Just a follow up on this topic, I requested a quote for shipping an old rusty truck door from Utah to Massachusetts and here is the response I received back.

" I received your information inquiring about a price to ship through Fastenal. Unfortunately we are not able to haul your shipment. This type of product is not insured through Fastenal and is at high risk for damage. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your interest shipping with us.
Thank you,"


So this leaves me wondering what the people who have actually used this service in the past have stated as the product that they are shipping?



maybe I should have said it was some short galvanized sections of 3" pipe ?or something that is not easily damaged???


willing to try again just a different product maybe??

 

Josh, did they say if the item had to be boxed or crated?

 

Bobj,

putting that one in the file and keep section. That is some good info.

 

Shipping companies can be funny. Once I had an item on eBay and a potential buyer wanted it shipped FedEx if he bid on it. I called FedEx and asked for a quote. I didn't have an exact address, the guy only gave me his city and zip code. When the FedEx guy asked about the address I explained I only the city and zip code and only wanted a quote to give a price to a eBay bidder. The FedEx guy shut me down, he said they won't ship anything sold on eBay because of fraud. I then got the complete address from the potential bidder and called FedEx again to get a quote. During our conversation something was said about eBay, I don't remember what, I think he asked if it was an eBay item and again the operator shut the conversation down. I called back a third time and made sure I didn't mention eBay and finally got a quote.

Maybe Fastenal is the same, just securely crate the part and tell them it's a generic part of some sort. The guys on the HAMB I assume were shipping auto parts like engines and large sheet metal parts.

 

They did not specify but in the notes section in the form I filled out I stated that the item (door) would be packaged in a cardboard box. it is only about 55"x36"x8" and 50 lbs or so. so not a huge package by any means. they could drop it and the only problems it would cause is some loose rust to fall off.

 

The door reminded me about a set of doors I shipped FedEx once. It was the first time I shipped using FedEx. I compared costs between UPS and FedEx and FedEx was a bit cheaper so I shipped the using them. I get the bill and there's an additional $100 on the invoice. I called and asked what it was for and they tell me it's for an over sized package. I tell them there was no mention of an over sized fee on their web site and the guy tells me they don't list on their web site and that I had to look through the booklet they gave me when their salesman set my account up. I told them to screw that and I wasn't going to pay it because I'm not going scan through their damn book, that information should be on their web site like UPS's. The guy said he'd wave the extra fee this time because I was a new account but they wouldn't do it the next time. I told them there would be no next time and have never used them again.

The story doesn't end there. A couple of days later FedEx shows up at my door with the two doors. I call and ask why they were returned and they tell me they sounded like something was broke inside. The sound they heard was the rust tinkling around inside the doors. I went off he deep end and demanded they come and get the doors and deliver them. They wanted to charge me an additional fee to do it. That didn't sit well with me. After I got off the phone I did feel a little sorry for the operator and his supervisor but it didn't last long.

 

I Tried this again. This time for tires and wheels on a pallet. Just playing it safe I said it was some steel discs with rubber bumpers around outside. Got my quote and its easily $75 cheaper than my friends business freight shipping acount qoute for the same load same options. Only difference is I pick up at the closest store vs my friends business. Ill post up how this pans out once its completed.

 

Gosh, how'd I miss this? We deal with Fastenal daily. I'll talk to them, and see what they have to offer for delivery all the way up here in no-man's land.

 

My friend ships a lot of engines and engine parts on his freight account which is very reasonable. But shipping body parts vs engines will easily be double the cost or more and its less than half the weight. I think its the potential for damage to body panels vs engines is much greater? and they probably have more claims on those types of shipments.

48x48" pallet. About 5' tall and approx 900 lbs. 2000+ miles for $358.

 

My response to the standard question of "is it fragile" is yes it is if you run over it with the truck!
On that note I had a camshaft custom ground and needed to ship it across country. I expressed my concern with potential loss since it is not readily replaceable. The shop owner said that only once did he have a problem and it was a camshaft from an Isotta Fraschini. UPS lost it. 6 months later as fabrication of a new camshaft was in process (after a lot of effort to find, measure and produce a drawing of said camshaft), the smashed wooden box arrived with a beyond straightening original camshaft. As I indicated above it is fragile if you run over it with a truck.

 

Does Fastenal offer insurance like UPS and FedEx? I would assume they do.

 

Hey Scott, wonder what they'd charge to ship that EB frame I'm still holding for you?

 

I'd have to ask. Or our truck driver passing through could pick it up. I haven't forgot.

But if it's in your way, go ahead and let it go.