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Author Topic:   Shipping Whaler parts around the country

Buckda posted 02-17-2010 05:44 PM ET (US)
I'm finding that UPS seems to have fairly high shipping rates for certain items, and I'm wondering if folks have any recommendations/expertise when it comes to getting the best price for moving these items around the country.
Specifically, I was quoted more than $100 to ship a console railing. I was also quoted a rather steep price for shipping some other lightweight railing material (cooler chocks) and some other items.
Thoughts and recommendations are welcomed. I'm seeking to find a good way to distribute the items I've sold and am selling here, but not get hammered in the process. I've already silently paid portions of shipping costs for a few items just to keep the sticker shock down for buyers.

Thanks.
Dave
TransAm posted 02-17-2010 05:54 PM ET (US)
Generally, I use Fedex ground; their rates are more consistent and delivery is usually a day or 2 sooner than UPS. I shipped a couple sets of propellers for very reasonable rates that made it 500 miles for next day delivery (didn't pay for next day). The USPS flat rate boxes only work out good if you max out the box. They also don't do well on odd shaped boxes (golf clubs, for instance.
jechura posted 02-17-2010 06:03 PM ET (US)
Have you check the US Postal Service, Parcel Post. Items especially going to the west coast would be considerably cheaper.
You also got to pack as small as possible and as lightly as you can and yet protect the item.
JMARTIN posted 02-17-2010 06:23 PM ET (US)
USPS has a couple of flat rate boxes. Weight is not an issue, just what you can cram into the box. We use them to send stuff to our college student in Massachusetts which is a long way from home. Rails are not going to work.
John
Tom W Clark posted 02-17-2010 06:55 PM ET (US)
FedEx Ground is the way to go. I've made very good use of my FedEx account over the years.
USPS is excellent for First Class Mail and small items via Priority Mail.
Do NOT use USPS Parcel Post if you're shipping anything that can possibly break or bend, because it will get trashed. Parcel Post also takes a long time to get there. I never use Parcel Post.
My theory is that the longer a carrier has your parcel in their possession, the greater the likelihood of it being dropped, crushed, kicked and/or lost.
Wasatch Whaler posted 02-17-2010 07:43 PM ET (US)
I've not used them personally, but on some other forums I've heard good things about Greyhound Package Express.
My understanding is they are substantially less expensive for items UPS considers "oversize".

flippa posted 02-17-2010 08:10 PM ET (US)
I have used Greyhound before, but it was for shipping car parts. It was easy and by far the cheapest way of sending oversized heavy items.
I have shipped a bunch of porsche transaxles this way. Need to package it up (after draining all fluids) and drop it off at the bus terminal. The purchaser will have to pick it up at their closest Greyhound terminal.
Not sure how the console railing would do bouncing around a bus luggage compartment. Probably better on the bus than getting hammered by the USPS or FedEx.
flippa posted 02-17-2010 08:16 PM ET (US)
Dave
Just to get an idea on cost, it was $70 to send a transaxle (@ 80 lbs & very bulky) from Boston to Georgia.
I would imagine that the railing would be real cheap; rate is based on size & weight.
an86carrera posted 02-17-2010 08:47 PM ET (US)
Flippa, Porsche transaxles, a man after my own heart.
Len
R T M posted 02-17-2010 09:05 PM ET (US)
Try U-Ship, Not part of e-Bay but they are linked up with E-Bay. Carriers bid on shipping your load. Great for big heavy stuff. I have a 350 lb outboard coming from Torrence Ca. direct to my home in Central Fl. for $250. Have used them before with great results.
http://directory.uship.com/
rich
crabby posted 02-17-2010 10:10 PM ET (US)
Sometimes odd-sized items will trigger an alert and different rate with UPS. So will heavy weights in single boxes as well as oversize boxes with minimal weights.
I recently shipped some headlamps that needed to be heavily padded. If I were to have shipped them both in the same box it would have cost nearly $50US. By splitting them into two separate boxes the total was $28US.
I have a UPS account so it is relatively easy for me to catch crazy charges and repack. Not so simple for the average person unless you go to their website prior to actually shipping.
We have used UShip.com for finding a shipper who would work with us (but usually with large loads). Sometimes Greyhound (the bus people) is a good choice for folks with a terminal nearby.
crabby posted 02-17-2010 10:21 PM ET (US)
What UShip is good for is finding someone who is making a run and just needs or wants to pick up some extra money; it is also a great source for freight consolidators and serious shippers. If you need to move bulky items that are not reasonably rated for transport by common carriers such as Fedex or UPS Uship is a way to locate folks that are running trucks with all sorts of goods and don't have set rates for bulky items. This goes for hauling boats on your own trailers as well as smaller items. It takes a bit more work to move stuff this way but sometimes it works to benefit all involved.
conch posted 02-18-2010 06:42 AM ET (US)
I would try U-ship also,you will have an answer in a day and costs nothing to find out.Make sure you have a photo of the item to post with the bid request.
Chuck
fno posted 02-18-2010 08:19 AM ET (US)
Dave, are you packaging yourself or having the UPS store do it. Having them do it is very expensive. Use a mom and pop shipper store. Also, indicate that it is going to a business rather than residence, it's also cheaper. Try the online UPS deal, great way to calculate the cost and if you are packing yourself, you can complete the shipment and drop it off at UPS. Hope this helps.
Buckda posted 02-18-2010 08:32 AM ET (US)
Thanks everyone. I'm shipping the items myself. I will look into each of these and communicate with the buyers regarding alternate delivery locations (business addresses) and/or local pickup locations (Greyhound, etc.)
Thanks again.
Dave
lizard posted 02-18-2010 10:18 AM ET (US)
Dave- UPS is tricky and smart. I sent a 60 lb package cross country, boxed myself, oddly sized and it was about $70. A week later, and closer to Christmas, I sent a 12 lb. package cross country, in a more typical sized box and it was $56. When I asked how it was possible that a 12 lb package could cost as much as a 60 lb package, I was told that UPS rates change routinely, with many considerations factored in. Outliers (shape, weight, etc.) definitely factor in.
gnr posted 02-18-2010 10:59 AM ET (US)
UPS typically charges by weight. When something is shipped that is large and light the space that box takes up in the UPS system throws the cost structure out of wack.
Low income generating package takes up space that could be filled with other packages.
They have "oversize" standards which require packages of certain size to be charged differently so they are not sending out trucks filled with a few large, light packages that don't generate enough income.
A bow rail would fit this description.
Fedex is (was) a little hungrier so they might offer a better deal. The outfit I work for recently changed from UPS to Fedex for our shipping needs. We are, or at least were the largest UPS shipper in the state. I'm out of the shipping loop here now so I don't know the specifics of the Fedex oversized package policy.
dgoodhue posted 02-18-2010 11:25 AM ET (US)
UPS has OS1 and OS2. I don't know the dimensions off the top of my head but OS1 bascially mean the minimum wieght charge is 75#'s. OS2 is 150#.
I am guessing with the rail you might be hitting OS2. Look at the box to see if you can find something smaller or modifying the box to fit into the smaller category. You obviously still want to make the item is packaged so it doesn't get damaged. I shipped a lot of oversized car parts and end up making a bunch of boxes to fit around my parts but still with sufficient packaging.
Buckda posted 02-18-2010 11:29 AM ET (US)
NOTHING that I am shipping is over 75 lbs.
The console rail is an odd size, so I think that is what shot the price up, plus they are dinging me on delivery locations.
For the console rail, I'm investigating Greyhound.
gnr posted 02-18-2010 11:46 AM ET (US)
What he means is that even if the package weighs 10lbs it will be charged as if it ways 75lbs if it meets certain size requirements.
It used to be that a package would be measured around it's circumference then along it's longest side. If the sum of those two measurements exceeded 108" the package would be billed as weighing 75lbs regardless of it's actual weight.
They would supply regular shippers with a bead chain of the appropriate length to make measuring borderline packages easier.

Delivery location didn't affect our costs (excepting Alaska and Hawai of course).
Plotman posted 02-23-2010 06:53 PM ET (US)
Fedex Ground is typically way better than UPS. Also, do not make the mistake of taking a package into a UPS store and asking how much? There is a markup.
Go online, and get accounts at both fedex.com and ups.com. Then comparison shop. You pay for the shipment online, print a label, and then either drop off at a dropoff location, or have them pick up.
For larger items, check out fedex freight - terminal to terminal. shipped a T-top that way once.
Buckda posted 03-01-2010 01:20 PM ET (US)
Thanks again everyone. Over the weekend I built a crate and got this shipped out via Greyhound Package Express. Significantly less expensive than the other options. Will report back how it arrives, but with the crate I built for it, it shouldn't have any problems (especially being a strong SS railing).
Dave
Tohsgib posted 03-01-2010 01:49 PM ET (US)
Honestly I had stuff stolen from Greyhound. It was a Montauk console in a dishwasher box that weighed 80+lbs...and was COD...it still "disappeared". With my Montauk rails I had to cut them in half to ship. This was no biggie because the railing "T" was shot anyway and the only way to replace is to cut the railing or buy a mega $$ 2 piece if you can find one. When you drill and bolt on the new T it is really strong and not noticeable. I believe you could do the same where the shepherd's crook is.
Buckda posted 03-01-2010 01:57 PM ET (US)
Well, the package is insured for sale value plus shipping costs, so if it is stolen, the buyer loses the railing, but neither of us will be out of the money.
I'm sure things are stolen from UPS as well.
In fact, I've seen estimated loss rates of 1% for the USPS, .8% for UPS and .55% for FedEx - but those are based on a mathematical analysis of insurance rates for each carrier, and assuming that the insurance rates allow them to "break even" on that service. Actual loss rates are likely lower.
As I said, I'll report back here how it went, but to impugn Greyhound's delivery system before it has had a chance to prove its worth seems premature at best.

Buckda posted 03-04-2010 02:08 PM ET (US)
Update:
I just received note from the buyer that the packed railing arrived yesterday intact and still well packaged - meaning they weren't too rough on it.
I spent about $6 in materials building a shipping jig for this and wrapped it in shrink-wrap for the journey. Looks like Greyhound Package Express is a workable option for oversized/odd shaped items.
flippa posted 03-05-2010 09:47 AM ET (US)
Glad it worked out for you.
Wasatch Whaler posted 03-05-2010 12:05 PM ET (US)
I know Rich/RTM mentioned uship in his post above....
I'm in the process of having a 4x4 front axle assembly shipped from Milwaukee to Salt Lake City. It's on a pallet which measures 78"x24"x21" and weighs 550 lbs.
I had multiple bids almost instantly upon listing the shipment, the lowest being $141.00.
I was stunned at the low prices quoted.
Tohsgib posted 03-05-2010 01:07 PM ET (US)
Dave...my point was this was a dishwasher box that weighed almost 100lbs. No single person could carry it. How did it just "disappear" especially if COD? The propblem I had, and double check this people, is they would only insure for $300. So the buyer was out $150 but he received other parts in a seperate shipment like windshield, etc so he was made whole kinda. If the item is less than their max insurance, go for it. I propbably should have said that above.

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Author	Topic: Shipping Whaler parts around the country
Buckda	posted 02-17-2010 05:44 PM ET (US) I'm finding that UPS seems to have fairly high shipping rates for certain items, and I'm wondering if folks have any recommendations/expertise when it comes to getting the best price for moving these items around the country. Specifically, I was quoted more than $100 to ship a console railing. I was also quoted a rather steep price for shipping some other lightweight railing material (cooler chocks) and some other items. Thoughts and recommendations are welcomed. I'm seeking to find a good way to distribute the items I've sold and am selling here, but not get hammered in the process. I've already silently paid portions of shipping costs for a few items just to keep the sticker shock down for buyers. Thanks. Dave
TransAm	posted 02-17-2010 05:54 PM ET (US) Generally, I use Fedex ground; their rates are more consistent and delivery is usually a day or 2 sooner than UPS. I shipped a couple sets of propellers for very reasonable rates that made it 500 miles for next day delivery (didn't pay for next day). The USPS flat rate boxes only work out good if you max out the box. They also don't do well on odd shaped boxes (golf clubs, for instance.
jechura	posted 02-17-2010 06:03 PM ET (US) Have you check the US Postal Service, Parcel Post. Items especially going to the west coast would be considerably cheaper. You also got to pack as small as possible and as lightly as you can and yet protect the item.
JMARTIN	posted 02-17-2010 06:23 PM ET (US) USPS has a couple of flat rate boxes. Weight is not an issue, just what you can cram into the box. We use them to send stuff to our college student in Massachusetts which is a long way from home. Rails are not going to work. John
Tom W Clark	posted 02-17-2010 06:55 PM ET (US) FedEx Ground is the way to go. I've made very good use of my FedEx account over the years. USPS is excellent for First Class Mail and small items via Priority Mail. Do NOT use USPS Parcel Post if you're shipping anything that can possibly break or bend, because it will get trashed. Parcel Post also takes a long time to get there. I never use Parcel Post. My theory is that the longer a carrier has your parcel in their possession, the greater the likelihood of it being dropped, crushed, kicked and/or lost.
Wasatch Whaler	posted 02-17-2010 07:43 PM ET (US) I've not used them personally, but on some other forums I've heard good things about Greyhound Package Express. My understanding is they are substantially less expensive for items UPS considers "oversize".
flippa	posted 02-17-2010 08:10 PM ET (US) I have used Greyhound before, but it was for shipping car parts. It was easy and by far the cheapest way of sending oversized heavy items. I have shipped a bunch of porsche transaxles this way. Need to package it up (after draining all fluids) and drop it off at the bus terminal. The purchaser will have to pick it up at their closest Greyhound terminal. Not sure how the console railing would do bouncing around a bus luggage compartment. Probably better on the bus than getting hammered by the USPS or FedEx.
flippa	posted 02-17-2010 08:16 PM ET (US) Dave Just to get an idea on cost, it was $70 to send a transaxle (@ 80 lbs & very bulky) from Boston to Georgia. I would imagine that the railing would be real cheap; rate is based on size & weight.
an86carrera	posted 02-17-2010 08:47 PM ET (US) Flippa, Porsche transaxles, a man after my own heart. Len
R T M	posted 02-17-2010 09:05 PM ET (US) Try U-Ship, Not part of e-Bay but they are linked up with E-Bay. Carriers bid on shipping your load. Great for big heavy stuff. I have a 350 lb outboard coming from Torrence Ca. direct to my home in Central Fl. for $250. Have used them before with great results. http://directory.uship.com/ rich
crabby	posted 02-17-2010 10:10 PM ET (US) Sometimes odd-sized items will trigger an alert and different rate with UPS. So will heavy weights in single boxes as well as oversize boxes with minimal weights. I recently shipped some headlamps that needed to be heavily padded. If I were to have shipped them both in the same box it would have cost nearly $50US. By splitting them into two separate boxes the total was $28US. I have a UPS account so it is relatively easy for me to catch crazy charges and repack. Not so simple for the average person unless you go to their website prior to actually shipping. We have used UShip.com for finding a shipper who would work with us (but usually with large loads). Sometimes Greyhound (the bus people) is a good choice for folks with a terminal nearby.
crabby	posted 02-17-2010 10:21 PM ET (US) What UShip is good for is finding someone who is making a run and just needs or wants to pick up some extra money; it is also a great source for freight consolidators and serious shippers. If you need to move bulky items that are not reasonably rated for transport by common carriers such as Fedex or UPS Uship is a way to locate folks that are running trucks with all sorts of goods and don't have set rates for bulky items. This goes for hauling boats on your own trailers as well as smaller items. It takes a bit more work to move stuff this way but sometimes it works to benefit all involved.
conch	posted 02-18-2010 06:42 AM ET (US) I would try U-ship also,you will have an answer in a day and costs nothing to find out.Make sure you have a photo of the item to post with the bid request. Chuck
fno	posted 02-18-2010 08:19 AM ET (US) Dave, are you packaging yourself or having the UPS store do it. Having them do it is very expensive. Use a mom and pop shipper store. Also, indicate that it is going to a business rather than residence, it's also cheaper. Try the online UPS deal, great way to calculate the cost and if you are packing yourself, you can complete the shipment and drop it off at UPS. Hope this helps.
Buckda	posted 02-18-2010 08:32 AM ET (US) Thanks everyone. I'm shipping the items myself. I will look into each of these and communicate with the buyers regarding alternate delivery locations (business addresses) and/or local pickup locations (Greyhound, etc.) Thanks again. Dave
lizard	posted 02-18-2010 10:18 AM ET (US) Dave- UPS is tricky and smart. I sent a 60 lb package cross country, boxed myself, oddly sized and it was about $70. A week later, and closer to Christmas, I sent a 12 lb. package cross country, in a more typical sized box and it was $56. When I asked how it was possible that a 12 lb package could cost as much as a 60 lb package, I was told that UPS rates change routinely, with many considerations factored in. Outliers (shape, weight, etc.) definitely factor in.
gnr	posted 02-18-2010 10:59 AM ET (US) UPS typically charges by weight. When something is shipped that is large and light the space that box takes up in the UPS system throws the cost structure out of wack. Low income generating package takes up space that could be filled with other packages. They have "oversize" standards which require packages of certain size to be charged differently so they are not sending out trucks filled with a few large, light packages that don't generate enough income. A bow rail would fit this description. Fedex is (was) a little hungrier so they might offer a better deal. The outfit I work for recently changed from UPS to Fedex for our shipping needs. We are, or at least were the largest UPS shipper in the state. I'm out of the shipping loop here now so I don't know the specifics of the Fedex oversized package policy.
dgoodhue	posted 02-18-2010 11:25 AM ET (US) UPS has OS1 and OS2. I don't know the dimensions off the top of my head but OS1 bascially mean the minimum wieght charge is 75#'s. OS2 is 150#. I am guessing with the rail you might be hitting OS2. Look at the box to see if you can find something smaller or modifying the box to fit into the smaller category. You obviously still want to make the item is packaged so it doesn't get damaged. I shipped a lot of oversized car parts and end up making a bunch of boxes to fit around my parts but still with sufficient packaging.
Buckda	posted 02-18-2010 11:29 AM ET (US) NOTHING that I am shipping is over 75 lbs. The console rail is an odd size, so I think that is what shot the price up, plus they are dinging me on delivery locations. For the console rail, I'm investigating Greyhound.
gnr	posted 02-18-2010 11:46 AM ET (US) What he means is that even if the package weighs 10lbs it will be charged as if it ways 75lbs if it meets certain size requirements. It used to be that a package would be measured around it's circumference then along it's longest side. If the sum of those two measurements exceeded 108" the package would be billed as weighing 75lbs regardless of it's actual weight. They would supply regular shippers with a bead chain of the appropriate length to make measuring borderline packages easier. Delivery location didn't affect our costs (excepting Alaska and Hawai of course).
Plotman	posted 02-23-2010 06:53 PM ET (US) Fedex Ground is typically way better than UPS. Also, do not make the mistake of taking a package into a UPS store and asking how much? There is a markup. Go online, and get accounts at both fedex.com and ups.com. Then comparison shop. You pay for the shipment online, print a label, and then either drop off at a dropoff location, or have them pick up. For larger items, check out fedex freight - terminal to terminal. shipped a T-top that way once.
Buckda	posted 03-01-2010 01:20 PM ET (US) Thanks again everyone. Over the weekend I built a crate and got this shipped out via Greyhound Package Express. Significantly less expensive than the other options. Will report back how it arrives, but with the crate I built for it, it shouldn't have any problems (especially being a strong SS railing). Dave
Tohsgib	posted 03-01-2010 01:49 PM ET (US) Honestly I had stuff stolen from Greyhound. It was a Montauk console in a dishwasher box that weighed 80+lbs...and was COD...it still "disappeared". With my Montauk rails I had to cut them in half to ship. This was no biggie because the railing "T" was shot anyway and the only way to replace is to cut the railing or buy a mega $$ 2 piece if you can find one. When you drill and bolt on the new T it is really strong and not noticeable. I believe you could do the same where the shepherd's crook is.
Buckda	posted 03-01-2010 01:57 PM ET (US) Well, the package is insured for sale value plus shipping costs, so if it is stolen, the buyer loses the railing, but neither of us will be out of the money. I'm sure things are stolen from UPS as well. In fact, I've seen estimated loss rates of 1% for the USPS, .8% for UPS and .55% for FedEx - but those are based on a mathematical analysis of insurance rates for each carrier, and assuming that the insurance rates allow them to "break even" on that service. Actual loss rates are likely lower. As I said, I'll report back here how it went, but to impugn Greyhound's delivery system before it has had a chance to prove its worth seems premature at best.
Buckda	posted 03-04-2010 02:08 PM ET (US) Update: I just received note from the buyer that the packed railing arrived yesterday intact and still well packaged - meaning they weren't too rough on it. I spent about $6 in materials building a shipping jig for this and wrapped it in shrink-wrap for the journey. Looks like Greyhound Package Express is a workable option for oversized/odd shaped items.
flippa	posted 03-05-2010 09:47 AM ET (US) Glad it worked out for you.
Wasatch Whaler	posted 03-05-2010 12:05 PM ET (US) I know Rich/RTM mentioned uship in his post above.... I'm in the process of having a 4x4 front axle assembly shipped from Milwaukee to Salt Lake City. It's on a pallet which measures 78"x24"x21" and weighs 550 lbs. I had multiple bids almost instantly upon listing the shipment, the lowest being $141.00. I was stunned at the low prices quoted.
Tohsgib	posted 03-05-2010 01:07 PM ET (US) Dave...my point was this was a dishwasher box that weighed almost 100lbs. No single person could carry it. How did it just "disappear" especially if COD? The propblem I had, and double check this people, is they would only insure for $300. So the buyer was out $150 but he received other parts in a seperate shipment like windshield, etc so he was made whole kinda. If the item is less than their max insurance, go for it. I propbably should have said that above.