Maybe think twice about sharing a lift

From: DrLeah@aol.com
Date: Tue Sep 20, 2005  3:11 pm
Subject: The 11 Commandments of sharing lift space

There are a lot of postings to this list regarding lift sharing. As a
result of my experience doing so this summer, I would like to offer the
following suggestions to anyone selling space on their lift:

1. Insist on an itemized list of items that will be included in what the
other party puts on your lift. In my case I was asked to take a set of dishes and a couple of rugs in my container. My friends arranged for a separate pickup of their things to be sent to the dock and loaded into my container. It was only when it came time to clear customs here in Israel that I found out that what they actually sent was 455 cubit feet of goods (this included furniture, fine art, rugs, clothing, books and 6 small appliances.) Needless to say it was quite a shock.

Ask your shipper how you can best control what goes in.

Clarify what the penalty will be if items are included that you were not
informed of.

2. Do not expect gratitude or thanks for the headache that goes into
organizing a move of this sort. You can spend dozens of hours comparison shopping among shippers, going to the customs office, etc., and the person who sends their stuff with you will most probably be oblivious of this. They just want their stuff, in one piece, at their door, for as cheap a price as possible.

3. Go over as many details of the process beforehand as possible. Although you can't anticipate everything beforehand, clarify as many things as possible. For example, I was stuck paying for the entire tip to the movers because the person I sold room to "doesn't believe in tipping."

4. Decide beforehand who will deliver the additional goods to their owners. If your shipper is doing the separate delivery, make sure to get the extra payment for this UP FRONT.

Make sure that the truck can access your street, and your friends' street if there is a separate delivery.

5. Clarify tax implications. Again-let whomever is buying your lift space know, that if you end up paying customs for their things, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE.

6. Take a deposit to cover unforeseen costs. This will prevent you from having to chase people down for customs costs, etc. Do not deliver the goods until you get all of the money.

7. Clarify shipping charges. The way my shipper billed me was per cubic foot. YOU WILL BE PAYING EXTRA FOR ALL THOSE EXTRA THINGS YOU BRING FOR OTHER PEOPLE-MAKE SURE YOU ASK FOR A PRICE THAT WILL COVER YOUR EXPENSES. You also may be charged, as I was, an additional fee for excess weight. Again, after the fact, this is hard to get back from other people. Explain to your lift partners that shipping is not a flat fee and that it costs YOU money to bring their things.

8. If at all possible, sell your lift space to strangers with references, and not to friends. I know, I know, this sounds counter-intuitive-but think of the advice that your parents used to give you about not doing business with friends. It's not worth the possible strain to the friendship if things go wrong. You may be thrilled to help out friends, but they might see things differently, particularly if their attitudes towards money and responsibility are different from yours.

9. Put everything in writing. (Self Explanatory.) Write up a legal
contract that includes a section on how to handle disputes and ensuing legal fees.

10. Designate a "point person." If you are dealing with a couple, decide beforehand which member of the couple you are dealing with. Do not, under any circumstances be foolish enough to put yourself into a situation of "good cop bad cop." It is a lose lose situation for YOU.

11. Do not under any circumstances, agree to store items for people until they are picked up. In my case my lift "partner" found someone to deliver her things who was a few dollars cheaper than the shipper. Unfortunately, he wasn't available the day that my lift arrived. She expected me to store 39 plus boxes in my house until her handyman came with the van later on in the week.

Although it is hard to imagine now, your lift may very well take up your
entire house. The boxes will be piled to the ceiling, and will be stacked in row upon row in your living room, kitchen, bathroom, EVERYWHERE. In my case we had difficulty getting in and out the front door of the house for weeks because of the refrigerator and 40 boxes in my living room. You do not want to be responsible for storing ANYTHING for anyone at the beginning. There won't be room!

12. Good luck!

Leah Gniwesch, PHD
Psychologist/Life Coach
nbn 05