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by
Kevin Savetz
So, you just sold a Victorian
writing desk, vending machine, or velvet Elvis painting in an
online auction. Now, the question is this: How will you get it
to the buyer? Shipping large items is especially challenging for
auction sellers. Standard shippers such as UPS and FedEx won't
handle those huge packages. Both companies limit packages to 150
pounds, with a combined length and girth of 130 inches.
What's the solution?
Using a shipping company that specializes in moving large,
unwieldy items.
Don't
Be Shy
Let's face it: Some folks shy away from selling heavier items
because they don't know that viable and cost-effective
alternatives exist. Shipping with less-than-truckload (LTL)
carriers is one such option for online auction sellers. These
companies have equipment for both business and residential
pickups and deliveries. Moreover, they also offer a range of
online shipping tools.
"Customers have
the ability to get a price quote, schedule a freight pickup,
print shipping labels, and track their shipments, all via a Web
site," said Chris Baltz of ABF
Freight System.
Auction seller Mike
Snider specializes in video games--large, heavy stand-up
units like you'll find in an arcade--which he sells to
collectors around the United States. He has tried many shipping
services, and experienced a wide range of delivery speed and
cost.
"Some of the
companies around are Forward
Air, Yellow
Freight, and AAA
Cooper." Snider has used all three shippers:
"Forward Air is the cheapest, but you must crate the item
yourself." Some shippers provide door-to-door pickup and
delivery, while others are terminal-to-terminal, meaning that
the buyer and seller must move the item to and from the
shipper's warehouse. On average, it takes five days to ship an
item anywhere in the United States, according to Snider.
Handle
With Care
Crating an item--that is, installing it within an abuse-proof
wooden box for shipping--needs to be done carefully. "I get
a palette, and put cardboard around the base and top of the
game, then wrap a sheet of cardboard around the whole
game," said Snider. "Next I stretch-wrap it, then I
get a refrigerator box and make a tight fit. Then I strap about
40 plastic banding strips around it. The process takes around an
hour. I do it myself--that way I know it is done properly."
"I take a
personal, hands-on approach to shipping," Snider continued.
He says it pays to wrap, package, or crate the items
yourself--or hire someone to do it--rather than relying on the
shipper. If you let the shipping company package your item,
according to Snider, "they don't pack with the same concern
and care that you would." Of course, there are also sellers
who take a hands-off approach to shipping and packaging, and
would rather leave the details to someone else.
One other thing to
consider here: For fragile or other specialized items it's smart
to find a shipper that specializes in that type of product.
Wrap
It Up
The alternative to crating is "blanket wrap," which
involves wrapping the item in large, comfy blankets for its
journey. Blanket wrapping can save money, according to Joseph
Holahan, president of the Antique Transport Company, which
specializes in shipping antique furniture.
"The crating cost
is usually more than the actual freight costs," he said,
adding that a crate shipper will handle all packages the same,
"whether it's a crate of books or watermelons or antique
furniture."
Holahan's company will
pick up and wrap the item, deliver it, and set up furniture in
its new home. He says the alternative is a crate shipper who
will drop the crated item in your driveway, rain or shine,
leaving the recipient to uncrate and move the item inside.
Marc Beaulac of antique
furniture seller Stanley
Weiss Associates said, "We prefer specialized fine art
movers, who blanket wrap rather than crate large items, and have
a single driver accompany the piece door-to-door. This way,
things do not become anonymous crates in warehouses that can be
mishandled by a mover who does not know the contents
firsthand." An additional benefit of blanket-wrapped
shipping is that "our clients are not obligated to handle
the bulky and often difficult-to-open packing materials involved
in other shipping methods," Beaulac said.
Shipping costs depend
on many variables, including the size and weight of the item,
the distance between pickup and delivery points, whether the
product must be crated or wrapped by the shipper, and whether it
is a terminal or door-to-door delivery. All shippers will
provide a custom quote for moving the item.
Forward Air charges
from $7 per 100 pounds for a short-distance delivery that can be
made overnight, to about $29 per 100 pounds for a delivery from
Los Angeles to New York (a delivery that will take about four
days, according to the company). AAA Cooper, which specializes
in deliveries in the East and South, could move a piece of
200-pound used furniture from Key West to Minneapolis for $305
in three days.
If possible, use a
carrier that can pick up and deliver the package without handing
it off to another shipper. This can result in a lower price,
decreased transit time, and less abuse of the item during
delivery.
Final
Thoughts
Fort Smith, Arkansas-based ABF offers the following tips for
shipping heavier items:
Make sure that the
shipping container is strong enough to properly support your
shipment by checking its weight certification.
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Do not use boxes that have
suffered water damage or that have been stored for long
periods of time.
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Choose packaging materials
carefully. For heavier items, foam noodles or loose paper
are not good options. Consider foam inserts designed for
shipping or suitable alternatives.
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A local packaging store in your
area can assist you with package material questions
You
can also visit our shipping resources for helpful links.
Back to Auction tips &
tactics
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