Shipping Rims only?
05-06-18, 10:28 PM
#1
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Shipping Rims only?
Looking for recommendations on boxing rims only for shipping when selling. I have accumulated a number of sets of rims I believe there is a demand for. But, I have no clue how to package for shipping.
What have you used for boxes? Where did you get the boxes? I am looking for an alternative to using the large boxes used to ship complete wheels due to cost.
Thanks for recommendations.
What have you used for boxes? Where did you get the boxes? I am looking for an alternative to using the large boxes used to ship complete wheels due to cost.
Thanks for recommendations.
05-06-18, 10:39 PM
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Rims, even a pair, add up dimensionally fast and end up carrying a penalty volume wise vs weight.
Then one has to decide how the carrier may abuse the box, I have bought a decent amount over the years, shipping within the continental USA always seems to be at least $25, and it has probably been 18 months ago for the last pair. A few resourceful seller have taped (avoiding stickers) damaged rims to one or both sides as sacrificial protection, much appreciated.
Then one has to decide how the carrier may abuse the box, I have bought a decent amount over the years, shipping within the continental USA always seems to be at least $25, and it has probably been 18 months ago for the last pair. A few resourceful seller have taped (avoiding stickers) damaged rims to one or both sides as sacrificial protection, much appreciated.
05-06-18, 10:51 PM
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How to Fold a Bicycle Tire
Oh... I suppose you can't fold a rim.
Are you selling rims or wheels? Sell them by the pair if possible. As @repechage suggested, costs will be at least $25 or so to ship the pair of rims. A bike store may have boxes that could be used, or could be cut down to be used. A little bubble wrap wouldn't hurt, but rims seems to ship reasonably safely.
However, if your rims are worth, say $25 for the pair, then the shipping will really eat into the costs for both the buyer and seller. Local sales? Craigslist?
On the other hand, if you have some really nice rims that are worth > $100 for the pair, then shipping is just part of the cost of doing business.
Oh... I suppose you can't fold a rim.
Are you selling rims or wheels? Sell them by the pair if possible. As @repechage suggested, costs will be at least $25 or so to ship the pair of rims. A bike store may have boxes that could be used, or could be cut down to be used. A little bubble wrap wouldn't hurt, but rims seems to ship reasonably safely.
However, if your rims are worth, say $25 for the pair, then the shipping will really eat into the costs for both the buyer and seller. Local sales? Craigslist?
On the other hand, if you have some really nice rims that are worth > $100 for the pair, then shipping is just part of the cost of doing business.
05-06-18, 11:34 PM
#4
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I recently sold a pair of Araya rims + cassete - parts from old bike that I rebuild with modern components.
I posted on eBay and a guy from London pinged me - I had listed only for US. Fast forwarding, the guy was only bidder.
It was $88 shipping with USPS international priority mail.
I boxed into the wheel set box I've bought for my rebuild - Buyer posted a positive feedback, so it have arrived safe.
The funny thing is that I tried a NY address (I am in Pacific Northwest) to see the shipping rate when buying postage on eBay and was like $95.
Somehow shipping domestic can be more expensive than sending overseas
I posted on eBay and a guy from London pinged me - I had listed only for US. Fast forwarding, the guy was only bidder.
It was $88 shipping with USPS international priority mail.
I boxed into the wheel set box I've bought for my rebuild - Buyer posted a positive feedback, so it have arrived safe.
The funny thing is that I tried a NY address (I am in Pacific Northwest) to see the shipping rate when buying postage on eBay and was like $95.
Somehow shipping domestic can be more expensive than sending overseas
05-07-18, 12:39 AM
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Bike Flights for domestic shipping, every time. Cut down a full wheel box or make one out of a bike box.
Last pair of rims I shipped was under $20, but depends on distance.
Last pair of rims I shipped was under $20, but depends on distance.
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05-07-18, 05:20 AM
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I had an ebay seller tell me the way to do it is to fold a box so it is flat at the edges, and tape the edges together.
He says he can ship a pair of rims for under $10
He says he can ship a pair of rims for under $10
05-07-18, 07:49 AM
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05-07-18, 08:29 AM
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I've shipped a few pairs of rims in the past year. I cut wheel boxes, obtained free from my first-favorite LBS, to the minimum size possible to reduce the "volume" penalty. I used a hot melt glue gun to reassemble the box. I added three full size layers of cardboard for protection....one between the two rims and the others on the outside of the rims before inserting them into the resized box. There was room in the box to add a bit more cardboard to protect the perimeter of the rims. Lotsa' work that may not be worth the effort for lower value rims.
I've used FedEx for shipping and the rims have been received in good condition. Price has been on the order of $30, driven by the volume of the box, not it's weight.
Another poster suggested BikeFlights for shipping a box of rims. I had not considered the before, but I will certainly check it out the next time I have some rims to sell.
Dean
I've used FedEx for shipping and the rims have been received in good condition. Price has been on the order of $30, driven by the volume of the box, not it's weight.
Another poster suggested BikeFlights for shipping a box of rims. I had not considered the before, but I will certainly check it out the next time I have some rims to sell.
Dean
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05-07-18, 08:42 AM
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take a large cardboard section, 30x 60 inches, fold in half, tape 3 edges, slip in rims, tape last edge, you have a 30x 30x 1 package, 2lbs, maybe 3
usps 2 day for 2 lb is $12 and change. The ebay shipper had some other shipping tricks that i didnt understand
usps 2 day for 2 lb is $12 and change. The ebay shipper had some other shipping tricks that i didnt understand
05-07-18, 02:22 PM
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I got a pair of rims shipped that way. Looked weird, but no damage.
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05-07-18, 03:30 PM
#12
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I shipped a pair of EA3 ISO 590 rims from Houston to Alexandria, VA. Box was about 2 1/2" thick and 24 1/2" square. Weighed 6 pounds. USPS charged $18.00
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