rod shipping

arley · Post by **arley** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:55 am

good am all -
how do you go about shipping rods? packaging etc. I'm trying to sell my accumulation and was wondering what works for you and what doesn't.

Dick Braun,that-zebco-guy · Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:17 am

For 2pc. rods I use the tri-angle FREE box's at the Post Office and bubble pack, you may have to use two end to end to be long enough but they work and the shipping via Priority Mail is very cheap. Longer rods or one pc. rods I have found going to a carpet store and getting the tube that the carpet come on is a cheap sorce. Also if you have a sporting goods store around you they always have rods shipped into the store ask them to save the boxes for you and use them to re-ship yours. FedEx Ground is cheap and you can ship longer rods for less money than the Post Office. Good luck. That-zebco-guy

Post by **john elder** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:00 am

A good alternative for shipping, especially longer one-piece rods, is to go buy PVC pipe at Home Depot or other home store. i think the black pipe is the cheapest and will do fine...2 inch diameter is all you need, in general. As T-V-G indicated, wrap in a layer of bubble wrap before putting in the tube. Newspaper works, but adds more weight. You can either buy PVC end-caps to put on the ends or stuff with paper and tape the ends with packing tape. The carpet roll inserts are good, but heavy...but on the other hand, free...your call on that one!

Remember that PO figures allowances and cost based on length PLUS girth for the package...think that has to be under 108 total inches. so, smaller diameter is better.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:43 am

I do not agree with shipping rods in the Priority Mail triangular boxes using two of them fastened together. Or even with many cardboard tubes. I have had two rods arrive broken this year, one was in the triangular shipping box. I agree with John that rods should be shipped in PVC tubing. Rods should be bubble wrapped, with both tip and butt protected, and the ends of the tube should be ideally be covered with PVC caps, but if wanting to use cardboard, it should be heavy duty and covered with multiple layers of tape. Just stress to the buyers that your rods will be well protected and charge enough to cover the cost of the protection. $15 should cover shipping longer rods, with two piece rods a bit less. I can't stress the PVC tube enough. I know lots of people who have purchased longer rods and they arrive broken. I know people who have received rods with tire tracks over the tube, and rods in heavy cardboard tubes that have jammed the conveyor belts at UPS and been broken. I will not purchase a rod on eBay unless it is packaged in a PVC tube.

Dick Braun,that-zebco-guy · Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:12 am

Just call me lucky, I have shipped rods all over the world and never had a problem with the Post Office or FedEx Ground. I will not use UPS for any shippment as I have heard too many horror stories with them and things getting broken. I have used the Tri-box from the Post Office and shipped $700.00 fly rods in their orig. tubes in those boxes and never had a problem. I think the bottom line is just pack it well and use some common sense. If your buyer wants it shipped in a 20wt, 40wt or 80wt PVC tube and is willing to pay the extra for the tube do it, as it's their rod now that it's payed for and you as the seller/shipper owe them the safest method that they want and are willing to pay for.

WobblySpindle · Post by **WobblySpindle** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 12:18 pm

The best packing I've found for rods is foam pipe insulation. A few pieces of tape will close it well enough to survive the trip (in a PVC pipe or very heavy box). Don't forget to seal the ends of the foam, especially at the tip end of the rod - more tape, and fold the foam over if there's room to do so.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:16 pm

WobblySpindle wrote:The best packing I've found for rods is foam pipe insulation. A few pieces of tape will close it well enough to survive the trip (in a PVC pipe or very heavy box). Don't forget to seal the ends of the foam, especially at the tip end of the rod - more tape, and fold the foam over if there's room to do so.

That's a great suggestion. Thank you.

aplicator · Post by **aplicator** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:44 pm

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH PHIL THE SAFEST WAY TO SHIP RODS IS IN PVC,YOU CAN STILL BUY WHAT PLUMBERS CALL "THIN WALL SEWER PIPE" ITS A BIT LIGHTER THEN NORMAL PVC BUT VERY STRONG,IT WILL PROTECT THE ROD AGAINST POST OFFICE ABUSE,I'VE SHIPPED OVER 100 RODS THIS WAY AND HAVENT HAD A PROBLEM YET, I CUT THEM ABOUT 3" LONGER AND PUT HEAVY STYROFOAM CUT TO EXACT SIZE IN EACH END,THEN COVER WITH HEAVY CARDBOARD CIRCLES,I ALWAYS SHAKE THE TUBE VIGOROUSLY BEFORE I SEAL IT IF I HEAR ANYTHING RATTLE I REPACK,I RECEIVED 1 FROM CABELLAS IN A CARDBOARD TUBE THAT ARRIVED BROKEN,IT WAS ACTUALLY LOOSE IN THE TUBE,COULDNT BELEIVE THEY LET THAT GO LIKE THAT GOT MY MONEY BACK BUT WEEKS LATER, SO IF I BUY A ROD I INSIST ITS PACKED IN PVC NOTHING WORSE THEN RECEIVING YOUR VINTAGE 2 PC. ROD THAT WAS ACTUALLY A 1 PC.ROD