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Warning - dealing with Shipping Companies - the tips and tricks thread! Warning - dealing with Shipping Companies - the tips and tricks thread!
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Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road Recent News, political or military events, which may affect trip plans or routes. Personal and vehicle security, tips and questions.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #16  
Old 15 Apr 2016
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Yes, a shame, but better than getting HUBB or Mika sued.
Hopefully folks who are really interested will PM Mika for details?

But agreed, good and bad actors in this area should be noted and that info should be shared public information. Hopefully experiences are supported by documented evidence.
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  #17  
Old 15 Apr 2016
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Hopefully folks who are really interested will PM Mika for details?
Or me.

Both good and bad need praising and shaming.
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  #18  
Old 16 Apr 2016
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How about a "rating" system in the shipping section; similar to the accomodation or mechanics recomendations

a named company could simply get "likes" or thumbs up, or DOWN
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  #19  
Old 16 Apr 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flashgordo View Post
How about a "rating" system in the shipping section; similar to the accomodation or mechanics recomendations

a named company could simply get "likes" or thumbs up, or DOWN
Thanks, good idea, I'll add it to my wants for the next iteration.

In the meantime the shipping database does tell all.
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  #20  
Old 12 May 2016
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Hi

I am working for a small forwarding company at Zürich Airport. We do organise seafreight as well. Can confirm that for a motorbike it makes sense to send rather by air. There are too many extra port fee's by seafreight and it is much faster.

Have just offered a bike from Zürich to Bangkok inkl. dangerous goods certificate which is needed by air all in approx. USD 1300.00

If anyone needs assistance ex Switzerland feel free to get in touch with me. :-)

FREIGHT NAVIGATOR, Zürich Airport
Silvia

PS: I am selling my Landcruiser registered in South Africa. In case someone is interested. Have made an advert here last week.
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  #21  
Old 8 Jun 2016
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Sounds like it's way easier to get a solo motorcycle to an airport and pick it up 2 days later on the other side of the world instead of shipping it by boat, struggeling with companies and employees.
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  #22  
Old 26 Jul 2016
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Quote:
Sounds like it's way easier to get a solo motorcycle to an airport and pick it up 2 days later on the other side of the world instead of shipping it by boat, struggeling with companies and employees.
yes, sad but true. Or buy localy.

mika
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  #23  
Old 26 Jul 2016
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Hi all,

just to shed a bit of light on me deleting the name of the shipping company.

As I was very sick at the time, with Chingukuya (a form of dengue) and a lawer friend in Germany advised me to delete the name, as I would be never able to win a court case about it in Germany without spending an rediculous amount of money and time.

People that know me, know that I am not the one that gives up easy, but sometimes all of us have to understand when to turn around.

But at least I hope this thread will warn people about some of the tricks used by criminal Freight Forwarders and Shipping companies.

For South America (where I live) it is anyway better to buy a bike here, and there are plenty of threads on the Hubb of people that have done this.

Pls keep this thread open and warn others about the tricks you have been conned with.

mika
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  #24  
Old 14 Nov 2019
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Originally Posted by Migelle View Post
shipping? just curious if it's really worth

That's a REALLY tough one to answer, as it depends on how long you're going for, and where, and how attached you are to your bike, your budget, your appetite for paperwork etc.
As a GENERAL rule, under 1 month, no, over that, possibly yes. You can also buy there, or rent, or bike swap. Loads of options!
For some shipping details, see:

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ge...pping-the-bike
Also see https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/trip-transport/
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  #25  
Old 18 Nov 2019
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My 2c worth...tried to get myself and bike from Europe to Africa recently. Was in Greece so looked at shipping Athens to Port Alexandria in Egypt. After nearly a month of emailing, phoning many many freight forwarders, and trying to determine the process involved in clearing the port in Egypt with ZERO response I moved onto air freight options to Egypt (still fraught with wild extortion/bureaucracy) or Sudan. Ditto: vacuum of any response or reliable info available. And others reports of the frustrations of unknown spurious charges and crazy days to week long delays for administration and corruption. All in all it is cheaper for me to backtrack to Morocco and go that way.
That said - this IS adventure motorcycling. The bigger the hill the more satisfying it is to overcome.
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  #26  
Old 18 Nov 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwiwannafly View Post
My 2c worth...tried to get myself and bike from Europe to Africa recently. Was in Greece so looked at shipping Athens to Port Alexandria in Egypt. After nearly a month of emailing, phoning many many freight forwarders, and trying to determine the process involved in clearing the port in Egypt with ZERO response I moved onto air freight options to Egypt (still fraught with wild extortion/bureaucracy) or Sudan. Ditto: vacuum of any response or reliable info available. And others reports of the frustrations of unknown spurious charges and crazy days to week long delays for administration and corruption. All in all it is cheaper for me to backtrack to Morocco and go that way.
That said - this IS adventure motorcycling. The bigger the hill the more satisfying it is to overcome.
Beginner's error: Trying to ship into or out of Egypt.... This was what I wrote 20 years ago: Chapter 5 The Big Trip
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