Shipping heavy bulky wordworking projects to your customers?

[8Balls]

Hey guys and girls just wondering what everyone uses for shipping heavy bulky wordworking items to customers?
Only made projects for my own home in the past but have been asked on numerous accasions to make bespoke items for others, the making is not the problem its getting the item to the customer.

Just wondering if there is any specialised delivery services out there that actually care about what they are shipping.

I was looking at van rental but thats time consuming and also really expensive.

Any advice greatly appreciated

 

[Adam W.]

There are art transporters, but they make buying a van and doing it yourself look like the best option.

 

[8Balls]

There are art transporters, but they make buying a van and doing it yourself look like the best option.

Ha ha expensive then

 

[Adam W.]

Pretty much.

 

[Kayen]

You could try Shiply.com - I recently sent a few slabs of pippy oak all the way to Wales for £60

 

[Jamesc]

I have used several man and van solutions specilaising in antiques. They travel the length of the country every couple of weeks collecting and delivering goods. They are cost effective and insured but you have to accept the delivery and collection days that fit with their schedule.

I am happy to PM the details of someone we have used successfully a few time if you are interested. Usual disclaimer. No association whatosever except satisfied customer.

 

[Spectric]

Shipping anything that is bulky or heavy is going to be expensive, the companies that have a large turnover tend to have contracts with a courier where the P&P is included in the sale price of their goods even though they tell you it is free shipping.

I have some items that I am clearing out, going to be giving away local as shipping to any buyer would be cost prohibitive due to the weight. Recently brought an item from a firm in Notts and it cost me £70 shipping !

 

[thetyreman]

try the pub, ask someone if they have a van and offer them cash to deliver it.

 

[8Balls]

I have used several man and van solutions specilaising in antiques. They travel the length of the country every couple of weeks collecting and delivering goods. They are cost effective and insured but you have to accept the delivery and collection days that fit with their schedule.

I am happy to PM the details of someone we have used successfully a few time if you are interested. Usual disclaimer. No association whatosever except satisfied customer.

I would be over the moon if you could PM me the details, I'm just starting out with making my creations available to customers and the last thing I want is items turning up on door steps damaged. Happy to work with their schedules if they provide a good service

Thanks Jamesc

 

[8Balls]

Shipping anything that is bulky or heavy is going to be expensive, the companies that have a large turnover tend to have contracts with a courier where the P&P is included in the sale price of their goods even though they tell you it is free shipping.

I have some items that I am clearing out, going to be giving away local as shipping to any buyer would be cost prohibitive due to the weight. Recently brought an item from a firm in Notts and it cost me £70 shipping !

I will end up getting a larger vehicle as being able to also collect sheet materials will be cost effective, a roof rack on my Mini will have to do at present

 

[HOJ]

shipping heavy bulky wordworking items to customers

Presume you mean woodworking! by definition "heavy" and "bulky" will be pricey, most firms would want it palletised for one man drops, then factor in distance, even more pricey, is what you are making & selling going to stand the uplift in this cost? I have a large van fitted with a frail, roof rack and a flat bed trailer so I can deliver everything I make, but even then I will only do so locally (50 miles) mainly because I have to go to the job in the first place to measure it up.

 

[heimlaga]

One or twice I have delivered or fetched something by tractor and trailer. City people tend to stare when a Massey-Ferguson 165 pulls up. Normally I deliver stuff by minivan and trailer. I welded up my own custom roof racks for the van.

 

[Bromley]

We used Shipley to arrange transport of a large pine table to a son in Galway - so extra expense, as international.
It cost around £200, much better than other quotes we received.

 

[8Balls]

Presume you mean woodworking! by definition "heavy" and "bulky" will be pricey, most firms would want it palletised for one man drops, then factor in distance, even more pricey, is what you are making & selling going to stand the uplift in this cost? I have a large van fitted with a frail, roof rack and a flat bed trailer so I can deliver everything I make, but even then I will only do so locally (50 miles) mainly because I have to go to the job in the first place to measure it up.

Thanks for the info HOJ, and yes my it was supposed to say woodworking

 

[8Balls]

One or twice I have delivered or fetched something by tractor and trailer. City people tend to stare when a Massey-Ferguson 165 pulls up.

 

[Sean33]

Hey guys and girls just wondering what everyone uses for shipping heavy bulky wordworking items to customers?
Only made projects for my own home in the past but have been asked on numerous accasions to make bespoke items for others, the making is not the problem its getting the item to the customer.

Just wondering if there is any specialised delivery services out there that actually care about what they are shipping.

I was looking at van rental but thats time consuming and also really expensive.

Any advice greatly appreciated

If it helps, I have recently used a company called trans global express. Shipped display cabinets with glass front and glass shelves, said to the buyer expect the worst! Each cabinet with packaging came in at just over 35kg, from memory came in at £340 and this was to Connecticut, left me on the Monday and was hanging in the clients house by Friday. Had exactly the same with sending tables to Amsterdam and L.A