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How do you ship large items? Help

Yeah, I want to buy these very large speakers from someone in Audiogon, but he does not have the boxes or crate that they were shipped in. I talked to UPS frieght and they told me that large, heavy items must be on a pallet, secured and wrapped before they would accept it. How would i go about finding a pallet and then securing it to the pallet and wrapping? Is there such a service that will professionaly pack items like this? Ive never had to deal with something like this so im totally lost here. The speakers weigh 250lbs each and are over 60 inches high. I quess i could drive there myself, but its 1100 miles away!!
Not your average day trip ya know? Any help would be appreciated here. If i can't find a solution i just won't be able to buy them, but it is a good deal! Thanks all!
bathory_127
calbrs03
184 posts
 
Most pallets aren't sixty inches. They will have to be custom built. Don't let them stand the speakers upright on standard pallets--that means a strap over the top. This endeavor will be expensive like you cannot believe. I bought a pair of Altecs that weighed in at 90 lbs a piece. Craters and Freighters fit both nicely on a standard pallet, sheilded them with poly styrene wrap and thick styrofoam inside a heavy cardboard box. They shipped Yellow freight to my house in Wisconsin from Connecticut with no damage for $515. I won't do it again.

I'd imagine they'd want at least twice what I paid to ship yours. Find a truck, a friend and take a weekend drive to get these speakers.
oregon
820 posts
 
There is a site where you can have various truckers bid for your services- something like "freightbid.com"? Search for it.
I sold 2 pairs of Avalons using this service and both worked like a dream.
The seller ought to find someone (phone book) to build crates. If the speakers are big, have one crate for each speaker.
This is my best recommendation, other than making the drive yourself.
Good luck. Let us know what happens.
albertporter's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
albertporter
4,949 posts
 
Fly there, rent one way Penske truck and drive back. You also get to meet the seller and view (and listen to?) the speakers before you hit the road.

It's a hassle, but guarantees perfect shipping and even with gas prices as they are, the cost could be about what paying for custom pallet and shipping is.

A few months ago a guy in my audio group wanted VTL 750's and Maggies. We found a seller with both and did exactly as I am advising you to do.

The seller at the other end was so excited that we were bringing cash, he picked us up at the airport, bought us lunch and even took us to the truck rental place.

Everyone is happy, it all went perfectly.
richards
145 posts
 
Four years ago I sold some 200 pound (each) speakers from NC to PA using Craters and Freighters. They came and picked them up, wrapped them in 3-4 inches of bubble wrap (or something like it) and delivered for around $300. I'm sure they've gone up in price since then, but I had a good experience.
kennyt's avatar
kennyt
1,226 posts
 
I like Albert's idea, and it's a great story too! I personally wouldn't drive 1100 miles in one day, but I hate long car trips!

Calbrs03,

When shipping by pallet, most freight companies charge on weight/size and have a minimum, so when I sold my fully active Linn AV system to a guy in CA (I live in Florida) the pallet weighed ~450 pounds, but due to the size, and the minimum weight/size, I paidfor 500 pounds which came to something like ~$500 to ship it.

My point is shipping on a pallet is different than your standard UPS package. FWIW I did insure the shipment, but as it was used audio gear, most insurances will not cover damage unless it is obviously caused by the shipper in say torn boxes or worse.....
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