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Old 11-01-14 | 08:13 PM
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pcb
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From: Joisey
This was posted on ebay back in 2011. Wonder if it's still viable and current?

I recently used bikeflights.com for the first time, which uses FedEx Ground. I shipped a 16lb frameset box from NJ to UT/SLC for $52. The base fee was $4x (I fergit exactly), w/upcharges for value over $400, pickup and residential delivery. I have a FedEx account, haven't shipped anything big via FedEx for a while, but $52 cross-country feels a lot cheaper than what I've paid in the past through my own (very low-volume) account. When I ship w/my account, I have to schlep the box to the nearest FedEx depot (20mi round trip), stand in line, wait for counter person to verify dimensions. Sometimes they're sloppy with the measuring tape and try to charge me for a bigger box. Sometimes they ask me to open the box so they can check contents and my packing skills. Then I have to re-tape/staple everything. Scheduling a pickup is a pain, 24hrs notice needed, don't know what time of day they'll come, etc. With bikeflights, they picked up the next day from my work location, no dim/content checking, no wait, no muss, no fuss.

I'm waiting on a frame from Cali, seller's shipping via bikeflights on my recommendation, cost was just $42 from CA/SFO to NJ. Dale Brown (CR list owner, Cycles d'Oro in NC) and Robert Freeman (Elliot Bay Bicycles, sadly just closed) both are using bikeflights now. You go online, setup the shipment, either pay yourself or invoice the buyer through bikeflights, schedule pickup if necessary, they email you confirmation and shipping label. Pretty darn sweet and easy. You can also do round-trip shipping, there are folks who use that for cycling vacations.

I may double-check FedEx prices using my own account the next time I ship something big, just to be sure, and I guess I'll look into this ebay program announcement to see if there's anything there. But bikeflights pricing seems very reasonable, and processing the shipment is a lot less hassle than what has been my experience doing it myself.
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