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Hi all,
I've just sold a frame on eBay and boxed it up, it seems to be too big for Shutl and Parcelforce are quoting £30 which seems excessive. Have I missed something, has it become much more expensive to send bikes/ frames?
The box isn't actually that big, certainly much smaller than ones I've sent in the past.
Any recommendations for couriers that are more reasonably priced?
Depends how much insurance you need/want. Parcelforce are usually around 11-13 quid from senditnow.com
(that's just a front end/marketing strategy for PF).
I tried that link, thank you. Unfortunately still coming in around the £30 mark. I think I'm going to have to remove it from the box and go for more minimal protection to get the size down
If its over 1.5m in length then it's classed as a large parcel by parcel force.
What insurance do you need?
Your local postoffice should be able to send A 6kg 'large parcel' (151x20x80cm at a guess?) with 100insurance at £16.62 Parcelforce 48hr....... (I own / run a PO)
How big is the box?
Ive sent 3 complete bikes in the last few weeks by parcelforce in std bike boxes, they were all around the £30 mark.
Sirely the question should be “what’s the best way to post a frame” anyway, or don’t you care what it looks like if/when it gets there?
It's well protected inside the box, plenty of foam pipe lagging and then bubble wrap on top of that so I do care what is going to look like when it gets there, I just don't want to pay £30 to send it.
Box is 1.1 metres X 0.8 metres X 0.25 metres, weight is 5.8 kg. When I put these into the various websites I get £30.
Thanks Monkeyboyjc, £17 is more what I was expecting to pay, maybe I just ignore the webshites and turn up at the PO
You'll need to cut 10cm off the height - the cheaper rates are based on a total of 300cm volumetric size, calculated as length + 2*(height+width). Yours is 110 + 2*(80+25) = 320cm.
Either mod the box or get something like a 24” bike box from your local LBS, you’ll get a large 29er frame in one no bother and it’s small enough for the cheaper PF rate
box it as small as you can.
Parcel2go
under a tenner
Have sent whole bikes using the above approach
I used PF last week for a frame and it cost about £20 inc insurance for £250.
Booked direct on their website and collected.
Thank you, looks like the solution is cutting some size off the box wherever I can, get it nice and snug on the frame
If I recall PF on Parcel Monkey has been cheaper when adding insurance.
I had no issues with Parcel Force when I posted a frame a while back and I'm pretty sure that it was under £15.
There are lots of options that add/remove cost though; I choose 48 hour delivery and dropped the parcel off at the local post office (you might have opted for home collection which is more pricey).
How much did you charge on Ebay for p&p?
As above getting the box dimension as small as possible is the best bet. I always pad the frames well but leave no extra space other than that. Sometimes a shorter but taller box (frame at an angle) can get a better price as you get the length under a price boundary.
Paisley Freight are circa £25 for a large bike/box.
Paisley freight worked out cheapest for me recently for parcels just slightly oversized for the usual couriers. Service was slick too
I’m not sure why, but I’ve found RM usually work out cheaper if you book online, print label etc then drop off at PO. Not sure why this should be but seems to be case.
I've been very pleased with Paisley Freight for sending bikes............
Just posted a carbon xc hardtail frame (large) in a NS frame box (112cm x 46 x 21cm and 3.49kg) at my local post office.
Cost £13.14 for ‘express 48’.
Google PF discount code there always a 14-20% code on the go to take a few extra £s off