Bike Carton Shortage? Are Bike Sales Down?

[partsguy]

Since becoming active in the hobby again, I need cartons and no shop around me has built a bike in a week or two. One shop is charging $20+ now for a carton that every other shop would just throw away. Are these E-Bikes (motorcycles without registration!) really destroying cycling?

I personally hate those things, every 12 year old kid blasts down alley’s cuts across public roads, and and screams down bike paths and side walks without warning. They need to be treated as an EV requiring tags and a license.

 

[lgrinnings]

I picked up 3 free boxes yesterday from one bike shop that had 5 or 6. There's another shop up the road that has a bunch as well. If there's a decline, I'm not seeing it here.

 

[WillWork4Parts]

Bike boxes are being used for compost in gardens here...

 

[SJ_BIKER]

Had to wait a few days over here recently

 

[Archie Sturmer]

I have received bikes packaged in cut-down boxes originally for large-screen TV monitors.

 

[Porkchop & Applesauce]

Go to the e-bike stores they have a lot of em. The boxes are heavy duty and work great for the older heavy bikes!

 

[lgrinnings]

I have received bikes packaged in cut-down boxes originally for large-screen TV monitors.

I cut down my bike boxes. The magic numbers are 54” x 29” x 9”. I just shipped a bike in that cut down box for $92.87. If I had left it the original size (55” x 31” x 9” one inch longer and two inches higher) it would have cost $178.32 to ship.

 

[Porkchop & Applesauce]

Wow! That’s great information to know!

 

[Krakatoa]

I cut down my bike boxes. The magic numbers are 54” x 29” x 9”. I just shipped a bike in that cut down box for $92.87. If I had left it the original size (55” x 31” x 9” one inch longer and two inches higher) it would have cost $178.32 to ship.

Assuming people here are using a third party online subcontracting service like Bikeflights or Pirate Ship to get the best rates and print their own labels and with the actual shipping duties being handled by UPS either by pick up or drop off. Obviously retail or counter rates are cost prohibitive.

To expand on Lester's good information the largest size a carton can be for UPS without accruing additional charges must be exactly at or less than 130" using this formula...

Length plus girth or Length plus 2 x Height plus 2 x Width (L + 2H + 2W=130)

Lester's example: 54" + ( 2 x 29"=58") + (2 x 9"=18")=130"

Remember you can use other dimensions so long as they are less than or equal to 130".

For instance 56" x 28" x 9" etc..

It's critical your box must truly be exactly 130" or less or you will be charged the oversized rates. I use Pirate Ship and it's happened a couple times where a week or so after the package has gone out I get a notification of an adjustment of $60 or $70 more because the package was borderline too big. You do have a recourse and you can dispute this and I've reversed it several times by stating that I have photo documentation of the dimensions etc., but if you do not dispute you will be charged! So when cutting down a box you really should shoot for your dimensions being slightly smaller than the 130". Oftentimes I will reduce my length and height measurement by 1/2" just to be safe.

And lastly and this is important don't make your carton look like you stuffed a cow in it as this will raise the alarm at UPS center!

NVT

 

[ABC Services]

Great info! Yes, keep it smaller if possible because once the carrier has it and mishandles it The box could "belly" in the middle. If they inspect in route, they will charge extra. I never had the problem, but I have heard the stories. I haven't shipped a bike in over a year, but I always thought of glueing a support in the middle would be a good idea.