How do you ship large items? Help

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.

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.

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.....

1) The SELLER should have them professionally crated, whether that means by an outside company or by actually purchasing a pair of new crates from the speaker manufacturer.

2) Given #1, then you can use a company like Yellow Freight to pick them up at the seller's residence, BUT you must insure that at pick up and delivery, they use a lift gate truck to allow loading/unloading.

3) Generally, there is only a driver unless you request and pay for additional help at either end, meaning the seller at his end and you at your end must provide the other half of the m9oving team. Can you handle what might be a 400lb crate?

3) Even if you drive to get them, remember that you aren't gonna' be able to handle these beasts without significant help on both ends of the journey. W/o a liftgate, it ia a bear.

4) In any case, I would never ship big, heavy speakers w/o the OEM crates, regardless of how good someone else might be able to 'crate' them. But that's just me.

Hey,everybody wants to live,nobody wants to die.Nobody wants to drive 1100 unless ....Some good stories about shippers.This has been enlightening.I like Alberts story,pays to be creative.I wonder what you'll do....as you can see,we are hoping it all works out.Good luck,Bob