Author Topic: Shipping bigger items, really need help (Read 1669 times)

Daren · « **on:** January 09, 2006, 03:40:20 pm »

Does anyone know how to ship bigger stuff cheap? I am not going into all the details, but my little custom furniture business is starting to take off (after a year of starving to death). I make and ship small things all the time USPS or UPS. Stuff under 2' square and 40lbs is reasonable and I can get the work. But the bigger stuff, say the size of a dresser or large cedar chest the shipping blows the deal. I didn't mind turning down a little work, but it is getting to be 3-4 jobs a week now, I can't afford to keep doing that. And obviously I would like to make and sell bigger pieces. The ironic thing, I live in central Illinois and get 80 % of my inquires (through my website) from either California, Florida or N.Y. about as far away as you can get. I guess I should have thought the shipping thing through BEFORE I got in this pickle. But too late now, I just need some advice.

IMERC · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2006, 04:34:34 pm »

look into contract shipping thru the truck lines and pass the cost on to the customer all or in part.

bushhog · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2006, 05:09:26 pm »

The truck lines will usually give you a better deal on larger items - Yellow Freight is one, but there are many others. You may want to consider pricing your item - plus freight - as fuel surcharge varies from week to week with most trucking co.'s.

mike_van · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2006, 05:10:16 pm »

Daren, you have to try someone like Roadway, Yellow, or some company with a terminal near you. Hit the Yellow pages or Google, they can give you a quote based on weight & dimentions. Most times you need to deliver the item to their dock, some will pick up at your place, but you need to be able to load whatever it is into a semi. Forklift? Their dock is a better place.

Daren · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2006, 05:49:11 pm »

I found this site call FreightQuote.com. Unless I did something wrong, I entered the basic dimensions and weight of a small chest of drawers. It gives you quotes from several carriers,(UPS, different van lines, trucking companies) they ranged from $120-$220. That was a door to door quote, there are no shipping places within 30 miles (exept the Post Office) I took one little thing to Mailboxes Ect. awhile back and got totally hosed. Plus it wasted 1 1/2 hours of my day. I know shipping companies have to eat too, but you can go buy a decent small chest of drawers for that kind money. (maybe not one of mine, but that is the point I want to sell mine, not have them buy at Home Depot)

IMERC · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2006, 05:53:17 pm »

Quote from: Daren on January 09, 2006, 05:49:11 pm

maybe not one of mine, but that is the point I want to sell mine, not have them buy at Home Depot

those that buy there don't know any better and you don't need a customer base with that mind set.

Dangerous_Dan · « **Reply #6 on:** January 09, 2006, 06:09:34 pm »

Check out this link
http://www.uship.com/listing.aspx?packageID=22355
Kind of like ebay, you list what you need to ship/where/time schedule/target price you want to pay and carriers bid on delivering it.
I have not used it but looks interesting, next time I buy something big far away I'm going to try it.

Tom · « **Reply #7 on:** January 09, 2006, 06:28:54 pm »

"Hotshot" is/was popular down here in Florida. These are drivers with small trucks pulling trailers that handle the light loads that the bigger trucks can't really afford to carry. You see them hauling 3 to 5 used automobiiles from the auction to the dealerships or vice versa. You see them with loads of insulation, engines, hydraulic's, all manner of parts going from one retail outlet to another.

Find a company that dispatches HotShots.

Here is one link just to see if you are interested in this approach.
http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=29002

I found it by googling "hot shot trucker"
and
"hotshot truck"

whitey · « **Reply #8 on:** January 09, 2006, 06:31:23 pm »

Daren I am in the same boat as You. I have tried to ship a couple of larger items. One a china hutch both peices were trash on arrival one was drop shipped out of the truck must have been a30ft tall trailer.the other had a fork through it (blanket chest) . If I can't deliver Or they can't pick it up. Its not worth having your labors get trashed.

Done ranting Whitey

IMERC · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2006, 06:44:47 pm »

insure the snot out of it... sell it twice... or three times...

Daren · « **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2006, 06:56:46 pm »

Quote from: IMERC on January 09, 2006, 05:53:17 pm

those that buy there don't know any better and you don't need a customer base with that mind set.

IMERC, I completely agree, but I have to sell to the market I have now until I find the people who get it. I am new to the product business, I have always been service (plumber, welder) and those rates and markets are set and easy to get. I have the making down pat, the marketing... I am having trouble with.
I sold this set made from black locust for $1000 locally, my brother who lives in Florida said his neighbor bought an identical set for $3700. I could have paid a buddy to deliver it and give him a week vacation in Fla. and still made more money... to the right customer.

Everyone else, thanks much for the links, I will check them all out. I really need to get this figured out.

IMERC · « **Reply #11 on:** January 09, 2006, 07:10:02 pm »

sell to both markets. don't be afraid of your price. the "right" customer is out there and a lot of them.

whitey · « **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2006, 07:40:19 pm »

Daren.
Thats what i'm doing . big enough project and you can rent a small van. drive down deliver and fly back. or give a buddy a vacation. Wife and I are going to look at a project next week 500 mile round trip but worth a bundle. will take the measurements build and deliver.
Whitey

Ironwood · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2006, 08:16:03 pm »

Charge enough to deliver it yourself. Reid

Ironwood · « **Reply #14 on:** January 09, 2006, 10:06:33 pm »

Ok , that was a bit short. Look we all could move somewere and sell our wares/ services for more$$ but we compete with all our costs from our production location. Either wholesale it to a person with a better market, invest yourself in market development or take what you can get within your resonable shipping distance. Remember what looks like your competition may actually be a door to a market network, we all have strong points, focus on yours and show it to others better positioned many great "partnerships" arise from win win senarios.

REID

Frank_Pender · « **Reply #15 on:** January 09, 2006, 10:10:02 pm »

That is why you need to buy some of these slabs from me, Reid.

Whitey, parhaps I can help with some special species of lumber for the future job? Let me know.

Don_Papenburg · « **Reply #16 on:** January 09, 2006, 10:24:04 pm »

Daren , I got a short ton of granite shipped to me from SD to north central Ill. for $175.oo I also got a bill for a prepaid dropshiped to Peoria then forward shiped to Streator 60 miles . The item was less than 60 lb the bill was $178.oo and he was in Streator anyway I was only 4 miles from his last drop in Streator .The original shipper straightned them up .

Daren · « **Reply #17 on:** January 09, 2006, 10:29:40 pm »

I have a Haulmark 10' enclosed trailer I bought off a church. They used it to haul clothes to needy families, it is like new. It would be perfect for packing and hauling furniture, it is clean and carpeted. I use it for short runs (or talk a buddy into it), but cross country I can't figure out a way to make it work. I know that is why shipping companies charge, insurance, gas, driver... If I spend time on the road, that is time I don't have tools in hand. I just don't know. I do everything custom and never know where the next order will come from. If I could get a steady run to one side of the map or the other, I could fill the trailer and make the trip worthwhile, and spread the cost of shipping to make it easier on each order. I will not ask a customer to wait till I get a full load to get their piece. I am just trying to figure some things out. I can keep on plugging away doing what I am doing, but DanG it, I hate to let orders get away just because of this shipping thing.
While I was typing 2 post where added, Reid if I moved to N.Y. I bet a dollar my orders would come from California and vice versa. The local market is weak, I live in the middle of farm country, that is why I looked to expand my market. It seems shipping is a roadblock. I won't whole sale, only custom. I am always open to "win-win", still looking.

Flyboy · « **Reply #18 on:** January 09, 2006, 10:40:33 pm »

Daren, For west coast freight check BDR Transport, Bellows Falls Vt. If your anywhere near Chicago, they have 20 or so trucks going coast to coast weekly. They have termanels in LA and SF. They are an LTL (less than trailer load) carrier. Whether or not they can fit into your plan I don't know. BUT, they are good people. I drove OTR for them. Top shelf equipment, air ride trailers, etc. Very little damage.

IMERC · « **Reply #19 on:** January 09, 2006, 10:42:31 pm »

Quote from: Daren on January 09, 2006, 10:29:40 pm

I have a Haulmark 10' enclosed trailer

start yur own delivery service.... Employee? Family? Partner?

News:

Author Topic: Shipping bigger items, really need help (Read 1669 times)