Who is the best/cheapest place to mail a rod through?

[michael1]

I've got a rod I sold online and I need to mail it to the guy. I have plenty of tubes and all that to pack it in. My question for you guys in your experience who is the best/cheapest company to use? USPS/FedEx/UPS?

 

TIA

[FishTank]

It's going to based on where you are sending it too.  Most rods I have seen shipped run between $25-40.  All of the carriers are pricey though.  You can check their websites for shipping prices, each has an estimator.  Personally I like UPS unless it's going to Alaska.  UPSP would then be my choice.   Fed Ex only if you have too. 

[swhit140]

Take it to your local USPS/UPS/FedEx and have them get you a price. Prices will probably vary between all of them. A majority of my rods that I've received have come from USPS. Have not had any issues or damaged rod tube and were all in 1 piece. I like to wrap a few layer of bubble wrap in 3 sections on the rod tip/middle/butt that way it isn't bouncing around in the tube. Some foam between the caps and rod doesn't hurt either.

[michael1]

1 minute ago, swhit140 said:

Take it to your local USPS/UPS/FedEx and have them get you a price. Prices will probably vary between all of them. A majority of my rods that I've received have come from USPS. Have not had any issues or damaged rod tube and were all in 1 piece. I like to wrap a few layer of bubble wrap in 3 sections on the rod tip/middle/butt that way it isn't bouncing around in the tube. Some foam between the caps and rod doesn't hurt either.

I was hoping (and assuming) people have done just that, taken it to USPS/UPS/FedEx and over the years have figured out who seems to have the best rates and could save me the hassle.

[thunderblack]

USPS hands down. Used all three and they are the best from my experience. Make sure you fully insure since all three also break rod tubes. Would recommend PVC

[crypt]

7 hours ago, thunderblack said:

USPS hands down. Used all three and they are the best from my experience. Make sure you fully insure since all three also break rod tubes. Would recommend PVC

this .......

[new2BC4bass]

9 hours ago, thunderblack said:

USPS hands down. Used all three and they are the best from my experience. Make sure you fully insure since all three also break rod tubes. Would recommend PVC

Only shipped one rod, but sure have received a few.    I'd agree USPS is the cheapest.  Just don't ship a 7' rod in one of those TW tubes that can hold six 8' rods.  There is a thread elsewhere (can't be linked) on size dimensions where the cost can go from $25 to $100 or more.

 

Please protect the tip.  Please tie a string around the rod handle and tape the other end outside the tube so the rod can't slide back and forth inside the tube.  Please make sure the end caps are taped well enough that extra effort is needed to remove an end cap.

 

I've got 3 rods sitting in my basement with tips broke off because the shippers were clueless on how to properly ship a rod.  They were inexpensive rods so I ate the cost.  One was basically brand new.  It had been a spare just riding in the boat.  And no longer available at that time.  It is one thing to have the company transporting the rod break it.  It is something else entirely to receive a tube in perfect condition only to find the tip broke off the rod that is inside due to *** poor packing.