Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

What's the most cost-effective way? UPS, Fed Ex, Postal Service? This will all be within California.

if you have your own tube and stuff then USPS is the way to go. I have used the USPS first class a few times and very satisfied! Good luck.

Usps priority in a 2" pvc tube is usualy the cheapest way to go,. should cost less than $15 to get up here.

Beware of the post office shipping!!! I sold two St. Croix rods on ebay for $220.00 and shipped them off in one rod tube insured for $220.00. They came but smashed and both broken. I filed a claim and was denied. I filed a second claim and was told the rods depreciated and they sent me a check for $50.00. I filed a third claim contesting it and was denied again. I will never ship with the USPS again. Sorry just had to vent!!!!!

Doug Warren wrote:Beware of the post office shipping!!! I sold two St. Croix rods on ebay for $220.00 and shipped them off in one rod tube insured for $220.00. They came but smashed and both broken. I filed a claim and was denied. I filed a second claim and was told the rods depreciated and they sent me a check for $50.00. I filed a third claim contesting it and was denied again. I will never ship with the USPS again. Sorry just had to vent!!!!!

Sounds like a pretty bad experience, thats why I prefer to ship in a pvc tube and wrap the rod tips and mid section with bubble wrap or newspaper and cap the ends with cardboard and good tape job. I've shipped probably 50-60 rods this year through usps and never a problem.

WishinIwerFishin wrote:Usps priority in a 2" pvc tube is usualy the cheapest way to go,. should cost less than $15 to get up here.

Thanks, Joe. I really don't care if it's $10, $15 or $18, but my wife kinda does — she's a little ticked about my tackle obsession ...

Make sure that you get replacement value insurance on the rods if shipping USPS.

The PVC tube should keep them safe, but the first time I bought a rod and had it shipped without the insurance it came broken in half and I was out of luck.

I promise you UPS can break PVC tubes. They charge an additional fee for the length of the tube at $7.50 to hand carry. Then they put them on the belts anyway. If you do ship in PCV they will not fight your claims (at least not so far). They do not have the best rates but have great friendly drivers, that have become friends.

FED EX, FED EX, FED EX. EVEN BPS HAS DONE AWAY USING UPS !

Break the rod down into shorter pieces.

UPS, USPS, they can, and have all broken rods. I've had tubes with tire prints on them! It doesn't matter really, who you choose, please get insurance, they run a 25% chance of getting broken, no way around it.

I just got buy the supplies from the UPS Store because they have the 4Ft. tubes and you can just tape two of them together..
Then I take it to USPS and ship it thru them because it's cheaper..
Also if you pack it correctly, it will not break..

I just shipped a rod tube to Loomis using UPS and it was $33.

bps is a national account. They change shippers constantly simply on who will give them the best price not who has the best service. I just shipped a 8ft rod in califonia UPS for $17 bucks. Try to go a ups facility instead of the UPS stores. UPS stores are franchise stores so theres a additional charge, Thats how the independent owners make there money. You can open a UPS shipping account online where you can print your own shipping lables and they pick it up at your door for just a couple of dollars more. Ive been shipping rods and everything under the sun for years and ive been very pleased with there service.

Buckeye wrote:Make sure that you get replacement value insurance on the rods if shipping USPS.

The PVC tube should keep them safe, but the first time I bought a rod and had it shipped without the insurance it came broken in half and I was out of luck.

Just a heads up USPS insurance is worthless. They give you back what they depreciate the rod to be or think what it is worth. The value you insure it for means nothing to them after they get your $$$.
I gave them a ebay reciept that the rods were sold for, proof from a catalog what they were worth new. Still got $50 for $220.00 worth of insurance.

I just throw em in a 2 in pvc tube, put a screw cap on one end and usps them for 16 bux. No problem.

I have also had problems with USPS. 2 of the last 3 time rods were damaged. Here is an example: Tube shows up with a tire print. Local postal agent had the nerve to say it wasn't packed well. Lets see, one of your employees bends a 3/8 wall cardboard tube breaking the rod just in front of the reelseat. Oh & it was the shipper's fault. He should have purchased insurance.

Compare prices online for FedEx, UPS & USPS. USPS is the cheapest but not by much, IMO.

I usually ship through usps with no problems..had one break put i had insurance and they gave no trouble...always use pvc and try to have the tube as close to rod length as possible and put as much stuffing as you can it will save you a headache in the end.