Comments on: UPS hates my bike box http://www.charlieroberts.com/archives/10 by Charlie Roberts Sat, 5 Jul 2008 16:05:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: charlie http://www.charlieroberts.com/archives/10#comment-3606 charlie Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:17:40 +0000 http://www.charlieroberts.com/archives/10#comment-3606 Yeah, it's the same way with UPS. Bike box dimensions are usually the exact maximum you can get away with before going into the over-sized, super expensive classification. If measured in the store, they usually round up and add an inch if in doubt. Plus, after being shipped once or twice, my box was a bit squashed, distorted, and no longer a true rectangle, so the the dimensions depended on where it was measured! :-) With an online account, you can enter the "true" dimensions and get the lower price with a pre-paid label. I don't even bother taking it directly to UPS (or FedEx) without a pre-paid label. It's cheaper to take on the plane than to pay the over-sized charges that they'll likely stick you with. Also, I think the rates are even cheaper if you have a business shipping account. ...It pays to have a friend at your LBS! :-) Yeah, it’s the same way with UPS. Bike box dimensions are usually the exact maximum you can get away with before going into the over-sized, super expensive classification. If measured in the store, they usually round up and add an inch if in doubt. Plus, after being shipped once or twice, my box was a bit squashed, distorted, and no longer a true rectangle, so the the dimensions depended on where it was measured! :-)

With an online account, you can enter the “true” dimensions and get the lower price with a pre-paid label. I don’t even bother taking it directly to UPS (or FedEx) without a pre-paid label. It’s cheaper to take on the plane than to pay the over-sized charges that they’ll likely stick you with.

Also, I think the rates are even cheaper if you have a business shipping account. …It pays to have a friend at your LBS! :-)

]]> By: Brent http://www.charlieroberts.com/archives/10#comment-3605 Brent Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:56:50 +0000 http://www.charlieroberts.com/archives/10#comment-3605 A little trick for cheaper shipping. Ship fedex and do it online...set up an account and use the measurements to adjust the size of your box. With Fed ex cutting an inch or two off a bike box could be the difference in paying two to three times the amount. The first time I found this out I borrowed a knife from the fed ex place and cut the two inches off right there in the shop. Originally the wanted to charge me $114 to ship to California...once I cut it down it cost me $42. Go figure A little trick for cheaper shipping. Ship fedex and do it online…set up an account and use the measurements to adjust the size of your box. With Fed ex cutting an inch or two off a bike box could be the difference in paying two to three times the amount. The first time I found this out I borrowed a knife from the fed ex place and cut the two inches off right there in the shop. Originally the wanted to charge me $114 to ship to California…once I cut it down it cost me $42. Go figure

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