Getting a large item from Phoenix to Memphis?

May 18, 2021 12:01 PM

You know that tarot card meme of the guy with all the swords? That's me, but with art. I won a bunch of awesome art pieces on an online auction site and was so excited. Then the little mom and pop shipping place the auction house uses sent me a $400 invoice (which is like, twice what I paid for the items). Other than just coughing up the money to have them shipped, are there other options I haven't considered? More questions inside:

The dimensions are too big to be shipped USPS Ground. As currently packaged (all items together), the parcel is 51 x 44 x 9 inches, and weighs 23 lbs.

I've asked the shipping company if they can separate the items to see if we can get two smaller packages to qualify for USPS ground rates and I'm waiting for a reply back. That seems to be the most viable option right now, but as I wait to hear back, I wanted to see if perhaps there's another option I haven't considered. Some things I've looked into:

1. Trying to find someone traveling from Phoenix to Memphis who would be willing to pick it up for me (I'm willing to pay around $200). Are there sites/forums for stuff like this? I couldn't find much searching online. Would posting on the Phoenix Craigslist work?

2. Trying to find a truck driver whose route takes them through Phoenix and Memphis. Again, is there some way to find truck drivers? I considered posting on a truck driver reddit page but I think typically this kind of request violates the rules of most social-oriented subreddits.

3. Just traveling to Phoenix? I would be willing to spend the money or to get a little vacation out of the deal. What would be the cheapest way to do this? Can you check oversized items like that onto a plane? If so, how much does it cost? I also considered flying one way and renting a car to come back, but it seems like one-way car rentals are so expensive.

So I guess my questions boil down to:

1. Is there another option I haven't considered?
2. How might I find truck drivers or travelers going from Phoenix to Memphis?
3. How much does it cost to check large items onto a plane?
4. Is there a way to save money on one-way car rentals?

Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated. And if you're in the Phoenix area and considering a road trip to Memphis, send me a message so I can ply you with BBQ and booze.

posted by a.steele to Travel & Transportation (14 answers total)

Amtrak? Have used for cross-country moves and it's great, although make sure everything is packed well.

Edit: Oops, looks like Amtrak shipping is suspended at the moment...
posted by jabes at 12:08 PM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]

Fedex and UPS Ground are probably around $200 or possibly substantially less if you pay online and get a discount. If you work somewhere with a loading dock and they can deliver there, it should save you more.
posted by Slinga at 12:18 PM on May 18, 2021

FedEx or UPS ground should be really affordable for a 23lb package, way less than $200...is there a reason you haven’t considered that option?
posted by cakelite at 12:24 PM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]

FWIW I just quoted this on UPS (guessing on zip codes) and the cheapest option is Ground at $247. The problem is not the weight, but the size. Still better than $400, but more than $200.
posted by primethyme at 12:27 PM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Update to clarify the shipping options I've considered:

The shipping center where my package is sitting quoted $408 to be shipped via FedEx. The online quote I got from FedEx is $340.

The next cheapest online quote I've been able to get was $300-ish from UPS.

DHL was much higher than both of those.

USPS Ground - Package is well under the weight requirements but the dimensions make it too big.
posted by a.steele at 12:31 PM on May 18, 2021

Best answer: Greyhound does shipping. Their web site says that it might take longer than usual due to COVID-19, but that's better than Amtrak which isn't shipping at all right now. They quote $97 "station to station", $160 "door to station" or "station to door", and $223 "door to door". So you're talking $160 to have it picked up from the shipper if you're willing to pick it up at the Memphis Greyhound station, which gets you under the $200 you asked for.

(Actual figures may vary, I didn't have zip codes. Also I haven't used this service.)
posted by madcaptenor at 12:54 PM on May 18, 2021 [6 favorites]

Best answer: 2. Trying to find a truck driver whose route takes them through Phoenix and Memphis. Again, is there some way to find truck drivers?

Yes, uShip is a business that does exactly that. I used them a decade ago to get a sofa shipped from my mom's house in a neighboring state, worked out great.
posted by phoenixy at 2:05 PM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]

My mother is an antique dealer--shipping art is super-expensive and time-consuming. What you got was probably a fair quote.
posted by 8603 at 3:30 PM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]

Concurring with those saying it sounds like a fair quote when you factor in packaging. Art is fragile, if it's framed there is glass in there too, and auction places likely are going to make sure it gets sent to you safely, whereas rando larger shipping companies aren't going to try to damage it, but likely aren't going to work that hard to safeguard it either. If you can find a cheaper good option, go for it, but this sounds like a small business being careful with art, not someone trying to rip you off, so I'm not sure paying the $400 quote is a bad option if it's what you do.
posted by lhputtgrass at 4:47 PM on May 18, 2021 [2 favorites]

Craters and Freighters. Call your local office and they'll quote packing, shipping, and unloading.
posted by smashface at 5:02 PM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]

My husband mailed his speakers across country using greyhound. Both got bashed to hell and needed significant repairs negating all shipping savings. One came in the original box but was completely wrapped in plastic wrap because the box had lost all integrity, and there was some bonus moisture under the plastic. The other arrived in a completely new box and included a bonus unlabeled loose bocce ball inside the box too. We still have no idea where the bocce ball came from. While it is fun to have a bocce ball, I would not use greyhound or any other non-art shipment company or service unless you are ok with the art being destroyed completely.
posted by holyrood at 5:12 PM on May 18, 2021 [5 favorites]

I've had excellent experience with Craters and Freighters but it's true that packaging art, especially framed art, to be shipped is extremely time consuming.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 5:15 PM on May 18, 2021

I received a chair via Greyhound, easy-peasy. told a friend, who shipped a big thing with ease.
posted by theora55 at 5:23 PM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]

Someone has to say it: How about a cross-country drive to Phoenix and back in your own car? Google thinks it's a 21-hour drive, and we have a Memorial Day weekend coming up. Take another couple days off work -- go slow and enjoy the trip.
posted by booth at 5:01 AM on May 19, 2021 [4 favorites]