how to ship a rod

[mojojojo]

Just wondering what you all use to ship a rod if you sell one? 

[SDoolittle]

Wrap it in bubble wrap, and put it in a PVC pipe.

[mojojojo]

37 minutes ago, S. Doolittle said:

Wrap it in bubble wrab, and put it in a PVC pipe.

why didn't I think of that?

Easy enough, thanks

[BassThumb]

Tie a piece of string to the rod handle and tape that to the outside of the tube.

That was the rod won't slide back and forth, damaging the tip. 

[tander]

Use bubble wrap and I save the tubes when I buy a rod and use them.

[eyedabassman]

Go to a Gander MTN. or any sporting goods store that sells rods and ask them if they have any cardboard tubes. They get these cardboard tubes when they get a shippment of rods. I worked at Gander after I retired and people would come in and ask if we had any and we would give them for free.They just throw them out or keep a few for rod returns!

[webertime]

On Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 10:57 AM, S. Doolittle said:

Wrap it in bubble wrap, and put it in a PVC pipe.

Next step is to bring it to Fed Ex, ups, or post office and bend over.  Just Shipped a rod from VT to Wisconsin.  $40...

[Wingman87]

1 hour ago, webertime said:

Next step is to bring it to Fed Ex, ups, or post office and bend over.  Just Shipped a rod from VT to Wisconsin.  $40...

True fact, everytime I ship a rod no matter how far or how close it's always a minimum of $35. And even though I've shipped 3 rods in the past 3 months from the same post office the lady at the counter always says "I think that's too long to ship" and I have to explain to her that's it's not, it's a freakin hassle.

[deaknh03]

Always use pvc..and implicitly instruct the usps worker to ship it priority 2 day..about $20 anywhere in the country.

[S Hovanec]

PVC cut 2" longer than the rod + bubble wrap around the rod to center it in the tube + bubble wrap on each end + FedEx.

[long island basser]

22 hours ago, tander said:

Use bubble wrap and I save the tubes when I buy a rod and use them.

This is what I do also. Cost me $26 to ship a Rod from NY to California  via UPS.

[buzzed bait]

PVC and tape those end caps up like you would want someone to do to a rod they were shipping you.... i spare no tape on the ones i ship!

[S Hovanec]

On two occasions, I made the mistake of shipping rods in those 1/4" thick cardboard tubes that St. Croix ships in.  Neither rod made it to its destination intact.  It is my belief that cardboard is a one-and-done shipping container.  Is it really worth risking a $200+ rod to save the $10 a PVC tube costs over a freebie cardboard?  I learned my lesson.

[new2BC4bass]

I used a heavy cardboard tube from a rod I bought, but obviously a PVC tube is stronger.  Bubble wrapped the rod.  Tied a string around the handle and taped it to the outside.  Cross drilled two holes through the tube and end caps.  Installed two bolts on each end.  I've received more than one rod with an end cap missing when all the shipper did was put tape on it.  One of the rods had the tip missing.  Tip was missing on another rod.  The tube was in perfect shape, but the shipper never put anything around the rod for protection.  It was able to slide back-and-forth in the tube snapping the tip off.   Lousy job of shipping.

[Darren.]

I shipped a rod in a tube I received a rod in, so it was 
cardboard, with bubble rap at the tip and butt.

If I were to ship one today, I've got another of those
rod tubes, or I'd buy a PVC tube + end caps to make
it that much safer.

[Oklahoma Mike]

Bubble wrapped inside a piece of schedule 40 PVC. 2" diameter is about right for a typical casting rod. I glue a PVC cap on one end and on the other I glue a female adapter and install a screw-in plug for inserting and removing the rod. Secure the screw-in plug with some clear shipping tape to keep any curious delivery persons from tampering with it. 

[dam0007]

Also if you go through USPS and they come back with a price of $60-70 to ship they screwed up the dimensions. Guy at one of the local USPS doesn't know the difference between diameter and circumference. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

PVC is the way to go no question. FedEx doesn't have a convenient local drop off so I use Priority Mail for under 8' and UPS if it's over. I've had taped ends cut open so I'm using caps more.