Shipping an exhaust (Akra full)

[1fastdoc]

Anyone here successfully ship a full exhaust for a reasonable price? I have a full titanium Akra that was on my old E92. The buyer is in CA. Went to UPS and the estimate to box it and ship it was nearly $500. We had agreed on $3700 with the assumption that it would be a couple hundred bucks to ship.

Greyhound was recommended but they won't insure for anything over $1k.

Some third party shippers such as Fastenal are a little cheaper but it needs to be crated. They couldn't tell me how to get this done. I don't have any materials to do that nor the spare time.

This is why this stupid thing has been in my attic for 4 years.

Anyone with any experience?

[wyatth]

I hear ya. I refuse to ship big items for that reason, I always seem to get a surprise shipping bill and it's a PITA. Shame because I want some parts that aren't that expensive, but big and expensive to ship.

But 4 years of collecting dust is just a crime! I'll drive to TN and take it off your hands.

[dgoldenz]

Doesn't the Akra break down into pieces? Probably way cheaper to box and ship as 3 parts instead of in one box. When you have to use a huge box, they bill based on the size of the box because over a certain size triggers a minimum shipping weight. I've shipped a number of exhausts with UPS and FedEx and even cross country it's usually no more than $150-200 for ground shipping.

[JsL]

I've shipped many exhaust through greyhound. They are slow, but they are the cheapest.

[bigjae1976]

PM me and I can arrange freight.

The trick is you can save money by dropping off at/delivering to a freight terminal or business address. Usually costs between $200-$350.

[jayscoobs]

Shipping big items is a big PITA. But im assuming that price includes UPS boxing it for you, that's where the huge cost is from. If you can find a box to fit the exhaust or try to piece together a box to fit it shipping shouldn't be more than 150-250.

I use to go dumpster diving for boxes at businesses for boxes. Got to be creative but you also don't want it to be an odd shape or else that's an extra charge.

[dgoldenz]

Well the person that sold me an exhaust just paid $1045 for shipping on 3 boxes

That's just nuts...

[LostPanda]

I shipped an oem exhaust this past weekend with cats cut off, but shipped with the rest of the piping. Made my own box with duct tape, worse experience ever and the shipping costs 160... yea. Never. Again. 64x26x5 @45lbs, they charged me at 90lb weight. Effing stupid.

[bigjae1976]

Freight...use freight shipping. Old Dominion or some other national carrier.

[monterey]

i shipped a an old large screen tv before and it was less than 300 from a freight company.
The problem with exhaust is everyone i bought came in damaged when purchased used. the tips always got bent

[shimmy23]

For a full Akra you'll need to ship in two bicycle sized boxes. Remove the tips and wrap them individually. In addition, you'll want to wrap all the pipes and mufflers with bubble wrap. Finally, you'll put the rear section with tips in one box, wrapped and filled with packing peanuts. Do the same for the mid and other pipes.

All said and done with materials it's about 400-500. You can save some coin if you buy the materials yourself from a packing distributor and take the package in to UPS. You could also go to a bicycle shop near you and ask if they have a couple boxes they are tossing. That will save you $50 or more right there!! If you lived near me I'd give you all the packing peanuts you'd need. I've got bags and bags of it

Make sure you ask the buyer if he wants insurance.

[1fastdoc]

[QUOTE=dgoldenz;23576201]Doesn't the Akra break down into pieces? Probably way cheaper to box and ship as 3 parts instead of in one box. When you have to use a huge m k>>>>

Originally Posted by dgoldenz

Doesn't the Akra break down into pieces? Probably way cheaper to box and ship as 3 parts instead of in one box. When you have to use a huge box, they bill based on the size of the box because over a certain size triggers a minimum shipping weight. I've shipped a number of exhausts with UPS and FedEx and even cross country it's usually no more than $150-200 for ground shipping.

It does. The worst is the pipes with mufflers and that's where the problems arise.

To insure it for the appropriate value, they need to package. I don't want that liability and fight if they arrive damaged.

Greyhound won't insure for over 1k.

Freight seems to be the best but I don't have the time or resources to crate it.

The buyer offered 3700 for what costs 6500 new. I think I'll just see if he'll up it to 4k. As long as I recoup 3500 I'm happy.

[tmak90]

[QUOTE=1fastdoc;23584117]

Originally Posted by dgoldenz

Doesn't the Akra break down into pieces? Probably way cheaper to box and ship as 3 parts instead of in one box. When you have to use a huge m k>>>>



It does. The worst is the pipes with mufflers and that's where the problems arise.

To insure it for the appropriate value, they need to package. I don't want that liability and fight if they arrive damaged.

Greyhound won't insure for over 1k.

Freight seems to be the best but I don't have the time or resources to crate it.

The buyer offered 3700 for what costs 6500 new. I think I'll just see if he'll up it to 4k. As long as I recoup 3500 I'm happy.

Try fedex. I've shipped 2-3 exhausts through them and they tend to be cheaper than UPS.