Shipping a Surfboard

Hi,

I’m selling a board on ebay and I was wondering how I would ship it? Does UPS,USPS, or FedEx have a specific box that I can put it in? It’s a 6’3 shortboard. About 19 inches wide. I know I should wrap it in bubble-wrap and all that. I was just wondering how you guys ship your surfboards when you sell them. Thanks in advance.

Rio

why not ask other ebay surfboard sellers how they ship?

I sell furniture on Ebay.I ship everything via Greyound Bus lines.For a shortboard just bubble wrap it real good.They are really cheap and hand load everything.They have an online calculater you can use.THe customer does have to pick it up at the nearest terminal. RB

Shipped an 8’0" from hawaii to East coast for $65 via Fed Ex. Gotta ask the right person tho cause some at the 800 # said it couldn’t be done or was a very expensive “freight” rate.

Got a Southpointe long board box from my local surf shop and cut it to fit.

I sold a board on ebay once and shipped it UPS, the whole experience was pretty much a huge pain in the ass. I went to mitch’s and got a box that they ship blanks in, grabbed a whole stack of the Reader and spent like an hour or so crumpling up paper and stuffing it around the board in the box (It was a 6’4’’ by the way). I took it in and they said it was too long, wouldn’t ship. I had to take it back home, cut the box down and it barely passed their limit. It was kinda expensive too, something like $25-30 to ship from socal to northern california. If someone else has a better suggestion, and it looks like they do, I’d try that.

You can use your own box for Fed-Ex. Get one from your local board shop. Get several pieces of 2" pipe insulation and split them open. Put it around the perimeter of the board with 3" masking tape. Take out the fins and bubble wrap them separate. Wrap the board in two layers of bubble wrap (the big bubbles) and cram everything into the box. Tape the hell out of it, print out a bunch of “fragile-glass” signs and stick them on the box. Get the insurance coverage also.

Best way to ship is go to www.dhl-usa.com apply for a free account number available to anyone. Get a blankbox or make a box form a fridge or bike box. Go to Lowes and buy a 6 pack of eps insulation foam about $6 using tape completely wrap the board and sandwich it inside the foam . Fold bubble wrap on top of itself and make a thick bubble for the tip of the nose and tail. make sure the whole board is covered if it’s glassed in fins foam all around the fins and cut a piece of cardboard to cover the fins. pop it inyour box and mark the box so that it rides rail up. And mark the box so that DHL undestands. make sure you mark the top and put the address and labels. On the sides write Fragile and up pointing to the top of the box. On the top write " This SIde UP" very large. Insure it for the full amount and either take it to the DHL station or call and they will pick it up (extra fee) In about 15 days they will bill you, so if anything happens you can put a claim in and they will pay up pretty fast. There’s always a good chance of the board getting damaged. The more you protect it the better. I like the foam over the bubble wrap cause it seems to make a thicker , stiffer insulation. But anything and everything will help. Most important is that it rides rail up… Good luck>>>

Quote:

Hi,

I’m selling a board on ebay and I was wondering how I would ship it? Does UPS,USPS, or FedEx have a specific box that I can put it in? It’s a 6’3 shortboard. About 19 inches wide. I know I should wrap it in bubble-wrap and all that. I was just wondering how you guys ship your surfboards when you sell them. Thanks in advance.

Rio

A question is always better answered if it has as many specifics as possible.

For an assumption, I guess your in the US, (your profile certainly doesnt state) and that

you are shipping within the contigous 48 or so states???

Hopefully your not in Brazil.

as to me I have found Greyhound Shipping to very affordable and on the low end of prices.

With greyhound your party doesnt have to worry about being home to sign for the package,

they just go to the specific greyhound depot(which may be open 12-18 hours or even 24 hours/7 days) to

pick up their package at their convenience.

As to UPS they are competive also, but you may not get their competitive price

unless you go to your County UPS unadvertised depot operation and stand in line.

I am not sure, but the ‘UPSStore’,‘OfficeDepot’, etc may not be offering the elcheapo prices

but are offering the High End Retail overcharge prices for UPS shipping.

Anyone know any thing about this …I havent used UPS since these new UPSstores

came out.???

As far as boxing, well there are box stores…look in the yellow pages

buy what you think you need , a tape gun from Office Depot, and get creative.

You may also talk to SurfShops and or shaping/glassing factories concerning boxing

as it is a common practice to pay a ‘box’ or ‘packaging’ company to box these boards

up. Find out who they use!

Thanks Guys,

Those were some really helpful tips! I didn’t even know greyhound shipped stuff! Anyways, thanks again.

Rio

Here are some tips on how to ship a surfboard.  Check with your local shapers for a surfboard box.

Hi Daklaw-

I don’t know if you are in our area but we pack and ship boards as one of our many services.  We ship boards for Hurley, Quiksilver, and many others.  Packing the board will cost you about $40 including all the materials and shipping varies based on the size and ship to zip.  Feel free to call or email us for an accuate quote.  Be sure to include the ship to address, how big the board is, removeable fins or not,

Hope this helps-

Brad