Shipping from the UK

Useful thread...I'll start getting my stuff together.

At one time and I assume they still do it.

QP ordinarily give fully furnished accommodation until you move into your own (after the probationary period). The delay in your shipment arriving shouldn't be a problem. Contact QP and ask them.

Am in similar position, hoping to move to Doha in Sept from UK. I've only had an online quote from two companies both of which came in at about 4k!! That's only part of the house! I intend to ship some furniture, for the reasons others have mentioned, but I guess I need the firm to come round and quote. I have also been told to allow 4-6 weeks for shipping, so that means sleeping, sitting and eating off the floor for all of AUgust!

See you in Doha in Sept (or next week when I'm back again)

Oh seasons! so it looks like I am moving from a country without seasons to another country without seasons!! Certainly I've had enough of the rain and wind in England. Will try a bit (or a good deal) of sunshine in Qatar. :-)

I really understand what you say about seasons dweller. I am originally from Barcelona and we do have seasons there, although winter is too mild for my taste.

Take care

Turkey because I don't have to work and the country has seasons.

The life style isn't the same obviously but we don't mind as we aint as young as we used to be.

We enjoyed Qatar, made many friends and had a great time.

My emails haven't been returned. I've been in contact with someone from qp over the last week and it's been fine... How strange!

Does anyone know if the furniture allowance is given to you whether the house is furnished or not? I know the practice used to be that you live in a compound for the probational period and then you get the housing allowance and furniture allowance. Well, this is not the case for teachers going to Mesaieed as housing is provided for the duration of contract (as far as I know) but then as house is furnished, I wonder whether the furniture allowance still applies. I guess we will still have to buy a tv and other bits and bats...

Thanks in advance.

Ps: so dweller, million $ question. What do you prefer, Turkey or Qatar?

Yeah, hopefully they'll understand! Maybe they've closed the whole town.. heehee. Now that really wouldn't be funny:))

Thanks a million!

Just tried to call but no answer. Not surprising really as it's Thursday night!

Are your mails being bounced back too? I am sure they are aware of what's happening as one of my contacts said that their relative advised that e-mails were returned.

At least it's not just me! Can you let me know if you find out what's going on? A little worried they're going to think I'm being rude and not responding to them!

Thanks again, Dweller.

I have been having the same problem. They are returned as undeliverable. However, I know that some (not all) of them have actually been delivered as my friends have replied.

I have been trying to contact one of my friends on Skype to find out what is going on. It's been happening for 3 or 4 weeks.

Would have asked the school, but my emails keep getting returned for some reason:(

I'm sure I didn't write anything offensive in them. Lol!

It used (and may still be) yours to do with as you wish. I am not sure if remains like that or if it is "against receipts".

Do we pay for the shipping costs to get reimbursed once we get there? Do QP give you that allowance whether you spend it or not?

I can assure you they were not swinger dinner parties.

I think life did change when the bars opened in greater numbers. People appear to meet in bars now.

It's nice to hear that the dinner parties still happen though.

dweller - I've heard of those kind of dinner parties still going on here.

I've never heard them called "progressive dinner parties" though. I thought of something very different when I read that first time!

now theres an idea for over the summer - progressive dinner parties - mind you with the state of the traffic here you would be more likely to end up having a starter at one house and breakfast at another lol!!! Its true about the social life out here though - I am now at the point where I look forward to a night in at the weekends!

There were many expats in Qatar (some are still there) and the social life was probably better as there were no bars after the Falcon Club bar closed in 1983. Entertaining was done in homes and a great time we had too.

Progressive dinner parties were good for a laugh. A group had 4 couples and each course was prepared and served at a different home. Then all the groups met up at a final venue for the last few drinks. I don't think it happens now.

ossy, everyone is nervous about moving overseas so dont worry we've all been there. Its a realy nice place to live - sure there are some downsides - traffic, driving quality and the dust, but once you get to grips with those you will be fine. There are some really nice people here, all in the same boat and what you lack in family support you get from the new friends you make.

Thanks for info dweller. It has been very interesting to read some of your posts. I bet there were very few expats living in Qatar in 1982!! You were pioneering the invasion!! :-) haha

Lived in Qatar from 1982 to 1997, part of 2002, part of 2003 and part of 2004 (last two with DAGOC). Left QP in 1997 but still regularly in touch with some people in the outfit.

Both Qatar and QP appear to have changed somewhat.

Incidentally, we sent our freight out by road. It was supposed to be by sea but the agent screwed up. We managed with what QP loaned us but obviously had to buy some items until our stuff arrived.

@ dweller

but you have lived in Qatar for a while haven't you? Still working for QP?

@ speed

yes it is QR 1210 in fact. But, and I know it might be a very silly question, how do you use that money? I mean, I still don't know who I am flying with and if its Qatar airways I dont think they do unaccompanied baggage. Surely shipping a few things with air cargo would cost more than QR 2500...

ANyway, better than nothing!

ta

QP still pays the freight allowance ... i think for UK it is QR.1090 per adult !

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I am in Turkey, not Qatar.

Genuine shortages are (a sample)

Corned beef, baked beans, celery, dark rum :-(, bitter (plenty of lager) decent cheese and many many more items.

You wouldn't think an extension ladder would be that expensive in Qatar! It's funny how things that you take for granted and are easy to get in your home country can be so expensive in certain places.

Maybe ellid is right and a post is required!!! :-)

take care

You wouldn't think an extension ladder would be that expensive in Qatar! It's funny how things that you take for granted and are easy to get in your home country can be so expensive in certain places.

Maybe ellid is right and a post is required!!! :-)

take care

I knw what you mean about leaving stuff.

We had to do that when we moved to Turkey permanently.

Furniture went for a song along with other things but we kept the sentimental things.

With hindsight we would have kept more photographs and some daft things like the extending ladder which is bloody expensive here.

@ dweller

Yes they do pay freight allowance but is not too much, about 2500 QR. I think we are getting used to the idea of departing with our stuff. It's just the fact that it's all just a few months old and we spent quite a few on it, but I have been told that the house we are moving to is fully furnished with brand new furniture so it should be ok.

@ ellie.d

That is exactly why my wife wants to bring some of our stuff to make it more homely and nice. But it looks like we are going to have to sell most of our stuff in the UK. We have just had a quote from an UK based shipping company for £2.5 approx to ship our stuff. We are also in the North West.

We are really looking forward to this move, very excited but a bit scared at the same time.

Take care everyone and thanks for your help

Yes dweller you are quite right but you know what sometimes its hard for us girlies to part with our belongings. There are tons of stuff I put into storage that I wish I had brought - BBQ (they cost a fortune here), in-car dvd player (dito). But for some strange reason my dancing medals from when I was 9 years old managed to get here????? Hmm, maybe I should start a thread on the most bizare and usless items shipped to Doha by individuals...haha

with some of your comment ellie.d with regard to making the place feel like home.

However, furniture (hard) is a huge item to ship, as are some of the bigger white goods. If things don't work out (and if we are honest, it does happen) for whatever reason, you are stuck with getting the freight back.

We used a great company called White and Co tel 01952 582 146 (based in Telford) They are used by the UK Armed Forces so are used to moving people all over the world. We moved from Warrington to Doha in December. Our stuff was shipped three weeks before we flew out and we got it delivered to our villa a week after we arrived!!!! It took 4 weeks in all which was great.

I would definitely recommend bringing some of your furniture with you, especially pictures, lamps, rugs etc as it really does help you to feel like its your home and not just a rental place. With regards to furnishings in the villa, try to get an idea of what is in there as in my opinion furnished villas are really quite sparsly furnished and you may be able to fit your things in alongside.

I hope things go smoothly with the move and that you have a great time in Doha - despite what some might say, it really is quite a nice place to be....

not pay "freight allowance" now?.

It wouldn't cover a large consignment but if the furniture grant is payable, that could be used towards the cost of shipping.

Personally, I wouldn't ship furniture or other large items as the magority of items (if not all) are available in Qatar at reasonable cost.

till then good night !

If you don't mind just remind me thru OM if you don't hear from me sometime we forget :-p

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Thanks Speed for the info. I am growing into the idea of selling our stuff and buy the things once in Qatar. My wife's concern is that some of the furniture that we have seen in the classifieds seems to be very dated kinda of stuff and we like more contemporary furniture, IKEA style.

I am aware that Qp pay first arrival freight charges but not really sure what are they? can i use it to add additional luggage or how it works? It is about 2.5k QR so I am not sure either whether it is enough or not....

Thanks for your help

if QP is providing you a furnished villa then you will not be allowed to move any QP furniture ... you can bring your stuff whatever you want but i am sure they will not allow you to do that !

Better double check from QP HR dept. to be on safe side.

Also QP will pay you with First arrival Air Freight charges as per QP policy (also for each family member as per Employment Terms and Conditions contract).

Welcome to Qatar !

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Thanks everyone for your comments and help. Thanks jasmine for your pm with really useful information.

Vignale, we just moved to our house a few months ago so all the furniture is new and my wife really likes it, hence why we want to take the furniture with us.

Again, thanks very much

Hmm, Why do you really want to take your furniture with you?

Especially since you get a fully furnished place.

i will pm you

i understand you will not be able to remove furnishings. we will be moving in june and according to every realtor we spoke with that was the case. good luck with the move!

I'm starting to think about it too..mainly for my twins' belongings.. What is the best company to use and how soon do I have to start shipping?

Thanks in advance.