Bikes from the US.

[computerbitz]

the sooner sellers realise that a LBS keeps a stock of boxes and it opens up more options to them the better i sent stuff in boxes collected from LBS, saying that though its all my local LBS is good for

 

[Drewson]

Sounds like a good way to use ur LBS, just as long as they don't charge a fortune to do it.

 

[computerbitz]

i have had a few boxes from mine and never charged me sometimes they happy to get rid if had a delivery in

 

[Carsten]

USPS has a size limit of 108" length plus girth (girth being 2x width + 2x height). a normal bike box is too large. there are frame boxes around which exactly meet that size limit but they will only take a medium sized frame and maybe a fork and some small parts, not the wheels. usually the wheels are not worth the extra shipping costs.
USPS priority shipping of such a box (frame, fork and parts without wheels) will be around $120.

it is possible to ship a complete medium or smaller sized bike incl. wheels in one USPS conform box but the box needs to be custom made which is very time consuming. and the bike needs to be completely taken apart.

shipping costs with USPS priority for such a complete bike in one box is around $180 these days. if it is split into two boxes it is a bit more, maybe $210.

USPS priority does NOT have online tracking. USPS EMS or how it is called does but the size limit is smaller and a frame will not fit.

UPS accepts normal bike boxes into which a complete bike can be fit. costs are $400 or more. can be checked on www.ups.com

i fully understand if a US seller does not want to ship USPS to europe because it is ALOT of work to do it properly and the premium he may get from a european buyer is eaten up by the extra time he has to spend. assume 4-6 hours for a proper job - building the box, taking the bike apart, packing everyting securly, driving to the post office, waiting in line there.

if the seller does not want to ship abroad using UPS which is more convenient for him i would also ask him to take it to his LBS and let them do the packing and shipping. they will insist on UPS or FedEx but sometimes they get special rates and if they pass those on to the seller it might be worth it.

Carsten

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

USPS has a size limit of 108" length plus girth (girth being 2x width + 2x height). a normal bike box is too large. there are frame boxes around which exactly meet that size limit but they will only take a medium sized frame and maybe a fork and some small parts, not the wheels. usually the wheels are not worth the extra shipping costs.
USPS priority shipping of such a box (frame, fork and parts without wheels) will be around $120.

it is possible to ship a complete medium or smaller sized bike incl. wheels in one USPS conform box but the box needs to be custom made which is very time consuming. and the bike needs to be completely taken apart.

shipping costs with USPS priority for such a complete bike in one box is around $180 these days. if it is split into two boxes it is a bit more, maybe $210.

USPS priority does NOT have online tracking. USPS EMS or how it is called does but the size limit is smaller and a frame will not fit.

UPS accepts normal bike boxes into which a complete bike can be fit. costs are $400 or more. can be checked on www.ups.com

i fully understand if a US seller does not want to ship USPS to europe because it is ALOT of work to do it properly and the premium he may get from a european buyer is eaten up by the extra time he has to spend. assume 4-6 hours for a proper job - building the box, taking the bike apart, packing everyting securly, driving to the post office, waiting in line there.

if the seller does not want to ship abroad using UPS which is more convenient for him i would also ask him to take it to his LBS and let them do the packing and shipping. they will insist on UPS or FedEx but sometimes they get special rates and if they pass those on to the seller it might be worth it.

Carsten

Carsten I think your quotes are high on the USPS Priority Mail. I ship frames to Europe, Japan and New Zealand because those are the places that take the 108" combined length and girth box and it hardly ever runs over 48 dollars. I've shipped complete bikes in two boxes for 120-140 dollars trying to keep them as equal weight as possible (i'm talking bikes that weight 23lbs). I ship up to 20" mountain bike frames in most standard BMX boxes which meet the 108" or I use frame boxes from the LBS when I can get them. I've had a few customers in Europe refuse the wheel box due to the Value added tax. They say it's just not worth it. To the original question...yes you get delivery confirmation and tracking when shipping USPS Priority Mail International. I always ask that buyers have the box shipped to an address where someone will be there to accept it and check the carton for possible damage. I can't assume responsibility for a box left on someone's door step when no one is home at delivery and I think the buyers understand that.

 

[andrewl]

Carsten I think your quotes are high on the USPS Priority Mail. I ship frames to Europe, Japan and New Zealand because those are the places that take the 108" combined length and girth box and it hardly ever runs over 48 dollars. I've shipped complete bikes in two boxes for 120-140 dollars trying to keep them as equal weight as possible (i'm talking bikes that weight 23lbs).

I've have frames sent to me recently from the US to Australia and the above is consistant with what I've payed, and yes i was given a tracking number too for USPS.

 

[Carsten]

Carsten I think your quotes are high on the USPS Priority Mail. To the original question...yes you get delivery confirmation and tracking when shipping USPS Priority Mail International.

those are prices i had to pay in the past half year and i have the impression that prices go up along with the oil price. the last parcel a few weeks ago was 25lbs and ran $106 incl. insurance. i probably could save a bit by using less sturdy boxes and less padding material but better safe than sorry...

online tracking like with UPS never worked for me with USPS priority and delivery confirmation is not an option either afaik. USPS can track the parcel in their own system but nobody else can. or i am missing something...

Carsten

 

[jonrock]

Allow me...
USPS can be tracked with the ref number they give you within the US but once it gets to and has left New Jersey its a big black hole.Once it gets to the UK with Parcel Force it is given a new ref number which can then be tracked within the UK.The turnaround from NJ is within 10 working days...
1 bike in 2 boxes is around $160 dollars....
J