Need some shipping advice

[Card Shark]

The seller I purchased the yellow cab from is running into problems shipping it. We assumed shipping would be under $100. He has already packaged the machine very well and it will be coming from CA shipped to VA. The best quote he has gotten was for $169 with Fed Ex. This seems crazy. He is offering to refund my money. Does his make any sense on shipping? Any suggestions?

[owennewton]

I sent Julie across the country with $500 insurance coverage for $82 FedEx... How big did he end up boxing it? The box for I used was 14X24X33 inches. That is the only thing I can think of that would be the box size inflated the price.

[Card Shark]

I have several pictures of the machine boxed, unfortunately I cannot post them till tomorrow when I get to my work computer. I just sent an email asking for the dimensions.

[Moparformances]

cut the box down its to big

been there done that

[JACKSJE4]

The size of the box makes all of the difference. Naha13 packed up my Power Flash in a full size bicycle box that was 59 inches on the longest end. The FedEx quote I got was about $110 for shipping. If he can trim it down to 45 inches, the shipping drops to $33.

See if you can get the seller to trim the box size down.

[Moparformances]

any one that says size does not matter is just never mind

[Card Shark]

Thank you so much to everyone. Trying to get in touch with seller now.

[mxfaiman]

Yeah it cost Scott $35 for me to ship him his Bruce Lee to AZ. And that was with my superb packaging. (total weight was around 66lbs. and the box was 14X21X36.) So with the right box size you should be looking between $65 - $80. (maybe a little more) Also as a note UPS is cheaper as long as you prepay for it through paypal. (You get a discount. That is why Scott's shipping was so low. Otherwise it would have cost $42.)

[emmadog]

that price is more than I've paid stateside for both shipping and packaging by the shipping company which by the way is the only way to go. you're running into why I only have the shipping company do the packaging, not the seller. ive had 9 of my arrangeballs done that way and all arrived with no issues. sounds like your guy is overpacking and you're getting charged for the box size as others have mentioned. usually though the seller inadequately packages it and it's a pain either way.

[Card Shark]

The seller and I neither have much experience with this. He was trying to make sure everything was packed carefully. I guess he was over cautious.

[mbodi]

I've always shipped machines using UPS. Thought they went by weight as long as the box was within the size limit.

[Card Shark]

He says he as gone to UPS, Fed Ex and the post office.

[mxfaiman]

He says he as gone to UPS, Fed Ex and the post office.

See UPS will quote you more up front. But if you pay through paypal ad then drop it off at their location then you are able to save around $5-10 off their quote price.
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Thought they went by weight as long as the box was within the size limit.

Only up to a certain size do they go by weight. Once you get into pachi-size do they care less about the weight. Like I could have had that one modern I shipped weigh up to 70 lbs and the price would still be the same as long as the box size didn't change.

[Card Shark]

I will find a solution for this. I really want this machine. I just do not like the idea of a shipping company gouging me.

[Card Shark]

The box he used is 18X34X29. Any suggestions?

[emmadog]

hmm that doesn't sound crazy big but is still large and that size may put it in the next threshold?
id ask him to give the dimensions of the machine itself to UPS and see what they'll charge to pack and ship it.

[Card Shark]

Excellent idea. I just sent him an email. The seller is a really nice guy and trying to be so careful. I hate that this has been such a pain for him.
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Once everything is worked out and my machine arrives safe and sound, I am going to send him a little more money for all his trouble.

[mark1120]

Since your machine is going cross country, its going to cost a lot more than some of the $35 examples noted above that are traveling just 1 or 2 states over. Have you considered opening your own Fed Ex account on-line and paying for shipping directly? You can schedule a pick-up at the seller's house on whatever date is most convenient for him and you can scan and email him a copy of the shipping label. He doesn't have to be home on the pick-up date...just leave the box on the porch. In the past, it has cost me about $75 to ship a pachislo from Illinois to California. I've been told shipping is a lot cheaper when you have your own account. Another idea that may save a few bucks is to have it shipped to your work (commercial address).

[Card Shark]

Since your machine is going cross country, its going to cost a lot more than some of the $35 examples noted above that are traveling just 1 or 2 states over. Have you considered opening your own Fed Ex account on-line and paying for shipping directly? You can schedule a pick-up at the seller's house on whatever date is most convenient for him and you can scan and email him a copy of the shipping label. He doesn't have to be home on the pick-up date...just leave the box on the porch. In the past, it has cost me about $75 to ship a pachislo from Illinois to California. I've been told shipping is a lot cheaper when you have your own account. Another idea that may save a few bucks is to have it shipped to your work (commercial address).

I am having him ship it to my work address. I had heard shipping would be little less that way and also with me working around 70 hours a week the odds of me being available to receive it are greater.

[mxfaiman]

The box he used is 18X34X29. Any suggestions?

not terribly crazy in size. Just see if he can cut the 18 down to 14 (14 is the minimum for a modern.) Also if possible try to have him cut that 29 down to around 21 or 22.