What is the best/most economical way to move a large item?

[radz3714]

Hello, So I am a buyer and the seller has an item that I want that is located in a clinic. It's dimensions are about 6 feet (depth) by 3 feet (width) by 8 feet height with a weight of 900 pounds. Distance needed to travel is 900 miles. With freight shipping the shipper will only pick up the parcel if it is crated or put on a pallet. The lady who is selling it won't be able to do it and expects it to be taken directly from inside the clinic. How would I arrange all this as it seems it requires additional logistics from what freight shipping offers. Any ideas? Thanks.

[mtgraves7984]

Any ideas?

@radz3714 

Maybe contact a Moving Service? Good luck.

[wastingtime101]

Is this the same item we discussed here or something different?

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Is-there-a-possibility-of-being-scammed-and-if-there-is-how/td-...

There are freight services that will pack the items. You have to pay extra for those services. I suggest finding a freight company that offers such a service if you're willing to pay for it.

Keep in mind when you arrange your own freight, your eBay buyer protections are void. If there's an issue with the item you either take it up with the freight carrier or you accept the loss because eBay's money back guarantee will not apply.

Here's a (long) list of freight carriers you can peruse; click the + sign to expand the list:

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options?id=4089#freight

Edit: the suggestion above about hiring a moving company instead of a freight carrier is a good one if the value of the item warrants the moving expense.

[radz3714]

Hi @wastingtime101 This is a different seller and different item. I spoke with the seller over facetime and they gave me an in person run down of the machine turned on and working. In their sale, it is a "local pickup only" for shipping.

I am 900 miles away and the item is 900 pounds. Do you have any advice on which freight shipping service would be best for my situation? (that would also move the machine out of the building and then put it on a pallet and then hoist it onto the freight truck?)

Alternatively, hire a freight company and a mover from (taskrabbit) and coordinate them together where the mover from task rabbit can move the item out of the clinic and then put the item on a pallet (is that what is required for a freight company to take acceptance of the item?) and then the same day have the freight company come to pick it up?

Would I still be able to arrange my own freight pickup/mover (even though the ad is "local pickup only")?

[radz3714]

Also wanted to point out that the seller will bubble wrap the sides (which is all the item really needs for protection against scrapes) and the item itself has wheels so it can be rolled around. I just don't understand the logistics on whether it needs to be palletized and/or required to have someone load it onto the freight truck or will the freight service do that. Ideally, looking for a freight company that does everything from start to finish basically like a moving company (wheels item out of the office and loads onto the freight truck and delivers to my address and then helps to unload it off the truck). If that isn't possible, perhaps a direction where I can combine some type of service where a guy can move out of the facility (just pushing it since its rollable - although not sure if it fits through the door since its 34.8 inches in width (narrowest dimension) while doors are my understanding just around that but the door may need to be taken off the hinges). and then does it require putting in a crate or on a pallet for the freight company to take acceptance? (if so then the mover will need to have those skills/equipment to do so)

[radz3714]

I've been quoted at 2-3k usd which seems insane since when I shipped my car by boat across the ocean from another country it only cost 1200 usd. So basically looking for the safest/most economical way to transport this 900 pound (5.5 foot by 3 foot by 8 foot machine that has wheels on the bottom) without me having to actually fly down myself.

[radz3714]

I've also did some research for example freightcenter only charges around 500$ for the same distance although not sure how it works since everyone was on holiday today so will call in monday. Any guidance is much appreciated. Thanks.

[radz3714]

Can I still employ the ebay money back guarantee if I arrange the freight shipping using the list provided by ebay even though the sale is a "local pickup only":

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options?id=4089#freight

or do I need to purchase the item after the seller revises to include freight shipping as an option and then select from one of the freight shippers on the list. (Would I need to call into that freight shipper that's partnered with ebay to get a quote and then let the seller know what the price would be and then have them list freight with the price that I got from the freight shipper is what i mean) and then I can send best offer and select the freight shipment option that way it's all tracked through ebay including my money back guarantee?)

[radz3714]

Basically what's the best way to go about this? Since I've video called with the seller going through the machine on facetime, I feel reasonably confident with the integrity of the sale and the machine working. I think the biggest issue is the logistics of actually getting the item to me without having to show up myself to "pick it up" via a rental truck and even then would need several guys to help me move the item into the truck, possibly take the door off the hinges to get the machine out of the building, and since the rental truck only has a 23 inch ramp, requires me to rent pallet loader or build my own truck ramp. neither of which I know how to do.

[rfmtm]

Probably the best and lowest cost is a moving company or a local trucking company that has a regular route between you and the seller, rather than freight.  A mover will not required a pallet and is use to moving things blanket wrapped.  Call a few movers in your local yellow pages and get some estimates. 

[simba6]

Items not on a pallet sitting out for easy forklift access will have extra fees.  All you can do is check rates with as many shippers as you can find.

[soh.maryl]

You have not identified the actual item, but cannot imagine that the price of shipping alone would make this a practical purchase.  Since you mention that it's located in a clinic, have to assume it's some sort of medical device?  Plus there's the fact that you'd have NO protection from eBay if it's damaged in shipping.  Is it not available from any other source?  

[soh.maryl]

". . .without actually having to fly down myself."

How would that work, exactly? Seems a bit large to be your carry-on luggage.  

[buyselljack2016]

It's only 900 miles. You can haul it yourself for less than 2-3K including load/unload assistance.

Rental car to get there. Rental truck for the return. 

I doubt that they built the building around the piece of equipment. 99.9% chance that it will go through their doorway without issues.

Finding assistance to load the item at the source should not be a daunting task.

[cardsforauction]

As long as the item is well protected I guess a moving company can do it.  Usually, I think you would use freight shipping such as Conway, Mayflower, etc.  I believe the item will be placed on a pallet, with the hard cardboards for protecting the corners and edges of the item.  Several wraps of plastic to cover the item and some metal or plastic ties.  That's the basic packaging from what I've seen working in a warehouse years ago.