I hate to be a pooper but as much paranoia that you can muster might be wise in shipping stuff. The Pinarello I recently offered for sale to the CR list was shipped to it's purchaser, oh so carefully packed using two boxes (wheels in one, frame in other) double boxed, heavily padded with foam tubes and careful arrangement, yada yada, only to have FedEx apparently run it over and cave in the top tube. I just gave the sad intended owner his refund and now face the fight with FedEx. Ugh.
Soooo, pack the crap out of your valuable old bikes and even use a hard case if possible...That sure is a beauty of a Colnago, Ray, I want to see it whole at Cirque '08!!
Dale Brown cycles de ORO, Inc. 1410 Mill Street Greensboro, North Carolina 27408 USA 336.274.5959 http://www.cyclesdeoro.com http://www.classicrendezvous.com ==============================
I am the CR list purchaser of the Pinarello. Dale did a great job packing the bike to save on shipping fees and to try and ensure its safe delivery. The bike was packed very well...sturdy bike box, pipe insulation on all the tubes, bubble wrap, extra cardboard around the sides, even shipped the wheels in a separate box to keep them from scratching the frame, etc.
I had sworn I would not buy anymore complete bikes, but this one was such a great bike and deal that I fell off the no-buying-complete-bikes-that-have-to-be-shipped wagon. I will never, ever, under any circumstances buy a complete bike that has to be shipped.
The boxes were left on my front porch. The big box had a big black mark about the width of a vehicle tire on it, and the sides and top of the box at that site were smashed in. I opened the box and the first problem I noticed inside was an STI shifter lever bent at a 90 degree angle. I then moved the pipe insulation off the top tube to see the top tube crushed and almost touching on the sides.
Dale has been great to work with, both during the purchase and after the damage. He has already credited my CC with the full purchase price, including shipping, and is waiting to settle the claim with FedEx. I will help however I can from this side, having submitted a claim, taken several pictures, and returned the packages via FedEx picking them up with a call tag.
I have pictures of the damage to the box and bike if anyone wants to see them.
Frank Phillips
McAlester, OK