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Looking to ship a bike, insured - which couriers would you advise me to get a quote from and likewise, which would you avoid?
Any experiences, do's / don'ts etc. welcome.
[I've heard 'Paisley Freight' mentioned a few times - any recent experiences of this company?]
Thanks, in advance.
Get a box from a local shop (check dimensions first, some boxes are wheels on which are too big for parcelforce dimensions, you want front wheel off). Chuck bike in box, secure front wheel to frame so its not floating around.
Sign up to quidco
click through quidco to parcelforce for 8% back
Check here for the latest 14% off offer code (they always have them): https://www.parcelforce.com/promotional-code
Make sure you insure it for value
either drop at depot or arrange pickup service
I recently shipped a full bike that I sold on eBay.
Went to Halfords and begged a full-size bike box plus fork spacer, disc protector, frame foam, etc - just said it was to ship a Voodoo, but tbh they were happy to give the packing away as it saves them from disposing of it.
Chain on largest sprocket, front wheel off and cable tied to frame, bars off (remove stem faceplate) and cable tied to frame, folded card in disc calipers, foam wrapped over everything.
Used Paisley Freight as everyone else was ridiculous prices with insurance, or wouldn't insure at all. £42 inc. VAT and £500 of insurance cover.
If you can't find/blag a box then it's worth taking a look at https://www.bikedelivery.co.uk/
I've used them recently, they send a bike box and all the packaging, then collect it a few days later once all boxed up.
They're Paisley Freight under a different name but the full end-to-end service can be quite useful.
As above most LBSs are quite happy to give away boxes and save disposal costs.
Avoid Paisley Freight and sister company like the plague, I ended up having to take the to court. I haven't sent with Parcel Force but received and they seemed fine, certainly better than PF in that they didn't leave it at the house they were supposed to collect from for several weeks and weren't both rude and clueless on the telephone.
Just organized and received a bike with Paisley no issues at all. Not cheap but fully insured.
By the time you pay the extra insurance with Paisley Freight it takes the cheap upfront cost inline with Parcelforce - I used Paisley freight once & they stung me for £20-odd quid or something as they claimed the box was 2cm over the maximum size (I still don't believe this), I told them just to give me it back but apparently this wasn't an option as it was halfway across the country by this point, the only option was to pay it or they'd "dispose of the consignment". Shower of shite.