Re: [CR]Shipping a bike.

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2002)

From: <themaaslands@comcast.net>
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org (Classic Rendezvous)
Subject: Re: [CR]Shipping a bike.
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 17:39:44 +0000

Ther has been quite a few posts regarding sending things with the postal service. I have had quite good experience with the postal service. From most European countries, it is indeed the best value shipper. This is especially the case when you ship things from Switzerland and the Netherlands. I must say that even things shipped through the Italian postal service from North Italy have also arrived quickly and undamaged. Most courrier companies such as UPS, Fedex... etc have based their tariffs on the postal rates. They are usually about 20% more expensive but offer other benefits.

To be able to calculate postage for international destinations, you can simply go to the USPS website: http://ircalc.usps.gov/

I had one fellow in Canada who purchased a set of wheels from me and insisted to have it sent ground parcel. According to the USPS info, I could have expected it to take 4-6 weeks; reality saw it delivered in 6 days for less than sending the same package here in the US by priority post. I tried the same with a package to Britain and the same happened. It seems that in most cases there simply is no sea freight anymore. Australia might be the exception however.
--
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ