Fun with U.S. Customs

[cyclingday]

The first mistake the packer did was to use an Electric Bike box.
NEVER use an E-Bike box!
The shipping companies want to know if there’s a lithium battery in there, as many will not ship an item with a potentially volatile explosive device on board.
The second mistake they made, was they used an old e-bike box.
Cardboard gets like tapa cloth after it’s been around for awhile, and will lose its rigidity, making it much easier to tear into.
You want to use as new a box as you can get, and you want to get a box that doesn’t say e-bike anywhere on it.
Now I know that’s getting tougher to find since 99.9% of all the bikes sold are e-bikes.
So, you need to remove or black out the labels and remove any old shipping tags as possible.
Think like a shipping company when you’re packing the bike.
Take as much of the guesswork away from them as possible.
I always get a kick out of the boxes with the big arrows emblazoned on them with the bold print, THIS SIDE UP, and the box is sitting on its end in your driveway.
None of that stuff means anything to the shipping company.
Pack it tough and make it as difficult to get into as possible.
Let them know, that there aren’t any batteries inside, and staple and tape that bad boy so they won’t even want to try and verify it.

 

[DrRumack80]

The first mistake the packer did was to use an Electric Bike box.
NEVER use an E-Bike box!
The shipping companies want to know if there’s a lithium battery in there, as many will not ship an item with a potentially volatile explosive device on board.
The second mistake they made, was they used an old e-bike box.
Cardboard gets like tapa cloth after it’s been around for awhile, and will lose its rigidity, making it much easier to tear into.
You want to use as new a box as you can get, and you want to get a box that doesn’t say e-bike anywhere on it.
Now I know that’s getting tougher to find since 99.9% of all the bikes sold are e-bikes.
So, you need to remove or black out the labels and remove any old shipping tags as possible.
Think like a shipping company when you’re packing the bike.
Take as much of the guesswork away from them as possible.
I always get a kick out of the boxes with the big arrows emblazoned on them with the bold print, THIS SIDE UP, and the box is sitting on its end in your driveway.
None of that stuff means anything to the shipping company.
Pack it tough and make it as difficult to get into as possible.
Let them know, that there aren’t any batteries inside, and staple and tape that bad boy so they won’t even want to try and verify it.

Excellent points, @cyclingday . The photo below was taken immediately after I opened the box. There is a good deal of empty space in the box, that could have been filled with bubble wrap, foam, cardboard, newspaper, etc. With enough packing material and tape/cord, the bike and its parts could have been "floating" within the shipping carton.

The seller removed the front fork to protect it, which left the chain case resting on the bottom of the box. It was padded with liberal amounts of bubble wrap, but any hits to the bottom of the box were going to be absorbed by the chain case and rear wheel. And, yes, there is damage to the bottom of the chain case.

I had not had a bike shipped to me in roughly 15 years. I wanted a very early British roadster, which required going outside the US. Overall, I'm very happy with the bike, despite all of this. However, this is the last bike I will have shipped. I will only buy local/within driving distance, or at swap meets.

 

[Enginecrzy]

 

[SirMike1983]

With the empty space in the boxes, I like to use balled up newspapers. My office still gets the newspaper delivered every morning, so I save some of them up and then ball them up and fill the box to the best extent I can. It is good to see the bubble wrap attached to the bike itself. I like pipe insulation for the frame, but a close wrapping like that at least ensures the wrap stays with the bike in the box. I think what you're dealing with here is fixable, which is a big plus. I always dread the dented frame or mashed fork when the box arrives, just out of habit. I also kind of dread that old-style packing foam that flakes all over when you open the box, but I suppose that's better than nothing (even if it makes a horrible mess).

 

[DrRumack80]

 

[DrRumack80]

With the empty space in the boxes, I like to use balled up newspapers. My office still gets the newspaper delivered every morning, so I save some of them up and then ball them up and fill the box to the best extent I can. It is good to see the bubble wrap attached to the bike itself. I like pipe insulation for the frame, but a close wrapping like that at least ensures the wrap stays with the bike in the box. I think what you're dealing with here is fixable, which is a big plus. I always dread the dented frame or mashed fork when the box arrives, just out of habit. I also kind of dread that old-style packing foam that flakes all over when you open the box, but I suppose that's better than nothing (even if it makes a horrible mess).

That's a great idea - definitely helps cushion the bike against hits and drops. Agreed, Mike, everything here is fixable. A dented chain case and bent rear carrier - no crushed forks or rear triangles, bent tubes, etc..

As mentioned, Colin did remove the fork, which undoubtedly saved it. The bubble wrap did make for an easy clean-up. The local Shop Rite has a bin for recycling plastic bags and related material -most of the bubble wrap will be recycled.

 

[HARPO]

@DrRumack80 For now, try and just concentrate on the fact that you finally have the bike! At least they didn't lose it!

You can start to work on it and look forward to the finish line. You'll be rolling down the road with sunglasses on, and nothing but warm weather ahead!

 

[DrRumack80]

@DrRumack80 For now, try and just concentrate on the fact that you finally have the bike! At least they didn't lose it

You can start to work on it and look forward to the finish line. You'll be rolling down the road with sunglasses on, and nothing but warm weather ahead!

Good thoughts, my friend! Thank you. Made some progress last night and it's starting to look like a bike again - fork and headset in for a test fit - now I have to clean, re-grease and re-install the bearings, cups, etc. Pedals are on. Ready to re-connect the chain, which Colin disconnected for shipping and it fell inside the chain case.

Also have to re-install the front fender, clean up the rod brake parts and get new brake pads. The Sturmey Archer FN Tricoaster hub spins free and smooth, and has a healthy ticking sound. Not bad for a hub that was discontinued in 1918!

 

[HARPO]

How is it going? Any updates?

 

[Sped Man]

Now isn't the time to buy any bikes from overseas. Not until the dust settles and customs regulations normalize. Most oversea sellers refuse to ship to the US now. They are afraid that their product will be seized and the buyer will back out leaving them holding the bag. I don't blame them. I understand why Trump did what he did but some slight changes to the rules would be nice. Like allowing items that are over 50 years old into the country tax free. This would help a lot of average people around the world trying to sell their used items to the world market. These current laws are hurting the average Joe in an attempt to stop China from dumping their products here tax free.