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?

Flyboy · « **Reply #20 on:** January 09, 2006, 10:47:08 pm »

Daren, BDR runs I90 all the way across NY and up into Ore. and Wash also.

getoverit · « **Reply #21 on:** January 09, 2006, 11:58:35 pm »

Maybe it would benefit ALL of us if we could talk a trucking company to become a Forum sponsor?

I know right now there is a woodmaster 781 I would like to have, but it is way up north in michigan, and a 20hp engine I want, but it is in california. Daren has furniture to move, Ried has a mill he wants to move to New Orleans, Peterson has mills going from Los Angeles to all over the country, and it seems like we all have needs from others in the forum, but the logistics are prohibitive. I want to order 5 gals of anchorseal from Bailey's, and a A.S.S. from logrite...... seems like a trucking company could do well off of just the people in our forum?

Skytramp · « **Reply #22 on:** January 10, 2006, 12:32:28 am »

Might try getting around the local truck stop, talk to some truckers, maybe someone is going your way with some extra space, looking to make a few extra bucks. Or if you have an Independant Trucker friend, He might have some ideas. That has worked for me a couple times with some machinery parts.
Skytramp;

Rockn H · « **Reply #23 on:** January 10, 2006, 05:42:19 am »

Daren, Like was mentioned earlier, you need to call some LTL companies like Yellow , RoadWay, Consolidated, etc. LTL means Less than a Truck Load. These companies specialize in hauling one item per delivery. Dont' price door to door. It cost more. You are a business and you need to get a quote as that. You will need room for them to get to you and either a ramp for them to use to load the item or be able to load it for them. If not maybe you can find a business that will let you meet the truck there. If the customer can pick up the item at a business it will be cheaper for them on that end as well. Business to business is the cheapest by far. I wouldn't use any service to find a carrier. Most of these ,no, all of these are brokers and they are going to get a percentage off the top for their services.
Good luck, I hope it works out.

Patty · « **Reply #24 on:** January 10, 2006, 07:42:34 am »

Another option is FEDEX freight service. We have used them in the past, it is just another option.

Cedarman · « **Reply #25 on:** January 10, 2006, 09:08:56 am »

I use R&L Carriers. I can call them at 3 in the afternoon and they will pick up between 5 and 6:30 that same day. I ship once to twice a week with them. I have used them for several years and get a 70 per cent off the quoted price. Also, I try to get the customer to have it delivered to a business address to save them a $30.00 add on. Most lumber is listed at a lower class which helps get a lower rate. Have not shipped a valuable item like furniture. But make sure it is well boxed. I think R&L runs the entire US now. Freightquote has always been higher than R&L for me. I add on shipping and handling charges plus the cost of the wood and have the check cashed before sending out the lumber. Most times I have the check before sawing the lumber. I do not take credit cards and I have never lost a sale because of it. I remind the customers that the bill would have to be 5 per cent higher to cover credit card transactions if I were to take them.

Dana · « **Reply #26 on:** January 10, 2006, 09:33:16 am »

Getoverit, I have been interested in doing hauls for customers. The problem I see is making it pay for the return trip. I live in Northern Michigan and could easily pick up your item and deliver to Florida. Now how do I get to Darren's to pickup that dresser and deliver it to California and make it back without loosing any profit in fuel/hotel expences? I guess the cost for an individual delivery would have to be higher to reflect the individual customer service that I would be offering? In other words you aren't trying to compete and compare prices with a common carrier?

getoverit · « **Reply #27 on:** January 10, 2006, 12:02:55 pm »

That's what I'm talking about though...... There are now over 2,000 of us here on the Forestry Forum. Seems like each of us has some product that we need to ship to somewhere, or we have a tool or piece of equipment that we would like to buy from someone on the other side of the country. It seems to me like we could be treated as though we were a large company with 2,000 branch offices and get rates for shipping based on these kind of numbers rather than being treated like we were individuals.

Darren has furniture he needs to get to California.... I have an engine I would like to GET from California.... I'll grant you that as indivuals we dont have full loads to anywhere, but when you combine all of us together, we have a LOT of hauling we need done.

Skytramp · « **Reply #28 on:** January 10, 2006, 07:37:22 pm »

Getoverit, I think you are on to something there. Might be an independant out there willing to give a huge discount for voulum if he could pick his pickup and delivery time.
Sky

dail_h · « **Reply #29 on:** January 10, 2006, 09:21:47 pm »

Daren,
When I worked for the flooring co. ,we used ESTES ,there was some deal, I not sure how they worked it out, but the customer paid the freight collect,it was much cheaper than for us to prepay. I'll be talking to Steve ,who was the salesman in a day or two about some reclaimed flooring,can get inf if you're interested.

getoverit · « **Reply #30 on:** January 26, 2006, 10:26:58 pm »

I think I found it guys

I bought a 1 ton truck this week on Ebay, but needed to either go get it in Nashville Tn or have it shipped. Someone suggested http://www.uship.com to me, so I checked it out, found out it was free to list my load with them, and within an hour had someone to go to the guy's house, pick up my turck, and deliver it to my door in Florida for $500 ($600, but Uship is having a $100 rebate promotional program going on right now). Heck, I couldnt even buy the fuel for it for that much, so I jumped on it. He is even going to deliver it the same day he picks it up - next Monday.

This is a site where independent truckers are looking for loads to fill out their truck or trying to find a load to keep them from deadheading empty all the way home. It doesnt cost you anything to list your load, and drivers "bid" on your shipment - you have the right to accept or reject any or all offers. You can even set your own price and see if anyone bites on it.

I dont mean for this to sound like an advertisement for them, but it has worked so far for me, and was really reasonable on price too. They even have a "feedback" on drivers, so you can tell if your driver is a good one or not. Works alot like ebay's feedback section.

oh yeah, here's my "new" truck

Fla._Deadheader · « **Reply #31 on:** January 26, 2006, 10:52:58 pm »

We shipped a large clumsy crate from Florida to Massachusetts. Called MOVING COMPANY, Can¡t remember the name. The BIG BLUE outfit. United

They ship by Truck Carrier and get a BIG discount. We got a good rate because of this. Check yellow pages in your area and call a few. We DID deliver to their yard and they used a forklift to move the crate.

getoverit · « **Reply #32 on:** January 27, 2006, 08:13:05 pm »

I talked to the guy that is hauling my truck tonight, and asked him to join the forum. He is always looking for partial loads (or full ones), so he should be an asset to the forum as a hauler. Seems to be a hard worker and super nice guy too

isassi · « **Reply #33 on:** January 27, 2006, 10:38:06 pm »

As mentioned by Skytramp, one great source is the local truck stop. What I have done before and have done when trucking my self, is looking at the notice board in a truck stop. Any independent driver and many company drivers will deliver packages or larger if the have room and it is in their routing. For example, you could crate the table and chairs and then post a notice offering $200 or more, COD, for Belvadere, IL, to Los Angeles, and arrange for your customer to meet the truck at the local truck stop there. Your customer is happy because they are saving a bunch, the trucker is happy due to the extra money in his pocket, and you beat the high freight rates charged for LTL shipping. It never fails to be creative when thinking about shipping or getting things moved across country.

Tom · « **Reply #34 on:** January 27, 2006, 10:40:53 pm »

Getoverit's trucker, Dubert, joined us this evening. Y'all go say howdy.

News:

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