Jeff Curtis

As some of you may know, recently I've been tasked with purchasing SEVERAL good used body panels for my baby.

I'm not the biggest fan of eBay, but I've found some INCREDIBLE deals on fenders and whatnot. Recently, a guy contacted me that won a hood, white and in "perfect" condition on eBay. He had a chance to sell the car before paying for the hood, he asked if I wanted to take over the auction win.

I did, the auction was won at $102.50...an AMAZING deal!! The owner of the hood runs a bodyshop and accepted our "plan". I paid for the hood and UPS shipping charges to Virginia Beach...$66, on a Visa.

After a few weeks, no hood...I emailed several times and eventually found a phone#, the owner answered and said he was on vacation and hadn't been able to send it, he had also recently fired the person who works his auctions and shipping the products. He said he would take it to UPS that day.

That was over a week ago. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

He called yesterday to say that UPS didn't accept the package because it was too large...neither did Fedex ground.

He claims he checked with another shipping company, and to deliver it to Norfolk International from K.C. International would be ~ $175!! ...HUH??

This sounds ridiculous to me, and I'm sure some of you have had a hood or large body panel, etc. delivered halfway across the U.S. in the past?

WTF?? ...I think the guy realizes the value of this part and is trying to get another $100 out of me...what do YOU think?

I'm considering asking for a return to my Visa and going on my way, he can get his other $100 out of the hood, as I'm sure it will turn up on eBay again...but I want a WHITE hood, in great condition...that's hard to find.

Thanks to MUCH help from the watchful eyes of Rennlist, I've been made aware of white fenders and recently, a perfect white front bumper cover...I have purchased the above mentioned items with a smile on my face - thought the hood purchase would go the same route...I was wrong.

SHOULD IT COST ME $175 TO SHIP A HOOD HALFWAY ACROSS THE U.S.???????

Bill Gregory

Jeff,

Call around and see what others would charge. Maybe try Parts Heaven (800.767.7250) in CA and find out what they would charge you to ship a hood cross country. Or Oklahoma Foreign ( 800.462.2446) Or 20th Street Auto Parts (AZ) (800-999-4911). These are used Porsche parts vendors, I haven't dealt with any of them, but they could probably tell you what they'd charge to send a hood to you.

craig001

Jeff,

The bad news is that shipping is expensive. So packaging. I just sold a set of seats on eBay and now have to figure out how to get them to New York. Both USPS and UPS have size/weight limits which may force the truck freight option and that's a killer. I'm going through MBE/The UPS Store and it was $302 from St. Louis to Chicago plus they wanted $125 to pack the seats. I am going to try contacting some trucking companies, but since I am just a guy and not a company with lots of business to offer it's probably moot. So don't blame you're seller, but have him check into using Parcel Post at USPS. They have a 70 pound weight limit and 130 inch total size restriction (Height plus all four sides width).

John H

I have shipped bumper covers and roll bars etc via Greyhound. It is very cheap, extremely fast with the only downside being you have to pick it up at the local station. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. As always, no affiliation.... <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

joey bagadonuts

For perspective, I bought some Cup II's from 20th Street and they charged me $90 to ship all four to Chicago. That's about $5 on top of the UPS tab for boxed parcels. If they had shrunk wrap them, it would've been cheaper--go figure!

You might also ask your friends at OG Racing. Roll bars always go by truck, so they probably have a good handle on such numbers.

Bill Gregory

[quote]<strong>I just sold a set of seats on eBay and now have to figure out how to get them to New York. Both USPS and UPS have size/weight limits which may force the truck freight option and that's a killer. </strong><hr></blockquote>

FWIW, I've bought two sets of Recaro SRD's, which UPS delivered. Depending on the seats (electric, for example), perhaps the weight is what kicks it out of UPS.

horst

Jeff, call the bodyshop that is doing the work on your crashmobile, and ask how THEY get their parts. BTW, UPS has really deteriortated in how they ship stuff. They have gone to "contract" drivers (no benefits, etc,don't give a sh*t) Where is this hood? My mom in NJ is not doing well, so I plan another trip to N.J. mid- December. This time I will be taking the F-150, not the P-car, so If I can help, let me know.

Manny Alban

When I bought my 93 drop out motor, they charged me $350 to deliver it from Washington State to Maryland. They're only request was that it be delivered to a place where a tractor trailer could unload. My mechanic's shop is in an industrial park, so that worked out perfect.

Ruairidh

[quote]Originally posted by craig001:
<strong>Jeff,

The bad news is that shipping is expensive. So packaging. I just sold a set of seats on eBay and now have to figure out how to get them to New York. Both USPS and UPS have size/weight limits which may force the truck freight option and that's a killer. .</strong><hr></blockquote>

I recently sold a pair of 964 comfort electric seats on eBay. No problem in UPS shipping them from Detroit to NJ in separate boxes (mine) and cost was somewhere around the $90 mark for both. Also the 993TT seats I bought came in one box FedEx Ground for $125 from LA.

One TopTip - have a UPS driver collect the package from your home, if you take it into a UPS branch - they are (a) fussy and (b) always try and sell you "necessary" additional packaging!

Jack667

I have had mostly good luck shipping large items like seats and wheels.

I bought a hood from a guy on the PCA mart, for $200. He quoted me $55 for shipping, so I sent a Money Order for $255, as agreed.

Same tune as you - first couple verses, anyway - they guy says that UPS won't take it, and he needs to find another method. More time passes. Finally, he tells me that he found a freight company to ship it, but it will cost more. He offers to pay the difference - I stay mum.

One week later, I get a call from the body shop, who tell me that the truck is there, with a hood practically folded in half. "Mickey-Mouse" packaging job done by the seller. They refuse it, and now I need to work on the seller.

He says that he did a good job packing and takes no responsibility. Says that its the freight co's fault. Says I did not ask for insurance (he never mentioned it).

Another month passes with not much progress. Finally, he agrees to send me a refund, for half. I got a check for $125.

In the meantime, my Porsche mechanic gaveme a free hood that he had in the back.

Oh well - I learned a couple of lessons...

Rick964

FYI - In my experience shipping UPS via a Mail Boxes Etc. store is always more expensive than going to UPS directly. MBE has a large markup, sometimes as much as 2x.

Jeff Curtis

Thanks for the responses guys, my "homework" so far has uncovered the fact that this will indeed cost me! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

Repeat after me:

I will NEVER wreck my car again!
I will NEVER wreck my car again!
I will NEVER wreck my car again!
I will NEVER wreck my car again!
I will NEVER wreck my car again!

Oh well, made arrangements for the $100 today...this hood BETTER be nice...and NOT folded in half!

Horst, hmmmmm, you got me thinkin' now...the hood is in K.C. Missouri...a bit of a drive for you...then I'm in V.B., a bit out of your way. I'll email you offline.