Hi all, called the guy who did my transport from London to Geneva to transport our large buffet that is sitting at my FIL's house in London (he is moving out and need to get it out by next Friday). Turns out that you can't get any driver to go to the UK from Europe at the moment. The guy used to run his company and sounded more desperate than usual as some change in legislation in May makes it very hard to get drivers.
So... Anyone with a large truck around with spare space this week or next? It's a buffet thst splits in two, so two pieces one metre high and two meter wide with 20 cm depth and 40cm depth each.
It's got sentimental value, I promised my wife it would be super easy to get over to Geneva... Well I was wrong it seems. She moved a year and nine months ago, so technically can still bring stuff that are hers without custom payment (just a declaration).
Alternatively if you know another company I could try, but something tells me all are in the same boat...
Maybe try this company? They do regular runs to/from UK to Switzerland.
https://lukerbros.co.uk/
We’ve used these guys more than once.
https://lukerbros.co.uk/
There’s an echo in here!
We used France removals a few years back. They do regular trips to Switzerland and will store stuff for you until they are doing a trip if necessary.
https://www.franceremovals.com/
We were very happy with their service.
Hi all, some feedback -
so the France link guys in this thread are charging £700
the Lukerbros are charging £1200
I went onto shiply and posted the job there, quotes came at
£668, £934 and £1002
Cheapest quote is with a company called Southwest Logistics
Prices are really high at the moment, as mentioned, new laws...
Edit: my neighbor mentioned to go on Geneva for expats on facebook, as right now is the typical moving season. I am going to see if i can get in someone's truck our small welsh dresser, only 2m by 2m I'll report back. The guy I used before told me to pop it in storage until things get back to normal so he can move it for me, will consider that as well. £700 is a bit steep...
I'm a little surprised as in the past Luker would simply find a place for small shipments on one of their frequent trucks coming over.
But as you say the rules have changed.
Have you asked for quotes for a shipment to neighbouring France? Annemass or Ferney for example?
The OP said it was a Europe/UK problem so going to France probably won’t help.
There’s a guy on Facebook called Ricky Wingate who does regular trips to the UK. It might be worth the OP giving him a try.
Edited to add: When you factor in the cost of storage, the possibility of going over the two year limit for importing goods hassle free and the way prices are going at the moment I think I’d be inclined to bite the bullet and pay the 6 or 7 hundred to get it over here rather than messing about.
It doesn't seem so big, so why not just drive over there the weekend, or long weekend, and pick it up in a large break car or possibly rent a europcar van and do it yourself.
I can’t see it actually costing much less than his lowest estimate by the time he’s rented a van and paid for the ferry crossing and fuel costs.
Not counting the rental&fuel costs of the 1500+ km trip, how much do you value your time?
If it is weekend and I have to do something I do not enjoy (but necessary)* that takes me a relevant chunk of my free-time (i.e. > than 1 hour), in general I am more than happy to pay someone up to 150 francs per hour to relieve me from that.
*) your mileage may vary, for example I would enjoy driving back home to do what OP is looking to do ... but apparently OP does not, otherwise he/she would have already done so
It may, goods will be crossing one border not two. Coming to CH from UK via FR would require it to be in bond while in France. Shipping it just to France allows the shipper to consolidate it with other FR shipments and distribute more easily.
We had a sideboard (is a buffet another name for that?) shipped with a company on Shiply.
It got here - just. It was packed superbly by the shop but that wasn't enough.
The delivery drivers parked their canvas backed lorry in a dodgy carpark near Calais and someone robbing them slashed the canvas open with a box knife, making a nice slash down one side of the sideboard.
Then, when bringing it into the house (I offered to help), one of the two dropped it, hurting himself (slightly) but also breaking the legs off one end.
They also didn't get the forms stamped at the border which I think is technically illegal.
Shiply kept asking for a review and when I gave them a bad one, they refused to publish it.
It’s not related to border crossings, it’s a manpower issue and being able to get drivers to go to work in the UK.
700 seems reasonable to me, honestly.
Another question is age and value. If it is considered very valuable, and if under 100 years old, there might be other issues.
I inherited a suite of Louis XVI furniture and got transport from CH to UK. Transporter was stopped in Dover, and had to unload, as he didn't have proof it was over 100 years old. I had to pay storage in Dover, then for someone to go and pick up again to take to Midlands 2 weeks later- when I was able to present proof that it was indeed over 100 years old and officially antique (no tax on antiques).
Just out of curiosity, what kind of proof was this?
I am currently organising two furniture shipments for my business from CH to London with Williams and Hill. The also quote around GBP 1000 - 1500 per address in London. Prices to the UK are right now just crazy, pre-brexit I'd ship a 2m wide sideboard for just under EUR 300 to London.
This is how Luker Bros put jam on the bread !!
A big move gets costed pout with a resonable profit and then if somebody inquires about something special to be brought over, then sure then can do it, but you pay big time.
Update, found a guy to do it for £450 cash. He was leaving today so in the nick of time.
#winning let's see if it makes it over just kidding it's a legit business with tons of reviews and a rather large company with more entrepreunarialy minded people working there. Brought their first quote from 650 to 450 and should be with me next week. A buffet is a Welsh dresser
Also: to France is £100 cheaper (Paris) issue is getting people in the UK as Belgium mum said
Could you please share the name of the company you ended up using? Looking to do the same thing next month. Thanks!
Hardly entreprenurial more like opportunistic !!
As you said, leaving today so the space was available and he worked out it was better to get GBP450.-- (cash in hand ?) than nothing at all.
Could need to do this in the near future (couple of items from my Mum's place). I am hoping I can do this by car myself as I need to drive over next month anyhow. But if not will investigate other options.
Items:
Cast iron garden table and 5 chairs. Does flat pack, but only if I can take it apart (might need to drill out the bolts). If successful, could go on roof.
Chimene - Quite big and heavy but should fit in the car.