need help shipping/packaging my hardtop....

[kajita]

hello fellow boxster owners,
i have a question regarding shipping and packaging my hardtop.
i have the hardtop for sale on ebay, many many inquiries but i dont know where to start when it comes to shipping this thing, or packing this thing.

i called local car-transporter but they charge $699 cross country and they dont crate or box it.

can anyone help? or had experience sending these things?

btw, i am in los angeles, CA.

[jderiansf]

You might check in with Greyhound. They have (had?) a shipping department that was fairly reasonable for large/heavy items.

I got a tranny sent to me on greyhound once. I had to go to the bus depot to pick it up, but he cost was reasonable.

[KevinH1990]

Here's a picture of a properly crated hard top that I collected when I was attempting to have a hard top shipped to me:

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n161/KevinH1990/986-hardtop2.jpg

Here's another view showing it being unloaded:

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n161/KevinH1990/986-hardtop1.jpg

I apologize for not providing credit to the photographer.

Someone with decent carpentry skills and a basic set of tools should be able to build a crate for you. In my area, I would look for a carpenter on Craigslist and just show him or her the pictures and have them take it from there.

Do not pack it in a cardboard box. Here's a top that I looked at that had been shipped in cardboard:

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n161/KevinH1990/IMG_42202.jpg


I was able to buy a top within driving distance, so I did not actually have to arrange for shipping. I was planning to talk to some auto recyclers to see who they used. You might also try a household mover. They may be able to add it to a load they are already moving. I heard Greyhound was good too.

Good luck.

[rick3000]

I did some research on getting a hardtop shipped, when I got mine. It turned out to be cheaper to pay more to get one locally, repaint a local one, or take a road trip to get one. I frequently drive to Southern California so I found one there.
Shipping is a big hassle. The cheapest quote I got was $250 but I had to pack it which was another $100+ for a crate, etc.

[70Sixter]

Rick3000 is right. I'd sell it as a no shipping, pick up only item.

The tops are easily bent or deformed if not packed properly. I believe Porsche ships them unassembled.

[Jsonorous]

I bought one and the seller had it shipped Greyhound. It was damaged during shipping, it cost $700 to have it repainted. The top and sides were badly scratched. It was a pain, but in the end, greyhound payed for part of the damage and Paypal refunded the rest because the seller packed it poorly.