Vacuum Shipping Help

[vintagefox]

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if someone could help me ship a machine out to friend. I'm planning on giving a friend out in Atlanta, Georgia a Hoover model 700, which was a duplicate within my collection. However I have never shipped a vacuum cleaner before and far east. (As I live in Southern California.)

Now I am aware I have to keep in mind of some fragile pieces of the machine such as the wheels and heck even the rear flange. (Area where the bag ring seats against.) As I learned from a friend that received a machine back from Ohio with a bent flange, even when it was well wrapped. Also bracing the cord hooks on the handle so that mail carrier doesn't snap or bend them off.

I kinda got a rough idea on placing the motor unit in one box with a ton of packing material and the handle in another box. Though the issue is where to find a long box for the handle to sit in. I know the risk of tubes so I'm avoiding those. Any idea on how to pack it up?

And lastly what would the cost of shipping be in total for two separate packages. A rough estimate will do.
I'll include zip codes if needed.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Alex

 

[toddk13]

Depends on who you use to ship

I had two 700's, and a 725 shipped to me in the last six months. Two of the three had smashed rear wheels. Those MUST be removed.

Shipping charges were around $30 - $35 each for two boxes.

 

[vintagefox]

I'll make sure to remove them during shipping in that case. Possibly the front wheels as well just to be safe. That doesn't sound too bad and I plan on using USPS as they're much more gentle (well in my experience thus far.) with packages than UPS is. I don't have a FedEx nearby so that carrier is out of the question.

 

[toddk13]

USPS and Fed Ex

Both drop kicked my packages. The castings were wrapped pretty well with bubble wrap on all three - but if you bounce them off the ground a couple times, something will break. The rear wheels are super fragile. It's taken me MONTHS to find something suitable. I found a set of Hoover 119 wheels in England. Expensive shipment. They have the right diameter and appearance, but the axle holes need to be enlarged. I just found the right size wheels at a salvage place - old garage door rollers that are 1 3/4" diameter x 3/8" (a little narrow - should be 1/2") x 3/8" hole. Woo hoo. Close enough for $3 a pair.

 

[vintagefox]

Wow that really sucks, I guess I've just had good luck with my local post. If the wheels were to break, I might recommend him to use garage rollers as replacements.
Hopefully enough tape, bubble wrap and possibly packing peanuts will be enough to keep it from getting damaged.

 

[ryan1994jeep]

While I live closer to Augusta,Ga. I have never had a problem with FedEx in our area. UPS is a different story though.

 

[kirbykleankarpet]

Ahh, UPS... How I loathe thee...

 

[eurekaprince]

For packing the handle, try getting a long, thin box from a lighting store. I imagine floor lamps that come in one piece could provide you with a box the right size.

 

[pr-21]

I have had broken machines delivered, by UPS. I feel Fed Ex is better, but shipping will be costly as you need to get a larger box with tons of packing peanuts, styro foam packing pieces etc. Also place the machine inside a plastic bag before putting peanuts and packing in. I absolutely hate getting a machine that you have to dig peanuts out of the fan chamber, brush roll area, handle, etc. One more thing, take out insurance on it, so you don't end up having to refund the buyer and also be out the machine and shipping costs if damaged while in transit.


PR-21
Bud

 

[real1shep]

The trouble is.....

the distance. I ship & receive stuff all the time for varies hobbies. I live in WA and so if it comes from NM, OR, CA, ID and the like, usually no sweat with either UPS or FedEx. But.....anything of bulk that comes from east of the Mississippi is brutalized.  And USPS....well they can destroy anything even books. I had some rare books sent to me once in a decent box. The box had an imprinted X on the top. The books all inside had the imprinted X....some sort of hydraulic machine had done that. Brought it to the PO and they tried to blame me and the seller. Everything they say about the PO and many of the people there is true.


 


Best bet is to bubble wrap everything after you take the wheels and the handle off (if you can) and then get some closed cell shipping foam. You can cut the foam to engulf the bubble wrap items. Make sure everything is tight and nothing can move around.....this is key. Picture your packages falling off the top of a conveyor belt....will they take the hit? There is an expensive way to foil the gorillas. They make these strip things that change color depending on the impact severity. The carriers can't really argue with you because they show the actual impact by degrees.  Helps to have those when processing a claim...they are expensive though. They're like seismic buddy tattletales...lol.


 


When I ship & receive vintage electronics, I even double box. Some techs won't even accept the gear if it's not double boxed. That may be overkill for vacuums...you decide.


 


Kevin

 

[vintagefox]

Thanks for all the great advice and suggestions!
I actually have a tube bulb box, and after some measurements, it looks like it'll fit perfectly! It's quite thick but will still be reinforced inside and out to keep it from caving in.

 

[real1shep]

<a name="start_34379.372225"></a>While I live closer to Augusta, Ga. I have never had a problem with FedEx in our area. UPS is a different story though.



 


See, this is wholly geographical. I have just the opposite experiences here. But clearly, the PO although usually the cheapest, is the most likely to kill your precious cargo.  Ever file a claim with the PO...forgetaboutit.


 


I once had three boxes sitting on my doorstep; two large boxes and a small one. The large boxes were OK and the small one looked like someone had tossed it between two charging rhinos at the last second. I would have been embarrassed to leave it if I were the driver...they have no shame. I can tell stories like that for hrs with UPS having the edge over FedEx here for not slaughtering everything. We have a UPS hub here, but not FedEx. So the FedEx drivers come from about an hr away. If I'm not home and FedEx requires a sig, I have to drive 120 miles round trip to get the package....fun times.


 


Kevin

 

[warren_l]

Here in Middle Georgia, I usually get crushed, flattened and stepped on boxes in the mail and with UPS.
FedEx is different, the mangled boxes are delivered to any of my four different neighbors.
The delivery confirmation e-mail is my clue to start knocking on doors. No one brings my packages voluntarily.

I've mailed very fragile items by encapsulating in expanding insulation foam.
The technique is to fill two trash bags in the box with foam so it surrounds the item.
Done correctly, there's no space for the item to move.
It also enhances the structural integrity of the box.
You can buy spray cans of foam at Home Depot for about $3.00.

Urethane foam sticks to everything, and there's no solvent to remove it, the plastic bag is the barrier between the foam and item.

 

[real1shep]

Lol...I'll do you one better, Warren. I live in a small town in a supposedly 'safe' neighborhood. If I get a package delivered to a neighbor instead of me, I'll never see that package again. And I know all my neighbors on this block....we're all friendly with each other. Apparently, there is some unwritten code here that states if a package or letter is misdelivered, it is to never go to its rightful owner. I use to go around and knock/ask, but it's pointless. On my part at least, I make sure misdelivered stuff gets to its rightful owner.


 


I used to tear my hair out over this, but I just got used to it. However, I still find it bizarre as hell.


 


Kevin

 

[dch112]

About 2 months ago I saw a UPS driver walk up to an iron gate to deliver a package. He rang the bell. When no one came to answer he threw the package over the iron gate. The gate was maybe about 8 feet high.

 

[real1shep]

<a name="start_34379.372284"></a>About 2 months ago I saw a UPS driver walk up to an iron gate to deliver a package. He rang the bell. When no one came to answer he threw the package over the iron gate. The gate was maybe about 8 feet high.


 


If you go on youtube, there are actual surveillance vids of this very thing.  There's one where a driver/gorilla throws a flat screen TV in a box up over a fence like that. I myself saw a UPS truck go around a corner too fast and the back roll door went up, packages came tumbling out, he stopped, threw the packages from the road back into the truck, pulled the roll door back down and took off. 


 


You don't even wanna think about what your packages may go through. I had two identical packages sent here from NYC. The tracking said one was on the way, the other still in NYC. One package got here and the next day the 'missing' one got here. Tracking still said it was in NYC. As it was explained to me, one got scanned and the other did not. The carriers will gladly give you a reason for everything. If they guarantee a delivery date and the package doesn't come on time, they will blame a storm somewhere as the cause and "an act of God"...seriously they've done this to me numerous times.


 


Kevin


 


 


<div id="ext_searchPromptBtn" style="top: 263px; left: 8px; z-index: auto;"> </div>