Selling frames and postage costs

[Blinks]

Hi Guys,

I'm going to stick some of my frames up later. Having never sold anything before (I'm a hoarder) how do you guys normally sort out the postage costs?

Is it a case of weighing it and then letting the buyer know how much it'll be or is there a figure that is normally charged?

I'm a bit rubbish with these things

Any help is greatly appreciated as I dont want to rip anyone off by mistake.....

Cheers!

 

[Tazio]

It's cheaper than you might think to send them. I normally use Parcelmonkey as a courier service and it comes in at less than £20 for next day with insurance. The only problem I have is getting bike boxes to pack them as every LBS near me seems to recycle cardboard now.

 

[mfhxgram]

as above parcel monkey is good, sendit now seems good - ive posted a few frame in the UK and overseas with them no problems.

http://www.senditnow.com/index.epl

id package it up and weigh it then get a quote from these sites. most of my frames have gone posted to UK for around £13. get a box and lots of bubble wrap. obviously get insurance normally a few extra quid.

surprisingly parcel force has come out very competative recemtly


:xmas-big-grin:

 

[mfhxgram]

re boxes - frame boxes can be a bit of challenge to come by - cut down a halfords bike box

 

[Tazio]

The other thing to bear in mind apart from the obvious bubble wrap is to put something between the rear drop outs in case they stack the boxes in the lorry. The last frame I sent I just cut a bit of wood to 135mm and used screws and washers to hold it in place. I've used threaded studding rod before as well with a nut either side of the drop out at either end to make a sort of fake hub.

 

[Rampage]

My Hermes are claiming to take boxes upto 120cm now for around £6.
A lot of couriers wont accepts bike frames now, so check the terms and conditions etc.

 

[wookiee]

...even Parcelforce via royal mail is about £13-14 for 48 hour...

 

[Koupe]

I would just charge around £15 for basic postage, if someone wants it next day they can pay a bit more. Even if the actual rate is a bit less, you've gone to the trouble of sorting out a bike box and packaging the frame after all. Just my opinion, mind.

 

[dyna-ti]

I get the full sized bike box from the lbs then spend time cutting it down to frame dimensions .

A very very good idea is to take a long section quite wide. Roll it up ,tape it and then put it in the middle of the frame inside the front and rear triangle. Anywhere in fact.
This will prevent the box from collapsing in the middle if they have it on its side and stuff piled on top. (Big UP arrows i suppose would help)

 

[LikeClockwork]

Parcel Force 48 comes in at £15.92 with tracking and I've never had any problems at all, YET!! Plus my local rural PO bends over backwards to help me out and is happy to accept things this size, even if they have it sitting around in their way for hours until the driver comes.

I'm with the others on boxes, cut down or get one meant for a kids bike, they're often spot on size wise, and piece of wood, etc, in between drop outs. Worth removing the drop out if poss and taping somewhere out of the way, and protecting the top of the seat tube.... :xmas-cool: