There a really a lot of carriers and it does depend on your location as to which ones cover your area.Originally Posted by Steve.r
Any details on these boxes would help, like:
1, What carrier do you use ?
2, Useful contact numbers
3, Cost for weight / size
4, Customs costs (if any, specially if sending new items)
5, Timescales for delivery
6, Source of the box it'self
Personally, I have used Forex Cargo for the past couple of years.
They can be contacted on tel: 0800 028 0880
Our regular agent/driver is Eugene his no. is 0777-082-0021
Very nice and helpful Phil guy.
Mention my wife's name (Carina) if you want. (no discount though)
There are no costs for weight, the cost is solely based on volume.
(Don't fill the box with tins, they just won't take it)
Also there are many different box sizes, the cost depends where you will send the box. Manila is cheapest, Mindanao the most expensive.
Just as an idea, a 'Jumbo' box at 10 cubic feet (29inchesx23inchesx26inches) runs at £100 to Manila area and £125 to Mindanao
A 'Mega' box at 12 cubic feet (34x24x28 inches) costs £120 to Manila and £145 to Mindanao.
You can also get 8 cubic feet at £80 Manila (£105 Mindanao) and smaller ones at 4.5 and 2 cubic feet. The smaller ones only marginally more expensive on a pro rata basis.
As I said before, personally I have never paid any customs costs in all the years I have been sending. Maybe it depends what you itemise on the form as the contents.
I always put general descriptions such as:-
Used clothing
Used Towels (use these to wrap goods with for added protection and filler)
Used household goods (this covers most of the items anyway including electrical)
Delivery will be dependant on when the ship will leave UK and what it's routing is.
We always contact the carrier to find out, So that they will pick up the filled box
about 1 or 2 weeks before the ship sails.
Usually we can count on about 5 weeks to arrive to our house in Manila, or about
6-7 weeks to arrive at our house in Davao.
These carriers will always provide the boxes free of charge and will deliver to you free of charge (together with the forms etc). Then you just the driver to pick up your filled box/boxes. The last box we sent was May 2010 and the driver left two more boxes for us which we still did not use yet.
Anyway, Christmas is nearly here.
The only time you pay anything is when the full box is picked up and then only the
charges for destination. I always give some small tip just for the driver's snack
Usually they work very hard and long hours.
It's important to make sure the box is filled and secured to prevent movement and
damage to the goods inside.
Also be sure to secure the outside with packing tape. Common sense really.
Eugene has a banding machine inside his truck and always bands up the box anyway.
We have never take out any additional insurance. Never felt the need. Besides
the value of stuff inside is not too great.
