Shipping advice needed for cast iron sink

[ken]

Would like to have this for my retro home renovation. Nothing ever seems to be close by! Can any one here offer advice on the best way to ship a cast iron sink from Sarasota, FL area to NYS, zip 12428? Approx dimensions are 33x22x10 and about 105 lbs. I see others ask here for advice on shipping appliances but not on smaller items.

I haven't gotten all the details yet from the seller but Im guessing they wouldnt be interested in packing it up so I would need a shipper that would offer that. I contacted Home Direct USA as I saw them recommend here in the past. Their services include pickup and packing. They quoted me $458 with $1,000 insurance optional for an additional $50.00. More than I expected unfortunately.

Thanks[this post was last edited: 5/29/2015-18:07]

 

[rockland1]

Shipping Advice

This would HAVE to be strapped to a pallet after it was well padded. An oversized pallet would be the only way to insure it wasn't damaged. Porcelain covered cast iron
is very easily damaged by anything that might come in contact with it.

 

[cadman]

Ken, is that really 105 lbs? I know they're heavy but that seems high to me.

I had a similar sink shipped many years ago, found it on ebay. The seller was clearing out a bunch of old stock they had come across but their packing skills left something to be desired. When I received it, the porcelain was chipped beyond salvage. They made things right by turning up a 3-bowl unit in turquoise.

What I remember, though, is in both cases it was shipped by standard carrier (either FedEx, UPS or USPS) and the shipping was NOT outrageous. No palletizing, either.

If strapping this one to a pallet is out of the question, it could be wrapped in foam padding and packed (tightly) in a cardboard box with masonite or plywood panels slipped in for top/bottom/sides. The tight packing would prevent any shifting which is issue 1. Then drop it all in a second box with packing material between the two, again, tightly. This should help with the 'drop' or 'pierce' factor.

Another thought...could this be sent via Greyhound Package Express? -C

 

[ken]

I got a reply from the seller and its still available. I'll have to see just how much the seller might be willing to help, if at all, in getting it to me. I do have a cousin who lives about 2.5 hrs NE of Sarasota in Weirsdale, FL. Don't know if that would be to any benefit though.

I used the weight of a new Kohler double bowl cast iron sink as a reference. The weight wasn't stated on the Kohler site. I found it on Amazon which listed the weight as 104 lbs. Maybe that was packed?

I know shipping anything this heavy and porcelain is risky. Ive seen how these sinks are packed from manufacturers though and its really not anything more than a heavy gauge cardboard box with rigid Styrofoam and cardboard packing. So they're able to do it without them being damaged.

FedEx, UPS, USPS, Greyhound are all good suggestions. I'll check into them. With all those though the seller would have to get involved with packaging. Will have to see just how much the seller might be willing to do.

 

[rockland1]

Shipping Advice

Ken: Remember when these are shipped from the manufacturer they usually don't go one at a time. Chances are they are shipped on a pallet with a number of other units. I can guarantee they are not shipped by UPS either. The plumber may pick them up one at a time from his distributor. I speak from personal experience.
I used to have an account with a plumbing distributor out of town and they refused to ship fixtures either porcelain or cast iron by anything but a freight line. I recall them telling me I would have a 95% chance of damage.

 

[goatfarmer]

If there are Fastenal stores close on either end, this is one option.

http://https//www.fastenal.com/en/22/third-party-logistics-(3pl)

 

[launderess]

Would not ship *anything* large and heavy

By any other method than freight. That or perhaps a really good U-ship contact. Failing that there is always the very expensive but often worth it Craters and Freighters.

Unless the item is *VERY* well packed/crated by whomever is shipping (seller or whatever) it does not stand a chance against what it is up against during transit by UPS, USPS or worse, FedEx Ground.

My local USPS parcel delivery person is an Asian woman who weighs no more than 120lbs. Have seen her struggle with and often drop heavy packages. It isn't her fault, the woman just does not have the upper body strength.

Learned my lesson with the AEG set and Home Direct delivery service; anything heavy and or large that the seller cannot or will not packaged/crate properly goes C&F or U-Ship. If neither can do then it won't go. Am tired of paying good money for things only to have them arrived busted and or damaged.

 

[neptunebob]

Ken, might you need an excuse to take a Florida vacation? If you drive down there and back, the fuel you use may not be much more than the shipping and you can pick up the sink, pad it very well in the trunk, take your time seeing the coast, stop at Disney and Universal and later on, you can tell use what you did for a summer vacation.

 

[vacosaurus]

You can consider using Greyhound bus.They accept items such as this and ship station to station in the luggage compartment of the bus. Seller would have to take item to Greyhound bus terminal near them and you would have to pick it up at a station near you.You can call Greyhound for details. They can quote you a price.They do this all the timeit is a regular service for them.

 

[countryguy]

Most bus companies have a weight limit for their BPX, usually 75 pounds as the parcels are moved on and off the bus by the bus driver.

 

[glomain]

shipping

I used u-ship a couple yrs ago. shippers bid each other 4 the lowest price,i got a washer picked up delivered in my basement 4 119.00.couldnt have done it myself 4 the price of gas!

 

[ken]

Thanks everyone for the info. When I let the seller know the sink would have to be shipped I never heard back from him. So I guess he wasn't interested in getting involved with that. Back to looking for another.