Shipping advice...

[Dave]

Because the numbskulls at my local FedEx Counter get all weird if you try to bring in anything just bubble wrapped or not in a box. They want to charge oversize rates. Been there, done that. They are typical retail monkeys.

I had the boxes left over from something else, so I used them to save me the trouble.

[DEV0 E30]

Why would you box up rims with tires?

Because I was stupid enough to buy them.

Hope your kids got some nice toys for the money Dave!

Haha, no really thanks. They were all fine even with the delivery dude throwing them around.

[Bill 84 318i]

I used to work for a shipping place back in college.

I assume we're talking only Ground service. Express is comparable (in terms of service) for both companies.

First off Fedex GROUND is a completely different service that Fedex Express. I really like Fedex Express, but not Ground.

Fedex Ground is generally cheaper than UPS Ground - they're still "new" to the ground business (they bought out some other company), but you get what you pay for. Unless something has changed in the past, their workers are NOT unioned, and this makes a noticeable difference in worker morale/attitude or whatever. UPS guys are REQUIRED to empty their trucks by the end of the day (their estimated ground times are basically written in stone unless something fucks up). Fedex guys are not, and they can leave shit on theirs if a particular house is way out of their way on a busy day(s) or whatever. Seen it happen many times.

I've dealt with thousands of packages, and both companies mess up. We had more trouble after we switched to Fedex though.

[Bimmerfanatik]

TJ - used a water heater box for Devon's euro front valance, lip, and bumper trim. 24x24x57, 21 lbs. I had HOPED the weight would offset the size - I hoped wrong.

Dave - thanks for the dimensions and estimates. Now to find a box for them.

Then again, Ben has a point - can't I just wrap them together or something and ship them as is?

Devon, what wheels did you buy from Dave?

[DEV0 E30]

Weaves, a few months ago wrapped in azenis. Used to be heeter's wheels, hence the std remark.

[nkell09]

When I did seasonal work for UPS, we unloaded quite a bit of tires. Never saw any rims come on the trailers. I'm sure they wouldn't fair well. Best to box up.

Package unloaders aren't fans of the "Irregs". They have to bypass the main conveyors and are hand picked off the trailers.

[Rigmaster]

In general, UPS is most expensive, then Fedex ground + DHL are close to the same across the board. USPS is expensive once you get over 5-6 lbs.

Don't overlook USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes. They have 2 different size boxes that cost $8.10 to ship anywhere in the US, regardless of weight. Just make sure you use the special Flat Rate box (it's got a big red Circle on it that says "FLAT RATE BOX") and whatever you ship has to fit in the box- no wrapping seats or diffs in the box and trying to use this rate. I shipped an E30 dual mass flywheel in one of these- it was like 40 lbs!!


I ship small stuff with USPS Priority mail mostly- because it's cheap, they provide free boxes, and they make it REALLY easy to print labels + pay for them using the Paypal shipping button. If someone has paid you with Paypal, you can go to your Paypal account, click on the transaction details, then just fill in the USPS Service you want, the weight of the box and the date of the shipment- Paypal cranks out the prepaid shipping label (they just take the $$ out of your Paypal acct) that you just tape to the box- then give it to your mailman or drop it at the Post Office. You can also print UPS labels using Paypal- but I prefer to use Fedex ground.

Check out UPS and Fedex Ground rates sometime- once you start getting into 70 lb and up shipments, the rates go WAY up- each additional pound over 70 adds like $5!! And, like others have said- watch out for Oversize charges. All of these companies have similar formula for what is classified as Oversize- and there is a BIG difference between a regular shipment and an Oversize 3 shipment.

As for boxing up wheels/tires, UPS and Fedex charge a "handling" fee of ~$5 per item for things that are not completely enclosed in a cardboard box. For shipping wheels, I generally will box them up in wheel boxes (I usually get them from the local wheel shop for free- they receive alot more wheels than they ever ship out), then strap or tape them together in pairs (sometimes in groups of 3 if necessary).



Bret.

[Bimmerfanatik]

In general, UPS is most expensive, then Fedex ground + DHL are close to the same across the board. USPS is expensive once you get over 5-6 lbs.

Don't overlook USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes. They have 2 different size boxes that cost $8.10 to ship anywhere in the US, regardless of weight. Just make sure you use the special Flat Rate box (it's got a big red Circle on it that says "FLAT RATE BOX") and whatever you ship has to fit in the box- no wrapping seats or diffs in the box and trying to use this rate. I shipped an E30 dual mass flywheel in one of these- it was like 40 lbs!!


I ship small stuff with USPS Priority mail mostly- because it's cheap, they provide free boxes, and they make it REALLY easy to print labels + pay for them using the Paypal shipping button. If someone has paid you with Paypal, you can go to your Paypal account, click on the transaction details, then just fill in the USPS Service you want, the weight of the box and the date of the shipment- Paypal cranks out the prepaid shipping label (they just take the $$ out of your Paypal acct) that you just tape to the box- then give it to your mailman or drop it at the Post Office. You can also print UPS labels using Paypal- but I prefer to use Fedex ground.

Check out UPS and Fedex Ground rates sometime- once you start getting into 70 lb and up shipments, the rates go WAY up- each additional pound over 70 adds like $5!! And, like others have said- watch out for Oversize charges. All of these companies have similar formula for what is classified as Oversize- and there is a BIG difference between a regular shipment and an Oversize 3 shipment.

As for boxing up wheels/tires, UPS and Fedex charge a "handling" fee of ~$5 per item for things that are not completely enclosed in a cardboard box. For shipping wheels, I generally will box them up in wheel boxes (I usually get them from the local wheel shop for free- they receive alot more wheels than they ever ship out), then strap or tape them together in pairs (sometimes in groups of 3 if necessary).



Bret.

Great advice Bret - I'll swing by my local wheel shop, see if they have boxes.

What are my choices for big stuff? Like the box I shipped today? Just suck it up and pay $86 to send it?

[Digitalwave]

The buyer should be paying the shipping anyways. They should pay the actual shipping rate + your packing supplies (buying big boxes, etc).

[Bimmerfanatik]

The buyer should be paying the shipping anyways. They should pay the actual shipping rate + your packing supplies (buying big boxes, etc).

They did - and the box was free (got it at work). But it's still good to save money - especially when you charge them a flat rate and can save money, therefore putting the difference in your pocket!

[Digitalwave]

Charging a flat rate is just asking to lose money when the shipping comes out to be more than you were expecting though.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Charging a flat rate is just asking to lose money when the shipping comes out to be more than you were expecting though.

It all balances out. Charging flat rates for the smaller stuff is always extra money for you - shipping comes to $3.85 and you asked for 6,8, or 10, and with the big stuff you usually can get a good estimate. It's just easier to charge a flat rate instead of going to get the estimate, having the person send you the exact amount, then going back to ship it. (I don't have a scale, so I have to bring it in for the weight.)

[Rigmaster]

Great advice Bret - I'll swing by my local wheel shop, see if they have boxes.

What are my choices for big stuff? Like the box I shipped today? Just suck it up and pay $86 to send it?

Well, you'll probably just have to suck it up- unless you can convince the buyer to pick up from the bus station- then ship it with Greyhound. For the really big bulky stuff, bumpers, seats, etc- Greyhound can be a good option. I recently shipped an E34 rear bumper from NC to IN for about $65- would have cost at least $100 with UPS or Fedex Ground, IF it was even able to go with them at all.

If you quote the buyer a shipping rate, and then it turns out to be ALOT more than what you quoted for some reason- then you either have to eat the $$$ or go back to the buyer and explain that you underestimated the shipping cost. This can be hard to explain, but if you are honest with them, it should work out OK. If I have something to ship that's borderline for oversize or not- I will often take it to the Fedex (or Fedex Kinko's) location and pay for it, so I don't get burned by additional charges on my account once they reweigh or remeasure it somewhere along the way. That's another thing to watch out for- they can, and will, reweigh and measure shipments at different points along their route. If it's heavier or bigger than what you entered on your label (assuming you are charging to an account) they WILL hit you up with additional charges.

FYI- I set up a basic account with Fedex, they charge everything to my Credit card. I don't ship enough to get a regular pickup or have discounted rates, but they are a little bit cheaper than the rates you get if you pay for each shipment when you drop off.

Bret

[erik325i]

I normally ship via USPS priority, which means free packing and small stuff is usually 3.85

They raised the prices. Now it costs $4.05
:P

-Erik

[Bimmerfanatik]

They raised the prices. Now it costs $4.05
:P

-Erik

whore - a whole .20 gr.

Did you get my pm/tracking?