The Chainlink

Shipping a bike-- experience?

I've looked through 3 or 4 old threads but didn't really find the level of info I need, and/or the person asking about shipping didn't post any follow-up to let us know how it went.

I may have a buyer for my road bike in NYC.  Whet I've put together from old threads is that FedEx is probably the best option.

Anyone have reasonably recent experience? Bike arrived undamaged? Nothing goofy happened when they measured or weighed the box? General price? Better to ship directly or have it delivered to a bike shop?

Here's what fedEx site spits out, although I don't know if I'm in the ballpark on weight and box dimensions (minor variations seem to double the shipping price.)

Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on December 12, 2011 at 9:36pm

Thanks. I had looked through that Ship Bikes site and ended up kind of confused . . . you have the option of procuring your own box, doing your own packing, and dropping it off at FedEx yourself . . . so . . . what exactly is their role if that's the option you choose?

Anyways, I think I'm pretty clear at this point-- it's gonna be FedEx, gonna have to do my own research on the box size, and need to track down a box from a local shop.

My remaining qeuestions now revolve around:

1) Payment-- Paypal?  Never trusted it for much of anything except piddly amounts.  How do I avoid getting scee-rewed?

2) Have it shipped to a local shop vs. to a residence?

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on December 13, 2011 at 12:58pm

1.) If you don't trust the buyer, you can set up a private sale through Ebay. You'll get the most protection this way. Paypal transactions can be disputed, and there's a resolution process imbedded in the dispute,  but it lacks any teeth if things go really wrong. I've never done a bike purchase like this, but I usually deal with people with established accounts on various forums (iBOB, Serotta, Touring forums, etc.) I ask for buyers to add 3% of the price to cover paypal fees, or send the funds marked as a "gift."

2.) Ship to whatever address the buyer wants. It's their call once they've bought the bike.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on December 13, 2011 at 1:21pm

Thanks-- it's not an eBay transaction though.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on December 13, 2011 at 1:24pm

I've gathered that. I'm suggesting you just use ebay to exchange money if you're worried about getting scee-rewed

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on December 13, 2011 at 4:59pm

I see, thanks.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

I've gathered that. I'm suggesting you just use ebay to exchange money if you're worried about getting scee-rewed

Permalink Reply by Jamais716 on December 13, 2011 at 5:02pm

I stumbled on packing instructions with pictures.  Thought it might be helpful - http://getagripcycles.com/mechanics-corner-pack-a-bike-for-shipping...

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on December 13, 2011 at 5:18pm

Very helpful, thank you!

Jamais716 said:

I stumbled on packing instructions with pictures.  Thought it might be helpful - http://getagripcycles.com/mechanics-corner-pack-a-bike-for-shipping...

Permalink Reply by mark stetson on December 14, 2011 at 12:57pm

I checked a box for a 58cm complete single speed bike which I recieved.  That box is 50" x 29" x 8".

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