Killer Shipping Rates

[71vert340]

 Unfortunately, shipping rates are no longer reasonable. I've decided it's no longer feasible for me to ship large parts. I took a pair of 73/74 Satellite rear interior sail panels in to be shipped to southern California. I told the individual I'd sell the pair to him for $75 and he would need to pay shipping. I was thinking the shipping would be around $50. Nope, over $100 wherever we checked. I told him sorry but it's a no go. I won't do this anymore. He can drive here and I'd give him the panels for free rather than pay that shipping. If I decide to sell parts, they better be no larger than 2ft by 1ft by 6inches. Until shipping costs come down, I have to draw the line somewhere. If a part is REALLY needed to complete a project, MAYBE I can be convinced to send it. We'll see. Just venting.
Terry W.

[Mrbill426]

I hear you; freight costs have become insane.   Seems that anything of any dimension bigger than a loaf of bread has skyrocketed.

[71vert340]

A couple of years ago, I was traveling within a 30minute drive of GoMangoBoys house and dropped a part by to him that was needed. I like doing it that way as I get to meet people that I talk to on the Mopar sites. That's the great way to deliver parts. If I have a part that's needed by someone and they or they have a friend passing through the area, they can drop by and get the part. I enjoy talking to other Mopar enthusiast. Oh well, not always possible.
Terry W.

[70vert]

Shipping has definitely gone up, just like everything else. But I seriously doubt it will go back down, ever. Gas and diesel costs are  going up, and although converting to electric promises savings that will be way way down the road (pun intended). I did just read an article about autonomous semi trucks currently being used on I45 between Dallas and Houston which should be lowering costs but I seriously doubt that will get passed down to us.

Unfortunately picking up parts in person will seldom be feasible either. A round trip drive to Dallas from Houston in my Jeep Grand Cherokee is going to be more than $100 with current gas prices.

[mopar1]

A couple of weeks ago, I had a guy interested in a 68-70 b-body rear seat I had.  So I boxed it up in a cuda fender box and took it to the local shipping store.  Cheapest option to get it to him was $650.  Insane....needless to say, I still have the seat, haha.

[Mrbill426]

Yikes! 

A couple of weeks ago, I had a guy interested in a 68-70 b-body rear seat I had.  So I boxed it up in a cuda fender box and took it to the local shipping store.  Cheapest option to get it to him was $650.  Insane....needless to say, I still have the seat, haha.

[pschlosser]

Size has finally matured into a big issue.  It used to be, if it were large, but lightweight, shipping costs were still reasonable.  This was a loophole, in my opinion, because available space on a truck is just as important then, as it always was.

In the past, some things were too complicated to calculate and did not fit well into standard shipping rate tables.  But as shipping software matures, so do the shipping policies.  Only this year (or maybe just last year) did USPS begin charging a surcharge for items over as few cubic feet in size.  Referred to as Dimensional Weight.

Weight is an issue, of course.  But once a truck is moving down the highway, mass (weight) is less an issue than the number of shipments the carrier can squeeze into the truck (or air liner cargo space.)

Some heavier items like brake drum and spindles are so heavy, they're just not effectively sold to be shipped cross-country.

I recently sold a useless (1973-74 B-body and pretty common) front sway bar on epay, and the buyer paid three-times (3x) more in shipping than they did the actual item.  I was elated, but still carry some guilt for the buyer.

[Rich G.]

I'd still sell the parts. It's up to the buyer to decide if they want to pay the shipping. I hate when the shipping cost more then the part but it is what it is unfortunately.

[Skdmark]

I've heard a few peope mention that they ship larger / heavier items through Fastenal. You just drop off and pickup at the nearest Fastenal store.
They limit the shipments to be within a US East Zone or US West Zone.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Shipping is INSANE ... and a losing proposition. Spee-Dee FEDEX UPS (which will skyrocket I'm sure) are killin small business. Say Item X is rated at 8.35 to ship, ok so thats basically $10-$15 right? Understand nobody's packing it for free and things like shipping tape has gone way up over the years. ), so if I charge $15 I'm covered right? WRONG! There's the fuel surcharge, the weekly pickup charge, I could go on. So now that $8.35 ship has actually cost me $27. ( I'm pulling numbers outa my azz here but this really is representative of whats going on.) Now if your a BIG company like , shall we say Summit or Jegs.. You can balance that out due to the number of items shipped. But lets move on and talk about LTL.  (truck freight) We shipped a tranny to TN last week . The quote was just under $225, ok Pallets are not free, my guys dont load for free so $250. Fair deal right?  So the freight leaves we get a call the next day now that my tranny is in their possession. On their loading dock and they wont deliver -  They need $322.49 and will not deliver until i WIRE TRANSFER the money. Which by the way banks don't do for free. And I need to go there , this cant be dont online.  For real, this just happened!!! 
               

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Part 2 - We have lost lots os sales due to freight costs. We were going tio sent a Buick fender to IOWA - a fender - dont weight shit... but BIG box ... quote was over $300 and not that far away. You can forget shipping things like bumper covers. We had a guy wanting an Explorer cover we had (color match go figure) He call his local UPS and gets quoted around $100 and tells us so. WE tell him - give UPS these dimensions (what it would be boxed up) ................. ya...........$1100+    Welcome to the world of shipping.

         

[71vert340]

 A follow-up to the shipping of the interior sail panels I originally posted about being over $100 to ship. We bought a new vacuum cleaner today and after my wife unboxed it, she decided to see if the sail panels would fit in it. They did and she wrapped them in lots of bubble wrap. When she took it in to UPS, shipping was now less than $50. We went ahead and sent it to the buyer. We'll see if it arrives there in good shape and on time. Fingers crossed.
Terry W.

[PLY474]

Paypal Shipstation used to have better rates than going to the counter. 
https://www.shipstation.com/
https://help.paypal.shipstation.com/hc/en-us/articles/5234790206747-About-the-PayPal-Shipping-Center

[Aloha Randy]

On things that are not like doors, hoods etc., don't forget USPS. I bought new spindles, rotors, master cylinder and calipers for my Challenger. They quoted over $500 to send UPS. I had them send USPS. $125 to Hawaii.

[70vert]

I've posted this before (no I don't get a kick-back) but if you are doing your own shipping definitely check out PirateShip.com! It costs nothing and you basically get corporate rates on UPS or USPS which is a whole lot less that counter pricing or even most discounts. I've been using it for a few years and am still amazed at getting 20%-40% discounts. Plus their app is really nice, can get a quote with zipcode, buy your postage directly online (print to your printer), and then track it. And they do support international shipping.