Recommended Movers from UK to Malaysia

I haven't shipped anything from the UK to Malaysia recently, but 21 years ago I used Pickfords to send about 3 cubic metres of personal effects. Only one thing got damaged, a Burmese red lacquer rain drum valued at about £300 and as it was one of the items that I had specifically mentioned in the insurance they fully refunded me for it. I cannot how much I paid to Pickfords for the shipping but I think it was around £300.

Back in 1989 I worked for a freight forwarder/shipping company in Hong Kong as a Sales Manager. The scam that many freight forwarders use is to over estimate the volume of your goods. So you need to try to measure the volume of each box/item yourself and add it all up just so that you know they are not charging you for more. When shipping loose items rather than a full container, it's called LCL cargo (Less Container Load) as opposed to FCL (Full Container Load) and freight forwarders commonly overcharge for those LCL shipments which enables them to make nicer profits compared to FCL cargo since a full container has a fixed price for shipping.

Nowadays I would minimise what I would want to ship and only send the most important items.

@wyngrove60 Thanks for the input. Yes read about the over estimating of volumes on another thread - planning to calculate the volume myself when the packers are doing this - silly question - how are you calculating the volume?

I am doing a Groupage as that's the most cost effective rather than LCL. LCL is significantly more. Definitely trying to minimise what I take and keep the volume as low as it can be - though can be tough with personal possessions - there's many things I have that don't have huge value by any means but are difficult to source again (especially in Asia) that I love whether it be the dining table I have, small pieces of furniture etc. I was having a dilemma because Solaris (and others) were telling me removing 2 cubic feet say is not going to make a huge difference to the cost - it would only impact the current cost it was 4 cubic feet total instead of the 8 or 9 cubic feet that is supposed to be going.

I've always done the volume in cubic metres, even with Pickfords back then. Just measure the length x width x depth for each item whether cartons or furniture and add them up. For metres a carton box might be 0.5 metres x 0.3 metres x 0.4 metres so the volume would be 0.06 cubic metres. Back in the day, a rule of thumb was that 10 standard export cartons = 1 cubic metre.

I just read on google that 8 boxes of 50cm x 50cm x 50cm would equal one cubic metre which might make things clearer. Cartons of that size are larger than export cartons.

Also, remember that cartons fill the empty spaces that large items such as non-folding tables and chairs leave. That could reduce the volume of your goods even more.

Anyway, I kind of expect the freight forwarder would tell you that they would calculate the volume after taking your items back to their warehouse. That's why knowing the approximate volume in advance is worth knowing and letting them know by email what you have calculated the volume to be beforehand.

I used Pickfords, sent in July and due to arrive end of October.

They were the cheapest option I was able to get.

I was just outside the M25 and based now in Negeri Sembilan just near KLIA.

Someone else recommended Zain at COS Shipping I can get you their number if needed

@wyngrove60 Thanks for the info on the volume. It's certainly a good point about having a good idea about that. Only thing is keeping track of it on the day as they pack and move each box to make sure while I am talking each one through everything that is going vs not going that the other isn't going off with a box without me spotting it.

Well I am going to have them disassemble my dining table and bedframe so everything else furniture wise is relatively small so the volume optimisation is there I think.

@Rchaudary I just had a quote come through for Pickfords - they are not cheaper than Solaris but might negotiate with Pickfords to see what they can come down to - though wondering about their quality. How was the packing experience etc? Do you know who their partner is on the KL side?

@BritJohn

I have not received my shipment yet. The agent in Malaysia is Ambassador Worldwide Movers Malaysia.

I had done most prep myself and so when the guys came, they just repacked some items, wrapping where needed. They seemed to be careful and professional, putting quite a few bits in bubble wrap. They did not park their van on my drive just in case the van was too 'heavy' for the driveway/paving that I had done recently.

@Rchaudary Thanks that is helpful. Though I had wanted to stay away from Ambassador on the KL side based on my research - they don't have many reviews in comparison to other KL moving companies/agents such as Entourage, Felix, Asian Tigers and Intermovers. If Pickfords only use Ambassador then I don't think I will go for them as I feel more secure with Solaris who uses Entourage which has a lot more reviews. And I feel on the KL side the variance in quality for movers is a bigger risk than on the UK side.

I am going to have the packing guys pack everything because that way I can't be blamed if there is any damage/issues as I have heard from others that if you pack the boxes yourself then you run the risk of the insurance not paying out. Good that they pack well and are careful - that's really important for my items.

@Rchaudary So now I have a dilemma as Solaris have told me their load date onto the ship is no longer November but end of December so strongly considering Pickfords if they can come down on the pricing aswell as do a load date in November. It's also frustrating as this whole process for looking for a mover has taken longer than normal and now with my move just over a week away I am definitely concerned!

Hoping that Pickfords will answer all the questions as already they have made a few mishaps on communication with me.

@Rchaudary Question for you - I heard from someone on one of the Facebook groups that just moved from the UK to KL aswell and used Solaris which went well though she said she had discussions with others that used Pickfords who said they were terrible, biggest problem being broken items (so that could be due to Ambassador and not necessarily Pickfords) but also poor communication throughout the process. The poor communication I can understand as I am finding it tough to get proper answers from Pickfords in a timely manner. I remember you said your shipment has not come in as yet but any issues in comms with Ambassador and how do they seem if you have had comms with them?

I have only had an email from them saying that my shipment is due to arrive in Malaysia in the next few days and the timescale of it arriving, passing customs, their processing and then it arriving to me.

@Rchaudary

Ok understand thanks. I decided not to go with Pickfords primarily because they were so bad at answering my questions and getting back to me. Decided to go with Solaris so hopefully things will go smoothly! Do report back and let me know how your shipment goes - be good to know.