One PC bow shipping frustration

[wingnut]

We ship bows all over the world and are really frustrated with the inflated prices of shipping a one piece bow outside the US.  USPS has the best rates but won't ship over 60" long, UPS will ship it but charges $150 for one bow or blank.

Any suggestions?  I here some bowyers can ship USPS, how do you do it?

I have customers in Australia that want to get the WindTalker blanks but it doubles the price too ship them.

Mike

[James Wrenn]

Make a blank that will use a sleeve and only sell two piece blanks where shipping is a problem.  :D

[Paul Mattson]

If you can keep it under: Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches.  You can use International Priority. A 6" PVC pipe is 21" around,  you could go 70" in length and still be good to go.

[JRY309]

Have you tried Fed X? I know about USPS max length is 60".Badger but with USPS you can have a larger girth but it can not be longer then 60" for International shipping.I shipped a longbow to France and had to use UPS and it cost $122.15 two years ago.Thats the problem with shipping longer items Internationally,you don't have alot of choices,and I can imagine you do alot more shipping out of the country.

[Paul Mattson]

Here's what is in the postal regs.  it is broken down into country's.  Use a tube when shipping bows.

This is for USPS Priority International..  

236.23 Exceptional Size Limits
The maximum size limit for rectangular-shaped parcels of 42 inches in maximum length and 79 inches in maximum length and girth combined applies to all countries except as follows:

Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches.
Canada
Hong Kong
 

Maximum length: 60 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches.

Andorra
 Luxembourg
Austria
 Macao
Azerbaijan Malta
Belgium
 Netherlands
Denmark
 New Zealand
Finland
 Norway  
France
 Poland
Germany
 Portugal
Gibraltar
 San Marino
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
 Slovak Republic (Slovakia)
Greece
 Spain
Ireland
 Sweden
Italy
 Switzerland
Japan
 Vatican City
Liechtenstein

[wingnut]

Badger,

So from what I can see Australia is limited to 42" long and 79" total.

How does a tube help?

Mike

[SpankyNeal]

I think the tube gives you less girth, allowing more length to reach the maximum combined.

[d. ward]

Try calling some airfright companies next time maybe.Some have rather good rates and no length limit..bd

[bayoulongbowman]

The bow I got last year was shipped in PVC pipe ...ups...wonder why so high?   :(

[Rob DiStefano]

prelude - i ship fretted instruments all over the world.  thankfully, none are longer than 45".

no matter what the 'dimensional' length/weight, the killer part is the total length and each country could have different package dimension/weight rules - the  www.usps.com  site lists the international shipping rules by country.  

you will find most offshore countries list 60" as the maximum package length, so shipping a typical 1pc bow will incur a crazy high delivery price tag.  

domestically, i just shipped a longbow from nj to al in a 4" x 65" *sewage pipe* pvc tube and the cost before insurance was $11.29 - you want to use the lighter weight sewage/drain pipe and not the heavyweight schedule pvc.

mike, you might wanna check with norm johnson at blacktail bows - he regularly ships to europe.

[Paul Mattson]

Mike,
Sure you can.  Each one has conditions set.I ship no other way than USPS.  At times I have to show the clerks at the PO on how to send something.  


  http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/ab_012.htm#ep1572941  


Country Conditions for Mailing — Australia


Size Limits (216.5)

An item must be large enough to hold on its face the postage
and the plastic pouch that carries the Global Express
Guaranteed Air Waybill/Shipping Invoice (shipping label).
The shipping label is approximately 5.5 inches high and
9.5 inches long, and the plastic pouch that carries it is
approximately 7 inches high and 12 inches long.

Maximum length: 46 inches
Maximum width: 35 inches
Maximum height: 46 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

[Danny Rowan]

Badger,

A max length of 46" is not gonna help Mike. Most all one piece bows are longer than that.

Danny

[jcar315]

Shipping is an issue for all of us. I agree that the tube is the most cost effective way to ship IMO. I also have had Badger's experience that you need to help the clerks on how to measure it. I live on East Coast and have never shipped overseas but just shipping to West Coast can be wicked expensive. I guess we need to factor the ship cost into our bow buying decisions.