How do you do freight shipping?

[bluefish]

There is a sink on ebay that I really, really want! It's in Florida so how do I go about finding out what it would cost to ship it here? I know it's expensive, but I need to know how expensive to see if it's a possibility. I doubt it, but want to find out.

[edcopp]

I would try to find out the weight of the sink. Then call a local to me moving and storage company. They will figure out the details for you and give you a price. This pricing may be done in units like 500 pounds or less, or 1,000 pounds or less but more than 500 pounds.

[Awnry Abe]

In general, the logistics of freight shipping is easy, especially for those that use it often. As a simple start, you can use freightquote.com.

Specifically, though, I would be asking all sorts of questions pertaining to both ends of the shipment. Does the seller routinely ship stuff via freight? Have they thought this all the way through? On your end, will you be able to receive it? If it is going to your residence, you will need to have the means to get it off the truck. You can spell out the fact that you don't are a residence and need a truck with a lift gate. Expect to pay about $100 for this. If you have a tractor with a FEL, you can unload with it. I have encountered the whole spectrum of help from the drivers. Most go above and beyond and are super friendly, but never depend on them to bust a gut. They aren't moving men.

For a sink, I am thinking big box, or maybe crate, that can handle being gently slid off the back. But it's your sink.

[theuniquey]

I agree with CrownRanch. The 2 biggest variables are does the shipper ship with any regularity and where is the shipment going? If you know any local business owners that receive shipments regularly than you can save a little by having your sink (or whatever) shipped to a place the trucks are already used to going. You don't really have any control over who is shipping so look at the feedback on your seller with a super-critical eye. Anything less than 100% should be cause for concern. The other thing you should do (after you know dimensions and weight of the package) is look at all the trucks hauling stuff into your specific location and calling them for quotes. They don't care what you are shipping but they will want to know dimensions and weight of the package.

[Clancy]

I had an engine shipped to me last year. The cost of shipping it to my house was quoted almost $100 more than shipping it to the local hardware and feed store. The reason was that they are on a regular shippers route, where otherwise the engine would have been specially shipped to my house and not on a regular route. Be sure to see if its cheaper to ship it to a business near you who will agree to accept it.

[luvrulz]

We had 2 sinks shipped when we were building our house....they came via local national shippers and both were intact with no problems. Check with the seller. If they sell alot of sinks, they would be the best to ask. Besides, then you know how far they will go to help you get the sink. Make sure it's insured and you get a tracking #. What is their feedback rate???

[Big Dave]

We bought one yesterday and it had free shipping. We got a vessel sink. What are you buying?

[Bob Huntress]

While I don't have the price off the top of my head, a sink shouldn't cost that much to ship. I've ordered them thru GSA when I was doing jobs in the Coast Guard, and I don't recall the shipping being all that much. They ship those things by FedEX, and charge the recieving unit. Now, I doubt the government pays less than anyone else. Even the heavy Farmer's sinks that are mounted under the counter, do not weigh enough to charge that much. If the sink is what you are looking, call UPS & FedEX and see what it would cost. The Ebay ad should have a feature to ask the seller questions (Though they usually list a shipping price, also which would be simplier). Ask how much it weighs.

[||Downhome||]

should be est shipping on the sale page, but other wise contact the seller.

[bluefish]

Thanks all! The buyer does local pickup only but will ship if buyer makes all arrangements. I don't think they have the ability to crate the sink. I'll ask the seller some questions to be sure, but I think it's not going to happen. It's a beatiful old 2 faucet trough sink. Oh, well.

[farminghandyman]

I have got a lot of thing deliverd by Fe EX freight, and it has been reasonable,

I would call FeEx.

[fishhead]

I think UPS takes packages up to 70 lbs. I've shipped lots of boxes of live fish and it was pretty simple. You'd need weight of package and length x width x height to calculate shipping costs.

[Ken in Maine]

Try uship.com If you've ever watched shipping wars on tv... it's the same operation

[haypoint]

Is the seller willing to put it on a pallet and secure it? I'd want nylon staps and cardboard padding.
Then see if a local place has a loading dock and will let you have it sent there. Lots easier than waiting around all day at home for the truck to arrive.