I'm a TOTAL idiot when it comes to shipping stuff, how do you calculate shipping?
Cheers,
Dr. T
Cheers,
Dr. T
how do you calculate shipping?
- Thread starter Dr. Tankenstein
- Start date
Help Support Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum:
Shipping costs have really gone up lately.
It is really hard to sell small parts because the postage is easily more than the price of the part.
It has gotten to where Priority Flat Rate Box prices are very close to Parcel Post depending on weight and destination. Many times its a better choice over Parcel Post. Priority gives you free packaging, and both of you a free tracking number. Plus at home pickup for the seller. Not to forget a lot quicker delivery for the buyer.
Peatbog, the destination zone (zip code) makes a lot of difference in the price. Across town, not so bad, across the country a few zones away, price goes up quite a bit.
PayPal, tho hated by many, is the way to go for the seller, because you can print postage and package at home for the buyer and avoid driving to the PO. Checked out gas prices lately? That alone eats into your small return on low cost parts like we all want on here - RRB.
I recently took down most all of my eBay listings because they were all low priced items, and USPS went up and eBay fees went up also, which effectively put me out of the 'smalls' business. I dumped everything at a garage sale this week-end. Just the new reality, I guess.
Forget shipping a wheel set unless it is expensive. Parcel Post can easily run almost $20 in a box that barely fits the wheels. My LBS turned me on to the fact that Fedex Ground is the cheapest way to ship wheels. Never would have thunk it!
I guess we are staring the new reality in the face.
It is really hard to sell small parts because the postage is easily more than the price of the part.
It has gotten to where Priority Flat Rate Box prices are very close to Parcel Post depending on weight and destination. Many times its a better choice over Parcel Post. Priority gives you free packaging, and both of you a free tracking number. Plus at home pickup for the seller. Not to forget a lot quicker delivery for the buyer.
Peatbog, the destination zone (zip code) makes a lot of difference in the price. Across town, not so bad, across the country a few zones away, price goes up quite a bit.
PayPal, tho hated by many, is the way to go for the seller, because you can print postage and package at home for the buyer and avoid driving to the PO. Checked out gas prices lately? That alone eats into your small return on low cost parts like we all want on here - RRB.
I recently took down most all of my eBay listings because they were all low priced items, and USPS went up and eBay fees went up also, which effectively put me out of the 'smalls' business. I dumped everything at a garage sale this week-end. Just the new reality, I guess.
Forget shipping a wheel set unless it is expensive. Parcel Post can easily run almost $20 in a box that barely fits the wheels. My LBS turned me on to the fact that Fedex Ground is the cheapest way to ship wheels. Never would have thunk it!
I guess we are staring the new reality in the face.
Rat Rod
Owner & Founder
I always use FedEx Ground for any larger shipments like bikes, frames, wheels, etc.
Their website has a shipping calculator that works great and you can play with the dimension numbers to get the price down.
Their website has a shipping calculator that works great and you can play with the dimension numbers to get the price down.
Just when you have shipping figured out (USPS)..
I just shipped a pair of old Torrington pedals to AZ, small box. $ 9.60
Shoebox to california with an old lonspring seat $11.80
26" wheelset (24" x 24" x 7" box) to CA, $ 16.00
You get a balloon surcharge for big light boxes, or you pay heavily for small heavy boxes.
Makes no sense to me.
Anything big I usually do Fed-Ex but it's a 16 mile drive, one way.....
I just shipped a pair of old Torrington pedals to AZ, small box. $ 9.60
Shoebox to california with an old lonspring seat $11.80
26" wheelset (24" x 24" x 7" box) to CA, $ 16.00
You get a balloon surcharge for big light boxes, or you pay heavily for small heavy boxes.
Makes no sense to me.
Anything big I usually do Fed-Ex but it's a 16 mile drive, one way.....
Pedals should fit in a Small Flat Rate Box for $5 electronic postage if your buyer used PayPal.
Wheel set would be $14 and change, Fedex ground + gas money, so you did OK there.
it's complicated!!!!
I used the USPS calculator and the price for parcel post takes a huge jump when you go any larger than 44 x 24 x 8, from around 21 bucks right up to 65 bucks. Not quite large enough for a whole bike, but will fit everything except the wheels.
Thanks for the info everyone! Now to just find a box................................
Cheers,
Dr. T
Cheers,
Dr. T
re- finding a box, sometimes when people move the contents of their home they have a lot of good free boxes that they want to get rid of. I find them listed in the free section of craigs list or out at the curb in new construction housing developments. the post office will give you free flat rate boxes and deliver them to your door for free.order them at usps.com box stores like BJ's and Costco have free boxes inside but you have do a lot of pickin to find anything useable. one thing to be aware of when looking at free boxes is the box certificate printed on the bottom.there should be a round logo certifying the construction,weight limit,crush test,meets freight requirements,etc,etc if the box is to be used as a shipping container.
I have had good luck with USPS on large items. Post Office hub by my building so that's cool. They can get rough so package well.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=45515
USPS ain't so bad.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=45515
USPS ain't so bad.
Speaking of whole bikes, when was the last time anyone shipped a whole bike? What did it cost? I have a couple for sale that people have shown interest in, but its been at least a year since I shipped a whole bike. I know I gotta tear it down, front wheel, fender, bars seat and pedals all packed inside. I just haven't sold non locally for a while... :?:
Rat Rod
Owner & Founder
Bigcam59 said:
It all depends on the size of the box, insured value and how far away it's going.
I personally wouldn't quote anyone less than $70 to ship a complete 26" bike these days. I got burned a few months ago when I shipped a Felt 26" cruiser from Dallas to Las Vegas. I quoted the shipping as $80 and it ended up being $120. :shock: I ended up having to use a pretty big box to get it all to fit and I think I had the insured value set at $600.
The best thing to do is use the shipping calculator on the FedEx website. Just plug in the two zip codes and the box dimensions and it will tell you what Ground shipping will cost. You can even estimate by measuring the bike in it's broken down state and add a few inches all around to get a rough idea of what it will cost.
Parcel Post at the USPS is a rip-off. Slowest service and almost as much (and sometimes more) than Priority Mail. If you used regional rates (something the USPS doesn't tell you about), shipping 15 pounds or less in a small box can be as little as $5. Check out the USPS site and search regional/zone rates.
