export redux atmo -

[e-RICHIE]

remind me what you all are choosing for overseas parcels that exceed 108" length/girth atmo.
i use fedex and wanna know if you've found alternatives.
usps international priority is not an option owing to dimensions.

[crumpton]

fedex is all i have found suitable. especially considering insurance and loss as USPS will only hit $600 and make you turn yourself inside out only to find that they wont even pay the $600.

[e-RICHIE]

fedex is all i have found suitable. especially considering insurance and loss as USPS will only hit $600 and make you turn yourself inside out only to find that they wont even pay the $600.

ya i have rare instance when a guy said it would cost less to fly over and get it than it was shipping using my fedex quote (fully insured...) atmo.
i don't believe it, but the message was clear.

[GSmith]

Can't beat the pricing on USPS for frames. Complete bikes... UPS or Fedex. Although, I wonder sometimes if it isn't worth it to ship the bike in two separate boxes via USPS, given the difference in $.

BTW, my experience with all of the carriers is that their insurance is a joke. Burden of proof is on you to prove that it was "their" fault, and the time and hassle factor seem to exceed the value of any recourse. Sometimes its only worth fighting on principle.

[e-RICHIE]

Can't beat the pricing on USPS for frames. Complete bikes... UPS or Fedex. Although, I wonder sometimes if it isn't worth it to ship the bike in two separate boxes via USPS, given the difference in $.

BTW, my experience with all of the carriers is that their insurance is a joke. Burden of proof is on you to prove that it was "their" fault, and the time and hassle factor seem to exceed the value of any recourse. Sometimes its only worth fighting on principle.

this parcel exceeds the 108" USPS limits.
there's no way to get anywhere near this dimension atmo.

[crumpton]

fedex pays legit claims. they require an extensive paper trail which is now standard 10 min procedure @crumpton. they still talk trash but one quick note from my attorney friend on letterhead and the check lands in a few days. the loss of a frameset or entire bike is a lotta wages for a small one man shop. cant happen.

[crumpton]

this parcel exceeds the 108" USPS limits.
there's no way to get anywhere near this dimension atmo.

yup, for this reason i only ship framesets oversees. no completes outside the lower 48.

[e-RICHIE]

well, anyway atmo -
the charges to me for a 46 X 8 X 30 parcel insured at full value is about $475.
that doesn't include the box, the tape, the bubble pack, or my time to wrap it.

[GSmith]

fedex pays legit claims. they require an extensive paper trail which is now standard 10 min procedure @crumpton. they still talk trash but one quick note from my attorney friend on letterhead and the check lands in a few days. the loss of a frameset or entire bike is a lotta wages for a small one man shop. cant happen.

Nick,

What's your SOP for the paper trail?

Thanks

[dbohemian]

well, anyway atmo -
the charges to me for a 46 X 8 X 30 parcel insured at full value is about $475.
that doesn't include the box, the tape, the bubble pack, or my time to wrap it.

Yep, that is about right. I have looked at every option. Either strip it down to frame and send it USPS which is about 100 dollars or Fedex at around 500.

There are brokers who send larger quantities but for the onsies, twosies stuff we do its a no go.

[e-RICHIE]

Yep, that is about right. I have looked at every option. Either strip it down to frame and send it USPS which is about 100 dollars or Fedex at around 500.

There are brokers who send larger quantities but for the onsies, twosies stuff we do its a no go.

this is a frame atmo.
if i cut the box down i'd be slumming.

[anthonymaietta]

this is a frame atmo.
if i cut the box down i'd be slumming.

How many layers of bubble wrap are you using to not be able to get it under 108". Where is it going?

[e-RICHIE]

How many layers of bubble wrap are you using to not be able to get it under 108". Where is it going?

dude - the box is a standard frame box and i wouldn't cut it down to beat some dimension.
as it is it exceeds 130" and there's nothing there to cut down atmo.
here's a pic before the fork/headset went in -

[anthonymaietta]

dude - the box is a standard frame box and i wouldn't cut it down to beat some dimension.
as it is it exceeds 130" and there's nothing there to cut down atmo.
here's a pic before the fork/headset went in -

Zank has some custom 108" boxes he uses to send his frames. I bet you could sweet talk him into giving you a peak under his skirt.

[e-RICHIE]

Zank has some custom 108" boxes he uses to send his frames. I bet you could sweet talk him into giving you a peak under his skirt.

like i said...
this frame wouldn't fit in one so small atmo.
don't think i haven't eyeballed these boxes with a tape and an x-acto blade.
i want full overlap, 350lb test double-wall cartons.

[Dazza]

as bicycle frames are light
the freight charges are on the cubic size, not the actual weight.
I regularly cut the boxes down tightly around the frames to reduce the cost to the customer.
$400 to $500 aud is normal freight for frames to USA from here,
plus I add a little extra for my time and packaging materials.
I also double layer the bottom and sides of the box to give extra smash resistance.
Never had an issue in 20 years.
PS. My first job was as a store man and packer at a hardware wholesaler.
PS 2 A bulk head roll of cardboard between the sides of the box through the main triangle is a good trick for international freight.
PS 3 I use TNT international

I suppose all of the above is not much help

[e-RICHIE]

the control here is the box size i use.
to save a buck at the client's end, if i have to slice it down, then it's my time that goes unaccounted for atmo.
homey don't do "unaccounted for" on a regular basis.
the issue is usps limits out at 108" and there's no way this 59cm frame would fit in anything that small.
the flip side is that my daily carrier, fedex, is reliable as can be. but the fee is high(er) than the client expected.

again - one game ii won't play is "how small can i make the box to save shipping costs?".

[anthonymaietta]

this 59cm frame

Makes more sense now. You have a point.

Me=temporary asshat

[crumpton]

Nick,

What's your SOP for the paper trail?

Thanks

i print the daily manifest and attached to the customer invoice showing paid in full including shipping and FOB. Then attach a copy of the bar-code ship label along with a printed receipt from fedex showing a transfer of product with the track#.

every document has the track # on it with the exception of the invoice. that printed receipt is the kicker. even though you can clearly see the box move through their system (till it disappears), they want that receipt as proof.

[crumpton]

hey riichie, have you considered cutting the box down?

HAHAHA