Best way to ship a bike across the USA?

11-05-2003, 04:07 PM

What is the best way to ship a bike across the USA?

Last time I did this, years ago, I used AMTRAK, and did counter-to-counter.
It was really inexpensive. I thought I read somewhere they don't do it anymore
though.

I did a google groups search and all I saw were discussions of shipping via
UPS.

I don't have a deadline when I must have the bike--I'm not shipping it
to a race or ride.

Anyway, some of you do this regularly. What do you think?

David

11-05-2003, 05:01 PM

For some time I've been collecting information on user experiences taking bikes
on planes, trains, buses, boats, etc. There's lots of stuff on SHIPPING,
rentals, folding bikes, boxing, airlines, and railroads around the world and how
to ride in/out of about 120 airports.

See it at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

David wrote:
> What is the best way to ship a bike across the USA?
>
> Last time I did this, years ago, I used AMTRAK, and did counter-to-counter.
> It was really inexpensive. I thought I read somewhere they don't do it anymore
> though.
>
> I did a google groups search and all I saw were discussions of shipping via
> UPS.
>
> I don't have a deadline when I must have the bike--I'm not shipping it
> to a race or ride.
>
> Anyway, some of you do this regularly. What do you think?
>
> David
>
>

11-05-2003, 10:17 PM

"David" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:boc6st$1d65e4$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].uni-berlin.de...

> What is the best way to ship a bike across the USA?

Fedex Ground.

Matt O.

11-07-2003, 08:31 PM

> Fedex Ground.
>
> Matt O.

I'll second that, big time.

In particular FedEx Home Delivery, which is part of FedEx Ground. Almost
never more than $25 for up to 50 lbs, and often around $18.00. Get a FedEx
account and then you can print a label from their website and take the bike
to a FedEx center (if in an urban area) or arrange a pickup.

For extra money, FedEx Home Delivey will deliver on an exact day, on a
Saturday, or in the evening hours (5-8 PM). $100 of insurance is included
and it's easy to track.

Whatever you do, never go to Mail Boxes Etc. for ANY product or service. You
will be overcharged by a LOT. And just because UPS owns them does not mean
you can get the regular UPS rate there. It's more. Anyway, FedEx is much
better.

-Bruce-

11-08-2003, 03:14 AM

On Sat, 08 Nov 2003 05:31:13 GMT, "Bruce Lange"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>In particular FedEx Home Delivery,

FWIW, These routes are franchises. Each driver, or a small local
company, owns the route and the truck.

>Whatever you do, never go to Mail Boxes Etc. for ANY product or service. You
>will be overcharged by a LOT. And just because UPS owns them does not mean
>you can get the regular UPS rate there. It's more. Anyway, FedEx is much
>better.

I'll agree that MBE way overcharges to ship stuff, but are you _SURE_
they're owned by UPS? They are a UPS "agent" AFAIK. I've seen MBE
locations less than a block from "real" UPS counters, of which we have
very few locally.

Has anyone suggested checking with the LBS? We ship bikes all the
time, as we're a block from a major university. We usually add only
$3-4 to the UPS fee. In our area, all shippers charge for pickup, and
$4 will usually not get you to a shipper's counter. Not to mention
your time.

Barry

11-08-2003, 05:11 PM

"B a r r y B u r k e J r ." <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in
message news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...

> On Sat, 08 Nov 2003 05:31:13 GMT, "Bruce Lange"
> <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
> >In particular FedEx Home Delivery,
>
> FWIW, These routes are franchises. Each driver, or a small local
> company, owns the route and the truck.
>
> >Whatever you do, never go to Mail Boxes Etc. for ANY product or service. You
> >will be overcharged by a LOT. And just because UPS owns them does not mean
> >you can get the regular UPS rate there. It's more. Anyway, FedEx is much
> >better.
>
> I'll agree that MBE way overcharges to ship stuff, but are you _SURE_
> they're owned by UPS? They are a UPS "agent" AFAIK. I've seen MBE
> locations less than a block from "real" UPS counters, of which we have
> very few locally.

MBE are franchises -- independent businesses. But the parent corporation has
indeed been bought by UPS. The stores are being rebranded to "The UPS Store."

> Has anyone suggested checking with the LBS? We ship bikes all the
> time, as we're a block from a major university. We usually add only
> $3-4 to the UPS fee. In our area, all shippers charge for pickup, and
> $4 will usually not get you to a shipper's counter. Not to mention
> your time.

It depends on where you are, but this can be a good way to go. Wheel the bike
into a bike shop, and they take care of the whole thing. Our local shop does
this cheaply ($10 on top of the actual shipping) while out in CA they all seem
to want at least $50.

Matt O.