Good Shipping Company
03-22-18, 07:47 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Good Shipping Company
I would like to put a bike up for sale on eBay and would like to find a good, reputable bike shipping company/service to use.
Can anyone recommend a good company/service for this?
What are average prices for, let's say, shipping anywhere in the US?
Thanks,
Dave
Can anyone recommend a good company/service for this?
What are average prices for, let's say, shipping anywhere in the US?
Thanks,
Dave
03-22-18, 08:02 AM
#2
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
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1. Packing the bike. If you know what you're doing, you can do it yourself. If you don't know, there are videos, but I don't know if I'd want to buy a bike and have it packaged by a rookie. If you have a friend who has shipped bikes in the past, they can help. Lastly, your LBS (local bike shop) will probably do it for a charge. I've seen prices from $40-$75 to properly package a bike. This would reuse a cardboard box from a bike shop. They go through lots of them, and you can usually get the box for free just for asking.
2. Bikeflights. They just handle the paperwork, FedEx does the shipping.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
03-22-18, 09:02 AM
#3
Still learning
+1 ^
I know you want a autonomous smart web browser
, but you should be handy and energetic enough to use the price estimator below.
https://www.bikeflights.com
I know you want a autonomous smart web browser
, but you should be handy and energetic enough to use the price estimator below.https://www.bikeflights.com
03-22-18, 09:15 AM
#4
Master Sarcaster
Join Date: Apr 2006
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I'll second BikeFlights for the actual shipping. Discounted rates vs going directly to FedEx yourself and they make it pretty easy to get the paperwork, shipping label. I shipped two frames out using them over the winter, no issues at all with either of them.
I couldn't help you on the packing as my local shops have always been very good about giving away boxes and I pack them up myself.
I couldn't help you on the packing as my local shops have always been very good about giving away boxes and I pack them up myself.
03-22-18, 09:41 AM
#5
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
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Cost depends on how well you pack and how small you get the box. Many bike shop boxes are too big, so you either have to cut them down in size, or shipping doubles.
Generally, its not about the carrier, its about the packer (you). All of the carriers have issues, go to youtube and watch various delivery services where they drop kick, stomp and otherwise abuse shipments.
Many including myself end up with Fed Ex, either through Bikeflights or Fed Ex direct.
Anything $250 or more requires a signature on delivery, delivery confirmation is not proof to eBay. Also might as well get insurance. Neither of these costs are included in eBay's shipping calculator. Figure $75 to $100 for a complete bike, $30 to $50 for a frameset, all in.
In my experience, UPS is the worst!
Its amazing to me you have to buy insurance against THEM damaging your item. Even then, its very hard to collect.
Fed Ex:
Generally, its not about the carrier, its about the packer (you). All of the carriers have issues, go to youtube and watch various delivery services where they drop kick, stomp and otherwise abuse shipments.
Many including myself end up with Fed Ex, either through Bikeflights or Fed Ex direct.
Anything $250 or more requires a signature on delivery, delivery confirmation is not proof to eBay. Also might as well get insurance. Neither of these costs are included in eBay's shipping calculator. Figure $75 to $100 for a complete bike, $30 to $50 for a frameset, all in.
In my experience, UPS is the worst!
Its amazing to me you have to buy insurance against THEM damaging your item. Even then, its very hard to collect.
Fed Ex:
Last edited by wrk101; 03-22-18 at 09:51 AM.
03-22-18, 11:03 AM
#6
Senior Member
So...if your selling on ebay use FedEx. Skip bikeflights...
1. It'll need to packaged. $50-75 at your local bike store.
2. Shipping. From Buffalo your looking at $85 +/- to just about anywhere.
3. Extra insurance cost few bucks, direct signature costs a few bucks,.
What's the approximate value of the bike?
1. It'll need to packaged. $50-75 at your local bike store.
2. Shipping. From Buffalo your looking at $85 +/- to just about anywhere.
3. Extra insurance cost few bucks, direct signature costs a few bucks,.
What's the approximate value of the bike?
03-22-18, 05:49 PM
#7
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,811
Bikes: It's complicated.
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Pro tip: If you're using Fedex/Bikeflights, don't have it picked up, drop it off (duh). On the delivery side, arrange with the buyer to have them pick it up at a local Fedex office rather than deliver it. I map the address before I recommend that to a buyer to see where their local offices are - often they don't know. Tell them that:
1. You'll save $5 (typically) if you have it picked up at the store rather than delivered.
2. You won't miss a delivery
3. If there's any damage, it's easier to claim right there than discussing it with a driver that's in a hurry to get to his next delivery. Pictures at the Fedex office show that you didn't do the damage. I've never had an issue with damage, so maybe it's more a theoretical thing, but it makes sense to me.
4. Direct signature costs nothing extra, as a matter of fact, you have to show ID to pick it up at the store.
The place I drop off and pick up at is open 24-7, so it's very convenient. You can usually find an office that's open early and closes late.
1. You'll save $5 (typically) if you have it picked up at the store rather than delivered.
2. You won't miss a delivery
3. If there's any damage, it's easier to claim right there than discussing it with a driver that's in a hurry to get to his next delivery. Pictures at the Fedex office show that you didn't do the damage. I've never had an issue with damage, so maybe it's more a theoretical thing, but it makes sense to me.
4. Direct signature costs nothing extra, as a matter of fact, you have to show ID to pick it up at the store.
The place I drop off and pick up at is open 24-7, so it's very convenient. You can usually find an office that's open early and closes late.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
03-22-18, 05:56 PM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Two part answer:
1. Packing the bike. If you know what you're doing, you can do it yourself. If you don't know, there are videos, but I don't know if I'd want to buy a bike and have it packaged by a rookie. If you have a friend who has shipped bikes in the past, they can help. Lastly, your LBS (local bike shop) will probably do it for a charge. I've seen prices from $40-$75 to properly package a bike. This would reuse a cardboard box from a bike shop. They go through lots of them, and you can usually get the box for free just for asking.
2. Bikeflights. They just handle the paperwork, FedEx does the shipping.
1. Packing the bike. If you know what you're doing, you can do it yourself. If you don't know, there are videos, but I don't know if I'd want to buy a bike and have it packaged by a rookie. If you have a friend who has shipped bikes in the past, they can help. Lastly, your LBS (local bike shop) will probably do it for a charge. I've seen prices from $40-$75 to properly package a bike. This would reuse a cardboard box from a bike shop. They go through lots of them, and you can usually get the box for free just for asking.
2. Bikeflights. They just handle the paperwork, FedEx does the shipping.
03-22-18, 05:56 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Pro tip: If you're using Fedex/Bikeflights, don't have it picked up, drop it off (duh). On the delivery side, arrange with the buyer to have them pick it up at a local Fedex office rather than deliver it. I map the address before I recommend that to a buyer to see where their local offices are - often they don't know. Tell them that:
1. You'll save $5 (typically) if you have it picked up at the store rather than delivered.
2. You won't miss a delivery
3. If there's any damage, it's easier to claim right there than discussing it with a driver that's in a hurry to get to his next delivery. Pictures at the Fedex office show that you didn't do the damage. I've never had an issue with damage, so maybe it's more a theoretical thing, but it makes sense to me.
4. Direct signature costs nothing extra, as a matter of fact, you have to show ID to pick it up at the store.
The place I drop off and pick up at is open 24-7, so it's very convenient. You can usually find an office that's open early and closes late.
1. You'll save $5 (typically) if you have it picked up at the store rather than delivered.
2. You won't miss a delivery
3. If there's any damage, it's easier to claim right there than discussing it with a driver that's in a hurry to get to his next delivery. Pictures at the Fedex office show that you didn't do the damage. I've never had an issue with damage, so maybe it's more a theoretical thing, but it makes sense to me.
4. Direct signature costs nothing extra, as a matter of fact, you have to show ID to pick it up at the store.
The place I drop off and pick up at is open 24-7, so it's very convenient. You can usually find an office that's open early and closes late.
03-22-18, 05:57 PM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
+1 ^
I know you want a autonomous smart web browser, but you should be handy and energetic enough to use the price estimator below.
https://www.bikeflights.com
I know you want a autonomous smart web browser
, but you should be handy and energetic enough to use the price estimator below.https://www.bikeflights.com
03-22-18, 06:02 PM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
So...if your selling on ebay use FedEx. Skip bikeflights...
1. It'll need to packaged. $50-75 at your local bike store.
2. Shipping. From Buffalo your looking at $85 +/- to just about anywhere.
3. Extra insurance cost few bucks, direct signature costs a few bucks,.
What's the approximate value of the bike?
1. It'll need to packaged. $50-75 at your local bike store.
2. Shipping. From Buffalo your looking at $85 +/- to just about anywhere.
3. Extra insurance cost few bucks, direct signature costs a few bucks,.
What's the approximate value of the bike?
I posted about it here: Valuation on Pro Thunder
03-22-18, 07:10 PM
#12
Senior Member
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I don't know the value of the bike. It is an old BMX bike and similar ones have sold for ~$100 on eBay, but this one is in much better condition, so it is anyone guess as to what it'll go for.
I posted about it here: Valuation on Pro Thunder
I posted about it here: Valuation on Pro Thunder
You have much better luck with the sale if you put a few minutes into the bike. Clean it up a tick, put the chain on...Buyers will want to know it works.
03-22-18, 07:49 PM
#13
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,832
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
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Pro tip: If you're using Fedex/Bikeflights, don't have it picked up, drop it off (duh). On the delivery side, arrange with the buyer to have them pick it up at a local Fedex office rather than deliver it. I map the address before I recommend that to a buyer to see where their local offices are - often they don't know. Tell them that:
1. You'll save $5 (typically) if you have it picked up at the store rather than delivered.
1. You'll save $5 (typically) if you have it picked up at the store rather than delivered.
I'm shipping my daughters bike out to her in CA and I see there is a FedEx location about 3-4 blocks away from her. Being the cheapskate I am, if I can save $5 I will. I already planned on dropping off.
03-22-18, 08:20 PM
#14
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,811
Bikes: It's complicated.
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So you can ship on Bikeflights to a FedEx location for someone to pick it up?
I'm shipping my daughters bike out to her in CA and I see there is a FedEx location about 3-4 blocks away from her. Being the cheapskate I am, if I can save $5 I will. I already planned on dropping off.
I'm shipping my daughters bike out to her in CA and I see there is a FedEx location about 3-4 blocks away from her. Being the cheapskate I am, if I can save $5 I will. I already planned on dropping off.
Just find the address of a FedEx location, but your daughter's name as the recipient c/o the Fedex location, and you'll save $5. Technically, if you put in your daughter's address, you'll see a $5 delivery fee added on.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
03-23-18, 10:56 AM
#15
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,561
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Liked 1,010 Times
in
650 Posts
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I don't know the value of the bike. It is an old BMX bike and similar ones have sold for ~$100 on eBay, but this one is in much better condition, so it is anyone guess as to what it'll go for.
I posted about it here: Valuation on Pro Thunder
I posted about it here: Valuation on Pro Thunder
Will definitely need insurance and signature on delivery.
Buyers will NOT pay you extra for packing. So if you have to pay a local shop $50, thats on you. You just have to decide whether you can pack it well enough yourself, and what your time is worth. Note, just because a local bike shop packs it doesn't mean it was packed well either. You as the seller are responsible for ensuring it is packed well.
Last edited by wrk101; 03-23-18 at 01:35 PM.
03-23-18, 03:07 PM
#16
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,832
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
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Just trying to give her all the answers before the question is asked.
03-23-18, 03:13 PM
#17
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
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Easy as pie.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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