Shipping WOAH' s

[Gold Street Customs]

They say live and learn, I sold a bike on the bay that I was hoping would have done a little better, but it didn't but I answered a question about shipping to Japan, I figure if he wants to pay the shipping why not, So I use the little ebay shipping calculator (big mistake) and I figured forty pounds weight wise and guessed about the sizes of a bike box. I wasn't off that much , the weight was 3 pounds more than I guessed and the box ( had to buy, since nobody local had a bike box :x ) was 7 inches taller and 5 longer......$ 50 dollar difference, ouch and I had to fill out the customs form (no not that kind) the out of country type. So from now on Its going to start at $200 to ship a bike out of the country anymore, at least for me. :wink:

 

[Rat Rod]

I've use the FedEx shipping calculator a lot and an inch can make a package go from $40 to $80 easily.

Normally it's all about box size when it comes to ground shipping, but air probably makes weight important too.

 

[icyuod2]

the other problem with box size, once a box reaches a certain size, don't matter how much it weighs.
they goon ya for an oversized package and have a set weight per square foot.
a 10 lbs item in a huge box can quickly become a 200lbs item.

i picked up a vanity this week from home depot, when i saw the box weighed 500lbs (on the shipping label) i was a little scared. i managed to carry it out of the store by myself (actual weight about 100lbs)

 

[Walker]

I hear you Gold Street, shipped a small package to Japan recently and another to Spain. After 2 trips to the Post Office for each package (once for a quote to email to the buyer and again to ship), then all the paperwork for one of them because it was 2 ounces over the 2 lbs benchmark. Adding a little somehing-something to overseas shipping just because of the inconvenience doesn't seem unfair.

 

[Genom]

Been there done that.

I generally have the item packaged before the auction ends and if someone requests international shipping I will bring the boxed item with me to the office and stop at a FedEx location for a direct quote.

The online shipping calculators from UPS and FedEx are best for small/standard size items that can be weighed accurately.

 

[Torpedo]

I agree guy's Don't you just wish everything you sell could be local pick up :wink: By the time you calculate one or two trips to the post office/time/gas/wear and tear/standing in line/box/tape etc. :roll: Wow :!: i'm not the type of guy who wants to make money off of shipping but i don't think it's unfair to get a little extra for the efforts involved for the process.A handling fee is a good idea but could also make or break a sale :| Shipping from Canada to U.S. can be expensive,if i add a little something something more it might not turn into a sale-What can you do

 

[NLCTVWguy]

This is exactly why so many US ebay sellers will not deal internationally.

The paperwork alone can be daunting. The issues with packing a bike securely enough for an air shipment and still making it as small as possible to save on size, often make the shipping the most expensive part of the deal.

More than once I've gotten a bike from a seller who didn't realize that it was going to be terribly expensive to ship it to their buyer in UK or Puerto Rico- no offense to those places, I mean any air shipment period is going to be very expensive for bike-sized boxes.

Also recently the Post Office has gotten even more expensive for their domestic shipments, aside from their flat-rate boxes. Use flat rate if you can possibly do it, and use padded shipping envelopes vs boxes if you can for the small stuff. It saves a lot.

Last, be prepared for shock and surprise at any shipping counter. The online calculators I've used have been way way off for our local shipping companies. Of course, we don't have an actual Fedex location nearby- a couple of drop boxes and that's it. So if you don't have an account with them, you need to go to a shipper, and they get their fee, let me tell you.

Good luck with all your shipments.
--Rob

 

[Bigcam59]

I've been in the same boat, shipping-wise. From now one I post in Craig's List first and hope for local pickup. I've even offered to deliver bikes within 30 miles to save money on shipping.

 

[siberian]

postage from US to Europe is always very expensive. fork or wheels - 80 US$, complete bike - more than 150, it's USPS rates. FedEx or UPS is prohibitively expensive + custom rates.

 

[Wingman]

Hate it when that happens