do they know about local customs regulations or at least can find out for you?

   This is written by UPakWeShip’s  International Moving Doctor. We hope this helps when you are looking for an International Mover to ship your things overseas.  If you have any other questions, click here and ask the International Moving Doctor.

The post International Moving Questions and Answers appeared first on UPakWeShip.

We know we are by no means the only good company in the international moving world, but we also know there are quite a few less than desirable moving and shipping companies that will get your things and then hold it hostage for more money. Hopefully the notes below will help you choose a great company.

1/ In the USA, all companies performing international moves must be licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission and have a FMC license number.  To check to see if a company is licensed click here. https://www2.fmc.gov/oti/  We are licensed as EuroUSA Shipping Inc and UPakWeShip. It is important to use a licensed professional in case anything went wrong you can contact the FMC dispute and resolution committee to help and advise you.

2/ Google reviews. No one in a service industry has perfect reviews but check that the company has more than 4 out of 5 stars.

3/ Do they sound like they know where you are going? Do they seem knowledgeable, are they aware of customs procedures and can answer questions?

4/ Can they email you a picture of your shipment when it arrives at the terminal? OK rubbing it in a little here as I am not sure anyone else apart from UPakWeShip sends you a picture, but we think it’s important to show you that we care and put your mind at ease.

5/ Do they have their own office at the destination to take care of you when you and your shipment arrives? Having your own office is a great plus as it maintains service levels and shipping costs and stops other companies or agents charging you more money at the destination for made up extra charges before delivery. If they use an agent and don’t have their own office overseas, Google the name of the agent and check the reviews. Sometimes there can be financial disputes between companies and your shipment is placed on hold until they get it sorted out. This will not happen if you are using the same company both ends!

6/ Do they specialize in the area you are moving to?  We specialize in UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Others might specialize in Mexico, Canada, Asia, Africa etc. but there is no point in going with a great company that specializes in Asia if you are moving to London!

7/ Do they answer the phone? Is there more than one person working at this company? We are OK with supporting small businesses, but you don’t want your precious belongings sitting in the middle of the Atlantic when the owner operator has an argument with a bus!

8/ How many years have they been in business? It takes time to get established, build credit, become stable. Don’t book with a new company, why take the risk when there are plenty of established businesses. I know we are showing our age, but we started up in 1988!

9/ We know price plays an important part of the decision but if you are not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling about the people with the best price, don’t do it! Your personal things deserve better! Make sure you ask for all inclusive pricing. You don’t want any extra surprises. Customs exams and x rays would always be extra as no one knows what these costs would be if any, but pretty much everything else should be included. Insurance is always an extra and anyone that says insurance is included in your quote means the insurance is worthless.

10/ If you want to pack your things yourself you can, don’t let some moving and packing company talk you into believing that you won’t get through customs at destination if you pack it yourself. If that was the truth we wouldn’t be in business. There is no more risk if you pack it yourself, but the mover makes a lot of money charging you to pack your things.

The post Questions to ask your mover when moving overseas. appeared first on UPakWeShip.

Loaded a 40 ft groupage to the UK and another to Europe. Both full of pallets and U Crates.

Our 35,000 sq ft warehouse has plenty of room to handle all your shipments. We have 4 loading docks and a drive in ramp. If you want to save some money and fancy a road trip, come and visit team UPakWeShip USA and drop your things off and load some U Crates or Pallets here.

You can even load a 20 or 40 ft shipping container safely here.

We offer free cups of tea, coffee and ice cold water as well as friendly advice and help with your documentation.

Over here to help you move over there.

Need an International Moving quote? Need warehouse storage or Logistics services? Email us at move@upakweship.com

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Every day we patiently explain that we do not deliver books for Amazon and that we ship peoples belongings overseas.

I wish it was that easy to just call up Amazon and explain that one of their vendors is wrongly advising its customers, but obviously that isn’t the case.

If anyone wants to move overseas, then UPakWeShip is here to serve you with great rates and the best customer service. If however you are waiting for your book delivery, its not us, so please call Amazon or the supplier you bought the book from.

PS we do offer our own free book on how to move overseas if you want some light reading

Cheers The International Moving Doctor.

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