Bicycle Mechanics - What's the cheapest way to send a bicycle frame within the US -USPS,UPS-Grd,Fedex-Gd?

Having to send frames I like to get some advice to the above - (it is related to mechanics since we take it apart and put it together)
Thanks

They should all run about the same amount.

Look into Greyhound Courier...

I did a quick online comparison between Greyhound and Fedex for shipping a 40lb box 60" X 36" X 8" from NY (10001) to LA (90210)... Greyhound was $60 and Fedex was $123.

Look into Greyhound Courier...

I did a quick online comparison between Greyhound and Fedex for shipping a 40lb box 60" X 36" X 8" from NY (10001) to LA (90210)... Greyhound was $60 and Fedex was $123.

I've always heard Greyhound was cheap. Do you still have to pick it up at the terminal? Not everyone is near one.

If it's just a frame you can use a much smaller box and save some $$. If you go with FedEx, get an account, it only takes a few minutes and saves maybe 10%. FedEx, USPS, UPS all have on-line calculators so you can get an idea what it will cost and adjust your packing accordingly. In general, the smaller the box the cheaper it will be (well duh! but seriously, it matters a lot). Be careful with big boxes, if you go over a certain size limit the price will sky-rocket.

I'll second FedEx Ground, and open an online account for reduced rates.

If you're shipping a frame only, use a frame box to keep costs to a minimum.

Among the three you mentioned, my experience is that Fed-Ex is the cheapest.

If you want it to get ther, and be in one piece use Fedex or UPS. If you'd like to incerase the chances of it dissappearing or getting beaten to death use the post offce.

Thanks for all the answers. So what a learn that aside weight "size matters?". That would mean when I use a regular bicycle box and only want to ship the frame and fork I would take the fork out of the frame and smaller the box as much as possible? Did I understand that correct?
Thanks

I've found that fedex and usps was the cheapest. Oversized rates apply once you hit a certain threshold. I sent a frame that was in a box that had the dimensions.. 40 x 24 x 8 for around $28 via fedex. The frame/box in total was no more than 11 lbs??

I suggest you go to usps.com website calculator and play with the dimensions of your box. If you get it right and can cut a box down, i'm thinking $25ish is possible.

Thanks for all the answers. So what a learn that aside weight "size matters?". That would mean when I use a regular bicycle box and only want to ship the frame and fork I would take the fork out of the frame and smaller the box as much as possible? Did I understand that correct?
Thanks

Yes exactly, Use the smallest box posible, because the whole package could weigh nearly nothing but once it goes over a certain size the price jumps tremendously.

UPS is a rip off and They will smash your bike to bits.
Use FED EX ground and pack the bike very very well and then add even more padding. the smaller the box the better.
Make sure you use special pieces to hold and protect the drop out in the proper spacing.
make sure absolutely nothing is loose in the box.

some bike boxes exceed the 130 inch limit by just a few inches, which effectively doubles the cost. The limit is girth plus length in inches, note that they round up some of the measurements to the whole number.

i shipped my brothers bike from PA to FL earlier this year using fedex, i believe it costed around $45, the bike was in a standard size bike box and weighed 40 lbs or so.

When I had a frame shipped to me I walked right past the box that was waiting in my hallway. I couldn't believe how small a box you need for just the frame with the fork removed. And it doesn't weigh much either. My frame was about 1100g carbon fiber. Steel is more, MTB more still.

OKay, thanks for all the advice - here the real world update: According to the majority of votes above I went to Fedex first. They wanted $ 63 for a bikebox which I had folded down in size just to fit the frame (CA to CT). I said thanks, and took it to USPS: $24 or the box by weight plus a fixed $10 oversize charge plus $0.80 delivery confirmation. ( I accepted).

Thought it seems to be water under the bridge ... for future reference ... the weight vs. size issue is known as dimensionalized weight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimensional_weight).

Each common carrier (ie, UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL, etc) will post their "dim factor" on their web site. The link, above, will help you determine at what point you'll be charged based on size, not actual weight.

Good luck!

They should all run about the same amount.

Uhhh... Nope. There are huge differences.

For instance, UPS has a smaller "oversize" than Fedex. Shipping an OEM box cost ~$120 UPS vs. ~$38 Fedex.

(Haven't shipped one recently so some things may have changed.)