Shipping a machine
 

What is the cheapest way to ship a sewing machine? I have one I need to ship from Dallas to Phoenix.

Probably UPS.

Get the total weight and then check prices. Most price checking can be done on line. Check with UPS, USPS, Fedex ground and Greyhound bus lines. A few years ago a company I worked for used Greyhound a lot. Just some ideas.

It can be very hard to pack a sewing machine so that there is no damage, especially the older heavier machines, so be sure to read up on how to pack it. I've also heard about people using Greyhound - good idea.

FedEx Ground has always had the best rates for heavy/bulky items.

You will want to pack the machine in an inner box so that it cannot move - blocks of styrofoam around it or cardboard strips rolled tightly into tubes. Then you'lll want to pack the inner box inside another one that has at least 3" of non-compressible packing material around it - firm foam or the tightly rolled cardboard.

I want to follow this thread as I have a couple antique machines I am looking to sell.

Those swimming pool tubes sold cheaply at dollar stores make great packing!!!

Thanks for this tip.

I shipped my sewing machine from Oregon to Washington and it cost me $50 through the Post Office. They were cheaper than any place else. By far. I use the P.O. because they are cheaper than UPS or FedEx, believe me.

i had an older heavy machine mailed to me and they sender packed it very well in a double corrugated box with lots of packing peanuts. there were so many packing peanuts i actually had to dig the machine out of them to get to it but he packed it so well there was no movement of the machine inside the box. he sent it ups.

i have found fedex to have some of the highest shipping prices around. ups prices can be expensive if you ship somewhere that is not a major route like a rural off the beaten path route. i have had to ship some large bulky items through my ebay store. ebay sellers get a slight discount on rates from the major shippers. but the big thing is to pack the machine in a strong box with enough packing materials so that there is no movement of the machine. you want it to be cushioned well for the rough travels it will have and i would mark fragile handle with care on the box.

stay away from the post office its been a year since they lost my brothers bday present and they could have cared less
i no longer ship anything usps if i can help it i rely on ups and fedex its more expensive but if they lost one of my quilts i would probably snap insurance or no insurance. ya;ll would be seeing me on dateline or 48 hours psycho quilter comes unwound lol.
carla m

DO NOT use FED EX. They only insure up to $100 regardless of what you declare the value to be. You must use a third party insurer to make sure your item is insured at its declared value. Stick with UPS they will cover the declared value when you pay for additional insurance. If you have questions just google FED EX insurance terms and conditions.

I have bought a few sewing machines through ebay. The best packed machine was double boxed and it was worth every penny of the shipping charges to me to have the machine arrive in perfect condition. Most sellers on ebay use UPS or FedEx for large packages.

I have a large collection of vintage sewing machines and have been selling a few of them and I always use FedEx.

oh and i would be sure to mark "this side up" on the box. hopefully this will help so it doesnt get tossed and thrown so much.