Shipping question for the frugal members

[nobleswood]

I'm talking to a fellow Guzzi rider about buying some wheels from him. He came back from UPS who want $195 Canadian to ship the two wheels & $64 Canadian to pack them from British Columbia to central Ohio.

Seems a bit steep to me. Does anyone else have a cheaper suggestion ?

Thanks

[stmike]

Seems a bit steep to me. Does anyone else have a cheaper suggestion ?

Thanks

Yes, find someone else to buy them from. Preferably closer to home and in the US.  Otherwise, ask for bids on Uship. But you may still get saddled with brokerage fees or some other tariff.

[rodekyll]

Go get them yourself.

[ITSec]

Wheels are bulky and heavy, and UPS does the brokerage internally (even for non-dutiable items, as most motorcycle parts are).

You may be able to get them shipped more cheaply by using a non-traditional service, such as Greyhound package service (depot to depot). However, any shipping will always be rather expensive even over a similar distance in the US.

BTW, that price is CDN? If so, deduct about 23% for the currency conversion - might not be so bad at $200 USD.

[canuck750]

Have them shipped Canada Post, probably need to box them separately, ground shipping, will take 4 ~ 6 weeks.

Greyhound does not cross the border.

This is the Canda Post shipping calculator, for a 20" x 20" x 8" box - 16 lbs, $87.00 CDN  (about $67 US)

https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s3

[radguzzi]

Some of the bus companies used to carry parcels for a huge savings, Greyhoundand, Concord and others.  I cannot say what the customs issues are crossing the border though...

Best,
Rob

[rodekyll]

The bus has fewer stops than it used to.  When we tried shipping greyhound, the depot was over 25 miles from us and 70 miles from the recipient.  The cost was close to the same as postal service, shipping was estimated in weeks, and if you didn't arrive to pick the parcel up within a time window, storage was charged.  This is a true description of a transaction between us and another WG member.  He might want to jump in and confirm.

[Texas Turnip]

The bus has fewer stops than it used to.  When we tried shipping greyhound, the depot was over 25 miles from us and 70 miles from the recipient.  The cost was close to the same as postal service, shipping was estimated in weeks, and if you didn't arrive to pick the parcel up within a time window, storage was charged.  This is a true description of a transaction between us and another WG member.  He might want to jump in and confirm.

Prior to this fiasco I'd had good luck with greyhound. Shipping cost have plum gone out of sight Rodekyll would get a shipping estimate and it was almost more costly.

Tex

[rodekyll]

I forgot to mention that Greyhound information lists closed and nonexistent stations as active and available.  We would not have attempted to ship greyhound if we knew ahead of time that the destination was so far from the recipient.  The website listed the station a couple miles from him in Redwing.  It was actually near Minneapolis, halfway across the adjacent state.

[radguzzi]

Prior to this fiasco I'd had good luck with greyhound. Shipping cost have plum gone out of sight Rodekyll would get a shipping estimate and it was almost more costly.

Tex

I forgot to mention that Greyhound information lists closed and nonexistent stations as active and available.  We would not have attempted to ship greyhound if we knew ahead of time that the destination was so far from the recipient.  The website listed the station a couple miles from him in Redwing.  It was actually near Minneapolis, halfway across the adjacent state.

Interesting, as I recall Normzone and I used Greyhound to send him a screen for his Aerofoil fairing and that was hands down the best rate.  That was three-ish years ago..? ? ? 

Things change I guess...  plus the fact that I was sending from the Northeast to a huge metropolis was probably a big factor, no long rides to pick up or storage fees.  I did need to be punctual at the time of sending the parcel, not sure about Normzone's end.

rad_

[canuck750]

I have tried to ship things on Greyhound from Phoenix to Canada, they won't ship across the border, don't know why, they just told me they won't.

[nobleswood]

Thanks all,

I'm going to ask the seller to bolt the wheels together & see what Canadian Post can do.

[ITSec]

I have tried to ship things on Greyhound from Phoenix to Canada, they won't ship across the border, don't know why, they just told me they won't.

Greyhound Canada and Greyhound US are separate companies, and they don't have a brokerage house, so that likely explains that issue. I have picked up stuff just across the border when using this method, bringing it back myself; the OP is in Ohio which makes it a bit of a swim, but for those closer on either side of the line it may still be a viable option.

[Don G]

Canada Post rates are not cheap anymore either, at least you are paying in Canadian dollars, try it the other way around ! Then you would have something to moan about.  DonG