A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Can anyone recommend a company to collect and forward bottles won at auctions particularly in the Midlands and the South West? The company I used to use turned out to be unreliable.
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
I use Mailboxes etc or Benelux-the latter being cheaper (but not always) with the former being more timely.
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Thanks for your reply idj.
I'm afraid Benelux is the unreliable company I referred to in my original post; I had used them quite a bit until December 2015. At that time I was advised they had a problem sourcing the boxes to ship the bottles to me. Then in January 2016 I was told that my bottles, worth several thousand pounds, had been stolen during a break in at their premises. During the next 16 months they have failed to provide me with a copy of the police report, any documentation from their insurance admitting their claim or even confirmation of the amount they claimed in relation to my stolen bottles. Needless to say I have not received a single penny of compensation.
I have used mailboxes a fair bit and agree with your comments regarding their costs which seem to vary substantially from branch to branch.
I'm afraid Benelux is the unreliable company I referred to in my original post; I had used them quite a bit until December 2015. At that time I was advised they had a problem sourcing the boxes to ship the bottles to me. Then in January 2016 I was told that my bottles, worth several thousand pounds, had been stolen during a break in at their premises. During the next 16 months they have failed to provide me with a copy of the police report, any documentation from their insurance admitting their claim or even confirmation of the amount they claimed in relation to my stolen bottles. Needless to say I have not received a single penny of compensation.
I have used mailboxes a fair bit and agree with your comments regarding their costs which seem to vary substantially from branch to branch.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15465
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
I'm really sorry to hear about your bad experience. I work for a courier company (not Benelux!) and would be horrified to have treated one of our customers in the way you've described.
I can't actually help much with your original request. I spent quite a long time looking for a reliable packing and shipping company to handle wine and port bottles bought at auction. I had so little luck that I normally now collect my wines in person - which also means I get to see some very interesting parts of the UK and elsewhere in the world.
I can't actually help much with your original request. I spent quite a long time looking for a reliable packing and shipping company to handle wine and port bottles bought at auction. I had so little luck that I normally now collect my wines in person - which also means I get to see some very interesting parts of the UK and elsewhere in the world.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Thanks AHB I really think Benelux are atypical of the shipping industry.
It would be interesting to learn if anyone else was impacted by the burglary and whether they have been successful in obtaining any compensation from Benelux Shipping?
It would be interesting to learn if anyone else was impacted by the burglary and whether they have been successful in obtaining any compensation from Benelux Shipping?
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Are any of the on-going clients of Benelux Shipping able to confirm their physical address? Unfortunately, their website, beneluxshipping.com, fails to provide this basic information. If anyone on the site happens to this I would really appreciate it if they could share it with me. If you don't know it please ask them.... If they are unwilling to provide it, I leave to you to draw your own conclusion why!
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15465
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
A quick search of Benelux Shipping at Companies House reveals the registered office of Benelux Shipping Ltd to be:
Roland House, Princes Dock Street, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU1 2LD
The only director is Jan Willem Christiaan VERSCHOOR who lives in Spain and owns 75% or more of the shares in the company.
Interestingly, I believe (but am not certain) that their website is supposed to include their company number and certain other details which appear to be missing.
I'm guessing that you're asking for this information so you can pursue your request for compensation. Please let us know how you get on.
Roland House, Princes Dock Street, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU1 2LD
The only director is Jan Willem Christiaan VERSCHOOR who lives in Spain and owns 75% or more of the shares in the company.
Interestingly, I believe (but am not certain) that their website is supposed to include their company number and certain other details which appear to be missing.
I'm guessing that you're asking for this information so you can pursue your request for compensation. Please let us know how you get on.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Hi
I am absolutely certain that this company has no connection with the Benelux Shipping I have had the problem with.
Having undertaken a lot of research the company I have had the problems with is a sole trader called Michael Vaus who is based in Wellington. He operates under the name "David" and through the website www.beneluxshipping.com. I have manged to get a fair sized dossier on on his operation and if anyone else has had issues with "David" please feel free to contact me.
I have spoken to the Hull based company and they have mentioned that the similarity of name has caused issues for them in the past.
Just to clarify the Wellington, Somerset trading details are as follows:-
Web site - www.beneluxshipping.com
Telephone number +44 (0)1823 660645
Fax Number +44 (0)1823 662430
Mobile number 07887 752698
E-Mail address benelux@talk21.com
I am a bit surprised why the Hull based company has not taken legal action to protect their identity but if need further assistance I will help them in any way I can.
I am absolutely certain that this company has no connection with the Benelux Shipping I have had the problem with.
Having undertaken a lot of research the company I have had the problems with is a sole trader called Michael Vaus who is based in Wellington. He operates under the name "David" and through the website www.beneluxshipping.com. I have manged to get a fair sized dossier on on his operation and if anyone else has had issues with "David" please feel free to contact me.
I have spoken to the Hull based company and they have mentioned that the similarity of name has caused issues for them in the past.
Just to clarify the Wellington, Somerset trading details are as follows:-
Web site - www.beneluxshipping.com
Telephone number +44 (0)1823 660645
Fax Number +44 (0)1823 662430
Mobile number 07887 752698
E-Mail address benelux@talk21.com
I am a bit surprised why the Hull based company has not taken legal action to protect their identity but if need further assistance I will help them in any way I can.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15465
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Thank you for correcting my assumption that the two companies were the same.
01823 is the dialling code for the Taunton area, which may help you track the address of the business.
01823 is the dialling code for the Taunton area, which may help you track the address of the business.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3633
- Joined: 13:22 Wed 15 Dec 2010
- Location: Near Cambridge, UK
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Use of a Whois search for the domain beneluxshipping.com provides the full name, address and contact details of the sole trader you mention, if you do not have them. Example lookup: https://www.whois.com/whois/beneluxshipping.com
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
I must confess that when writing a response to the original post I was going to ask whether the carrier in question began with the letter 'B' as I kind guessed that you might be referring to them.
A second confession is that a good friend of mine (known to a few people on this Forum) suffered the same problem as you-namely, that he was told that his case of F2000 (or it might have been F2003) were among a number of cases that had been taken in a burglary. He told me this just after the time and I must admit I then forgot about it (thinking that he would the receive value of the goods as the person in question had told me on a number of occasions previously that my goods were insured). However when I spoke to my friend a while ago, it came up in conversation again and that he had heard nothing further on it from Benelux. However, being a busy and non confrontational sort of person, my friend had not really pursued. However, I was appalled and disgusted and having already started to use them less and less (due to their timeliness and pricing vagaries not to mention some other odd habits) have not used them in the last seven months. This does limit my buying as unlike Alex I have less opportunity these days to visit the auction houses personally but so be it.
As a footnote to this one of our number on the Forum still uses them from time to time (I'll leave it to them to make further comment if they wish) but I understand that the person at the centre of all this is looking to retire soon and so you may have limited time to catch up them before they disappear.
A second confession is that a good friend of mine (known to a few people on this Forum) suffered the same problem as you-namely, that he was told that his case of F2000 (or it might have been F2003) were among a number of cases that had been taken in a burglary. He told me this just after the time and I must admit I then forgot about it (thinking that he would the receive value of the goods as the person in question had told me on a number of occasions previously that my goods were insured). However when I spoke to my friend a while ago, it came up in conversation again and that he had heard nothing further on it from Benelux. However, being a busy and non confrontational sort of person, my friend had not really pursued. However, I was appalled and disgusted and having already started to use them less and less (due to their timeliness and pricing vagaries not to mention some other odd habits) have not used them in the last seven months. This does limit my buying as unlike Alex I have less opportunity these days to visit the auction houses personally but so be it.
As a footnote to this one of our number on the Forum still uses them from time to time (I'll leave it to them to make further comment if they wish) but I understand that the person at the centre of all this is looking to retire soon and so you may have limited time to catch up them before they disappear.
- uncle tom
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3542
- Joined: 22:43 Wed 20 Jun 2007
- Location: Near Saffron Walden, England
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
The Somerset company seems to be well in with Strakers - I've used them a couple of times for small stashes and the bottles have arrived promptly and well packed.
Seems very odd that there should be two similarly named companies trading in the same sector..
Seems very odd that there should be two similarly named companies trading in the same sector..
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Having just purchased a few bottles at auction in the UK, which I need to have collected (and packed) for shipping to the Continent, I am wondering if anyone has hit upon a reliable courier to such end since this discussion started?
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Sadly,no-I still use Benelux but very, very sparingly. I try to pick up personally when I can. Mailboxes are good but a bit expensive and disproportionate if you’ve only secured a few bottles.
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Profuse thanks for the response. In the end, I used Mailboxes which, as I only took a few bottles, was just as you say - a bit pricey.
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
I am trying to trackdown Michael Vaus - Benelux Shipping in relation to the alleged theft of wine, I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who's had dealing with Vaus since 2022.
I believe Vaus is still in and around Somerset / Devon border and is storing wine in Wellington.
If you have any information please contact me.
Many thanks
I believe Vaus is still in and around Somerset / Devon border and is storing wine in Wellington.
If you have any information please contact me.
Many thanks
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
My last use of them was December 2021, which took longer than normal to arrive so i stopped using him after that.
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- Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
- Posts: 2190
- Joined: 14:35 Mon 13 May 2019
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
He sent me an email the other day checking whether I had anything to pick up from the recent Straker Chadwick sale. So he is clearly still around.
I have to say that the service I have had from him over the past 15 years or so has been perfectly decent, if a bit idiosyncratic.
I should say - i don’t think I’ve actually used him since 2021
I have to say that the service I have had from him over the past 15 years or so has been perfectly decent, if a bit idiosyncratic.
I should say - i don’t think I’ve actually used him since 2021
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
I am particularly keen to speak to anyone who's had experience of dealing with Vaus / Benelux Shipping in the past 12 to 36 months in particular.
He's still operating, somewhat anonymously in that his website doesn't work and he doesn't answer the phone to me.
If you or anyone you know has had any dealing with him please get in touch.
He's still operating, somewhat anonymously in that his website doesn't work and he doesn't answer the phone to me.
If you or anyone you know has had any dealing with him please get in touch.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15465
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
The discussion about Benelux and the need for a service to be able to collect, pack, ship and deliver bottles purchased at auction made me sit down and work out the economics of what I used to do - to travel to an auction house and collect my purchases. (The furthest I ever went was Perth, Perthshire.)
If I had offered that service commercially, I estimate that I would have needed to charge a minimum of £900 per visit to auction houses in the south of England, and more for the north of England or Scotland. That’s probably an average of £10-30 per bottle.
If I had offered that service commercially, I estimate that I would have needed to charge a minimum of £900 per visit to auction houses in the south of England, and more for the north of England or Scotland. That’s probably an average of £10-30 per bottle.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Alex, what assumptions did you make about number of bottles collected per visit? I think the Benelux model involved round-robin trips which visited multiple auction sites collecting for multiple customers and delivering to a small number of storage destinations.Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑00:32 Tue 21 Jan 2025 The discussion about Benelux and the need for a service to be able to collect, pack, ship and deliver bottles purchased at auction made me sit down and work out the economics of what I used to do - to travel to an auction house and collect my purchases. (The furthest I ever went was Perth, Perthshire.)
If I had offered that service commercially, I estimate that I would have needed to charge a minimum of £900 per visit to auction houses in the south of England, and more for the north of England or Scotland. That’s probably an average of £10-30 per bottle.
On that basis, I think pricing could be significantly less than £10/bottle, while a drop in number of customers would soon begin to drive up service prices.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15465
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
A round robin collection approach would be more efficient, but I assumed collecting about 30 bottles per visit and then outsourcing the delivery to DHL.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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- Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
- Posts: 2190
- Joined: 14:35 Mon 13 May 2019
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
I used to get Michael to pick up stuff for me from Straker Chadwick and points south and west. He typically delivered to my office himself, presumably on the basis it could be combined with a visit to LCB. As I recall cost was £50-£70 a dozen.
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
The guy at Benelux is David whom I have had numerous telephone conversations and e-mail exchanges with. Used to use him quite a bit but maybe not in the last couple of years. He’s a maverick at best and at worst ……. I could relate an experience of a mate of mine on here but perhaps best that I don’t…
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- Warre’s Traditional LBV
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- Joined: 13:24 Thu 17 Jan 2008
- Location: London
Re: A reliable company to collect and forward bottles won at Auction
Over the years I have had a fair few breakages. I always insure now and generally send a local taxi to pick up for special older bottles to reduce the risk from transport