shipping large/oversize items???

[aldochina]

just wondering what you guys do, and who you use to ship items like fenders, and wheels with tires mounted, frames ect... i tryed to get some online quotes from usps, and ups for some rear fenders, they were both over 100.00. I see people ship this stuff all the time for 30-50 bucks. Just dont know how. who do you use??

[HuffieVA]

I practice "extreme custom box making" an inch here and there can make a huge difference, tires can just be shrink wrapped same with frames, you can also ship greyhound (pretty much anything under 150 lbs for about $65 or less almost anywhere in the lower 48 but the recipient has to pick it up at the terminal) also if you make a wooden crate, cover it with cardboard (for some reason there is a surcharge for wooden boxes/crates)

[Dirtcrasher]

Open a free FEDEX account, 10% off. Shrink wrap it protecting the corners. If it's floppy, add thick foam insulation to sturdy it up......

[Ironbnder]

Huffie & DC just about said it all. The custom box trick is important for USPS cause they have the 108" maximum. This makes the difference on rear fenders shipping for $35 vs $100. Fed Ex has always been cheaper than UPS for me as well.

[jensenracing77]

on really big stuff i use greyhound. some of what you have, fed ex would be better than UPS

[JayBone]

I use my local post office. Pack & wrap myself.

[hublake]

I recently shipped tires from a US90 from Boise, ID to Hubbard Lake, MI. All I did was tape a piece of round cardboard to the center of each tire on each side and put my address on them. Cost around $21.00 to $22.00 for each tire. I have sent things such as a rear rack and front fender with just address labels taped to them. If I remember right it cost me around $20.00 to send a front fender to TX. This was with the USPS.

[ceaserthethird]

I just used Fedex Ground on a 6x5x5 small box under 5 lbs.

From Oregon to Texas $17.16

Gas goes up, shipping goes up :(

[4cylinders]

hey,usps priority for small heavy. big light,fedex on line, fitted box. medium priority box, free at post office, only $10.95 up to 70 pounds.

[oldtime3wheeler]

I shipped a set of Honda 110 rear fenders in a box I cut down about a month ago. I shipped them from Pa to Texas via usps parcel post and it cost me $21 with insurance. As long as the box dimensions plus girth is under 180" and its parcel post its cheap. I shipped a seat to Texas also to Texas for $15. The key is PARCEL POST!

[captainweezy]

just wondering what you guys do, and who you use to ship items like fenders, and wheels with tires mounted, frames ect... i tryed to get some online quotes from usps, and ups for some rear fenders, they were both over 100.00. I see people ship this stuff all the time for 30-50 bucks. Just dont know how. who do you use??

I am having the same problem. I probably have 40 sets of fenders and cant get the price for a set of 200x fenders down under $65. to ship from Illinois to Oklahoma. I even made my own box. usps was 65 and ups was 78.

[cr480r]

you might try this..

http://www.fastenal.com/web/services.ex?action=Logistics

[oldtime3wheeler]

I am having the same problem. I probably have 40 sets of fenders and cant get the price for a set of 200x fenders down under $65. to ship from Illinois to Oklahoma. I even made my own box. usps was 65 and ups was 78.
Whats the size of your box length + width + heigth + girth? Take the packed box to your local post office and tell them you waqnt a price for the cheapest way. I used to go to the big post office in my town. They seemed to charge alot. I now go to the little one person post office near me. The lady there told me the cheap ways to ship, and some things the other office wouldnt tell me.

[aldochina]

thanks for all the great tips guys. i have shipped tons of stuff, but never fenders, or mounted tires. I always use usps parcel post. their online calculator is usually right on! When i type in the dims. of what the fender box would be it says too large to ship. Ups is just rediculous. I will look into fedex, and greyhound is a great idea, ive got a terminal 15 mins away.

[powdiddy]

yeah cost me $56 to ship a set of fenders usps.and i had to rig a box to make the measurement.

[Dirtcrasher]

Greyhound the buyer has to drive to there drop off and pick it up, it can take awhile and being inconvenienced does always sit well withe them........

[cr480r]

Greyhound the buyer has to drive to there drop off and pick it up, it can take awhile and being inconvenienced does always sit well withe them........

That's true, but it's usually the buyer that is paying for shipping.

[leviblue]

I use USPS and ship crap everyday. Like stated look for the out of the way post office. MAKE YOUR OWN BOX. This is important for large items that don't fit into a flat-rate all you can stuff box. Make sure the fit of the fender is tight in the box with one layer of bubblewrap between the cardboard and fender. they do measure the box so the better packed the cheaper it is. Tell them you don't care how long it takes to get there. Even if they take it by horse. flat rate takes 2-3 days....2nd class takes 3-6 days, 3rd class takes 4-6 days and somehow gets there at the same time as the 2nd class for 1/2 the price. You gotta tell them you just don't care how it gets there as long as it does. Who cares if it takes 2 extra days if it saves $20 to ??.
I sent a rear fender out to Iowa last month and it ran me $31 took 5 days to get there. Sent Hang&Rattle a Kerker exh for $18. would of been $15 if I wanted it to take an extra day or two. But with an 11 year old waiting for a part it's gotta get there quick. Forks cost $30 to ship anywhere. Heck I sent Dcreel a whole front end, tire and all, for a T-3 and spent $65.
You just gotta ask and let them know you don't want to spend alot
P.S. I just love waiting at the bus station in Center City Philly. Oh that beautiful smell of urian lofting in the air.The people you meet there makes the Wal-Mart crowd more pleasurable to be around. and I never have change for the pay toilet or hobo's.

[cr480r]

you might try this..

http://www.fastenal.com/web/services.ex?action=Logistics

I cannot comment on the rates as i havent used it yet, but i'm sure it beats a trip to an inner city urine soaked bus depot.. My friend manages a Fastenal store and told me about the fastenal logistics after I was complaining one day about expensive UPS shipping costs blowing another tire sale for me... He's quite sure he could ship some tires for much cheaper than ups.. he thinks about 1/3 the cost..