We've discussed this many, many times, but there are a few things that you can do (in summary) to avoid getting hosed. In general, complete bikes should currently cost about $20-60 to ship via Ground methods inside the USA, depending on the weight, size, and distance the package is shipped. (Postage costs only, not including packaging, packing labor, or Insurance). 1) Keep boxes under 108" length plus girth (not likely for a complete bike, but do-able for most framesets). The three important cut-off points, size-wise, are at 84 inches, 108 inches, and 130 inches, BTW. You definitely don't want to ever exceed 130 inches. Your options are severely limited (and expensive) for a parcel that large. 2) Pack things to resist a low-level nuclear blast, and being dumped in a river. 3) Make sure you know what size your box is before you head to the UPS or Fed-X or USPS office. Fed-X, in particular, will measure each of the three dimensions separately, and then round UP generously to the nearest inch in each case. I have frame boxes that are an honest 105" but Fed-X will sometimes try to call them 109" which can double or triple the shipping charge! 3) For large items such as framesets or complete bikes, Fed-X Ground (which used to be Roadway Package Service) is generally the cheapest method these days - if you can stop them from cheating you. UPS Ground is an option as well, but those folks can sometimes be pretty rough on packages. I use USPS almost exclusively, with excellent results, although I almost never ship a complete bike.... 4) Hope to God* that you never have to try and collect on "Insurance." Personally, I insure almost nothing. This "saves" me about $2000 per year. If a package gets lost or totaled (which has thus far never happened), at least I have a "fund" to cover it, and will still be far ahead overall, the way I see it. 5) Stay the hell away from Fed-X; they're too erratic. (YAMMV). ;-) Greg Parker Ann Arbor, Michigan *or whatever thing or being or entity you do or do not choose to hope to.... Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 18:10:32 -0800 From: "dddd" <dddd@pacbell.net> To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: Re: [CR] Sending a bike in a standard cardboard box
I doubt that the location of your UPS matters, but how about distance, exact size and weight of box (packing materials, tires, etc can add substantial weight), tipping the clerk, seasonal demand, etc.
Don't they have a printed rate chart? FWIW, the shipping calculators online for USPS has never given me rates close to what the P.O. actually charged, but I didn't make much of a study of it as the available shipping options were also different. I've also had to take stuff out of small boxes to fit into their overseas envelopes, but I'm gradually smartening up and fabbing up my own suitable packagings, especially to Japan.
David Snyder
Auburn, CA usa
>I sold the Rigi this last week, and when I put in the dimensions and
>weight, the Ebay Calculator gave me around $40. When I called UPS for a
>pickup the price seems to have morphed into $66 to Utah. How is this
>possible? Do I have to know some secret. In the last 12 months I have
>purchased 4 bikes and no one has charged anything like $66. Last week there
>was a thread on the list that stated that Fed Express charges different
>rates depending on how the wind blows. Any ideas about the discrepancy?
>
> Garth Liberman in Miami Fl.