How do you ship?

Rennie Heuer

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I've been keeping my woodworking small for the items I list in my Etsy store primarily because the little investigation I've done so far into shipping rates on larger items turned my hair gray. Well, not really, but it was scary. My smaller urns and all the cutting boards are designed to fit into a USPS flat rate box. Larger urns and clocks go UPS ground.

However, I see a lot of guys selling tables, chairs and such on Etsy and advertising shipping costs that I just don't understand. I did a quick rate quote on FedEx freight's website for an end table giving the total weight at 45 lbs in a 20 x 20 x 26 carton. The rate came back at over $500! :eek:

I know many of you build larger items and ship them to customers. Care to share some of your secrets? Please?
 
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Contact some of the trucking Co it you agree to use only them to ship they will make you one heck of a rate. Back when my shop was up and running I contracted with Watson and Dominion and the rates for under 200 lbs drop form over $300. to $65. for 200 lbs and under anywhere in the 48. I was shipping Que Racks by the pallet load and most of them were 24" X 5' only cost $65 bucks but keep in mind that was in and around 2000-2001

Forgot to say you only need to use them for large stuff to get that kind of rate not small packages unless the are REAL Heavy
 
Contact some of the trucking Co it you agree to use only them to ship they will make you one heck of a rate. Back when my shop was up and running I contracted with Watson and Dominion and the rates for under 200 lbs drop form over $300. to $65. for 200 lbs and under anywhere in the 48. I was shipping Que Racks by the pallet load and most of them were 24" X 5' only cost $65 bucks but keep in mind that was in and around 2000-2001

Forgot to say you only need to use them for large stuff to get that kind of rate not small packages unless the are REAL Heavy

Likely I'd be shipping nothing larger than a sideboard or coffee table and probably less than one per month. Might be worth stopping in at one or two of the local terminals for a chat.

I went here and signed up for a free quote. I tried So Cal and upstate NY for a 65 lb box 32 x 22 x 48 and either way it was $250 - $300. A rate like that would certainly make my item less competitive!
 
Jay is correct, talk with a couple of local terminals and see what they can do for you. Also, I dunno if it would be any cheaper for say a nationwide mover. They may be able to pack the items on a truck that is going to your destination and take care of final delivery for you.
 
Jay is correct, talk with a couple of local terminals and see what they can do for you. Also, I dunno if it would be any cheaper for say a nationwide mover. They may be able to pack the items on a truck that is going to your destination and take care of final delivery for you.

I thought about the moving companies, but their schedules to some areas can be hit or miss. I need a reliable number I can publish in my ad. Nothing spells bad reviews like having to go back for more money or having something take 3 weeks to transport!
 
Rennie, do a goggle search for LTL shipping. LTL is the industry term for less then a truck load. Find one or two who have local terminals. Also keeping mind that when you ship LTL it might be taken off and on of trucks 2 or 3 times before it gets to you destination so proper packaging is a must Something like a sideboard would need to be palletized so they don't stick a forklift under it and damage all your work.
 
That is so right what Don said about palletizing and 1 or 2 shipments is enough for a discount. They will give you 50 to 75% discount if you sign a contract with them that you will use just them for shipping large stuff. Sweet talk the MAN :D
 
Hrm... I think you were looking at priority or two day?

I just priced one of similar size but weighed more (60lbs) from OR to NC and: End of day (5 Business Days) Home Delivery was 73.56.

Granted its not a FAST shipment, but most of the other delivery services are going to be in that timeframe as well.

Also not claiming its not cheaper elsewhere but the $500 seems like way to much for normal delivery.
 
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Hrm... I think you were looking at priority or two day?

I just priced one of similar size but weighed more (60lbs) from OR to NC and: End of day (5 Business Days) Home Delivery was 73.56.

Actually, the stated delivery time from Boise to NY was 6 days and the rate I got using the "free rate quote" form on the wbsite was just over @250 - but I like your price better! What company did you check with?
 
One thing most people don't think about or are not aware of is Greyhound Package Express. We haul a lot of large freight. I'm not on the end of it as far as the pricing, I just load and unload it on my bus, but I'm told the pricing is reasonable. You'd probably have to go into Boise, I haven't been thru there in about 20 years so I don't know if Nampa is full service agency or not and we don't stop in Caldwell anymore. but pretty much you are limited on size that it has to fit in a baggage bin. Just another option to consider.

Just pack it securely.
 
Actually, the stated delivery time from Boise to NY was 6 days and the rate I got using the "free rate quote" form on the wbsite was just over @250 - but I like your price better! What company did you check with?

FedEx :D

So I just reran it from zip 83705 to zip 10001 (arbitrary code in NY) from a drop of to a "home delivery" and got 73.56. There "express saver" was 226 and overnight was 456.


Unexpectedly if I changed it from drop off to schedule a pickup the rate actually dropped a couple of bucks.

This was via there https://www.fedex.com/ratefinder/home?link=4&cc=US&language=en page.
 
FedEx :D

So I just reran it from zip 83705 to zip 10001 (arbitrary code in NY) from a drop of to a "home delivery" and got 73.56. There "express saver" was 226 and overnight was 456.


Unexpectedly if I changed it from drop off to schedule a pickup the rate actually dropped a couple of bucks.

This was via there https://www.fedex.com/ratefinder/home?link=4&cc=US&language=en page.

Looks like a winner! I had initially checked the FedEx Freight site - that might be why I was getting such high numbers. I'll check out Greyhound too.
 
Looks like a winner! I had initially checked the FedEx Freight site - that might be why I was getting such high numbers. I'll check out Greyhound too.

Ah interesting - I was curious why we were getting such different numbers, I think that their freight service is targeted more towards heavier stuff from what I can tell so maybe you're paying for more truck than you need or something.. dunno.

UPS looks like maybe a smidge more at around $86.
 
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