Q & A
Packaging
Pickup & Delivery
Shipping
International Shipping
Insurance
Storage
Packaging
Q. What type of items
do you pack and ship?
A. Navis is the originator of FLAV™ shipping – items that are fragile, large, awkward
and valuable. Navis specializes in packaging and shipping items most mail and parcel
centers can’t handle due to their packing limitations. Navis specializes in packing
and shipping artwork, antiques, furniture, electronics, computer servers, machinery,
and equipment. We serve both the residential and business-to-business (B2B) markets.
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Q. How do I
know if my item should be boxed or crated?
A. The decision on whether your item needs to be boxed or crated is best left to
the packaging specialists at Navis. We have 25 years of experience packaging difficult-to-ship
items, and match the packing materials and techniques based on the fragility of
your goods, specifications, insurance requirements and shipping and destination
requirements.
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Q.
How will you pack my items to ensure they are well protected?
A. We evaluate each individual item in any shipment and determine the best way to
protect them and meet your needs. We consider the characteristics of the items,
the financial, strategic and/or sentimental value of the items, the weight, and
the mode of transportation to determine how the items will be packed. Our packaging
techniques have resulted in a 99.6% "damage free" shipping result.
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Q. Can I pack my own boxes and
items?
A. Yes. However, if you pack your own items they are classified as "Packed by Owner"
which then can only be insured for disappearance. So if you are packing fragile
items you want to use plenty of bubble wrap, newsprint and/or peanuts to adequately
protect the item. See our tips on how to pack your boxes.
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Pickup & Delivery
Q. What are your pickup
and delivery options?
A. Navis can tailor the pickup and delivery options to meet your budget. The following
pickup and delivery services are provided by Navis:
- Terminal means you pick up your shipment at the carrier's nearest
terminal and load it into your own vehicle. This is the least expensive option.
- Curbside means that your shipment will be transported via a reputable carrier,
generally on a trailer with one driver. You are responsible for unloading the item
from the back of the truck and carrying it into your home or office. When any single
piece in a shipment weighs over 70 pounds, we suggest that you request lift-gate
delivery or full service delivery. The additional cost could save your back!
- Curbside + Liftgate enables your shipment to be removed from the truck by the
delivery driver, adding to your convenience.
- Inside Delivery means that the driver will take the item into your garage or the
closest inside threshold.
- White Glove means the driver will take the item into the final destination to
a place of your choosing, unpack the item and remove the debris. This is the most
expensive option.
Q. What do you mean
by pad wrap or blanket wrap?
A. Pad wrap refers to the process of wrapping thick moving blankets around your
goods to protect them during transit. Pad wrap is used with Van Line carriers, whose
trailers have air ride suspension which provides extra shock absorbing capability.
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Q. How long will
it take to receive my shipment?
A. Our standard turn around time for domestic shipments is 10-14 business days from
pickup to delivery. For our blanket or pad wrap service it ranges from 3 to 10 weeks.
We can always provide expedited service options to meet your needs.
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Q. Will I be able to track
my shipment?
A. Yes. When your shipment leaves our warehouse we will provide you with a website
address and tracking number that you can use to track the progress of your shipment
if available through the carrier.
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Q. Will you be there to pick up my goods at a certain time or will it be within
a window?
A. Usually, you will be given a window of a delivery time, not to exceed 4 hours.
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Q. Will I get
a call before my items are delivered?
A. In most cases, the transportation carrier will contact the person receiving the
goods 24 hours in advance and schedule a delivery within a 4 hour window.
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Q. Can I save money
by dropping my items off?
A. Yes, you can save money by dropping your items off at one of our locations.
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Q. How much notice do
you need for pick-up?
A. We recommend you arrange your shipment one week in advance to allow us adequate
time to schedule the pick-up for the day you request. However, there is no strict
rule regarding notice as usually we can pick-up your shipment within 24–72 hours
of your initial call. At certain times of the year, we can accommodate last minute
moves.
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Shipping
Q. What does the total price
include?
A. Unless other arrangements have been made, the total price includes the pickup
of your items, the transport back to the warehouse, the packaging of the goods,
the transport and delivery of the items to the destination and insurance coverage
on the items themselves
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Q. What is the USAR?
A. The USAR is the Universal Shipment and Release Agreement. This is the contract
between you as a customer and the Navis franchise location. This will detail what
is being shipped, the condition of the item(s), the value, the destination of where
the shipment is going and the agreed upon price.
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Q. If the weight of my item changes, how does that impact the pricing?
A. On standard ground freight shipments the weight of the shipment is used to determine
the transportation cost. As a rule of thumb, we can use the estimate and the projected
weight to develop a cost per pound. This will give you an idea of how a change in
weight will impact the pricing. On parcel freight, air and ocean shipments the transportation
cost is determined by the higher of the "actual weight" or the "dimensional weight"
of your shipment. Dimensional weight is calculated based on the amount of space
(cubic inches, feet or meters) that your shipment will take up on the truck, airplane
or ocean vessel. For example, shipping a 5 cubic foot container filled with feathers
is going to be based on the "dimensional weight" whereas the same container filled
with "pig iron" is going to be based on the actual weight.
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Q. Are there items you cannot
ship?
A. Yes, to see the items Navis cannot ship,
click here.
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Q. How and when do I pay
for my shipment?
A. Payment in full is required once your shipment is packed and a final weight is
determined. We accept all major credit cards as well as checks.
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Q. Do you have minimum weights?
A. No, traditional movers have minimum weights, meaning you pay to move a load whether
it weighs 2,000 pounds or not. Navis has no minimum weight requirements, which is
how we can help you save on small moves.
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Q. How can I ship boxes?
A. The least expensive way to ship large boxes of household goods, clothes and non-breakable
items is through ground freight.
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International Shipping
Q. Are you licensed
for international shipping?
A. Yes. We are licensed and certified by the Federal Maritime Commission, a government
agency that regulates all ocean carriers and tariffs. Our license number is 020283NF.
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Q. How long
will my international Ocean shipment take?
A. A typical time frame is 4-6 weeks. This can vary somewhat by destination and
be impacted by ship sailing schedules and weather.
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Q. How
long will my international air freight shipment take?
A. A typical time frame is 7 – 10 days depending on the destination.
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Q. Can you
provide crating for international shipments?
A. Yes. We provide ISPM-15 compliant wood packaging.
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Q. Are there countries
you do not ship to?
A. Yes. To see a list of countries where Navis does and does not ship,
click here.
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Q. If I do not have enough to fill a full container load, do I still have to
pay for the full container?
A. No. Navis will consolidate your shipment with other shipments we have going to
that same country.
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Insurance
Q. What does your insurance
cover?
A. Coverage is door-to-door. If you purchase insurance coverage and damage occurs
during the transit process, depending upon the amount of damage, the item may be repaired or you may
be reimbursed based on the value declared on the USAR. Proof of value is required. The liability
covers the merchandise only and does not cover freight cost, packing costs, duty or taxes.
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Q. What should
I do if my shipment arrives damaged?
A. Navis operates 99.6% claim free on a nationwide basis so damage is extremely
rare. However, if damage does occur you should save the item and all packaging materials
and contact the Navis Pack & Ship center that shipped the item for you for further
instructions.
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Q. Is
there a maximum value of an item insurance will cover?
A. Although our basic policy covers up to $400,000, higher policies are available.
Navis specializes in high-value shipments.
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Q. If you specialize in handling fragile items, how come my item can only be
insured for loss?
A. Some materials have components that are inherently unstable. Due to the age,
the material the item is constructed of, shape and irreplaceable value, no one can
predict how the shipping environment will affect the item. Therefore there are certain
items that can only be insured for disappearance only.
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Q. Why
can’t you insure items that I pack myself for damage?
A. Navis specializes in packaging items so they will arrive at their destination safely. If you choose to package your own goods instead, we cannot verify that the techniques you used meet our strict standards, therefore the item can only be insured if it is lost.
Storage
Q. Do you provide storage?
A. Navis provides short term storage or storage in transit. Some of our locations are able to provide long term storage.
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