Sunday, November 10, 2013

Picking an Israeli Moving Company


When moving from Israel to a foreign country, many tasks await you.
From closing utilities accounts to handling insurance transition from Israel to your new home and handling schools for your children, picking a mover is but one of many.

This article will help you pick a mover who will do a good job for and hopefully give you no surprises. 
Choosing a mover in Israel is very similar to choosing a mover anywhere in the world.

First, get recommendations from friends who have recently moved. 
If these friends moved to the same place you are moving – all the better. 
Each destination country has its own idiosyncrasies and a removal company who specializes in your country is a clear advantage. 
A company with experience to your destination will be able to advise and direct you what to avoid and to declare in order to minimize or eliminate taxes.
An experienced moving company will also know the required paperwork at destination so you can prepare these documents in advance.

After assembling a list of 2 – 4 recommended moving companies, invite them to your house to perform a pre-move survey. 
During this survey, the company’s representative will get a tour of your home while you tell him what is going and what is staying. 
At the same time, you should take advantage of this time to determine the surveyor’s professionalism and knowledge. 
While the surveyor will not be packing or loading your container, as the company’s representative you have a chance to learn what you can expect from his or her company.

After the survey, you can expect to receive a quote. 
When studying the quotes you receive, make sure you are comparing oranges to oranges.
Are all companies offering the same service?  Are all companies including the same costs?  Study the “not included” section very closely. 
Is there anything there that you will definitely have to pay?  Ask your sales person. 
If the answer is yes, this should be a red flag. 
Any cost you definitely have to pay, should be stated and listed up front and not hidden in the “Not Included.” Section.

Once you know the price, add in the reputation of the company, your friends’ recommendations, and your impression of the company / surveyor. 
With this information, you should be able to make a well informed and thought out decision.

Safe travels.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Down That Way


Traveling to an international conference from Israel always involves many hours of flights, something I have become used to.

However, my first trip to India on two weeks’ notice was unusually special. 
Sonigo Shipping was newly accepted to FIDI and when David Sonigo said “Go to the conference”, I didn’t ask questions, I just started looking for flight and hotel reservations.

When I could not find a hotel reservation, I should have understood, this was not meant to be.  However, I did find a great business class fare that was cheaper than flying coach on El Al, so I was off.

Or so I thought…I flew charter to Istanbul where I was to catch my business class flight to New Delhi.  After disembarking in Istanbul, I started asking where is the Air India desk.  When little English is spoken, hand gestures sufficed to point me “down that way.”  When I got to “down that way” I asked again and was pointed even father “down that way.”

When I go to the exit of the terminal and still had not found the Air India desk, I assumed I had simply missed it.  At this point I met my first English speaker who explained, “down that way” was 75 kilometers away at Istanbul’s other airport!!

After an excruciatingly long taxi ride, I surprisingly (to me anyway) made it to the Air India desk where my flight was waiting for me.

Even with cab fare, it was still cheaper than El Al!



Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Barbra Streisand Tel Aviv 2013

Barbara Streisand ended her World Tour in Tel Aviv, Israel on 23 June with the 100th live performance of her career.


Sonigo International Shipping handled the 
household moves to Israel of some 40 tons of air cargo. 
Besides clearing the shipment under ATA Carnet, Sonigo unloaded the plane and loaded the trucks which brought the equipment to the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.  Sonigo’s crews then unloaded the equipment used for the staging, lighting and sound equipment.

After her performance, Sonigo’s crews packed her equipment, sending some 10 tons by air cargo and loading the rest in two 40 foot containers.

According to General Manager David Sonigo, “Timing is everything in show business.  We cannot permit any delays and the planning of an operation like this requires us to plan for and accommodate contingencies…because if something can happen – it usually does!  At the same time, the performance must start on time and we guarantee it.”

“Of course, household moves to Israel are our core business, but our crews love the extra hours working in show business.”

Established in 1986, Sonigo Shipping with some 60 team members, provides shipping and moving services to thousands of families a year.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Importing

Starting a new business based on importing items from overseas seems so easy – after all everything seems so cheap in America, or China or almost any place else – besides Israel!

This might be right, but then again, it might not be.  Your in-depth analysis of whether a business is worth it or not is critical when deciding about any business and importing is no different.

First, only a business entity can import a commercial quantity of goods.  Up to two items can be considered personal import.  More than two is a commercial quantity and you must be a business, with VAT id to import these goods.

Second, you must determine if permits are required for the product you want to import.  Most food and heath items require permits.  All electric items that plug into an outlet require a permit from the Standards Institute.  

A licensed customs broker can help you determine what permits you need, although in most cases you should investigate on your own.  Unless the customs broker has extensive experience with your line of products, he or she may not know the best way to categorize your products and your own investigation will contribute to your saving money on taxes and time with permits.

Every product has an HS code (Harmonized System). The HS code is an internationally accepted coding system used by Customs.  Asking your supplier for the HS code will save you time and effort in determining the item’s tax rate and if permits are required.

Most finished goods are taxed at 12%, while most raw materials are taxed at 8%.  If goods are made and imported from a country with a “free trade” with Israel, you will need to supply the appropriate Certificate of Origin and then you will be exempt of the 8% - 12% Customs Duties mentioned above.  There is no exemption from VAT (currently 18%), although as a business, this does not really cost you as it is a pass through tax.

So far, we have discussed taxes and permits…the next step in determining the viability of an import business will revolve around the cost of shipping.  You can buy goods from your supplier, including shipping to your door, although this is very rare.  In most cases you will buy with FOB or EXW terms.

FOB means Free on Board and means the supplier is responsible for delivering the goods to the port or your shipper’s warehouse and taking care of export customs formalities. You will be responsible for shipping from the port to the final destination.

EXW means Ex Works and means you are responsible for picking up the goods at your supplier’s warehouse and all shipping costs to the final destination.

If you are in a hurry to get your product, you will consider air cargo.  While very expensive, it is also very quick.  With light weight and compact products, this may be the most economical way to ship.   When considering small air shipments, courier (such as DHL, UPS or Fedex) is often the best way to ship as they will provide door to door service.  

You might also consider the Postal Service’s Express Mail service, although this will take 2 – 4 days longer than the private courier service.  The best advantage with Express Mail is they usually do not take into account volume which considerably increases the cost with the private courier service.  This policy can change so you will want to verify this when you are ready to ship.

If the shipment is larger, then you will probably ship via air cargo.  When considering air cargo, you must verify the maximum  pallet size that will fit in the plane.  Different planes have different loading capacities.  You don’t want your shipment delayed until the plane with the right size cargo hold flies on your lane.  

Air shipment charges are based on weight with a minimum charge of 10 lbs to the cubic foot (or 167 kgs to the cubic meter.) This means a bulky light weight item will be very expensive to ship via air.  

Ocean shipments take longer and are significantly cheaper than air shipments.  An ocean shipment can be via an exclusive container, called an FCL (Full Container Load).  FCLs come in three sizes – 20 foot, 40 foot and 40 foot “High Cube” which is one foot higher.

If you have less than a full container, you will probably ship your goods as an LCL (Less than Container Load).  In this case you will pay by volume – either per cubic foot or per cubic meter.  In rare cases where you ship heavy items such as printed goods or stone, your charge will be based on the rate of 1 ton being charged at the rate of 1 cubic meter.

Your forwarder will handle all shipping arrangements.

In either case, air or sea shipment, you will need a licensed Customs Broker to clear your goods through Customs.  Most brokers have representatives at the airport (Ben Gurion) and the sea ports (Ashdod, Eilat and Haifa).  Once cleared, you or your forwarder will arrange delivery of the goods from the port to your warehouse.  You will want to do this as quickly as possible to avoid or at least limit expensive port storage fees.

This brief outline gives you a few pointers to help make your business a success, but obviously there is much more to learn and check before making the decision to start an import business.  You must prepare profit and loss and cash flow projections (don’t forget the VAT payment required to clear your goods through Customs – an outlay long before you have any income.)

These projections will include all your operating expenses.  Remember, your salary is one of those important expenses as well.

With a lot of hard work, long hours, much Siyatta Dishmaya, BE”H, you can make a business succeed in Israel.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Moving to Israel

Moving to Israel, like moving to anyplace in the world can be a stressful experience.

Sonigo International Shipping makes every effort to make moving to Israel or moving from Israel as smooth and hassle free as possible. 
Of course, this is not always possible. 
Children and pets make any move more complicated because they must also be taken care of while movers are packing up your goods for your move overseas.

Moving pets requires various veterinary permits from the departing country to the arrival country.
It is very important to check this and verify all requirements before you move to Israel.

Children will become tense and worried about leaving friends and making new friends. 
Finding the right school in your new home and then enrolling your children will add to your arrival responsibilities at your destination.

Hopefully, your moving company in Israel will help smooth out any issues that may occur with Customs in clearing your shipment. 
When you move from Israel, your mover will also have to verify any potential issues with Customs. 
Handling export customs formalities should be something you are not involved with unless there is a problem that requires your intervention. 
As a licensed Customs Broker, Sonigo can make all necessary arrangements with Israeli Customs so you can take care of getting your new home set in Israel or the Unites States, England, France or anyplace you are moving to. 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Sonigo Compliance from FIDI

Sonigo has just been awarded a Complete Compliance from FIDI, the leading organization of International Moving Agents.

Ernst and Young performed a full day audit of the Sonigo’s equipment, packing material, licensing, financials. 
This audit is a required preliminary to being accepted into FIDI.

At the end of the audit, the Ernst and Young auditor informed the Sonigo team that this was the first time, she had awarded a perfect 100 score. 

While FIDI membership symbolizes the elite of the moving industry, Sonigo continues to search new and innovative ways to help their clients move to Israel.  

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Containers Overboard!


Containers Overboard!

Israel was rocked by a tremendous storm over a 6 day period that intermittently shut down the ports as strong winds buffeted the area.

On 10 January, the last day of the storm, strong winds again shut down the port.  As per protocol, vessels in port were towed out to sea to ride out the storm.  While being towed out to sea, the Zim Constanza was hit by a huge wave knocking 26 containers overboard including two containers belonging to our clients.

One FCL and one groupage container with 3 clients including a brand new 2013 Mustang were our casualties.

Even though our weekend had started, Meirav Azulai, Import Manager, went to the office to pull the files and immediately update the insurance company.  She forwarded them the relevant documents so they could begin the claim process.

As shown in the pictures about eight containers were washed up on a sea wall including our groupage container.  Our FCL remains underwater and may never be recovered.

Besides the heartache of lost and irreplaceable memorabilia, all our clients were fully insured including coverage of the cost of shipping.  The insurance company and their appraisers are working on these claims while we have made every effort to keep our clients informed of any new development. 

While this is thankfully, an extremely rare event, we have remained in constant contact with our clients offering words of support as we help expedite completion of the insurance process.








Thursday, May 9, 2013

When the Mover Moves



Who knows better than a mover, how stressful a move can be?
  Sonigo (Israel) International Shipping knows better than most.


After 6 years at their last warehouse and office, they shut down all computers, servers and switchboard at 2 pm on 20 December 2012 and moved to a beautiful, new facility 3 kilometers away.  This followed two weeks of massive transit of some 350 storage containers and vaults.  87 trips by flat-bed trucks and 36 trips by closed trucks moved Sonigo to their new facility.


Most important, according to David Sonigo, our mail server was back up by 6:30 pm on 20 December.  “We knew there would be down time when we disconnected our switchboard and all our computers and we prepared as much in advance as possible…but I never believed we would be back on line within 4 hours.”



Sharon Raz-El, Deputy General Manager, oversaw the logistics of this massive move of people, equipment and stored goods that occupied some 4000 square meters.  Even though the new facility is only two years old and has some of the newest state of the art equipment, there was still a tremendous amount of planning, building and refurbishing required to bring everything up to Sonigo’s standards.

Sonigo said, “We are completely back to work and making efforts to fill our books for the summer.  We are building new strategic alliances with the best and most experienced moving and relocation companies in the world.  At the same time, we continue to explore the latest techniques and technologies that will allow us to provide a smoother, safer and stress free move for our clients. 

“Our new facility makes these efforts even easier for us and nobody knows better than us…moving is a stressful business.”

Sonigo International Moving, established in 1986, employees some 60 full time staff, specializes in household goods shipping and concert project logistic management.


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The Ashdod Customs House has decided to inspect any import shipment with a bicycle, to ensure that the bicycle is not motorized.


Motorized bicycles require approval from Ministry of transportation.
Charges for the inspection are billed to the owner of the goods.
This only affects shipments arriving to Ashdod (for now).

We are working with other licensed customs clearers to get this rule revoked (even if only for Olim Hadashim and Toshvim Hozerim); however right now it is best to NOT import a bicycle of any sort.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Israeli Customs is now requiring a "Teken" (Approval from Ministry of Standards) or a "Ptor" (Exemption from the approval) for ALL gas grills (Bar-b-ques) imported, even as personal import.

Any import shipment containing a gas grill will be pulled for inspection, and the grill will be held by customs until the approval or exemption is issued.



Of course, charges for the inspection/ removal, and storage of the gas grill will be billed to the owner of the goods.

We are working with other licensed customs clearers to get this rule revoked (even if only for Olim Hadashim and Toshvim Hozerim); however right now it is best to NOT import a gas bar-b-que.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

US Longshoreman's strike

The US Longshoreman's union has agreed to a temporary extension of their contract.
This averted a strike, which would have affected all East Coast US Ports (including the Gulf of Mexico). The extension is until 28 January, and the threat of a strike at that time still remains.