Hi Karl:
Good summary and it parallels my experience (except where you write "...west coast usually costs about $45-50..." I think rates are higher right now & nudging up everyday. I just paid $83 for a pretty light bike to go to Michigan.)
<< 4) Learn how to safely pack the bike using internal packing materials.? Without them you are almost assured damage will occur during shipment. Also, a carrier will easily deny a claim with poor internal packing. >>
What do you mean here? Special tricks inside the box?
Thanks Dale
Dale Brown Greensboro, North Carolina USA
-----Original Message----- From: Flushbye@aol.com To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Sent: Wed, 28 Nov 2007 8:27 am Subject: [CR]Bike Packing/Shipping Costs
I ship quite a few bikes and here are my learnings to keep the shipping packing cost from ruining the sale...
1) You will sell a bike faster if you keep the shipping/packing costs minimized for your customer 2) Fedex Ground (not express or expedited) is my lowest cost provider and the service is quite speedy and reliable. I'm in South Carolina and I can usually ship light wight bikes to NY for $35 or less in 2 business days. Shipping to the west coast usually costs about $45-50 and will arrive in 5 business days. 3) Get with your local bike shop to get an empty bike box and original internal packing. Our shops have always accomodated my every request for the correct size empty box. In fact they are glad to get rid of them. They usually have all the original packing materials inside (with an occasional biscuit or Coke can) 4) Learn how to safely pack the bike using internal packing materials. Without them you are almost assured damage will occur during shipment. Also, a
carrier will easily deny a claim with poor internal packing. 5) Keep your boxes below the 130" limit on girth + length (Girth is 2 x Height + 2 x Width). This will assure you the lowest rate. The rate almost doubles when you exceed this measurement as they consider it oversize. 6) Ship on a Monday. I think the least time in the carriers system the less chance for damage. I feel if a bike is being delivered over a weekend it has more exposure to damage. The carriers quote deliver in business days not calendar. You want your bike in the system the least calandar days.
I hope this helps!
Regards,
Ken Drescher Greenville, SC USA
In a message dated 11/28/2007 7:42:53 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
On 11/27/07, Tony M <callt555@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I shipped my first complete bike today and was surprised that the cost
was close to $80.00 to go from Pennsylvania to Indiana. I used DHL which was
cheaper than UPS Ground by almost $30.00 (it was a 54cm steel frame bike
from the 70's)
>
> I notice many on ebay charge a flat rate of $60.00 to ship a complete
bike.
>
> Am I missing something?
>
> Any suggestions for lower shipping rates on complete bikes would be
appreciated.
**************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)