suggest a cheaper way to send skis

[treewell-dweller]

i just made my first purchase on the gear swap boards, a pair of pocket rockets (emphasis on rock). the dude just emailed me saying the cheapest shipping that ups could offer was $57 . that sounds ridiculous to both of us, and it's a total deal breaker as these are rock skis that i paid $60 for...

how do people usually ship skis? ups? usps? fedex???

what does it usually cost?

(mailing aspen to jersey, no bindings on the skis)

[bfree]

$30 and the company depends

oh and search function....jong

[concretejungle]

carrier pigeon

[Crass3000]

USPS Prioirity mail and Fedex ground should both be around $25 or less. I would imagine UPS is the same.

[naedward81]

ups robs you if you bring it to a store. ive shipped skis outta the shop and only paid $12. duluth to park city, ups. at the ups store, upwards of $40.

[Crass3000]

ups robs you if you bring it to a store. ive shipped skis outta the shop and only paid $12. duluth to park city, ups. at the ups store, upwards of $40.

Yep the UPS store is not owned by UPS and adds fees on top of what UPS normally charges. Fedex/Kinkos is actually owned by Fedex so they charge the same prices as you would get at any Fedex

[J-Rad]

FedEx ground has been the cheapest option for me.

[axebiker]

I usually use USPS Priority. Cost is okay, and it spends less time on the road. I like that...

[C.O. Jones]

Go to shippingsidekick.com and it compares all the rates. Just make sure you select "oversize package" to get an accurate quote.

Fedex is usually a buck or two cheaper than UPS and they have better customer service for when you need help. USPS is quick and can be cheaper if it's close, otherwise it's usually more.

[bagtagley]

I just shipped a pair with bindings for $22 through FedEx (they were short skis, but still). Setup an online acct with them. It's free, and it'll save you 10-15%.

[squatch]

Self-packaged, 191 skis (10 pounds of ski or so): $20 to ID from CO (at the UPS store in office max (depot?).

two less inches and I could have gotten them USPS for $15ish.

[Bandit Man]

FedEx ground has been the cheapest option for me.

Seconded. UPS charges "special handling" for skis if you are an average Joe. The Brown Santa just cannot deliver sometimes.

[GapersGoHome]

two less inches and I could have gotten them USPS for $15ish.

One word: hacksaw.

[treewell-dweller]

thanks for the advice everyone. i knew there had to be better options out there.

[myles long]

try DHL...you can ship within the US from any Staples store. Their rates are the best I have found.

[westcoastxpatriot]

try DHL...you can ship within the US from any Staples store. Their rates are the best I have found.

Thats the way to do it. They dont have long mailer tubes so find what u can, but i got a fedex one and just taped brown packing taped it to cover the logo. These big shots dont send shit in competitors boxes.

Anyhow, i got a pair of 184 sotmriders from NYC to Washington state for $13 or so. Way better then Fedex/UPS/USPS and you get the tracking...

[Crass3000]

I just sent some out today via Fedex ground for a little over $22. It would be less but they charge you $1 for every $100 of insurance over their standard $100 coverage.

edit: the secret to easy packaging is just keeping all the boxes you get skis shipped to you in. Just stuff them in the raftors of the garage and it sure makes life easier when you have to send them out yourself. Most people say ski shops will let you have them if you just ask and they have them onhand -- it saves them the time of getting rid of them.

[ski_rick]

Did that include the cost of the box? My local place charges $20 extra for a ski box, but any of the ski shops in town will give me one for free.