sojah

iTrader: (1)

so i've sent tires in the mail before (not very recently) but i've used the post office and ups to ship tires in the past. this afternoon i tried to mail x2 245x35x20 nitto good condition tires and ups wanted like $71 a tire to ship from east coast all the way to CA west coast. i said no thank you and went to the post office. the post office refused to ship them cuz they claimed they were just over the maximum size limit. i asked the post office what the cost would have been if they were like 2 inches smaller, they said $100 a tire to ship.

now i know i've ordered x3 sets of 2 tires this past summer all from discount tire direct and they all came ups and each time i paid about $38 for a set of 2 for shipping about half the distance as what i tried to ship today. do companies get like %50 off of shipping costs or something???

has anyone experienced this or were the 2 places i tried smoking some tire?

UPS claimed that they have recently raised their prices on some sort of additional fuel charge cost...

caddyowner

Does Greyhound still accept shipments? When I was young, that was a standard way private folks shipped bulky items.

waijai

iTrader: (9)

Did you go to a "UPS Store" or Mailboxes Etc type of place? They usually charge their own fee on top of UPS charges to make a profit. I personally use FedEx and have my own account. Shipped 4 20" wheels/tires in boxes across the country for like $140.

You should signup for your own account (UPS or FedEx) and just enter all the dimensions yourself, print out the shipping manifest and drop off at a location.

Kansas

I ran into the same problem last year when trying to buy a set of four snow tires and wheels from an LS430 owner on this forum who switched to a S-class Mercedes. The cost of shipping via UPS from the Boston area to the Kansas City area was ridiculous and left me wondering how places like Tire Rack and Discount Tire get rates that are not available to the general public. Regardless, the former LS430 owner and I finally gave up and he sold his wheels/tires locally to an Avalon owner the same day he listed them on Craigslist.

sojah

iTrader: (1)

yeah man thanks i will have to do that. i guess i'll try fed-nuts since ups-hole was so freakin out rageous. the lady at the post office didn't even know what cirumference and diameter meant and she was ultimatley responsible for me not being able to ship the tires cuz of the size dimensions she put in. it literally took her like 4 minutes measuring and finally saying "no, they are to big".

sojah

iTrader: (1)

is it possible for you mr waijai to calculate the shipment for x2 tires i think 27lbs each that are 245x35x20 using fedex from 21403 to carlsbad CA for fedex?

waijai

iTrader: (9)

Package Details: 2 package(s), 27.50 lbs, Your Packaging, 25 in x 25 in x 10 in, 100.00 USD.

$61.38 total

If I change the dimensions a bit and increase the value, it bumps up a bit.

Package Details: 2 package(s), 27.50 lbs, Your Packaging, 25 in x 25 in x 11 in, 150.00 USD.

$70.48 total

Dave Mac

I think major customers negotiate their own rates and they can be at substantial discounts - and Tire Rack would certainly fit in that category.
The FedEx or UPS people don't even know the rate I don't think and it won't show anywhere on the packaging.


Dave Mac

SChema

iTrader: (2)

^, This is correct. The place I used to work for would have reps from UPS and Fedex trying to gain 100% of our business. Basically the more you ship the larger of a discount you will get.

Usually pricing will vary greatly depending on "hundred weight". There's a weight limit that offers a large discount when shipping heavy packages. Through UPS, I know it's 200 pounds. Boxes that weigh 200 pounds combined will generally be cheaper than boxes that are 100 pounds with that same dimensions; not sure why that is but that what I know at least for UPS.

AznRacer

iTrader: (2)

I ship a 275/30/20 from FL to CA over the summer for $42 at a fedex kinko's location using their ground service.

AlexusAnja

Average Joe shipping UPS is not going to pay the rates that TireRack is paying. I use to ship shoe box sized items via UPS to relatives out in Washington and it would run like $50 or so for GROUND, not even like 2nd day. Then I started shipping from work account where I work, and they were $12.. same shipment and everything.

They have to give TireRack premo deals or someone else will.

sojah

iTrader: (1)

i am trying the personal account route now, thanks for the inputs all i guess i feel a little better now, but they are still raping us with these charges.

sojah

iTrader: (1)

so let this be a lesson to all, all who did not already know at least.

THANK YOU MR WAIJAI:

when shipping tires & wheels or what not first go create an account on fedex.com (takes like 2 mins to create a personal account) punch in all your info (including credit card stuff), then click ship and put in your own dimensions. My quote was literally half the cost that the UPS store was trying to charge yesterday. quoted at $70 instead of $140. Print off the shipping labels and bring to your nearest fedex store to drop off.


i wish i would have known about this 3 years ago when i paid $300 something to ship x4 wheels and tires.

waijai

iTrader: (9)

Yep, the UPS store charges for their service of printing a label and slapping it on.

LiCelsior

iTrader: (32)

70 for two tires is a much better price..coulda probably been a little lower.