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.

[radz3714]

Was thinking about flying to the pickup location and renting a penske truck. Maybe getting a mover off task rabbit and pay him an hour to help me move the item and take door off hinges. the task rabbit guy would need to have the forklift or bring a ramp since the penske truck only has a 23 inch ramp and then together we could load it into the truck and then I drive it 900 miles back to my destination and then figure out how to get it out of the truck from there by hiring some make shift movers again when I arrive.

I'm getting quoted for around 1700$ for moving the machine out of the 2nd floor into the truck, the mover will take the door off hinges, and do whatever packaging is necessary, the truck will drive 900 miles to my location and they will unload it and place it where I want. Am I getting shafted or is this the going rate?

[rfmtm]

Is there no freight elevator or fork lift available at the location?

Is it an item that could be put on a pallet or is it too big for that?

Is there a loading dock?

[radz3714]

There is a loading dock. No fork lift. The seller just wants the item gone to make space and they don't know how to make the item freight shipper nor do they have the tools or manpower to do so. The expectation is that I arrange all shipping and remove it from their clinic. They don't lift a finger other than opening the front door to allow anyone I have hired to go inside to take the item away.

[soh.maryl]

Just curious:  Did you ever resolve your problem with this potential purchase?  

[rfmtm]

A rate of $1200-$1700 would be expected.  You might want to try putting it up for bids with uship.com.  If you are not in a hurry you may get lucky and find a truck going by with empty space to your location at a better rate.

[radz3714]

Ah so it sounds like I got shafted a bit.. I'm on the high end. I didn't have the time. Owner of the machine needed to clean out facility and their lease was ending this week. Was a race against time to get the right mover (who would go beyond what a freight shipper would do) and didn't have anyone else that I knew that would do all that (go into the facility, disassemble, take door off hinges, take it down to the truck, pack, load onto the truck. Now the item should reach me within 14 business days.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

I share @mtgraves7984 's suggestion to contact a household mover.

They might just take it as is and wrap it in a moving blanket.

Would probably take it to their warehouse and add it to a household load going to a close destination to where you want it.

You might see some delay in delivery but the cost would be lower than freight truckers.

Assumes that there are no hazmat issues.

[1786davycrockett]

@radz3714 

Teleportation.

(This method may not be available in your area, due to local zoning prohibitions.)

[radz3714]

Sounds like that requires an apparating license. I'm a muggle and not a wizard so unfortunately that option is out for me. Also never been on planet Yardrat to learn the instant transmission technique. Need Elon's starship to find this mystical planet or develop warp drive soon 😄

[radz3714]

Yes, the item is purchased and en route to me. All video and pictures taken right beforehand for inspection, wrapped and professionally packaged with fragile stamp and placed in the moving truck. As @rfmtm aluded to, I was likely on the high end and shafted 500$ in the moving process due to lack of time to find the optimal transportation. The company also had a more predatory contract (deceptive in my opinion) as I was not made aware of many issues until after I had e-signed the contract. As long as the moving is a smoothe process then all of that won't matter (which normally it shouldn't). But in the rare event something does happen, then it'll be a headache.

[asset_liquidators]

You would need to contact rigging services in the area where the item is located to get quotes. Shipping by boat is the cheapest way to ship something so you cant compare it to what is needed in your current situation.

[ebooksdiva]

If you decide to hire a third party service to pick up the item to have it delivered, understand that in the event something happens to the item in transit you won’t be able to win an item not as described case because hiring a third party service to pick up the item will void Money Back Guarantee. Just keep that in mind. 

[asset_liquidators]

You were not shafted at all. You got a bargain if you found someone to do this for under 2k (especially with the time constraints).

[buyselljack2016]

I would have to reread(not going to), but not sure that this one even had anything to do with eBay 😂

[worldcoinauctions]

In my opinion you should go get it yourself. I've driven over 1200 miles to get an item I won on ebay. It was a fun trip actually and far cheaper than freight.