Other Ski transporting

[98gti]

I'm slowly in the process of starting an auto transport buisness. I dont really plan to have it up and running for another 6 months to a year (some other things have to happen first). I will be running a 2 car enclosed trailer, about a 36 footer. I plan to mainly run the southeast states and up the east coast into the northeast. I will be hauling mostly cars and trucks, but will squeeze in motorcycles and skis when I have the room. Motorcycles pay usually in the $350 to $500 area (give or take) depending on where they need to go. My question is what would you guys pay if say you bought a ski in south florida and needed it delivered to the maryland area or even farther north, or the ski needed to head the other way. Would I be way off base to be asking a price in the $250 to $350 area? This would not require a crate and would be picked up and dropped off from door to door. The price would depend more on how far out of the way I have to go for pick up and drop off more than distance. I would have to be loading and unloading high dollar cars to get your ski positioned where it needs to be and with that comes risk also. Im just curious to see if anyone would consider this and what you would pay. I know big shipping companies do this but you usually have to crate it and pick up and drop off at a terminal. I will be fully licensed and insured btw.

 

[BruceSki]

250-350 sounds fair to me. I charge 250 for a spot on a trailer to Daytona and back.

Obviously your time constraints would be the only issue for the buyer. You have to schedule a car transport first to that area to make the ski delivery worth it towing a trailer that large.

So long as the buyer is patient in terms of time waiting to have the ski delivered I don't see how that is a bad deal for either side of the transaction.

Hope it works out for ya! That's a rough business. Everyone wants something for nothing.

 

[RivMan]

If I could get the ski I just bought from Atlanta to Michigan for $250, I'd jump on it. And this is the second ski I've bought from down there.

I could see you making a little extra $$$ with it, but I don't think you could run a full business doing it.

-Rob

 

[yamanube]

I am sure a lot of people shipping skis would consider it, it would seem to me your biggest hurdle would be having a ski delivery (pickup/dropoff locations) line up with your money maker, vehicle transport, and not have to drive to far out of the way to make it worth it.

 

[98gti]

I definetely wouldnt base my whole buisness around skis or motorcycles, they would just be a bonus. There are so many cars waiting to be shipped its nuts, so if someone let me know about a ski I could check for loads in and out of that area. And yes, it can be a rough buisness but ive been a salvage rebuilder/used car dealer for the past 10 years so im used to it being rough, lol. The enclosed trailer transport has a niche, you dont have to compete against every A hole with a 3 car wedge, those cars usually pay crap b/c there are so many that do it, but with the enclosed trailer I can haul 2 mercedes, and a 30K ski one way and a bunch of clunkers the other way if I have to. If it works out I could keep a thread going of where im headed and you guys could post in it or pm me with your needs and hopefully it could work out. I could also be flexable on price if you were to meet me right off the interstates also. That all remains to be seen though, I was just looking for some feedback and ideas to kick around.

 

[imabadfish]

My experience from using a service like yours to save money:
- Advantages: Cost: I paid $200 for a 75 lb A/M hull delivery form Ft Lauderdale to Atlanta
- Disadvantages: I had to pick up my 5K hull in the middle of the ghetto by myself, in the dark. Another time i picked up one from the side of the intersate. There is a risk of it being damaged because its not packed as well, both times driver shows up late.

My experience from using a crate/terminal service:
- Advantages: safe easy drop off, pick up, tracking label, on time
- Disadvantages: Cost, I paid like $420 for a hull once shipped in a crate, cost of crate

Empty hull vs RTR ski weight difference would come into account too. I would back things out to a cost per mile based on what others are charging. I would also give the best service you can because in all honestly (after using services like uship a couple times) would rather crate a hull up.

 

[98gti]

My experience from using a service like yours to save money:
- Advantages: Cost: I paid $200 for a 75 lb A/M hull delivery form Ft Lauderdale to Atlanta
- Disadvantages: I had to pick up my 5K hull in the middle of the ghetto by myself, in the dark. Another time i picked up one from the side of the intersate. There is a risk of it being damaged because its not packed as well, both times driver shows up late.

My experience from using a crate/terminal service:
- Advantages: safe easy drop off, pick up, tracking label, on time
- Disadvantages: Cost, I paid like $420 for a hull once shipped in a crate, cost of crate

Empty hull vs RTR ski weight difference would come into account too. I would back things out to a cost per mile based on what others are charging. I would also give the best service you can because in all honestly (after using services like uship a couple times) would rather crate a hull up.

Those are all very good points. And don't get me started on transporters being late, I'd say we have had about 500 cars delivered and none were early, and only about 50 were on time, if that. The problem with most of them is they are running multiple cars, like 3-10 cars, or have a trailer full of random items that are going to random places. I will be running no more than three items, two cars and a bike or ski at the most. I would never ask someone to meet me in the ghetto, I don't want to go there either, that's what has helped me decide on doing higher end cars, I know the customers will be more picky, and dealing with doctors and lawyers and such will expect the world to revolve around them, but I'll take that over dropping a car at a crappy Car lot in the hood at 3am any day. I've been on both ends being a dealer and will know more about what a customer expects, if I agree on a price to your door that's what you will get, if you want to be cheap and meet me in the Stuckys parking lot at midnight that's what you'll get to, lol. I know a lot of deals won't line up and work out, or i will already be full, but I will get a feel for the areas I like to go, so when a ski comes up in that area that one of you would want to buy it will be an option. I appreciate the input guys.

 

[badvinny]

Just last week I paid $462 from Florida to Saskatoon, Canada (Day & Ross) for my RTR ski crated ($150 for the crate). UPS LTL shipping wanted $1900.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Great idea. Benefit is that you know how to tie down skis and can build some runners for the ski to be strapped to

 

[SuperDrifter]

Shipping a high dollar item is stressful, I didn't feel good about shipping my bike to the west coast, until the driver showed up with a trailer full of other high end bikes.

Doing my research, through reviews, other, there are plenty of horror stories.