[TheForge] Cost of shipping HD stuff?

[Steve Smith]

 From what I've done and heard, the usual method is truck freight. There 
are two ways to do this:

1. You call up one of the major freight companies for a quote. They 
classify your load according to some arcane list (which strongly affects 
the price), then quote you full list. You can ask for a "sunshine 
discount", which will get you 10% or so. You can also sort of dicker 
with them about classification (no, a flypress isn't a machine tool, 
it's more like a vise...). Most of their contract work is done at 50% of 
list price or less, so you're paying top dollar.

2. Use a freight broker. These guys poll their shippers and find out 
that there is a truck going the direction you want with enough room for 
your item. The truck is very happy to top off their load, and the rate 
is much more reasonable. I haven't done this for 10 years or so, but at 
that time it cost me $500 (cash, you're paying the driver) to ship 1800 
pounds from California to Colorado. The price isn't strongly dependent 
on weight, more dependent on volume, number of pieces. It usually ships 
on a pallet, and you need to arrange loading and unloading (i.e. have a 
forklift ready). This may take a little longer, depending on what other 
stops the truck has. You also may need to wait a week or so for pickup, 
so take this into account with your buyer.

A gotcha of shipping items that can be moved in a pickup is that the 
freight company calls and says "well, it's here in the local warehouse, 
but I don't see how we can get it to your house before ten days from now 
  (insert more whining here to convince customer)", this despite the 
contract reading "deliver to house". I think the best thing to do in a 
case like this is just pick the item up and don't use that freight 
company again. No point getting upset.

Availability can be a pretty variable thing. Moving from Colorado to 
Maine I kept most of my blacksmithing stuff, sold the machine tools. I 
figured it would be easy to replace them in New England. The mill was 
pretty easy; every lathe I looked at was pretty much worn to pieces at 
high prices. Easy to figure in retrospect. Watch the want ads, every 
night. Persistance pays off.

I'd be careful buying precision machinery sight unseen. The ads all 
sound like they are selling the same pristine machine, but when you look 
at them the actual condition can be all over the place. Maybe you can 
find a blacksmith friend nearby who can look at it for you?

Steve

northpt at blarg.net wrote:
> Hello TheForge
> 
> 	 I sometimes run across heavy equipment (less than 15,000lbs.) on the net, 
> like old planers or power hammers and the like. The price is okay, but shipping is the 
> show stopper. I am out here in the Pacific North West and most of the good ol' 
> equipment is out on the east coast or the midwest.
> 
> 	I am looking for the least expensive way of shipping. Is Rail possible? I have 
> heard of "Less than normal load shipping" how does that work? 
> 
> 	Any advise would appreciated.
> 
> Thanks!!!
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