Shipping Gurus -- Please Opine (Page 1/2)
Notorio FEB 22, 12:03 AM
So I was thinking about selling my GT factory wing and researching on eBay to see what folks charge for shipping: approximately $50 to $100 within the USA (ignoring much higher outliers.) I've been calculating shipping based on a 20 x 8 x 62" box (this is the FedEx Guitar box with about a foot of extended length hacked on) and a weight of a mere 12 pounds. All the shipping rates I can find for Ground, across country are $200 - 300 and higher. Can anyone explain what the guys are doing that can ship for $50 or for $100? I'm stumped
jelly2m8 FEB 22, 04:07 AM
Doesn't sound right to me.. I have an account with Canada post forever and I was told forever shipping was not based on size but weight as trucks have a certain weight limit, but here we are today where both of our countries are F***ed.
fieroguru FEB 22, 06:53 AM
Volume discounts...
Craig71188 FEB 22, 07:41 AM

quote
Originally posted by fieroguru:

Volume discounts...



THIS! Big breaks for volume accounts.
Also, weight is a factor, but with more and more online sellers of "stuff" , cube or size is almost if not more critical for cost. Many shippers of small items run out of space before they run out of weight capacity.
82-T/A [At Work] FEB 22, 08:06 AM

quote
Originally posted by Notorio:

So I was thinking about selling my GT factory wing and researching on eBay to see what folks charge for shipping: approximately $50 to $100 within the USA (ignoring much higher outliers.) I've been calculating shipping based on a 20 x 8 x 62" box (this is the FedEx Guitar box with about a foot of extended length hacked on) and a weight of a mere 12 pounds. All the shipping rates I can find for Ground, across country are $200 - 300 and higher. Can anyone explain what the guys are doing that can ship for $50 or for $100? I'm stumped




FedEx doesn't seem as bad as UPS... but I know UPS has *insane* shipping costs... I mean, just wild.

Shipping stuff really confuses me... because for $250 bucks, I can ship via Forward Air an arcade machine that's the size of a refrigerator. But I want to send a set of Fiero GT taillights two states over, and UPS wants to charge me $100 bucks.


I'd say the USPS is probably your best option. It's GOT to be the cheapest route... you'll just have to wait in line at the Post Office :/
steve308 FEB 22, 08:11 AM
I've shipped and received many a large item via Greyhound. If both ends of the transaction have a bus depot near them it's a viable option.
87GT3800SC5SPD FEB 22, 12:20 PM

quote
Originally posted by steve308:

I've shipped and received many a large item via Greyhound. If both ends of the transaction have a bus depot near them it's a viable option.




That was going to be my suggestion, until I looked at their web site to look at rates and found out that Greyhound suspended package shipments in September, 2022.

That is sad, as they used otherwise empty space in their busses to generate revenue and provide an affordable and dependable service. Maybe their failure was due to not making their service very well known. It wasn't the fastest freight service, but they provided tracking and their costs were way less than any other shipping option.

Todays shipping business models seem to be to deliver product same day or tomorrow, regardless of cost.
css9450 FEB 22, 12:36 PM

quote
Originally posted by 87GT3800SC5SPD:

That was going to be my suggestion, until I looked at their web site to look at rates and found out that Greyhound suspended package shipments in September, 2022.

That is sad, as they used otherwise empty space in their busses to generate revenue and provide an affordable and dependable service. Maybe their failure was due to not making their service very well known.



It was probably a management decision. Greyhound has had three different owners in the last decade and is now owned by a German company. They've also been closing / moving out of their traditional downtown bus stations and most likely the "new" locations at truck stops and restaurants aren't set up with agents to handle, weigh and ticket the package shipments.
Sage FEB 22, 12:48 PM
Could try these guys: https://www.pirateship.com/

I've shipped with them a few times....they use standard shippers (UPS-FedEx-DHL etc.) but have "deals" with all of them.

UPS and maybe FedEx and others use what they call "dimensional weight"....where they measure your package, add an inch to all measurements, then base your rate on how much it COULD weigh...NOT what it actually weighs!

Kind of like the DMV does with taxes on your "new to you" used car purchase...where THEY tell YOU what it should've cost and tax you accordingly, no matter WHAT you actually paid! At least that's my experience here in OH. Your results may differ....

I asked about the added inch at UPS once, because I had very carefully measured all dimensions on the box I was shipping ( it was a DGP whale tail spoiler going to CA.) and told the girl that's NOT what it measures when she told me "her" readings....she said they always add an inch...I asked "why"..."company policy" was the reply!

I took my box, left and went to FedEx and shipped it for $150 LESS than I was quoted at UPS.

Since then, I've used Pirate Ship with pretty good results, although in fairness, there have been two instances where the actual shipping co. (usually UPS) added charges after the fact, because the original cost wasn't "in compliance" with their standard policies! Usually wasn't more than a few dollars difference...but that's not the point.

HAGO!

[This message has been edited by Sage (edited 02-22-2024).]

87GT3800SC5SPD FEB 22, 01:31 PM

quote
Originally posted by Notorio:

So I was thinking about selling my GT factory wing and researching on eBay to see what folks charge for shipping: approximately $50 to $100 within the USA (ignoring much higher outliers.) I've been calculating shipping based on a 20 x 8 x 62" box (this is the FedEx Guitar box with about a foot of extended length hacked on) and a weight of a mere 12 pounds. All the shipping rates I can find for Ground, across country are $200 - 300 and higher. Can anyone explain what the guys are doing that can ship for $50 or for $100? I'm stumped



Try this link to find cheapest shipping rates. It compares shipping options and provides rate options.

https://onlineshippingcalculator.com

For example, if you shipped the wing in a box that was 62" L 16" W and 8" H, weighing 12 lbs, UPS Ground would cost just under $80 from Temecula to Miami or New York. I just picked those cities at random.

It might be worth getting the wing in a package with minimum size to see if you get within the maximum size calculations.

[This message has been edited by 87GT3800SC5SPD (edited 02-22-2024).]