International Sea & Air Shipping Company Review

Overall Opinion
International Sea & Air Shipping
B+
moveBuddha Rating

Overall Opinion:

  • They provide truly full-service, port-to-port, and door-to-door transportation for those relocating internationally.
  • Represents a well-established option with more than 70 years of business experience.
  • They offer very customizable options for customers including vehicle transport, packing services, and storage solutions

How does International Sea & Air Shipping compare to other professional movers?

Table of Contents

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About International Sea & Air Shipping

The company identifies as an international freight forwarder that specializes in the transportation of household goods, personal items, and cars. They currently provide door-to-door moving and relocation for those leaving or entering the U.S., which includes assistance with customs, insurance, storage, and inland ground transportation.

The company has a sales office in Elmont, NY, also known as “The Gateway to Long Island”, and a warehouse and operations facility in Kearny, NJ, a Newark suburb.

The management team defines the company’s focus as remaining accessible, responsive, and client-focused. In 2018, the organization celebrated its 70th anniversary of operation and they now provide charitable support for The Lupus Foundation of America.

International Sea & Air Shipping is a member of the International Association of Movers (IAM), American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), and European Mover Partnership International (EUROMOVERS).

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

  • Prospective customers may qualify for one month of free storage for certain LCL (less than container) shipments for transport
  • Deposits that customers already made are typically refundable when if a need for cancellation arises
  • The organization never uses third-party service providers or non-employee contractors for achieving better quality results
  • Customers seeking an estimate may enter a very detailed inventory of belongings for each room of the home
  • A four-week lead time is generally required before the shipping date
  • Local and interstate moving or transport service is currently unavailable
  • The company’s port locations and warehouse facilities are geared toward those departing or entering on the east coast

International Sea & Air Shipping Offers a Wide Range of Services

International moving services for those moving to or from U.S. locations. The company offers four general categories of service:

  • Complete packing, unpacking, and loading services performed by the provider (full-service)
  • Partial loading and packing and unpacking of the belongings for transport either with or without customized crating
  • The company assumes sole responsibility with loading, as the customer completes “self-packing”
  • In cases where customers handle the packing and loading themselves, the company handles only the transport

The international transports most often will go via ocean freight on designated routes with large containers. Door-to-door service includes “all-risk” marine insurance with very comprehensive coverage.

International air-freight shipping options also are now offered.

Loading and unloading of containers allow for greater efficiency, as they are more easily transferred onto trucks for ground shipping. The standard sizes of containers include 20 (TEU) and 40 feet (FEU) models and they are generally constructed in either steel or aluminum.

The two types of container shipping loads include Less-Than-Container Load (LCL) and Full Container Load (FCL). LCL shipments commonly contain two or more customers’ belongings moved in a shared container. The primary port locations used include New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

The following table summarizes the available container sizes:

Category of Container Length / Width / Height Cubic Capacity
20 Foot Standard 20 x 8 x 8.6’ 1100 CBF
40 Foot Standard 40 x 8 x 8.6’ 2200 CBF
40-Foot-High Cube 40 x 8 x 9.6’ 2400 CBF

Shipping services performed for cars, boats, and other vehicles are transported.

Businesses may choose corporate relocation services to international destinations.

Storage and warehouse solutions are now offered within their 40,000 square foot facility located just 15 minutes from NYC. Short and long-term options, climate-controlled units, forklift services, are also currently available

Piano moving services are now among the specialty service offerings that involve carefully wrapping and packing these oversized and heavy items so that the unit arrives safely at the destination.

How Much Does International Sea & Air Shipping Charge?

Receiving a detailed estimate requires a consultation with a representative. Estimates are increasingly completed online; however, in-house estimates are also made available. International Sea & Air Shipping generally markets its services as high-quality rather than the most economical option.

Are you looking for ballpark pricing for an upcoming move? Use this moving calculator to obtain an estimate.

How is International Sea & Air Shipping Customer Service?

They have a website application for interactively chatting with a representative.

Any claims for damaged or lost belongings must be completed within 30 days after delivery.

Is International Sea & Air Shipping Licensed?

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) now licenses the organization as a Non-Vessel Common Carrier (NVOCC) with # 023238N. They maintain an active Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) registration with DOT# 2052864.

The organization maintains active common carrier licensure under MC# 718931 using the legal name of Overseas Moving Specialists Inc. The company has proper bodily injury and property damage insurance coverage of $750,000. The SMS report lists them as having four vehicles, two drivers, and one recent inspection. Current data from 2019 shows that they logged 30,000 vehicle miles traveled.

Database Listed (Y/N)
AI FMCSA? Yes
SAFER FMCSA? Yes
Licensing Insurance FMCSA? Yes
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Yes (accredited)

How is International Sea & Air Shipping Online Reputation?

The organization’s Google business profile contains feedback from more than 70 customers with a very favorable overall rating of 4.7 out of 5.0. A representative usually responds to all critical posts in an attempt to resolve the concern.

International Sea & Air Shipping maintains an active presence on Facebook and some other social platforms. One of the Facebook posts displayed the organization’s Certificate of Achievement (see image below) from EUROMOVERS that detailed how the company evaluation revealed that they outperformed competitors in the realm of administration, operations, and financial responsibility.

On Yelp, International Sea & Air Shipping has currently 15 posted reviews with a dismal overall rating of 1.5 stars out of 5. Many of the complaints involve pricing discrepancies and customers that had various types of belonging damaged during the transportation process.

International Sea & Air Shipping has maintained Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation since 2011 and has recently received 5 complaints and presently an overall rating of A+. A company representative responds promptly if any complaints occur. Roughly 5 complaints occurred over the past 36 months and 4 occurred in the prior 12 months.

The following table outlines the nature of the complaints received by the BBB.

BBB Complaint Types Number
Sales or Advertising Related 0
Collections or Billing Problems 0
Deliver-Related Concerns 0
Warranty or Guarantee 0
Product or Service Problems 5

Final Thoughts

Overseas Moving Specialists Inc. dba International Sea & Air Shipping has now operated in the international relocation business for more than 70 years. Online reviews and feedback suggest the company is typically delivering excellent customer satisfaction. They represent a very good option for international transportation services—particularly if entering or leaving the U.S. through an east coast location.

For more help choosing the right moving company and to get a free moving quote, check our picks of the top-rated interstate moving companies.

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