Bike couriers - who can you trust????

[TomP30]

I might be looking at shipping a bike from south of England to Cumbria, who would YOU recommend and/or avoid?

 

[Robbied196]

Personally, I wouldn't 'trust' any of them, all couriers get things wrong simply due to the volume of parcels they process. I've sent lots of bikes but they need to be stripped down slightly to fit in a bike box. Pedals off, saddle and post out, front wheel off and handlebars off but leave the cables connected. Your LBS might help you out with a box, pack it well with plenty of bubble wrap or the foam tubing they use for insulating water pipes. I'd try the P4D or Parcel Monkey sites, 9 out of 10 times City Link will be cheapest even if you take insurance. City Link don't get a great press but I've sent 60+ bikes with them with no issues.

Another place for quotes is Shiply, they have lots of man and a van guys who will quote. Some of them will take a bike without stripping or packing

 

[sawston_vulcan]

I have never had a problem with parcelforce....but as above....lots of bubblewrap and and heavy cardboard in side the box too.

 

[suburbanreuben]

Re:

I've sent worldwide with UPS. Never had a problem yet! Very quick too; 10hours to Manchester or 12 to Holland!
Parcelforce are OK too. They once sent some wheels to Carlisle,6 times, when they were supposed to go 30 miles down the road to Southampton, but that was a rarity.
Iwouldn't trust anyone to carry a bike unwrapped/unprotected.

 

[karlos1]

Don't use yodel I ordered £200 worth of stuff and they just left it outside my house all day.

 

[TomP30]

Thanks for all the advice guys,