Cheapest way to ship skis?

So I just sold a pair of skis and the UPS store wanted to charge me a grand total of $85 to package and ship them. $45 of that was shipping, the rest was to build a box and pack it, so I said screw it I'll find my own box, which has turned out to be more difficult than I thought.

Where do you find a good cheap box that will fit skis and what's the cheapest way to ship them? I'm trying to tape together a bunch of smaller ones I got from the recycling but its not turning out well. I tried calling some ski/sports shops but no one seems to have any old boxes this time of year. This whole situation is turning into a huge hassle and pissing me off, so any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

Swing by a ski shop. They usually have old boxes in the back they use for store-to-store exchanges, or just haven't thrown away yet. If the skis are longer than 188s, you may have to telescope two boxes together.

$30-$45 is what you can expect to pay for shipping in the contiguous US.

1. Click search, read results which answer your question.

-or-

2.Go down to vons get a few produce boxes and strapping tape.

3. Wrap cardboard from said boxes around skis. Reinforce with said tape.
Continue until you have a ski shaped piece of cardboard.

4.Go down to United Stateds Post Office. Ship skis Priority mail. It should be about $20.00

If you are paying $45 to ship skis within the US you are crazy.

Get some cardboard.

Grab tons of packing tape.

Put skis together one in front of the other (assuming no bindings).

Wrap the cardboard around the skis as tight as possible. Priority mail is the ticket but they have limits on the size. They size the length and girth and add it together. Can't remember the limit right now but the tighter you wrap the skis the cheaper it will be.

Grab tons of packing tape.

Depending on US destination, expect $15-30

take a bunch of bubble wrap mailers(document sized) and cut the bottoms off. tape about 10 of them together and your set. They do a good job protecting the skis and they wrap nicely.

use a big box from a bike shop.

Keester it on a greyhound. if this doesn't work to decrease the price, go to a blind and/or curtain and ask for any old boxes. You can also to to a house radiator store and ask for any base board heater boxes. they work PERFECT. If all else fails, costco usually has boxes that will work.

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Originally Posted by dk_alaskan

Keester it on a greyhound. if this doesn't work to decrease the price, go to a blind and/or curtain and ask for any old boxes. You can also to to a house radiator store and ask for any base board heater boxes. they work PERFECT. If all else fails, costco usually has boxes that will work.

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Baseboard heater boxes...Fucking Brilliant!! Kudos to you good sir for a damn good Idea. I hope to buy you a beer some day:yourock:

stop going to those stores.
they are the most expensive (convenient) way to ship.
like everyone said - tape some cardboard - or for the real kir, just strap the skis together and put a label on them and take them to dhl or ups or the usps.
shouldn't be over $25.

Note that UPS /= UPS Store. The UPS Stores are independently owned franchises and have a very high markup on shipping rates compared to going to a regular UPS shipping location.

Another alternative is boxes for fluorescent lamp tubes.

Fridge Box and lots of packing peanuts. they will arrive safely and think of the fun they will have opening up such a large box. :)

USPS is the cheapest way, expect $15-$27 total for shipping. If they are long skis more than 180cm expect an extra charge. There is already a baloon charge because of the odd shape.

Second (or third) the wrap 'em up with cardboard with lots and lots of tape. You aren't relying on the box for any kind of structural protection, you just want to protect the skis from dings when they get tossed around.

I've found DHL to be the cheapest, even over USPS. I'm in a remote area, though, and I think DHL just swings up the slowest.

Ive never paid more than 25$ to ship skis in the western US.
This includes a pair of 183 rossignol axioms with DEMO bindings still on them.

So long as youre less than 108? linear inches, oversize charges wont apply.
and yea, USPS is the cheapest.

What skier666 said. I've done that and used fed ex and it came to less than $30.

The obvious answer is to buy more skis and then use the box to send the pair you want to sell to the other person. How could you not want more skis?

Great ideas, guys. Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dk_alaskan

Keester it on a greyhound. if this doesn't work to decrease the price, go to a blind and/or curtain and ask for any old boxes. You can also to to a house radiator store and ask for any base board heater boxes. they work PERFECT. If all else fails, costco usually has boxes that will work.

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Originally Posted by alpinedad

Another alternative is boxes for fluorescent lamp tubes.

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Use a large rolled document triangle shaped box, two of them taped end to end. boxes are about 36" long but not that wide.

http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=50181 Some good ideas here, too. Cardboard screws and 2-liter bottles, woo-hoo!

Bumping thread for an information request.

Has anyone shipped skis from Europe (France) to US? How much does it cost, how long did it take?

Target is Colorado, if that makes a difference.

Many thanks guys.

Bump.
Took skis to the PO today. Have shipped many in the past, usual charge about $18-20. Today they wanted $45.
Me: wtf?
Postal dude: balloon charge.
These were 183's wrapped up tight in cardboard.
Took them to Fedex, $29 ground and I was happy to pay it.

I usually fedex. Cheapest mostly but sometimes for whatever reason ups will beat them.

Maybe it's just living in Jackson but UPS and FedEx rates for skis, even through USPS, have been $70-120. Probably not being stingy enough with box size. But shipskis.com has been beating them for pricing.

FedEx and UPS also scalp you on shipping to Alaska. If you pack them well, USPS is about $30-$35 to/from Alaska.

I once sent a pair from NY to DE and it was $20 via FedEx Ground.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryan Dunfee

Maybe it's just living in Jackson but UPS and FedEx rates for skis, even through USPS, have been $70-120. Probably not being stingy enough with box size. But shipskis.com has been beating them for pricing.

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That's fuckt! I rarely spend over $40to ship skis with binders. Adult size ones as well.

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Originally Posted by 2FUNKY

That's fuckt! I rarely spend over $40to ship skis with binders. Adult size ones as well.

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Flipping A. Hope and expect it to be cheaper shipping to/from SLC

If you go to the UPS or FedEX store or the USPS counter you pay a service fee. I shipped skis lat week. CO to NV.
Same size box and weight the following prices:
UPS Store =$72
UPS online, print at home and drop at store = $41
USPS desk = $55
USPS online, print at home and drop at counter =$31
Paypal click and ship by USPS = $21

Go online, set up an account and pay there. Do not walk into the "store" and ask to ship this log box.

I know this is an old thread. I have had some luck using this service for shipping skis and bikes. Check it: (full disclosure, it's a give $10 get $10 link). Lugless.
https://app.lugless.com/invite/enough-resonance-990

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Originally Posted by Kootenai

I know this is an old thread. I have had some luck using this service for shipping skis and bikes. Check it: (full disclosure, it's a give $10 get $10 link). Lugless.
https://app.lugless.com/invite/enough-resonance-990

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FWIW - I shipped a pair of flat skis today via Pirate ship. They were long and heavy; $29. [USPS prices just bumped up this month too]Lug less shows a pretty standard retail price of $49 for the same package, same zip codes.

PirateShip, forever and ever and ever.