Ray:
Good points - thanks. That reminds me that 108" is the max. for Priority Mail at the Post Office - not 112." I mis-spoke in my earlier post. Sorry all.....
USPS will take a box that is larger than that (up to 130" IIRC) but it has to go Parcel Post, which is slooooow, and they will ding you $50-80 to ship a whole bike - not real cost effective. Some larger framesets exceed 108" even when packed carefully....
For shipping complete bikes, I don't even pack them anymore. I charge my customers $60 for Domestic 48 shipping, then wheel the bike into my LBS and pay them to pack and ship it via UPS. I sometimes lose money vs. the $60 charge, but it saves me a bunch of time and hassle, and I'm giving the LBS a little business, so I figure it's worth it. I even shipped a tandem that way (and the LBS and I both learned the hard way that you don't want any single box to be over 130" of combined girth plus length - it was a $177 charge to ship it to Calif. via UPS Ground!).
Regards,
Greg Parker Ann Arbor, MI
> Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2004 16:32:51 -0500 (EST)
> From: wheelman@nac.net
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]FED EX Ground vs UPS
>
>
> I have some experience in this area and can offer the following
> information. First, I am in the Northeast and it seems most of the people
> I sell bikes to are always on the west coast. This is probably the worst
> case scenario for a domestic shipment inside the lower 48. Now I have used
> UPS, FedX and the USPS and here is what I find.
>
> UPS rates keep climbing and like was mentioned before most bike boxes get
> rated as oversized 2. This carries an automatic 70 pound rate no matter if
> the box has 10 pounds inside. This can be an expensive proposition if you
> are selling frames alone. Service wise they are fine, you can track your
> shipment on line, have them estimate a delivery date and it always seems
> to work out. Another beef, the rate calculator web site I use at home is
> not very good at calculating the oversized stuff and you can get caught
> off guard when you bring it to the counter.
>
> FedX, I have tried them recently at a customers request and find them
> equal service wise to UPS but for some reason in my location they will not
> carry change. This means you have to have the exact amount of money that
> they will charge or you leave change on the table. This has happened to me
> twice before I figured out what was going on. Rates seem to be less than
> UPS so far but not by much. They also can calculate delivery pretty well.
> Their rate calculator on line is also not very good at estimating. I find
> that their system is pretty old fashioned as I have to fill out a paper
> form longhand with a lot of useless information before I submit the box
> for shipment. UPS has this computerized and all you do is key in the
> customers name and address and it takes care of the rest. You print a
> label and take it to the counter.
>
> USPS, I have used the Post Office for frames and smaller bikes and even
> once shipped a bike to Japan in two boxes and here is why. The USPS will
> only take a box with the combined lenth and girth of 108 inches. This is
> the size of a BMX box. Any larger and they will reject it. If you can get
> your bike or frame into this size box you can save a bundle about half of
> what UPS or FedX charges. My shipment to Japan saved the customer about
> $400, no kidding. I broke the bike up into the frame and some parts and
> the wheels and some parts. Shipped it surface which took over a month in
> transit but the customer was willing to wait for the savings. Both boxes
> arrived and the total shipping cost was just under $90 to Japan.
>
> I offer this information just as a guideline but it has also caused me to
> re-think selling a complete bike. I hate to admit it but selling a bike
> broken up brings in more money from ebay and shipping is more reasonable
> with a lot less hassles. I have been hit with a couple of complaints about
> shipping cost for a bike and my reply is to have the prospective buyer
> pick a carrier and set up the shipping on their end. Quite soon they come
> back and just pay the original transportation cost that I asked for once
> they find out on their own what it really costs. Remember, cusotmers can
> arrange a for a shipping tag with a carrier so they pay the actual cost
> and all you have to do is deliver the box addressed.
>
> Some tips. Here in the NE I have no problem with getting bicycle boxes. I
> visit several bike shops and they are all to willing to let me have more
> than I can take. I am often surprised at postings I see from the west
> coast where bike shops charge for a box (nonsense). I have one bike shop
> that I do a lot of business with, we have become personal friends. He
> saves me all packing materials that he takes off new bikes that he build
> up. I get the frame wrap, fork inserts, plastic axle flanges and small
> parts boxes all for free. Also where I work I have access to the re-cycle
> bins for old packing materials. I get all the bubble wrap, foam and
> packing peanuts for free that I would ever want. Check out these
> possibilities and save youself and your customers a few bucks.
>
> Ray Homiski
> Elizabeth, NJ