Shipping: what am I doing wrong?

[Motormike]

Trying to find an affordable one-way shipper for a broken Harley from a dealership in ABQ to Atlanta.  U-ship shows a range of $300 to $600, but all quotes are coming in well above that.  Even the big trucking companies like federal and STI want over $800 to treat it like a refrigerator.  Am I doing something wrong? (Besides trying to tour on a Harley..ha!)

[NC Steve]

Have you tried HaulBikes?
Many of us have used and rate them highly, with some hiring them multiple times, including myself.

https://haulbikes.com/

[Motormike]

I'm waiting on a quote from Haulbikes.  So far, the costs are coming in at around .85 cents to .90 cents a mile!  That's highway robbery, gas prices are much lower than when I shipped a bike from the west coast home three years ago, and I did that for $650

[usedtobefast]

For uship, the bids start high and get cheaper as the days go by.  I guess they think "why not quote $1200 vs. $600 and see if he bites".

Uship also has the name your price approach ... put in how much you are willing to pay and see if anyone goes for that.  Then you need to check out who bids on it.  Seems to be a wide range of people that haul stuff ... from "guy with a flat bed trailer" to professional movers looking to add 1 or 2 more to an existing load/route.

[Motormike]

Yes, on U-ship, I've tried to stress on my notes it's a super easy pick up and drop off.  Both locations within a 1/2 mile of the interstate exits.  To keep the costs down,  I'm not opposed to an open transport, if they use a wheel chalk and know what they are doing.  After 3500 miles of riding, the bike was so dirty and covered in mud and bug guts , another 1300 miles strapped to an open trailer won't make any difference.

[rschrum]

Haul bikes just moved a Ducati from the Huston Mecum auction to Des Moines for 450 for me.

[Motormike]

Looks like HaulBikes is going to be the winner.  $500 to ship if I'm in no hurry (and I'm not)  I've never used them before, but most here seem to have had good experience with them.  Anyone have anything other that a good shipping outcome with them?  As I understand it, Haul Bikes don't use pallets, they strap the bikes directly to the floor of their trucks. I've shipped with Federal and STI over the years, and always have some paint damage, usually a rub mark on a saddlebag. 

[Motormike]

Reading all the negative reports about HaulBikes on the web is making me REAL nervous about my decision.  Bikes sitting in warehouses for weeks on end, deadlines missed, calls not returned, etc.  Ripoff report and PissedOff Consumer have a lot of upset customers that used HaulBikes.  It would be nice to hear some satisfied customer reports.  Hope I don't regret my choice! 

[rschrum]

I was happy with them. Maybe just lucky.

[NC Steve]

Mike, just sent you a PM. Like others have said, I've used them multiple times, both shipping out and receiving in, and have never had any problem at all with Haul Bikes. Maybe I've been lucky, but having used them numerous times over the years, I'll call them again 1st if I have another bike to move.

[harry h]

Just used Haulbikes at the beginning of the year, shipped from North Dakota to California.  No problems and more important, no damage.  Will be using them again.

[Motormike]

Thanks for the positives! Fingers crossed.

[LongRanger]

I've used Haulbikes three times (twice for a V7) and will never use anyone else.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I shipped a V7 Sport to Montana a few years ago and it arrive quickly and without any damage. They sent regular emails telling me where it was and what the expected ETA was. 

My friend Leo used them to move all of his bikes from MD to AZ more recently and had the same excellent experience.

[John Ulrich]

A snowbird friend used Uhaul Bikes for the second time this year with no problems from IL to AZ and back.