Bike postage

[TheThing]

Hi all, I've got the opportunity to buy a secondhand bike off of a well known auction website but have got the headache of getting the bike posted to me. I've never used a bicycle courier service before so can anyone recommend any? Under normal circumstances I would just drive there and pick it up but obviously this is not possible at the moment. Also does the bike have to be dismantled or boxed before it is collected? Thanks in advance.

[anonymous-user]

Surely the seller sorts out postage? Normally I take the font wheel off and put a drop out spacer thing in the fork, take the bars off and tape them to the top tube. Usually costs about £20 with parcelforce...

[TheThing]

Thanks for the reply. Yes it is down to the seller but got the impression that like me, he didn't really know how to go about it so thought I'd try and organize it myself to save waiting weeks on end for the bike to arrive. Not to worry now as the seller has pulled out because he doesn't want the hassle of posting it. Don't blame him really. It's a pain in the backside buying second hand.

[gazza285]

I would go and collect it myself.

[TheThing]

I'm tempted but think it would be against the current restrictions, even after tonight's announcement. It's a 280 mile round trip so not sure it makes sense financially either being as my car drinks petrol quicker than BP can make it.

[mattuk89]

Wait until Wednesday when you’re allowed to drive..

Will cost more than postage but least you know it’s safe.

I got a bike delivered by parcelforce, it came and the box was all ripped apart, had not been looked after, the bike itself was damage free though.

[benny.c]

I’ve used https://cyclesent.co.uk/ to buy and sell. They’ll send a box to whoever has the bike and then pick up when ready for sending. To fit the bike in the box the seller will need to remove the wheels, pedals and handlebars. Protect everything in bubble wrap to prevent damage.

[TheThing]

Thanks for the replies. I'm thinking about just driving up there and collecting it after some of the restrictions have now been lifted. Bike is a boardman team carbon in as new condition. It's done about 20 miles from new. It comes with a few extra bits and pieces. The bloke wants £550 for it. It's going to cost roughly £50 in fuel to get there as it's a 280 mile round trip. So roughly £600 for it and roughly 5hrs of my time. Do you reckon it's worth it?

[moonigan]

Last time I posted a bike after selling it on a well known auction site it cost me circa £50 to send it via Parcel Force. I got a bike box from Halfords and then packed the bike into it making sure it was well packed and protected yet by the time it had arrived at its destination the box had been broken and the frame damaged so I had to refund the buyer. I've never used parcel force since. I now use UPS, it costs a bit more but I have never had any issues.

If the seller is going to post it then he will need to source the box, dismantle the bike (remove bars, stem, wheels and pedals) and the pack the box well enough to try and avoid damage in transit. See above anecdote. If he hasnt done this before then chance of damage in transit increases.

If you really want the bike then agree to collect or meet half way and knock the cost of postage and sellers fees off the cash price.