Shipping

[Jengel451]

Anyone have a line on an affordable shipper from Charlotte to KC? I just picked up a RD400/350 hot rod and need to get it here.

Yes. The 2 stroke bug has definitely hit.

[Savage]

No. Isn't it uship that the independent shippers bid for your business? I think the important thing is to make sure the owner builds and straps down the bike well inside the box he makes.
I've always wanted to try it but would be pissed if it showed up beat up, so I haven't been able to gamble.

[Jengel451]

I have a bid request on Uship, I'll see how that pans out too but sometimes some local truck drivers will haul small stuff on the side during a trip.

[ajayhawkfan]

David Canon, Canonball Xpress canonballxpress@gmail. 785-230-1846. He has shipped bikes from KC to the West Coast. I know the people were satisfied. I'm going to be talking to him about shipping my GSA to Maine this summer.

[allkidd]

I've used uship and always been satisfied. Guys get on uship so they don't haul back empty. My experience has been that you can get a very good price as the truckers would rather make something driving from the east coast west, rather than run empty.

Before committing, pay attention to their reviews.

[troy]

Twice I have shipped motorcycles using uship. Like all service sites that have a social feedback feature, pay attention to ratings. Both of my experiences were excellent and lower cost than directly contracting a shipper.

[Jengel451]

Here's what I have found out so far.

The majority of auction bidders are larger companies and sub out to who knows who. Uship also skims 20% off the top. If you get someone that responds, do a search and see if they have an online presence somewhere, then contact them outside of UShip, the price will come down significantly.

I've found two reputable shippers that were within 50 bucks of each other, both had a great following on some vintage forums.

I'll report back in about 2 weeks how everything played out.

[troy]

True, but that is kind of like taking advantage of a local store to find a product you want, then walking out and buying it online with Amazon.

UShip provided a service and you received a benefit from using that service--you found 2 viable shippers. If a local business owner pays the rent on a building, buys product, ships it in, and makes it easy for you to see and touch, it's not so cool to walk out and buy online to save 10%.

I buy a lot on Amazon, but sometimes I like to go browse at Barnes & Noble. I usually find a book I want, and I buy it there even though I know I could save money using Amazon instead. I "reward" the store for allowing me the local, physical experience.

I don't normally ask stores to price match, but a few years ago I wanted an A/V receiver that was $399 on Amazon.com. The local Best Buy had it for $499. I asked the manager, "Amazon.com has this same unit for $399. I don't expect or even want you to price-match, but that's a big difference--can you help me a little?" Without hesitation he matched the price.

My local, little True Value is great. The staff is very helpful. I love that I can walk in needing a $0.38 bolt and get excellent service. They ask if they can help as I walk through the door, walk me back to the aisle, help me find it, then walk me back to the register....at which point I say, "Lowes has this same bolt for $0.27. Can you price match? They always get a good chuckle out of that! It never gets old. Reality is at Lowes I'd walk around for 30 minutes trying to find the bolt I need unable to find help. Finally, I'd figure out I have to buy a bag of 10 of the bolts for $6.49 so I can use the one and throw the other 9 away.

Good times!

[Jengel451]

let me clarify. the shipper I'm going with was NOT on uship. It's a shipper that a lot of WERA and WRMRRA racers have used.

20% is a bit steep though for what you get. If the company just subs out to someone you can't research, what's the point?