I was curious to hear any comments on how you folks ship parcels. Not talking about frames and entire bikes, just the general sized boxes that need to be sent around the country and once awhile across the pond.
Considerations are price, reliability, tracking, speed of delivery and what they do when disaster strikes. Shipping horror stories are greatly encouraged :D
Thanks,
Paul
I usually use the post office on lighter stuff and UPS on something over 8 or 10 pounds. It's usually more convenient for the receiver with UPS bringing it to your door. Sometimes the post office will only leave a card saying that you have a package and you have to go to the PO to get it.(not a big deal for me, I'm there everyday) I've gotten parts overnight from nearby states even being shipped UPS ground.
I bought a pair of shocks off ebay once and when they came by PO, there was a hole in the box and only one shock. Luckily the seller was a good guy and refunded my money. It pays to make sure you pack things good so they make the trip!!
74 puch 175 SD
73 Husky 360 WR/RT
75 Penton 250
10 ktm 250xc
02 bmw r1150r
USPS Priority for small and UPS/FED EX for large Items, whatever is cheaper. Real expensive to ship engines now!!
USPS flatrate for small things, if it fits, it ships. Bigger UPS.
Thanks for the replies...
Last year I had to ship an engine to Norway, the buyer, who does a lot of business such as this, asked that it be shipped through the USPS. I had already gotten a price from UPS, the postal service was about 1/2 the cost, saved the guy several hundred bucks. A few folks scoffed at using the postal service for international shipping, but it all worked fine.
Paul
I've used the USPS Interenational Priority flatrate boxes into Canada, Europe and New Zealand with no problems yet. Biggest glitch is the is no tracking outside the US, but so far everything has been delivered as promised.
Paul,
I ship my compession tester systems--2 to 4 lb packages--worldwide using USPS Priority Mail, Insured and have never had any problems in the 6 years I've been in business. I have also shipped much heavier items that way to US addresses with no problems. The cost savings over the other package delivery services is, in most cases, very significant, although I do ship via UPS on occasion if the cost differential is minimal or if the customer insists on UPS.
However, be careful of using the USPS "Flat Rate" shipping. Unless the item is very heavy, going a long distance and it will fit into one of the FR boxes, standard Priority Mail will almost always be cheaper.
http://rotarydiagnostics.com
Larry Roberts, Mont Alto, PA
1973 Penton 125 Six-day
1991 Mazda RX-7 Turbo track car
I have shipped quite a few parts including several engines that I sold on ebay and shipped them all USPS with very good results. I use priority, parcel post and flat rate, depending on the item and what makes the most sense economically.
I got burned once using USPS to ship a piston to a guy in France. He claimed he never received it and since there was no tracking available I was forced to give complete reimbursement. This cost me $150 and I no longer sell to overseas buyers because of it.
Doug Bridges
73 Jackpiner
74 Rickman Zundapp
78 Suzuki PE175
82 XR200R
Hmm, that's strange since with the customs form number I almost always get tracking info through the USPS for international shipments. Of course, I insure all shipments. See the example quote from a recent shipment below:
"LAWRENCE ROBERTS has requested that you receive a Track & Confirm update, as shown below.
Track & Confirm e-mail update information provided by the U.S. Postal Service.
Label Number: CV01 8165 795U S
Service Type: International Parcels
Shipment Activity Location Date & Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delivered GREAT BRITAIN 11/21/11 11:58am
Payment of charges - GREAT BRITAIN 11/16/11 2:27am
Item being held, addressee being notified
Arrival at Post Office GREAT BRITAIN 11/16/11 1:30am
Customs clearance GREAT BRITAIN 11/15/11 1:03am
processing complete
Customs Clearance GREAT BRITAIN 11/11/11 10:39am
Processed Through Sort GREAT BRITAIN 11/11/11 10:36am
Facility
Processed Through Sort ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS) 11/09/11 1:59am
Facility
Arrived at Sort ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS) 11/09/11 1:20am
Facility
Depart USPS Sort PHILADELPHIA PA 19116 11/08/11 9:19pm
Facility
Processed at USPS PHILADELPHIA PA 19116 11/07/11 10:48pm
Origin Sort Facility
Dispatched to Sort MONT ALTO PA 17237 11/07/11 4:18pm
Facility
Acceptance MONT ALTO PA 17237 11/07/11 10:56am
Electronic Shipping 11/07/11
Info Received"
Larry Roberts, Mont Alto, PA
1973 Penton 125 Six-day
1991 Mazda RX-7 Turbo track car
As many of you already know, 98% of my orders go through the Post Office. Most of those packages go via Priority Mail, the small items under 1 lb. go via 1st class mail. In the 18+ years of using the Postal System I have had only 1 lost parcel. I have had 3 or 4 missing parcels that sooner or later show up either to the customer or back to me. Priority Mail is generally delivered in 3 days or less which is faster than UPS especially for items going to the west coast.
I ship items via UPS when they are either too big or heavy and it is more cost effective to ship with them.
I ship all of my international orders via the Post Office and the majority of these go via Priority International Mail. I can use the Customs Form I.D. number to track the shipment as Larry Roberts has shown. I also make it a point to e-mail my international customers the Customs form number so that they can track their shipment.
Alan Buehner
I also us USPS for 99% of my shipping. An added bonus is the free boxes, labels, and confirmation forms they give you, delivered right to your door.
Mick
I would not trust Priority Mail unless you pay the extra for shipment tracking/delivery confirmation. A couple of years ago I sent out a holiday package to two soldiers in Iran (part of a church sponsored program). Included were some very nice Oakley milspec sunglasses (friend works at Oakley) along with the general assortment of goodies/items. Total value of each package came in at around $350 as identified on customs statement. In both cases, neither package made it to the soldiers. I followed thru with the Post Office only to be told that the packages were not traceable since I had not paid the extra fee. Some low life(s) stole the packages for the glasses and the two soldiers sat at Christmas empty handed. Pay the extra fee and protect your shipment. I learned the lesson the hard way.
I attended a seminar about Ebay at the Post Office. They talked alot about the shipping aspect of selling AND buying on Ebay. USP has competitive shipping prices, the boxes are FREE, and they will pick up the packages at your front door (if that is what you want). How much easier can it get? Just repeating what Thrownchain (Dan) said.... flatrate boxes are priced and anything you can fit in it regardless of weight, is shipped. You can go to the post office and they will give you FREE a variety of size boxes and you can mark the price of shipping on each box for reference. joe
I ship normal sized items via USPS using Priority Mail and pay online, because there is some discount by paying online. Additionally, you can request a pickup at your home or business. You can also order boxes for free and they will deliver them for free as well. Thus, you can track these items and it will show delivery date and time.
For larger, heavier items, I ship FedEx Ground, like for complete engines and such. I one purchased a frame and it was shipped to me via USPS. Only had one issue of a package being misplaces and it was to a PO Bax and the receiving PO put it in the wrong box.
AND one customer (not a bike rider) claimed non delivery from ebay, but I provided the tracking information to him and that was the last I heard from him. It saved me on that one.
Donny Smith
Paragould, AR
Delivery confirmation inside the US is $.70, not alot for piece of mind. There is a 20 lb limit for USPS International Priority, and you can use the customs number as a tracker. Had to do that for a Italian shipment. And unless your selling lead weights, you'd be hard pressed to meet the US weight limit which is 70lbs. The nice thing about flatrate boxes is you can quote a shipping price and the buyer is paying it anyway. Heavy or bulky stuff goes UPS and you get a tracking number automatically, just can be very expensive overseas, but then again the buyer should be paying it and as long as they are willing,.....I dont ship anything anywhere till its paid, no exceptions. Havent had a problem yet.
I always use delivery confirmation and tracking when I ship. The people at the post office told me that they can only track to the country that is being shipped to and that countrys postal system take over from there. Some countrys have good tracking systems and some don't. They could not tell me which countrys track and which ones don't. Probably not a big issue unless you are selling on ebay and come across some one who wants a free part. If they claim they did not receive it and you have no proof they did, ebay will force you to reimburse them.
Doug Bridges
73 Jackpiner
74 Rickman Zundapp
78 Suzuki PE175
82 XR200R
Quotequote:Originally posted by thrownchain
Delivery confirmation inside the US is $.70, not alot for piece of mind.
If you go to the USPS web site and setup an account, the delivery confirmation is FREE!!!!
Donny Smith
Paragould, AR
Thanks to all of sharing their information.
Paul
This shipping stuff is getting to be ridiculous. I purchased a 175 Jackpiner pipe from an individual in Nashville, TN, and didn't really put much thought into the UPS fee. Saw the bill today to ship this lightweight pipe from Nashville to Alabama on the gulf coast. I would've guessed around $20. Wrong!! Try $ 82.62 for a box, some packing mat'l, and the residential ground charge, not overnite, not 2 day, just ground.
Holy cow
Keith Meatyard
I know alot of stuff I've bought and sold on e bay, sometimes the shipping is more than the cost of the item. The bulky things can get expensive, so be prepared.
I just sold a KDX 200 motor, about 55#, and shipped it to Louisiana for $38, USPS Parcel Post with delivery confirmation. Some eBay shippers gouge and don't research the best price.
Mick
Mick is right on. When you use the online UPS shipping calculator, you can enter a weight, but not package dimensions. The kid in the UPS store told me that when the odd size package (15x15x48) is figured in at the UPS store, the charge changes from $ 25 to $ 58. So, I went online to the USPS calculator. Mick, the charge for the same package USPS parcel post is $ 19.02. Sure will remember this in the future.
Keith Meatyard
NEVER TRUST THE POST OFFICE ! Once it took 7 months to ship a cylinder from Jackson, MS to Pensacola, Fl.
Another time they lost a set of shocks through a hole in the box and just delivered the box with no contents.
Another time they lost a gold ring being shipped from GB to USA. Delivered empty envelope. Had a hole in corner.
They will not make good on their insurance either. Nor take any resposibilty for rough handling, theft or destruction of contents.
How is that for horror stories ? :(
Today - wrapped a Six-Day frame and swing arm with shrink wrap, and took it to a UPS main terminal for a shipping quote.
UPS Ground (cheapest way), Michigan to California
GET READY FOR THIS...
$200.96
[:0] ! [:0] ! [?]
Bob don't tell me you sold your 75 frame to the guy in SF looking for a 75? I emailed about that frame some time ago and never got a response. Oh well just one more project I don't have to finish. I would like to take some measurments off one of those frames so I can make one out of a 74. Duplicating the swingarm is mostly what I'm needing to do. The frame and shock mounts are the easy part.
Bob, I don't think USPS is much cheaper, shipping frames is ridiculous!
Dwight, everyone can tell horror stories about somebody or something; I can do the same for UPS (they are the only ones who've ever broken something I've shipped). I'm sorry you've had bad luck, but in my 10 years of selling online I've had one item claimed lost, and that was when I did not use delivery confirmation. For another dollar, which the buyer has to pay, you can make it be a SIGNED delivery, which means the buyer has to be present to take posession.
I once had a Spanish buyer try to say he did not get his Bultaco parts. The sale was for a couple hundred dollars, and I used USPS with their overseas tracking numbers. Now, I know why many people won't do overseas shipping, because of the hassles, and this buyer was one of those who kept insisting he did not get his parts. I gave him the USPS tracking numbers, told him he had to go to his postal office (where new tracking numbers from that country will take place) and file a claim. I then told him the police would come to his door to ask questions, and from that point on I received no contact!
I don't think there is such a think as the perfect shipper, but for me USPS has worked well.
Mick
I agree with Mick that the USPS is probably one of the best ways to go with shipping to non-US addresses. Over the past 5 years I have shipped one hundred or so of my compression tester systems throughout the world using USPS Priority Mail International, Insured. They have gone to Russia, UK, Singapore, Australia, Norway, France, China and many other locations and there has never been a case of non-receipt of a package.
As someone said, when printing the shipping labels on line, delivery confirmation is free, so depending on the receiving countrys handling of the tracking, you can usually track through to the delivery of a package.
No, I don't work for the USPS.:D
Larry Roberts, Mont Alto, PA
1973 Penton 125 Six-day
1991 Mazda RX-7 Turbo track car
I just did a check on eBay for shipping prices on frames, many list from $ 50.00 to $ 100.00, I wonder if they are unaware of the prices or have a better way to ship them?
Paul
Paul, I think many of those sellers are showing a cheap shipping price then charging a lot for the frames. That way they obsorb their shipping loss into the cost of the frame and still make money.
Cheapest frame I ever shipped was a Husqvarna with no swingarm, and that cost $120.
Mick
Quotequote:Originally posted by Gavin Housh
Bob don't tell me you sold your 75 frame to the guy in SF looking for a 75? I emailed about that frame some time ago and never got a response. Oh well just one more project I don't have to finish. I would like to take some measurments off one of those frames so I can make one out of a 74. Duplicating the swingarm is mostly what I'm needing to do. The frame and shock mounts are the easy part.
It may be, I'm not sure, I know he'd like to find a '75 frame - but this one is a 409xxxxx. A 75 Six-Day frame is usually either a 411 or 412.
Anytime you need help with pictures, or dimensions off of a '75 Six-Day, just let me know. I'm finishing up one for a friend (see "what did you do with your Penton today" page 9), and I'll always keep the other one I have (possibly my Hiro project)
Bob
I'll compare with Fed-Ex today, but don't think I'll try Greyhound again, just ask MRW. He's just over one state, and it took about a month, and several phone calls on his part to keep it moving.
For small parts, we have used USPS priority for the past five years and have never lost a single domestic package. We have shipped internationally to over 50 different countries and have only lost one package to date. We have a postage scale for weighing parts & packages and print all postage online. When you create postage online its very easy to track your packages thru the USPS website. USPS offers tracking on all priority packages except Small Flat Rate Boxes and Envelopes, which they only show postal acceptance and processing info. USPS estimated delivery time is 6-10 business days, but if Customs pulls a package for random inspection, it can take up to 30-business days to deliver (and Customs generally uses all 30-business days). Foreign Customs will also hold a package at the customer's local post office for pick-up if import tax needs to be collected. Tell your customer to check there first... and definitely DO NOT refund them until after 30-BUSINESS DAYS. Also, if an international customer asks you to declare a low value or gift on Customs papers, keep in mind that if the item is lost or damaged, you can only make an insurance claim for the declared value amount... You potentially risk losing your money only to save the customer money. Hope these tips help!
Indeed, they do help. Only had one non-US package that seemed to be lost only to find out that the Greek civil servants were off for 2 weeks and no customs activities were conducted during that period. And you wonder why some European countries are in financial trouble. Package was finally delivered weeks after it should have been.
I've been asked to undervalue the contents of a package but only did that once 'til I realized the potential consequences of doing that. Now on my web site I state that this practice is likely illegal and that we will not undervalue or misrepresent the contents of a package. No one has asked us to do that since.
Larry Roberts, Mont Alto, PA
1973 Penton 125 Six-day
1991 Mazda RX-7 Turbo track car
Quotequote:Originally posted by rob w
Today - wrapped a Six-Day frame and swing arm with shrink wrap, and took it to a UPS main terminal for a shipping quote.
UPS Ground (cheapest way), Michigan to California
GET READY FOR THIS...
$200.96
[:0] ! [:0] ! [?]
Fed Ex was $19 less - or $181. Mostly has to do with distance, but in my opinion still outrageous.
For large shipments, complete motorcycles etc... I have used U-Ship in the past a few times (google U-Ship for website). It's works like an ebay auction, but for for shipping services. Only instead of the bid prices increasing, as the bids come in, the prices go down. It works. If you try it, just make sure you review the shippers feedbacks and insurance before accepting their bid.
If you can arrange you shipment to meet the US Postal service size and weight rules you will find that they are far far less than FedX or UPS
example I just shipped a Gas Tank to Australia the cost to ship by UPS was almost 275.00
I walked the same box over to FedX and they were over 300.00 I went over to US Post office
and they were under 70.00 dollars , I did have to reduce the box down by 2 inches in length and about 1.5 inches in width.
That ment pulling out some bubble wrap , however in the end the package arrived in good shape and I received positive feed back from the buyer
I've used USPS International Priority flatrate into Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Canada with no problems. The one to New Zealand weighed 20 lbs and got there safely and the last one I sent to Australia took 9 days.
Sounds like FedEx & UPS have too much business and for some capitalistic dude, an opportunity in the waking.
Pete Petrick
175 Jackpiner
Slow but Good
That's why the USPS runs 5 Billion in the RED.
Just finished a potentially bad issue on eBay, but becasue of delivery confirmation and patience it turned out well.
I shipped a box to Hawaii parcel post (ground) through USPS with delivery confirmation. 14 days after shipping (normal delivery to Hawaii for ground) the buyer opened a case with me for not delivering on a paid-for item. I had supplied delivery confirmation numbers, but had entered a couple of wrong numbers. The buyer never contacted me, but went straight to grievance. If he would have contacted me first I would have found the mistake and we would not have been in grievance. I corrected the numbers, and found the package to be in Honoulu, set for delivery the next day.
To make a long story short, I won the case and the buyer gave me positive feedback, all because delivery confirmation worked. I'm not saying it's perfect and works evey time, but most of the time it does.
Mick
Priority Mail flat rate is great for heavy items. But for medium-sized stuff that won't go flat rate, I find that FedEx Ground is way cheaper than UPS, and usually gets there faster. You can insure FedEx and all, and I've never had them lose anything.