Shipping a bike in the UK

[silk186]

I'm selling a bike and a potential buyer asked if I would ship it to him.
What is the cheapest service for shipping a bike
I've found a few that can ship boxed like paisleyfreight and parcelmonkey
Can any ship unboxed, or box it for me?

 

[AndyRM]

Shipping unboxed could potentially damage the bike. They don't take much to prepare for safe postage.

 

[400bhp]

Do you know the individual?

Which country are you sending it to?

How are they paying for it?

It might be more trouble than its worth to sell to an overseas buyer, unless you have some safeguards.

 

[uclown2002]

Do you know the individual?

Which country are you sending it to?

How are they paying for it?

It might be more trouble than its worth to sell to an overseas buyer, unless you have some safeguards.

I don't think he's shipping a bike overseas!

 

[ianrauk]

+1 for Paisley Freight

and also +1 for asking your LBS or Halfords for a bike box.

 

[jarlrmai]

I'd take the wheels off put them in wheel boxes (ask your LBS) and ship them separately then get a frame box and use that.

Take off as much as you can easily, chain, rear derailleur etc and pack separately.

 

[silk186]

It is shipping from Reading to Devon.
They person is willing to pay the full asking price + shipping.
Most other people that call are trying to negotiate a lot off the price before they even see it.
It is worth it if I can get an extra 30-40 quid.
Pay through paypal

 

[ianrauk]

It is shipping from Reading to Devon.
They person is willing to pay the full asking price + shipping.
Most other people that call are trying to negotiate a lot off the price before they even see it.
It is worth it if I can get an extra 30-40 quid.
Pay through paypal

Bank Transfer not paypal for any sort of larger sums.
Unless you are 100% sure the buyer is genuine.

 

[jarlrmai]

Sounds scammy to me, offer to deliver in person see what they say.

 

[jay clock]

Royal mail parcels..... good value and will take boxes of that size

 

[Globalti]

Paisley Freight are good but like Parcel Monkey they are merely agents for TNT. This is what TNT did to a bike they carried for us: unfortunately the buyer's idiot wife signed for the parcel "in good condition" despite the huge hole driven through it so at first TNT refused to pay for the damage. Eventually though by being a proper pain in the wotsit I got a decent sum of compensation out of them, about half the cost of the repairs.

So pack that bike well. Remove the derailleur hanger and protect every part of the frame.

TNT damage:

 

[silk186]

I will go around this afternoon and try to find a box.
I will insist on bank transfer and ship through Parcel Monkey.