glassgrl
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posted on May 27, 2003 09:36:44 AM new
Has anyone shipped a bike? I have a girls Schwinn Banana Seat bike I'm thinking of putting up for auction and I've never shipped a bike. Just wanted to know if anybody has, how much it cost and or any hints. I know the Triathalon people ship them all the time, but I never have shipped anything quite like this.
Thanks
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newton
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posted on May 27, 2003 09:44:02 AM new
I would have to look in my records to see what it cost to ship. You have to take the pedals, handlebars, and wheels off to fit UPS' size requirements. I used a hood box from a local auto body shop. Stuff the bike in with cardboard between painted parts.
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sparkz
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posted on May 27, 2003 12:04:13 PM new
Go to a moving and storage business and get a used twin size mattress carton. They can be cut down to fit any size bicycle perfectly. While you're there, get a couple of paper furniture pads to wrap the bike in before putting it in the box. Plan on shipping by Greyhound. When I was in the moving business, we were located across the street from the bus depot. Over the years, I bet I've boxed up 50 bicycles, mainly for the young Mormon missionaries who were returning home.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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dadofstickboy
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posted on May 27, 2003 12:29:15 PM new
I ship motorcycle frames all the time.
Fit in a 24x10x36 box =104.
Ship USPS Priorty for $25.00
Your bike should break do to meet those specs.
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maggielane
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posted on May 27, 2003 01:09:24 PM new
You can get a used bike box at almost any bike shop. I have never shipped a smaller bike but larger full sized bikes normally are less than $35.00 You do have to take the pedals, handle bar, and front wheel off to ship.
"For I know the plans I have for you." says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11
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sanmar
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posted on May 27, 2003 01:20:56 PM new
Besides bike shops, try Sears, K-Mart, Target, & Wally World. I uysed to assemble bikes for K-Mart & Sears.
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glassgrl
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posted on May 27, 2003 02:33:17 PM new
bike box from Walmart or Kmart sounds like a great idea! I live close to both of those and I'm sure they would save me one if I ask in advance.
I had no idea they would be that cheap to ship though. I'd thought about trailways bus, but I can't imagine shipping that USPS!
Although I know you can get by shipping what FedEx ground and UPS considers oversized, the post office doesn't measure them, or at least mine doesn't. I shipped a wooden airplane propeller USPS cheap cheap, somewhere like $12.00 if I remember correctly.
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ebayauctionguy
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posted on May 27, 2003 05:13:31 PM new
Shipping a bike sounds like a headache to me. Unless you're sure the bike will bring in $75 or more, it might not be worth your time and hassle.
It might be a better idea to sell it locally through an ad or garage sale. You might not get as much, but you'll save a lot of time and effort.
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reddfoxx
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posted on June 23, 2003 08:30:50 AM new
I was just tuned in to this thread (thanks Cap!) and have a few thoughts. ebayauctionguy is right, don't even bother with a bike if it won't bring in $75 or more. I don't touch them if I can't at least profit that much off one. (I buy and sell high end mountain bikes).
The packing isn't that bad, but you do have to take care in packaging to avoid scratching. I use brown paper to cover everything. The bike has to be partially disassembled. The wheels need to come off, as well as the pedals, seat/seatpost, and handlebars.
If at all possible, use a bike shop box. I prefer Cannondale bike boxes because they are a bit wider and easier to fit the whole bike inside. I have used a dept. store box in a pinch, but found that most of the Wal-Mart, Sears, ect. boxes are to small.
I prefer UPS, and most bikes ship for $20-$30 depending on zone and weight. High end bikes are considerably lighter! A typical race bike is only 21-24 pounds complete, where a low end bike usually weighs in 30-40 pounds. And yes, they are considered oversized. Also, if you go to your bike shop, you can get a small plastic support to go between the front forks to help keep them from bending during shipping. Most shops just toss them when they throw the boxes away.
By the way Glassgrl:
How did you do with the bike?
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glassgrl
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posted on June 23, 2003 08:46:23 AM new
Haven't listed the bike yet! When I first looked it up there weren't any and then when I got ready to list there were 4 auctions running for one, so I figured I'd wait until there was no competition 
It's a vintage Schwinn and worth listing.
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MDB1942
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posted on June 23, 2003 09:36:41 AM new
You can buy a bike box off the airlines. Or if you go to their baggage claim office, they often have a used one they will give you
For all your gift needs see.
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reddfoxx
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posted on June 23, 2003 09:45:45 AM new
glassgrl: Yes, I would agree. Most older Schwinn bikes are highly sought after. I'm not sure if you already know, but try adding "Stingray" to your Schwinn search. You'll pick up alot of other vintage Schwinn auctions.
[ edited by reddfoxx on Jun 23, 2003 09:50 AM ]
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glassgrl
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posted on November 3, 2003 07:52:45 PM new
WELL! Never again!
My girl's Schwinn stingray sold and I packed it for shipping today. Walmart is busy putting together bikes for Christmas so I had a box as soon as I asked for one. The guy pulled a bike out of the box so that I could have the box and when I saw how it was packed I thought that it would be a cinch.
I didn't take into account how hard it would be to take the bike APART! Even getting it all to fit into the box is not that easy. It literally took me about 4 hours to pack it because I'm a perfectionist and had to repolish the whole thing so it would look nice when they opened the box.
I will NEVER buy another bike that has to be shipped unless it's one of those stick shift Stingrays. And even then I would gladly pay someone else to ship it for me.
I LOVE Endicia! You will too – Click here!
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ferretbee
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posted on November 4, 2003 12:58:08 AM new
Hi glassgrl,
Most bike shops will pack a bicycle for $20 to $25. It can be time consuming task when done properly. I was a Bicycle Mechanic for 12 years, it still takes me about an hour to do a nice job that will protect a bike from the evil UPS conveyor belt drops.
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horsey88
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posted on November 4, 2003 06:49:18 AM new
I bought a bike on Ebay and the shipping was $35 TX-NY. So that should be about your max shipping price.
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glassgrl
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posted on November 4, 2003 08:53:17 AM new
>>"I bought a bike on Ebay and the shipping was $35 TX-NY. So that should be about your max shipping price."
It was. FL to CA was almost that.
I LOVE Endicia! You will too – Click here!
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gousainc-07
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posted on November 4, 2003 09:15:16 AM new
I bought a vintage Schwinn a year and a half ago, and half not felt up to listing it yet. I think it was an old Cruiser model.
I ended up buying an old Hiawatha right after that to see how bikes are shipped, and have not even opened the box to look yet.
I went here to get the age of the Schwinn.
http://www.angelfire.com/rant/allday101/SchwinnCodes1.html
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glassgrl
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posted on November 4, 2003 11:13:27 AM new
What's a Hiawatha?
personally, I'd LOVE to have an old Schwinn cruiser. I keep hoping to find one I can afford but haven't.
so gousainc...where do you live? I'll come by to pick it up
I LOVE Endicia! You will too – Click here!
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sanmar
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posted on November 4, 2003 11:18:25 AM new
Go to a K-Mart, Wally Mart, Target, Sears etc & ask them for a bike box. I used to assemble bikes for K-Mart & Sears through Huffy Service First.
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gousainc-07
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posted on November 4, 2003 11:37:34 AM new
glassgrl, I am near Kansas City, Missouri.
Centrally located within the Continental U.S.
Definitely a long way from "The Beach"
A Hiawatha Strato Chief Bicycle looks like this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2200662838
Good luck in your search for a Cruiser.
[ edited by gousainc on Nov 4, 2003 11:45 AM ]
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