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
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.
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.
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 :/
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.
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.
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).]
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.
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).]
Great suggestions guys, thanks! I think what I'll do first is look for another box, where I remove the standoffs to reduce the 'height' dimension. That should be a game changer ...
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.
Good news, I should be able to get the box down to 61 L x 16 W x 4 H, which still allows some internal space for bubble wrap. This weekend I'll see what I need to construct that, take a final weight, then run some quotes.
A) Three came right out (thank God) B) One is frozen tight C) One spins freely (I can gently lift up a titch to see the captive nut spinning, so there is no longer any connection of the nut to the wing. This should just lift off when the screw B situation is solved.) D) One spins freely (but I can't lift up to see the nut spinning, so there is still some minor anchorage to the wing.)
I could use some advice to address B and D. For D I think the only thing to do is pry the post gently up and accept that the frozen nut will pull through the shreds of remaining wing. I'll have to let it soak in PB Blaster, hopefully then back the nut off, then thread-chase the nut, and epoxy it back to the wing. Likewise with D.
For B (shown below) there is no path to apply penetrating oil. The frozen screw is fully seated. I guess I could drill off the head and begin surgery. Somehow I suspect that copious PB and time won't be enough and when I try to back the screw out the captive nut will break loose. So overall, I think I'm looking at having to epoxy three of the captive nuts back in place.
[This message has been edited by Notorio (edited 02-29-2024).]
Here is the resolution of the shipping question (how I removed the screws and fixed the wing I'll post in the How-to section):
1) I bought two of these trash boxes from Home Depot for a total of $10. With the standoffs removed, a 4" box height is more than enough to comfortably fit the spoiler, so I cut the boxes along the red lines in the picture. I then taped the 4" U's together from each box, making the new 4 x 16 cross section, then taped both boxes together to make a length of 63 inches. Since the spoiler is only 60 inches, this could have been an inch or more shorter.
2) Here is the spoiler resting against the taped-together box. When I pack the spoiler I'm going to wrap each end in bubble wrap AND also the center. This will help stiffen up the taped-together spot where the two boxes come together.
3) Using the onlineshipping site mentioned above, the smaller box allows for shipping across the country (CA to NY) for only $55. Hot dog!
Usually wasn't more than a few dollars difference...but that's not the point.
