New to the forum, so sorry if I'm posting widely-known (or incorrect!) info,
but I believe if you're getting exorbitant price quotes you're probably
getting hit with an oversize penalty.
In other words, the most important thing for shipping a bike is the size of
the box, not weight. To avoid oversize penalty for Fedex (and I think UPS)
the box's length plus "girth" has to be less than 130 inches. ("Girth" = the
two smallest dimensions added together, doubled).
So for example a 58" x 27" x 11" box weighing 50 pounds has a total
dimension of 134" and might cost around $120 conus (depending on specific
locations of course).
But if the box was just slightly smaller at 56" x 26" x 11" (still weighing
50 pounds) the total dimension would be 130" and shipping fedex ground could
be around $60 insured (I think the days of $40 are gone with fuel costs what
they are, but for short distances you might get close, but probably not
with insurance).
Getting a used box from a bike shop in which a "large" bike (say a 58cm+
road bike) was shipped is a good way to get a box that is as big as possible
without going over.
I think you also get the best price if you open an on line account (free)
and print the label at home (regular paper applied with clear packing tape
is fine). With a tape measure and a bathroom scale you can get all the info
you need (round up a pound or two -- it will barely change the price -- but
don't fudge the dimensions). You can then drop the package off at any fedex
or ups location without getting hit with the up charge from storefront
locations, and without needing to travel to a shipping facility.
The size issue means that in some instances it can be more economical to
ship two boxes. This all assumes of course that you do your own packing and
are willing to do some disassembly.
-Nate
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW
Owners Bunch" group.
To view this discussion on the web visit
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/nln1my0Ix7AJ.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
