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.

The ToR, or Transfer of Residence form, was introduced to the UK to allow you to ship your items into the country duty-free and tax-free. It should be one of the number one things on your to-do list, as we need your ToR number in order to ship your belongings.

However, to obtain duty and tax-free entry of your used household items there is a criteria:

• You must be shipping your own belongings within 12 months of your personal arrival to the UK.
• You must have lived outside of the UK for the past 12 months.
• You must declare all of your items that you are going to ship have been used for more than 6 months and that you are not going to sell them within the next 12 months.

You can find the full terms and conditions of the ToR on the UK Government’s website, however, before you start the process it’s important to have prepared:

• Your packing list
• A photocopy of your passport page
• Proof of your UK address
• Proof of your current address
• Details of any vehicle you’re bringing with you (yes, we ship vehicles too!)

We know it sounds daunting, and nobody likes paperwork, but don’t worry, when you ship with us, your shipping coordinator will know all of the ins and outs and will talk you through the process…

…Which has just become significantly shorter, thanks to the UK finally getting with the times!

From the 1st of January, the once email-in ToR system has become digitised – you simply submit your ToR via this online application, smoothing about the whole process tenfold!

If you know you’re ineligible for the ToR tax and duty-free relief, for example, all your items are less than 6 months old or you’re sending items to somebody else, then you will need to provide a packing list with used values and a letter explaining the circumstances why you are shipping these items as well as completing the ToR form. UK Customs may then charge duties and taxes if you do not qualify for duty-free entry.

Are you looking at moving to the UK? UPakWeShip has instant, all-inclusive prices for your move available on our website.

The post Do you need a ToR? The new UK online system appeared first on UPakWeShip.

This is resulting in overcapacity and/ or equipment shortages. While affecting ports worldwide, it is especially being felt in Southampton, Felixstowe, New York, and Los Angeles.

The shutdowns due to coronavirus mean that some vessels may not be able to enter or choose not to enter certain ports as the loading and discharging of goods grows. Shortages of 20-foot and 40-foot shipping containers have also been a side effect of the Coronavirus and ships that are running as scheduled are at maximum capacity.

Please be patient, flexible, and allow for possible delays in container availability at the time of loading. The more notice we have, the better!

Due to these issues, there is a possibility of extra charges incurred and freight cost fluctuations are a possibility.

Your shipment may need to remain in storage at origin until containers become available. Continuous planning and pro-active measures are taking place to mitigate any delays for smooth movements by us, however, delays in transit times are possible. We expect this to continue through early 2021.

UPakWeShip will do everything in its power to maintain your existing quote and transit times and will keep you updated via our automatic tracking system and by our coordinators. Please be patient during these difficult times and know that everyone at EuroUSA and UPakWeShip are doing everything possible to keep your shipment on schedule.

At the time of writing, this is not affecting our U-Crate and pallet services but is affecting some of our self-load 20 and 40-foot shipping container routes.

The post Important Information Regarding Shipping: Covid-19 and Brexit appeared first on UPakWeShip.

So, this is how you can ensure safety is your priority, without compromising on a happy move.

1. Follow the updates on travel advice and guidance

Despite wanting everything to be normal, things aren’t, and every country is dealing with the pandemic in different ways. The best thing you can do for your peace of mind and your move is to be prepared. Governments are constantly updating their official websites with advice for travel and those coming into and out of the country. Take a look at the local news from your destination and ensure you’re aware of any guidelines or quarantining rules you might need to follow. Every country differs with precautions, laws, and rules, and things are changing all the time, so stay up informed.

Here are some useful websites which may be of use:
UK Foreign Travel Advice
USA Foreign Travel Advice
European Foreign Travel Advice

2. Use a reliable curbside mover that prioritizes safety

UPakWeShip is a curbside moving company, which specializes in collecting and delivering on your door-step. This means, nobody has to go into your home, nobody is using your toilet, nobody is touching your belongings, and you know exactly where everything is and what needs prioritizing. By packing yourself, not only do you minimize the impact of your move, but you can also save yourself a lot of money. Curbside moving is the perfect option for those who want to move safely and affordably. You can receive an instant quote for your move, right now.

3. Fly in comfort using the money you’ve saved on moving

Not only is moving with UPakWeShip safe, it’s also affordable. We’ve laid out how using UPakWeShip’s moving services are socially distant, but the impact of moving with us goes further than that. Moving without packers means you’ll save the money usually spent on people coming in and packing your belongings. Why not use this extra budget to upgrade your flight and ensure you can have a bit more room and be less likely to sit near others in cramped economy seating.

If you’re looking to move overseas safely and affordably, you can find out your moving price right now with our instant rates calculator. We are looking forward to another fall/winter season of moving people to their new destinations.

The post 3 Steps for a Safe Overseas Move in 2020 appeared first on UPakWeShip.

But how did UPakWeShip come to be the multi-million dollar business that it is today? And why does he think customers keep coming back to use this family-owned, self-packing mover? Our Q&A with Mark discusses the UPakWeShip process, what makes it different, and why it’s so successful.

1. How has UPakWeShip changed since its initial conception?

“The idea simply started as a way to offer the public a cheaper way to move overseas if they wanted to pack themselves – a little like a budget airline but for people moving. Sort of a ‘Freddy Laker’ of the moving business if anyone else can remember that far back! The concept seemed to work, and customers loved it, so we started to develop the business further, and came up with our U Crates, which offer door to door moving.

“So much has changed since the initial startup. The obvious is that we’ve grown into a multimillion business with overseas offices, but I think the biggest change over the last 15 years is the technology.

“We started with a phone, a fax, a PC, and cardboard files. Now, we are paperless and cloud-based and have an amazing custom-built database that connects with our customers to make the whole process easier! If only it could make the tea! 

“We also now have our automatic online pricing system, which is a real game-changer as it allows everyone to see all the different moving options and the prices 24/7. It allows us to keep our overheads down as there’s no longer the need to have staff emailing out direct quotes. Instead, our staff can concentrate more on the moving experience for customers, answering questions, and guiding them through the process.”

2. What’s been the biggest lesson learned as UPakWeShip has evolved?

“Wow, so many lessons! To name a few: Nothing ever goes exactly to plan, nobody will do as good a job as you and your team, never burn bridges, learn to delegate, don’t ever presume, and as a Brit, it’s always worth thinking things out over a cuppa! 

“I’ve also learned that if at first, you don’t succeed, it’s important to look at your business from the outside in, looking at things from a perspective customers’ point of view will always help with problem solving.”

3. Why is UPakWeShip different from other moving companies?

“The main one is that we allow you to pack your own things. Obviously, this saves you the money on using movers, but it also means nobody needs to come into your residence and touch all of your belongings – pretty invaluable at the moment!

“We also charge lump sum all-inclusive prices – our prices are online for everyone to see, and we have the most brilliant, knowledgeable, personable, team you could ever have to hold your hand through the process! We also have our own offices and personnel in the USA, Europe, and the UK so you get the great UPakWeShip customer service door to door.”

UPakWeShip is very popular right now during  Covid-19 because we do not need to send anyone into your house to collect your things. We can maintain social distancing with our driveway or curbside collection and delivery services.

4. What motivates you on a day-to-day basis?

“Coffee, and my wife! Not in that order though, of course! I also have a lot of employees and family that rely on me for a paycheck. In all honesty, I just enjoy this business… I’m always thinking about how we can do things better for our customers, how to make the international move a little less stressful, more affordable, and just plain easier!”

5. UPakWeShip is a very family-oriented business, do you think that benefits how it operates?

“There are two sides to this. It’s great to be able to provide for family members and help them progress and do well. I obviously trust them a great deal and rely on them to get on with things without being micro-managed. The relationship also means they’ll tell me things straight as they are and not beat around the bush. My only negative is that it’s sometimes hard being the boss during, for example, a personnel issue, or when I have to leave work behind and be a Dad/husband/uncle/ brother at the end of the day.”

6. You’ve moved about a lot yourself, what tips do you have for somebody, or a family, relocating overseas?

“Go on a vacation and have a look at the area before you settle down long-term. I’d also advise you to rent and not buy, and make sure you join Facebook groups and research the area properly.

“We have a lot of advice and guidance on our blog about the moving process, everything we write on there, from the guides to tips and tricks about the moving process, come from our first-hand experience so I’d definitely recommend checking it out for more advice.”

Have a good clear out and don’t ship things you don’t need!

7. Of the places you’ve lived, which has been your favorite and why?

“I loved Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. There was sun, sea, sand and pina coladas…! Just kidding, but I did have a great experience there. I learned a lot and met some great friends.

“To be honest, any destination is only as good as what you make of it. Make sure you become a part of the community, join local expat groups, and make friends! It’s also important to visit local bars and restaurants and try the local food and drink, just make sure you discover all of the different places on offer! When we lived in The Netherlands, we made the most of its location by spending long-weekends in neighboring countries – that was great! I’d also recommend learning a little of the language, although we failed big time with Dutch, I must confess!”

8. What is your favorite US city?

“I have to say, Charleston SC where I currently live is the best city in the USA. It has so much charm, the people are friendly, we have great beaches -and dolphins! – and the weather is wonderful if you can get over the hurricanes! I also think we have amazing independently owned restaurants serving great food.

“Having said all that, I also love San Diego for the weather, Seattle for the views and the market, New Orleans for music and food, Nashville for my name and the music and Washington DC for the museums, so I promise I’m not too biased!”

9. UPakWeShip has hugely expanded, with offices in the US, Canada, Mainland Europe and the UK… do you have any plans to expand further afield?

“Always! We are planning our next venture right now, which might well put us on the move again to start up a new office, but that’s still in the hush-hush stage right now!

“We are also looking into the possibility of an Australian/New Zealand liaison office sometime in the future. We use a great agent there at the moment but strongly believe having our own people at the destination, liaising with our customers and making sure everything goes well with customs clearance, and delivery enables us to maintain our high customer service standards and keeps us getting personal recommendations and customers coming back again for their next move.”

10. Finally, what’s your favorite part of your job?

“I love reading the personal reviews from people, saying what a great job the team did. That just makes it all worthwhile.

“The other aspect is the personal stories behind some of the moves, for example, a few years back we moved a lady in her 80’s from Virginia to England. She told us she was moving there to be with her fiancée and was planning to get married for the first time!

You just never know what the next phone call or email will bring. Rod Stewart might have said every picture tells a story but every move has one as well.”

The post Meet the Man Behind UPakWeShip: A Q&A with The Moving Doctor Himself, Mark Nash appeared first on UPakWeShip.

With offices both sides of the Atlantic, Tina received an email from our European team confirming the date her U-Crate would be delivered to the Rotterdam port and how we’d need to contact her for its safe arrival to her front door.

One of the many benefits of having UPak on either side of the shipment is knowing exactly who you’re in contact with from start to finish. Our internal communication spans across all of our offices, and we love receiving photos from happy customers at the end of the journey!

Tina’s shipment took place throughout the international lockdown – that’s right! Our services are still up and running! Hygiene is a priority for all companies and organizations right now, yet UPak’s service was made for social distancing! Not only does nobody enter your home and touch all of your belongings as they pack them, but our U-Crate 50 and 100 simply require one person to be waiting at the curbside, ready for the collection and to sign the relevant paperwork. The U-Crate is picked up by one person on our end, and away it goes!

It really is that easy!

We know the financial future is uncertain for many people, which is why our instant quote calculator is perfect for those looking to meet their budget. The quote you book with is the quote you pay and is all-inclusive of the fees many moving companies add to your bill at the end!

Book with UPakWeShip for a reliable moving company that sees your belongings through from door to door.

The post USA to Sweden: Another happy customer appeared first on UPakWeShip.

As an international moving company, we are doing everything we can for our customers under the restrictions. And with one of the UPak team catching an emergency flight back to the UK after just moving to New Zealand – we know firsthand the impact of this uncertainty.

However, if you have found you have more time than previously planned for your move, we want to put some positivity into how you can use this time to make your move more affordable.

Depending on your reasons for moving abroad, you may have a relocation allowance provided by your job. At the very least, you should have a rough budget on how much you’re willing to spend on the process.

So, how can you use these extra months to your advantage in the meantime?

1. Book Cheaper Flights
If your flights were booked for lockdown, most airlines are offering refunds or new flights in the knowledge you can’t fly currently. With this in mind and no date for resuming normality, it could be worth accepting the refund rather than the new flight date.

Flight prices are expected to drop dramatically, with airlines desperate for their grounded planes to be full of passengers. The chances are, if you get a refund and then rebook your flights when the time suits you, you’ll save much more money than on the ticket you initially bought.

2. Research potential movers for the best deal
Having time on your side means you don’t have to rush into finding a mover for your needs and wants. The safety of your belongings shouldn’t be compromised, which is why shopping around is incredibly important when deciding to move anywhere.

On top of this, you’ll often find some movers are less transparent than others. Make sure the mover you go with has no-hidden-fees, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay when your shipment is delivered.

3. Save money on movers by packing yourself
Packing yourself is one of the easiest ways to save money on your move – and right now, you have the time to do just that. UPakWeShip is currently able to deliver pallets and U-Crates straight to your front door.

By having the service there with you, you can practice packing, have a better idea of the most efficient way to fit, and save yourself money by not paying for movers. Not only will it save you money, but having your service ready for collection when business resumes to normality puts you right at the front of the line!

UPakWeShip is continuing to offer services with certain limitations. Keep up-to-date via our Facebook page or email move@upakweship.com.

The post How to use this time to budget for your move abroad appeared first on UPakWeShip.

upackweship.com

Great Moving Review for moving to England

From beginning to end, this was an extremely professional service.    Nothing was too much trouble for any of the staff involved.  Alicia in Customer Services deserves a special mention – I agree with other reviews, this lady is the most helpful customer services rep I have ever come across.  We used a container in the past for our larger items (using another firm) and some items were damaged in transit.  However, our cardboard box and it’s contents arrived completely intact!  Fantastic service from beginning to end – thank you!

The post Moving to Europe with a U Box, “Extremely Professional” appeared first on UPakWeShip.

Aug 03, 2013 by Ally

We moved from California to Sweden, and had been searching for moving companies (frustratingly) for a long time. I’d received lots of crazily high quotes from movers until I stumbled across the UBox flat rate service.

I was skeptical that the reasonable price would truly include everything, but was happily proven wrong! Our UBox was delivered to our US apartment, cleared customs at both ends and came straight to our new place in Malmö, Sweden with no extra charges.

We loved the concept of being able to pack your own stuff in your own time (we managed to fit quite a lot into our box), whereas other companies tried to force you to use their packers.

Only had a couple of small hiccups with the UBox being collected in the US after we’d packed it (the company used to transport the box to the port got lost and never showed). However, after speaking with the UPak team the pickup was rescheduled for the next day. I’m glad the UPak ‘tips’ said to add an extra day or so before our flight out of the country!

On the Sweden side we had a little communication confusion with the delivery day, but it was rescheduled and the box arrived safe and sound.

Overall, great communication, rates and service! Tack så mycket!

International Moving To Sweden

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