International Sea & Air Shipping is an international moving company offering door to door services worldwide. As a top international shipping company, we provide full container service and lift van services both to and from the USA with complete documentation, custom assistance, insurance, shipping, storage and inland transportation. International Sea & Air Shipping is Licensed by:FMC: Federal Maritime CommissionAs a NON-VESSEL COMMON CARRIER (NVOCC)License No. 023238NFMCSA: Federal Motor Carrier Safety AdministrationUSDOT. (Department of Transportation) No. 2052864MC No. 718931International Sea & Air Shipping is a proud member of the following Associations:AMSA: American Moving and Storage AssociationBBB: Better Business Bureau
International Sea & Air Shipping (internationalmoving.com) has 334 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.
Also known as
internationalmoving.com
Website
internationalmoving.com
Category
Moving & Storage
Location
Elmont, New York
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
Replies
The company replied to 61% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: October 2026.
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Reviews are shown as their authors wrote them. The company can reply, but cannot edit them.
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Furniture destroyed, after months of emails/calls nothing!
I hired them to ship my furniture and belongings from the UK to the US. During delivery to my house valuable furniture was dropped from the delivery truck by the movers. Even though the men stated in writing on the delivery receipt that they had dropped and destroyed the item I have never been reimbursed for the damage. So far it has been months, I have made multiple phone calls and email attempts to resolve this issue.
Response from International Sea & Air ShippingSep 11, 2026
We are very sorry that the chair was damaged during delivery, and we understand how upsetting it is to have a valued piece of furniture damaged during a move.
We do, however, want to clarify that this matter was addressed with you directly. Our destination delivery agent spoke with you regarding the damage and offered $400 in reimbursement for the chair, which we were advised you accepted as a resolution. We were therefore surprised to see the statement that there had been no reimbursement effort or resolution after months of communication.
If the agreed reimbursement has not been received, or if there has been an issue with its processing, please contact us directly so that we can investigate the payment status immediately. We absolutely want to make sure that the resolution that was offered and agreed upon is properly completed.
ZA
Zainab A.
The whole process felt unprofessional…
The whole process felt unprofessional and frustrating.
Very bad experience with this company. They lack transparency and communication, and they add unexpected costs after the shipment has already been sent and is in transit. They also do not respond to emails, which made it extremely difficult to get clear information or resolve issues in a timely manner. Based on this experience, I would not recommend this company at all.
Response from International Sea & Air ShippingJun 26, 2026
Dear Zainab
We’re sorry to hear about your experience, however as you were informed the additional costs and the delay was due to the war a special container to middle east.
NO
Norm
Terrible experience - Improper packing
Lied to during the sales period. Items were not packed properly leading to damage. Insufficient communication and management of the process, including leading to additional charges due to their lack of management and not informing me of what I needed to provide.
I even talked directly with the President of the company who shared no apologies or concern for the treatment here. This attitude and disdain for customers is clearly an issue coming from leadership.
Update (based on reply): The packing of art was not done correctly. Paintings were put in shared boxes with no protection leading to damage. Canvases were punctured because of poor packing. This isn't just an issue of things moving, but negligence. I had made clear that art would be included, sent pictures of the paintings and even verified there was experience with this sort of fragile item. Despite all of this, there was no attempt to ensure correct packing nor care for the art. Multiple pieces were damaged, not just a one off. I was lied to about the capacity of this shipping company directly by the company.
Update 2: I believe the representative responding to my review is lying. The company has not requested any pictures from me and has not provided me any details of what they are investigating as of yet despite publicly saying that they have.
Don't trust this company to be honest, communicate, or able to pack and care for your stuff.
Update 3: I just proactively sent photos. I sent a response to the note that there was to be an investigation and even asked what it would be covered. But you all decided not to respond through email and are instead choosing to add details here instead of trying to work with me.
For the public record, I had sent photos of the art that needed to be shipped back in October and was told that it would be packed carefully. This was still false and very clearly so based on the damage. While details can be missed because of the stressful situation, it doesn't help that the company chooses to work in public and not take responsibility - also what occurred late last year when there was no communication for a month that the shipment was pending information from me and I needed to follow-up to even learn that fact. The agent coordinating even noted that they had assumed I was communicated that information to me even though it wasn't. The president of the company defended those actions and that treatment of a customer and poor communication and instead blaming it on me and charging me additional fees, even if reduced. Throughout the whole process I have had to manage the communication despite being told that it was one of the services they provided and continually noted that. Despite the president of the company being aware of this. This is not the behavior of a good company, but one that is just trying to sell you their service and then stops caring about the customer and experience in some cases. Based on the positive reviews, there are clearly some customers who are treated better than others.
Response from International Sea & Air ShippingApr 22, 2026
Dear Norm,
Thank you for your feedback. We’ve reviewed your file and would like to provide some additional context.
At the time your review was posted, your most recent message had just been received and our office was in the process of reviewing the details so we could properly look into the matter.
Regarding the shipment:
- Our destination agent reached out prior to pickup to request the documentation required for clearance, with follow-up correspondence sent before the information was received.
- Shipment scheduling was dependent on this documentation being provided, which was communicated at several points.
- Storage may be required when a shipment is placed on hold pending documentation for clearance.
- We worked to reduce the storage cost as a courtesy and applied a $390.00 discount on your invoice.
- Packing was completed by an experienced local agent in accordance with standard shipping practices. While we work with long-standing, vetted partners, international transport involves multiple handling points, and in some cases items may shift or sustain damage in transit.
Once notified, we provided guidance on the insurance claims process and requested supporting documentation so the matter can be properly reviewed.
We have also shared your feedback with the local agent to ensure continued quality standards.
We understand that international moves can be complex and, at times, frustrating. While we may not fully align on all aspects of your experience, our focus remains on addressing concerns through the appropriate channels and ensuring each matter is reviewed thoroughly.
We remain available to continue assisting with your claim as documentation is submitted.
Update: We would like to further address your concerns regarding the handling of artwork. We do not take allegations of improper packing lightly. At this stage, the matter is under review through the formal claims process, which requires documentation and photographs to assess the condition of the items at origin, prior to pickup, and destination, as well as the materials used at time of packing. This process is necessary to determine what occurred and whether any issues fall within the scope of coverage.
Update 2: Our team did reach out directly to request photos of the reported damage so we can investigate this thoroughly. Specifically, an email was sent by your sales representative on April 22 at 10:52 AM requesting detailed photographs of the items in question.
In addition, we shared your feedback with the origin agent who performed the packing and requested their internal review and findings.
The insurance company has also been in touch to proceed with your claim and our move coordinator has provided you with all the relevant documentation to proceed.
WB
Warren B.
Regret using this company
Regret using this company, I now have two shipments sitting in limbo and being forced to pay extra charges. My first shipment is still sitting in the United States after a month without leaving, having to chase to get updates and no urgency or consideration on timing my good are now scheduled to arrive a month and a half later. I stupidly booked another LCL shipment before this happened and not only did they get the quote wrong for which I had to then pay another 1000$ just before pick up, they sent a shuttle instead of the container and supposedly packed too much and are now proposing another 4000$ in charges for a half empty container when they restricted what they collected and I still have other items left over in my empty house, STAY AWAY
Recent update April 2026: For the first container I was able to pay with card with no issue or mention of exception, the company is now refusing to accept card, my shipping date has already been delayed and they are still refusing and threatening additional storage charges.
There is a lengthy response below but as you can appreciate, these are only excuses, this has come about due to poor communication and lack of process, there was no email confirmation from me. I am not one to usually complain, this has been an incredibly painful process and I need others to know
Response from International Sea & Air ShippingMar 9, 2026
We would like to clarify several points regarding the two shipments referenced in your review so readers have the full context.
Your first shipment was booked as a Full Container Load (FCL) and was loaded on January 28. The container is scheduled for vessel departure on March 7. There were two schedule changes due to rail delays, which were communicated to you by your move coordinator. The shipment is currently moving through the normal export logistics process, and updates have been provided throughout.
Your second shipment was booked as a Less-than-Container Load (LCL) service with an estimated volume of approximately 400 cubic feet, based on the inventory provided at the time of booking. LCL shipments are collected by shuttle truck and consolidated at the warehouse, rather than having a dedicated container present at the residence.
At the time of pickup, our operations manager contacted you to advise that the crew estimated approximately 600 cubic feet were present at the home and to confirm how you wished to proceed before continuing the service. You acknowledged this via email, and allowed the crew to proceed accordingly.
Our team packed and documented 79 items, as reflected in the packing list shared with you after the service. The final packed volume totaled 600 cubic feet, representing a 50% increase over the original estimate. At this volume, the shipment could no longer be handled under the originally quoted LCL method.
The additional packing service referenced in your review was $780, not $1,000, and was requested and approved prior to pickup.
International relocations are billed based on the actual packed volume and services performed, as outlined in the shipping agreement. Our team worked to accommodate your short-notice scheduling request and maintained communication throughout the process.
We remain available to review the details of both shipments with you directly and address any remaining questions.
April 2026 update: As outlined in our shipping agreement, final balances must be paid prior to shipment via an approved method. Credit card was accepted previously as a one-time exception for you, and it is not a standard method for final payment.
We have provided multiple secure alternatives, including international transfer options that do not require a U.S. bank account, and remain ready to proceed as soon as payment is received.
Our goal is always to ensure a smooth process, and we continue to work toward moving this shipment forward without further delay.
RG
RGalan
They will lose your stuff
We trusted this company to move our valued possessions to Valencia Spain. They were supposed to put all our boxes in a private container from the destination, to avoid losing anything. But seems that they did forget including one of the boxes from the origin warehouse. We didn't know this had happened until receiving our possessions in Spain 7 months later. By this point they told us that it was impossible to find it at their warehouse, and they could not do anything for us. Very disappointed with their final response. And nothing we can do as we had to pay when we shipped.
Response from International Sea & Air ShippingMar 10, 2026
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how upsetting it can be when an item cannot be accounted for.
For clarity, your shipment was not booked as a private container. It was arranged as a self-packed groupage shipment, which means your goods were consolidated with other shipments in a shared container. The liftvan was loaded at your residence with the boxes you had packed and then transported to our warehouse for consolidation prior to export. The liftvan remained unopened from the moment it was loaded at residence until final delivery was coordinated.
The shipment was collected in August and remained in storage until October at your request before being exported, which extended the overall timeframe between pickup and delivery. During that time, as a courtesy, we did not charge for storage.
When you later reported one missing box, our team conducted an intensive search of the warehouse at both origin and destination; but unfortunately it could not be located.
In situations like this, the standard avenue for reimbursement is through marine cargo insurance. Because insurance coverage was declined at the time of booking, there was unfortunately no policy in place that would allow us to process a claim.
We truly regret the frustration this situation has caused and understand how disappointing this must feel.
SI
Sierra
I deeply regret choosing this company
I deeply regret choosing this company, I will lay out why and know that there will no doubt be a lengthy response trying to justify each issue instead of an apology for really poor communication as the company does not take well to any valid criticism. I can assure you everything I say is true and leave it up to you to decide if you want to risk a similar experience.
My first issue with the company was the lack of clear communication. From the beginning we told the first employee who is marketing executive that our move would be in June or July and she provided a quote that in the end we had to ask why we were being charged quite a bit more, she argued the quote she gave us was for March and that we had additional charges added in the end, but we clearly communicated when the move would be, she never once mentioned the price would increase.
The operations manager at the company also emailed in June (one month early)regarding picking up our items that week and had us confused with another family of the same surname in different state which was extremely stressful. When I tried to communicate via email, he instead called and he used profanity on the call when he realised his mistake.
We had a set pick up date in July for well over a month confirmed by the operations manager and it was rescheduled multiple times at the last minute by no request or fault of ours due to multiple logistics issues that the company had. In the end it wasn’t picked up until the day before we left the country and this caused a great deal of stress for my family and distrust. Each time it was rescheduled the operations manager was very apologetic and promised the proper truck would be sent out, not a shuttle.
This is the worst part for my family because we were promised multiple times and assured (on the phone again) that we would not incur the almost $2,000 charge for the shuttle. In the end we found out on our 3rd rescheduled pick up day last minute that we would be paying it, there was never any accountability or apology for 2 different employees guaranteeing us and literally promising us we would not incur that fee and would not need a shuttle.
We moved and waited and were informed twice that our shipment would be delayed, once because ‘their container had a hole in it’. This meant not having furniture and having to spend money to account for receiving our things a month later than quoted.
Finally, after 3 months we were informed our things would be arriving and we would need to pay an additional moving fee for our ‘address changing’. Now let me add the context, in our initial quote we asked about not having our official address as we were in the buying process and were advised to use the closet city. Our address that they had for well over a month ended up being slightly closer to the movers on this end and has a private drive for them to park their trucks and easily move in the load. Yet we were charged around $600 for this. It was never communicated to us that this would be a possibility and actually the opposite, when we asked we were told it wouldn’t be an increase.
The movers called us before arrival and told us it was the worst shipping container they had ever seen and looked like items were ‘thrown in’. They took pictures and provided them to us which I will attach to this review. Only a small amount of our items were damaged thankfully, one being a kayak which was extremely disappointing.
The worst part for my family is that mistakes happen but the company have never once shown a desire to take any accountability or make any of these things right for us. Upon my initial review there was also quite the desire to have me remove it, instead of just connecting and listening to our genuinely bad experience and offering a way to make any of it right.
If you are using this company, be prepared to spend at least $3,000 more than your quote, keep everything in writing via email and please do not fall for believing their word on the phone because this is the mistake we made and hope no one else has to experience.
Photos are attached on Google reviews.
Response from International Sea & Air ShippingOct 13, 2025
Dear Sierra,
We are truly sorry to hear that your experience felt stressful, and we appreciate the opportunity to provide accurate context for future customers reviewing your post.
From the very beginning, your estimate clearly stated that pricing was valid for departures within 30 days of the quotation date. You were initially quoted in March for a possible spring shipment, but your actual booking occurred several months later, after ocean carrier rates and fuel surcharges had increased industry-wide. These cost changes were explained in writing prior to shipment and are standard practice across all international moving companies.
The mix-up you referenced involving another family with a similar surname was an isolated clerical error, and our operations manager immediately called to clarify and apologize — it was resolved the same day, and no part of your shipment was affected.
Regarding your pickup schedule, your move date was impacted by vessel timing adjustments and container availability, which were outside our company’s control but communicated to you promptly each time. We understand how disruptive that was and did everything possible to complete your loading before your move out date.
The shuttle charge was not applied arbitrarily or contrary to promises made. As noted in your signed agreement, shuttle service may be required if direct access is limited or if scheduling does not align with the vessel’s assigned loading window. Since your contract was based on a live load, your sales representative advised and explained the actual date was contingent on the booking which meant flexibility was required. In your case, the container had to be loaded via our warehouse since you had a firm move out date with no flexibility. The charge includes handling into and out of the warehouse, reloading into the container, and temporary storage — a multi-step process that is both labor-intensive and costly.
As for your delivery address, our records show that the change was made after your shipment was already in transit. Your contract was quoted based on costs to a specific city, and the new address was in a completely different area. The corresponding mileage charges were itemized and explained extensively prior to delivery. The invoice total of approximately $600 received from our destination partner included standard destination port charges, which were clearly noted in your documentation as not included in the door-to-door quotation. The address change itself accounted for $350, after a deduction we negotiated on your behalf with the local agent. Even so, your new address was serviced promptly once the container cleared customs.
We regret that some items were scuffed in transit, though thankfully the majority arrived intact. All shipments travel thousands of miles by sea and are handled by multiple port and customs authorities; minor surface wear can occur despite professional packing. Customers are always encouraged to file a written claim for review under their selected coverage.
Finally, we want to address the suggestion that our team avoids accountability or transparency. Every customer receives written documentation, copies of the signed contract, and open lines of communication with our staff. Phone calls are used to clarify time-sensitive updates, not to replace written correspondence.
We acknowledge that this relocation did not meet your expectations, but we stand by the fact that all services, adjustments, and communications were consistent with your signed agreement and international moving standards. We wish your family the best in your new home and remain available should you wish to discuss your claim further directly.
TE
Teri
A Nightmare International Move – Avoid at All Costs
We contracted **International Sea & Air Movers** to pack and ship our belongings from Brooklyn, NY to our new home in Italy. We were quoted a reasonable price that included full packing, custom-built crates for artwork, and coordination with **Bliss Moving** in Italy for customs clearance and delivery, including the extra cost for delivering up one additional floor.
At first, everything seemed great. Our sales rep, was personable and convincing. But once the sale was complete, the experience turned into an absolute nightmare.
Our assigned move coordinator, was unhelpful from the start—slow, vague, and unresponsive. If we didn’t email her, we wouldn’t hear from her at all. Her “coordination” amounted to one-line answers that provided no real information, even though this was a life-changing international move for us.
**Packing Day – April 29, 2025**
The moving dispatcher, assured us he was sending the “A” squad. Instead, it took them 10 hours (not the 4 hours promised) to pack our apartment. One mover spent more time texting than packing, the custom crates we paid extra for were never built on-site (apparently they were the wrong size and sitting in a warehouse), and the team had to call in backup just to finish by 9 PM. No follow-up call from Ronnie as promised.
We moved to Italy the next day with essentials for what we thought would be a **6–8 week wait** for our container. Instead, our belongings sat in a Brooklyn warehouse for **two months** with no explanation or proactive updates.
**16 weeks later** we finally heard from Bliss Moving in Italy—only to be told we had to pay **an additional €1,000 in “fees”** before delivery could be scheduled. These were supposedly for splitting the load into two smaller trucks, but we were told earlier a larger truck was possible. It felt like ransom: pay the fees or you won’t get your belongings. We had already paid for delivery to our apartment, yet now there were “unexpected port fees” and “transfer fees” from Genoa to Milan—why it wasn’t delivered directly from the port is still a mystery.
We paid under protest, and now, after months of living in an empty apartment on lawn furniture, we’re told delivery won’t be until **August 23, 2025**—**nearly four months** after pickup.
**Summary:**
* Misleading sales process
* Incompetent and unresponsive move coordination
* Poor packing execution (custom crates not provided)
* Lack of communication for months
* Surprise extra fees before delivery
* Endless delays and excuses
Leaving your home and moving to another country is stressful enough—**International Sea & Air Movers and Bliss Moving made it a nightmare**. I would never recommend them for any international move.
Update 9/26/25
Be sure to write down EVERY Thing in down to a pen cap color, my husbands watch and our Nintendo switch magically disappeared. We had full coverage BUT since these were not listed line item by line item we will not be reimbursed, but somehow my double boiler (not listed as an independent item is covered) Our 2 month old dining room table was also damaged, thankfully the Bliss moving team in Italy had it together, noted the damage and my double boiler and we will be reimbursed (minus the $500 deductible)
Oh well, glad its done.
Response from International Sea & Air ShippingAug 12, 2025
Dear Teri,
We are sorry to hear that your move did not meet your expectations and regret that certain aspects left you feeling frustrated. We would like to address the points you raised to ensure clarity.
Timeline: Please note on your written Export Form, you specifically requested arrival of the shipment after July 19. This is why the container did not depart until the end of June, in order to comply with your desired timeline. Therefore, the delivery date of August 23 will fall just 3 days outside the 8 week window. Furthermore, your contract only included 30 days free storage. Although an additional month of storage incurred, in good faith, you were granted 2 months of storage at no extra cost for the duration your shipment was in our warehouse - per your request. During this time, we paid for the space your shipment occupied.
Crating: The custom crates for your artwork were prepared off-site at our warehouse to ensure proper sizing and compliance with shipping standards. This is an industry-wide standard practice. We regret if this was not explained to you in advance, but rest assured the job was completed efficiently.
Packing Day Timing: The packing process did take longer than initially estimated, largely due to the care required for fragile items and the overall volume. While our goal is always to complete within the projected window, we believe it was important to ensure everything was properly protected for international transport. Ultimately, we still finished within the same day.
Additional Fees in Italy: The charges communicated by our Italian partner, Bliss Moving, are related to access restrictions at your residence. They are necessary when the container is unable to reach the delivery address, requiring smaller vehicles and extra labor for double handling. We understand how frustrating it can be to face unplanned expenses, however we did not have your full address at time of booking and therefore we weren't able to advise at that time without the relevant information.
Communication: We acknowledge if our communication did not meet your expectations for frequency and detail. We will be reviewing our coordination process and correspondences to assess if there is room for improvement.
While we understand your disappointment, the services contracted were completed in line with industry practices, and the additional charges were in accordance with destination regulations. That said, your feedback is important to us and we will be reviewing matters internally.
CA
Carla
Paid for storage and protection, but 1/4 of my belongings disappeared
Paid for an international move and paid for private storage at their facility.
I entrusted International Sea & Air Shipping with my international move and paid monthly for over a year to store my belongings securely. When my items were finally delivered to Puerto Rico, a significant portion—about 1/4—of my shipment was missing (big items as well), including items of high sentimental value. Their customer service response was dismissive, citing that I didn’t report the missing items within 30 days of delivery and offering no real accountability. They said they have documentation that everything arrived but clearly 1/4 of my things are MIA. I was dealing with a loss of a baby and was mourning so going through things was a challenge. When I actually was able to I noticed the missing items and boxes.
I find it unacceptable that belongings could “disappear” while in their custody—especially while I was actively paying for them to be stored and protected. Their failure to uphold their responsibility has caused me emotional and financial distress. I do not recommend this company and caution others to document everything and seek alternatives with more integrity and accountability. We paid these people for the move and storage over 10k.
Response from International Sea & Air ShippingMay 5, 2025
Dear Carla,
We are sorry to hear your shipment was missing certain sentimental items. Please note as your shipment as was Self-pack, our movers only packed a few select boxes on the Move Date in September 2022 which required protection. When your shipment was delivered in August 2024, all the boxes were checked off and accounted for, and nothing was reported as missing to the crew.
Our agent in Puerto Rico searched through their warehouse after you brought this to our attention, but unfortunately nothing was found.
Our insurance policy requirement of filing a claim within 30 days of delivery is standard within the industry. Regrettably, we do not have the flexibility to make exceptions to this protocol so many months later. These terms are indicated on your insurance form and certificate.
Due to the nature of your self-pack agreement, elapsed time in reporting the missing items, and absence of a contemporaneous report at time of delivery, I regret that we could not assist further.