Question about shipping a bike

[kmalysa]

Looking for input from anybody that has sold a bike, and the buyer hired a shipping company.

Do they have an inspection form that the hauler documents that there is no damage , dings, or scratches? Or do you make your own Form and make the hauler sign?

I just want to be covered, so that if a ding or scratch shows up , once the bike arrives at the buyer's house , is the haulers fault and not mine.

Besides taking pictures which I have already done.

 

[stlmikie]

I think most often a professional company would have said form.

 

[ringo]

I used Motorcycle Shipping | Motorcycle Transport | Motorcycle Shipping Company , they were very professional and yes an inspection was performed at pickup and delivery.

 

[kmalysa]

Thanks

 

[9secondsflat]

I have shipped (for purchase and sale)...aside from the big major companies like Horseless carriage shippers....plan on dealing with assholes. They will sweet talk you about their wonderful service and fuck you after they have the bike. I purchased a Victory Hammer S..it was 100% perfect in every way..it arrived at 10 pm...try to inspect a bike in the dark...I told the driver my contract was for a daytime drop off no later then 6pm for inspection. This ahole starts his shit...I wont be back in the area for two weeks..take it or leave it...the wheel's powdercoating was chipped from how he strapped down the bike...I could not do anything as I could not see the damage until the next day...you sign your life away when they drop off the bike..so if you watch my vid this is my way of dealing with aholes
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKV3zNzCf5c]2009 Victory Hammer S - YouTube[/ame]

Most recently I contracted with a shipper for an enclosed delivery of my KTM...the bike arrived in the back of a pick up truck, the driver tells me the "truck broke down in NY" so he needed to rent a truck to get the bike to me...bike arrived fine but they didnt want to rebate any money...cost to ship a bike open vs enclosed is about a 30 percent difference....


lastly don't use motorcyclemoving.net

 

[kmalysa]

Thanks for your input...That's what I fear the most... is a pissing match about a scratch or ding that wasn't there.
I will let the buyer know who not to use.
Thanks,
Ken

 

[Olddoger]

FYI:
You might check out Uship.com, I use to transport motorcycles and am a vendor on the site. You can choose who you want and check out their profile before you decide. You can also ask all the questions and get answers before hand, and make payment arrangements that make you comfortable. I would be cautious to a those who give a varialbe pick up/delivery date. The smaller handler will usually give you exact dates and guarantee them. I always did. And you should take a lot of pictures and have the driver sign your form if they don't provide one. Your best off to have the buyer make his own arrangements and relieve yourself of any responsability beyond pick up, if it's a sale.
Good Luck!

http://www.uship.com/profile/RJR1947/

 

[demon dog]

I would also recommend digital closeup pics (imprints of time and date) prior to shipping as proof of condition. a picture is worth a thousand words or .......bucks!

 

[hayseed]

i have used these guys,, arlen ness uses them for their bikes -- competetive and yhey are insured Keyboard Motorcycle Shipping - Great Motorcycle Shipping! Transport Your Motorcycle With Keyboard!

 

[MyDogPete]

I used Keyboard to ship my PitBull from NM to SC back in March of this year. They really have a good rack system for strapping down your bike for shipping. Also, the driver will have a document that’s filled out for any scratches, dents, etc prior to the bike being loaded on the semi then he will sign it and whomever is with the bike will also sign it and be given a copy.

Bike arrived sooner than I expected, 5 days, but, not damage free. I was still in NM when the bike arrived so my wife took delivery and called me with what see saw. The bike headlight was cracked along with a scuff where the gas tank rolls under to the bottom. The driver documented the damage, he signed and my wife signed and was given her copy. When I arrived home, I inspected the bike, called Keyboard, and was given a insurance claim number. I went ahead and fixed the light with my own cash and have yet to move forward with the scuff on the tank. It may could be buffed out by a good body shop since it’s a scuff. Just been to busy to carry it to find out. If not, I’ll live with it since you have to bend over to really see it.

Would I use them again?? Maybe, but with a very nice bike cover on my bike. I think if it had had a bike cover, the scuff would not have happen. I figure the light cracked just from the trailer jarring the bike during the trip.

What their web site leads you to believe is, your bike will be on a semi with just bikes. Not the case. If something is on the drivers route that he can pick up and haul, it’s in the trailer. His trailer had a mix of items he was hauling.

Will they really stand behind damage if it occurs? Not sure. I’ve yet called them back to submit any of my cost.

 

[backon]

I used Auto Transport 123 for the bike I just had shipped from CT. to MN. they were very good to deal with 50k built in insurance plus they put the bike on a pallet and crated it for me also had padded tie downs. they picked it up on a Friday and dropped it off the following Wed cost was 1000 for door to door service bike showed up flawless.

 

[klr2lnd]

I used Keyboard Shipping Company. They damaged my bike and insisted that they ship the bike to their Kentucky location, repaint it at their in-house repair location, and ship it back to me. First of all, they scratched my bike IN THREE PLACES shipping it once. How can I trust them to ship it twice and not scratch it. Secondly, I'm supposed to trust their in-house shop to paint my $30,000 bike?? When I didn't want to go along, my only option was to sue them in Orange County California Court, or get a refund for my shipping cost. That was it. They acknowledged damaging the bike but wouldn't allow me to get it repaired at a real paint shop. They are horrible and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

 

[kmalysa]

FYI:
You might check out Uship.com, I use to transport motorcycles and am a vendor on the site. You can choose who you want and check out their profile before you decide. You can also ask all the questions and get answers before hand, and make payment arrangements that make you comfortable. I would be cautious to a those who give a varialbe pick up/delivery date. The smaller handler will usually give you exact dates and guarantee them. I always did. And you should take a lot of pictures and have the driver sign your form if they don't provide one. Your best off to have the buyer make his own arrangements and relieve yourself of any responsability beyond pick up, if it's a sale.
Good Luck!

https://www.uship.com/login.aspx?ref=%2fdrivers.aspx

Thanks to all for the advice. But I am the seller. Buyer is picking his own shipping company. I did however warn him of some of the comments from here.
Thanks guys
Ken