You can pick up Fed EX tubes from Fed Ex or order them online. However I have had Fed Ex not want to do a ground shipment in a Fed Ex Express tube and the post office complain about the Fed Ex tube and vice versa....
JV
Cue prep for sales and shipping
- Thread starter classiccues
- Start date
You can pick up Fed EX tubes from Fed Ex or order them online. However I have had Fed Ex not want to do a ground shipment in a Fed Ex Express tube and the post office complain about the Fed Ex tube and vice versa....
JV
PVC all the way
I had to ship a cue in a trade deal once and had read a horror story about a a cue being crushed in a triangular box. I went to home depot and used a 3" pvc pipe that they cut to the length I needed. I had to buy 2 end caps for a few dollars each. I wrapped the butt and shafts individually with bubble wrap and then another layer or 2 around all of it, stuck it in the pvc pipe and taped both ends with heavy packing tape. I took the pipe and stuffed it into the triangular box for shipping. Since I was trading for a bigger cue, once he received it, repacked it in the same pipe and new box and sent it back to me. Never had any worries about the cue being damaged because it would take a truck running over this to break it. It added a little weight to the shipping but I'd rather the extra cost than a broken cue. I'd use this packing method on any cue that was $1500 or more. It's just peace of mind.
I had to ship a cue in a trade deal once and had read a horror story about a a cue being crushed in a triangular box. I went to home depot and used a 3" pvc pipe that they cut to the length I needed. I had to buy 2 end caps for a few dollars each. I wrapped the butt and shafts individually with bubble wrap and then another layer or 2 around all of it, stuck it in the pvc pipe and taped both ends with heavy packing tape. I took the pipe and stuffed it into the triangular box for shipping. Since I was trading for a bigger cue, once he received it, repacked it in the same pipe and new box and sent it back to me. Never had any worries about the cue being damaged because it would take a truck running over this to break it. It added a little weight to the shipping but I'd rather the extra cost than a broken cue. I'd use this packing method on any cue that was $1500 or more. It's just peace of mind.
..everybody get together try to love one another right now.....
i think everyone that swaps cues back and forth on az should use pvc, why?
because it's environmentally friendlier as an infinitely reusable product and provides better protection and cheaper in the long run. you'll know eventually you'll get one back after you ship one out.
plus it'll get rid of that fire hazard of shipping tubes and boxes in your basement! think of how happy your wives/gf's will be! i know mine would!
i think everyone that swaps cues back and forth on az should use pvc, why?
because it's environmentally friendlier as an infinitely reusable product and provides better protection and cheaper in the long run. you'll know eventually you'll get one back after you ship one out.
plus it'll get rid of that fire hazard of shipping tubes and boxes in your basement! think of how happy your wives/gf's will be! i know mine would!
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JV
JV
I use similar methods as have been specified here. Seems like good common sense but I guess it can't be stressed enough.
In addition, I take pictures of cues I pack for shipping, and I take pictures of cue packages I receive.
I have seen some really crummy shipping jobs.
Look out when buying a cue from a "non-cue person". I learned to solve that by being pro-active. I tell them in advance how to ship a cue. If it seems like too much effort to them I offer to pay them a few bucks for the packing job.
One of the worst sales, packing, and shipping jobs I have seen was done by an AZBer with a high iTrader. The cue was specifically described as not having certain flaws (I specifically asked) which it turned out to obviously have. It was clear that the person flipped the cue without ever even looking at it and probably never even touched it. The cue was packed in a soft case with a cue scuffer in the bottom of the case that banged the hell out of the cue butt sleeve. Nice job, real nice job. Hence I put very little value in iTrader scores.
Who was that?
It turns out that in spite of his best efforts to portray himself otherwise he actually knows little or nothing about pool cues or pool in general....just another scammer.
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In addition, I take pictures of cues I pack for shipping, and I take pictures of cue packages I receive.
I have seen some really crummy shipping jobs.
Look out when buying a cue from a "non-cue person". I learned to solve that by being pro-active. I tell them in advance how to ship a cue. If it seems like too much effort to them I offer to pay them a few bucks for the packing job.
One of the worst sales, packing, and shipping jobs I have seen was done by an AZBer with a high iTrader. The cue was specifically described as not having certain flaws (I specifically asked) which it turned out to obviously have. It was clear that the person flipped the cue without ever even looking at it and probably never even touched it. The cue was packed in a soft case with a cue scuffer in the bottom of the case that banged the hell out of the cue butt sleeve. Nice job, real nice job. Hence I put very little value in iTrader scores.
Who was that?
It turns out that in spite of his best efforts to portray himself otherwise he actually knows little or nothing about pool cues or pool in general....just another scammer.
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One piece of advice is to measure the shaft with the calipers not the ferrule
Often, especially with older cues, you will get a different measurement a few inches down the shaft due to poor maintenance practices. You may be representing a 13mm shaft when measured at the ferrule ony to have the buyer stroke with it and "feel" the much thinner shaft in front of the ferrule.
Important shipping price update
try not to use the Fed Ex or UPS triangle overnight tubes. These companies use a minimum rate system for packages. Those triangular tubes are calaculated being a 6 x 6 x 36 package. The formula runs 6 x 6 x 36 / 166 and rounded up is 8 lbs. A cue in this package with sufficent bubble wrap is usually 3 lbs. To ship from NJ to Cali, the shipping rate is 97.00 standard overnight in their tube, in a 4 x 4 x 36 box the rate is 77.00. They base it on 8lbs. If you can get it in a 3 x 3 it would be $ 70.00
So keep this in mind as you ship items, you may save a little money by investigating the way you package.
JV
try not to use the Fed Ex or UPS triangle overnight tubes. These companies use a minimum rate system for packages. Those triangular tubes are calaculated being a 6 x 6 x 36 package. The formula runs 6 x 6 x 36 / 166 and rounded up is 8 lbs. A cue in this package with sufficent bubble wrap is usually 3 lbs. To ship from NJ to Cali, the shipping rate is 97.00 standard overnight in their tube, in a 4 x 4 x 36 box the rate is 77.00. They base it on 8lbs. If you can get it in a 3 x 3 it would be $ 70.00
So keep this in mind as you ship items, you may save a little money by investigating the way you package.
JV
Thanks JV, that great advice for those shipping express overnight.
Generally, I like to just ship via USPS priority and the prices is very reasonable to anywhere using the standard tube and triangle boxes.
Regards,
Duc.
Generally, I like to just ship via USPS priority and the prices is very reasonable to anywhere using the standard tube and triangle boxes.
Regards,
Duc.
USPS Priority uses actual tube weight, I believe. Seems to be overnight charges that are the most diverse in pricing. Their pricing is very good, and usually cheaper on overnight AND second day stuff.
JV
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JV
JV
for tubes, I generally go to Home Depot and get the perforated pvc piping and have them cut it to my desired length. It is relatively cheap. I wrap the butt and shafts like you said, and then wrap the ends until it fits snugly in the perforated pipe. The tube then goes into the triangle box and I make sure I stuff enough paper or bubble wrap to make the tube inside snug in the triangle one. Like Sean, I always tape every seam on the box. No problems ever, and if there is damage, I understand that most carriers deny the claim if there is not an internal tube or some other rigid protection for the cue (haven't experienced that myself).
Just a reminder
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jv
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jv