Epiphreddy

Hi, could someone tell me the best/least expensive way to ship a bike? I have sold a 55cm road bike and already have it packed in a standard bike box like you would get if you bought a bike in the mail. It is a complete bike with wheels. The dimensions are 51" x 29" x 9". I have both wheels removed and placed next to the frame in the box. I would appreciate it if you could give me sort of an idea of how much I can expect to pay. It is 28 LBS and will ship from Alabama to California. Thanks.

demoncyclist

Ummmm, did you think of calling the Postal Service, UPS or FedEx? They probably know way more about shipping packages than anyone here.

neilfein

This is a very real question, and shippers aren't always forthcoming about potential problems.

There are several threads here on BF about this very subject. Did you try searching?

Epiphreddy

Ummmmmm, I am well aware that USPS, UPS, and Fedex ship bikes. I was hoping that someone with RECENT (within the past few months) experience could tell me which might be the best to use. I have shipped bikes in the past using UPS and it was approximately $60. I went to USPS and they quoted me $103!!!!!!. And yes, I did a search and found a lot of useless information. What I want is recent, concise, reasonable accurate information and was hoping someone with some experience and intelligence might be able to lend this type of information. If $103 is a reasonable figure then so be it.
Thanks.

Little Darwin

Oversized packages coast to coast are expensive. It is actually more related to size than weight.

I don't know the specific sizes off-hand, but there is a possibility if you are just over on a specific size, that if you can get the size down a bit that you can save quite a bit.

redtires

Wow....$103.00 huh? That does kinda seem high....although in all honesty, it's been a little while since I shipped a bike...but I've done it through USPS for as little as $45.00. The biggest thing is to come in just under their "oversize package" measurements, which IIRC is something like 109". I think the measure the circumference in inches, then add the height and width...if it's over 109", then it's oversize and the prices skyrockets. I know I always tried to get the smallest bike box I could when shipping a bike.

wahoonc

Use the smallest box you can, pad it well and go from there. FedEx and UPS are constantly adjusting their rates based on some type of sliding scale. I have sent packages from our corporate account, the packages are the same size and weight going to the same general area and the prices have varied from week to week. The last bike I shipped ran around $65 (before a healthy discount) from NC to OR that was in August. Who is paying for the shipping? I would hope the buyer, let them choose the carrier and pay the freight so to speak.

Aaron

Epiphreddy

Thanks for the replies Wahoonc, redtires, and Little Darwin. This is the type of intelligent informatoin I was looking for. Everything you say is true. In hopes of helping someone in the future, here is what I found: For USPS you take measurements around the box and add the length. The box came to 125" (51"Lx8"Wx29"H). Since it is over 108" you have to pay a HUGE surcharge which brought the total to $103!!!! With FedEx, you put in the dimensions and the total came to around $65. With UPS the total came to $73 with signature confirmation, insurance, and tracking capability, PLUS they will pick up the bike at your house! You can register for all of these services online, create shipping labels, and schedule a pick up from your house, all online. I went with UPS since it is easier. So moral of the story, for a full sized bike either use UPS or FedEx. For smaller packages USPS may be more economical.

bbattle

I've shipped frames in a box from Mailboxes, Etc. Considerably smaller than the box you'd see at the LBS. I don't think it would hold the handlebars, though. But give it a shot, it just might. And the wheels. but everything else would go into it just fine. Last frame I shipped was last week for $45(inc. $300 insurance) from Alabama to Philly. Box cost $12.

A separate box for the wheels and handlebars might run you another $40 or so, shipping and box. I got bubble wrap from stuff shipped to me and got foam pipe insulation from Home Depot.

Another cheap shipping option is the Greyhound bus line. They ship all sorts of stuff. Cheap.

CCrew

Greyhound only ships to the closest bus station though.

A freight company called Forward Air is dependable and usually cheap. After that Fedex Ground.

paxtonm

I've shipped two bikes in the last year. The first: went to the local UPS store. The markup is criminally usurious. The tab came to over $200. Talking with the UPS driver at our office, he said the cheapest way is to schedule pickup through an office. Cross-country shipping came to less than $70. My only recourse with my first bad experience is to tell everyone I know not to patronize this clown's shop. By the way, the UPS guy said the place with the least markup, if you don't have the option of shipping it from your workplace, is Staples.

Good luck!

Sangetsu

Ditto on the UPS store, I had the same experience.