I’ve never shipped a surfboard. I need some advice to ship a 6’4" trifin (with removable fins) from one California city to another. Who’s the easiest and less expensive company to use, with me packaging it up myself and paying retail shipping prices? USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc???
If you’re alomg the SD/Socal to Norcal (not sure how far North, but North of Santa Cruz) you want to talk to Leon Fitchat at Action Sports. A google search should turn up the contact info. I am a customer.
Amtrak if it connects the cities…shipped a board from Oregon to SF Bay area for $65.
Bought an early 60’s Wardy on the east coast, shipping cross country via Amtrak was $110.
Just make sure to pack the board good. Only limit is length not to exceed 10’.
+1
I shipped three well packed boards from O’side to the east coast via Amtrak a few years ago; it was relatively cheap and no dings or damage in transit.
I have transported boards from Oregon to Cal. And from Cal. to PDX every 6–8 weeks. But and it’s a BIG “but”; I will not go out of my way and will not divert from my route. I sometimes do the Coast one way and I–5 the other. Doesn’t do you any good to ask, if you can’t name the cities you intend to transfer from and to, there is no sense in asking. For all we know you may be talking about shipping a board from Weedpatch to Pumpkin Center.
Mr. Tom! What is this number? I may have cause to use it…
Good tips, above, on the Amtrak option – have not tried that but likely will. I wonder what experiences have been as far as handling of boards using Amtrak to ship.
Leon Fitchat is, I think in last update, $50 to ship a shortboard on the SoCal/NorCal route. He drives a big truck up and down the route, picking up and dropping off, going both ways, filled only with boards.
I haven’t tried the Amtrak option but will keep it in mind. I did have an opportunity to work with Dolly about 2/3 years ago. She coordinated the packing and shipping of a Velzy Pig and a Paipo I purchased through the Cal Auction from Southern California to Connecticut. I was extremely pleased - boards were well packed and arrived with no issues. I’ve shipped about a dozen boards cross country, using all sorts of vendors, and I found her costs about on par with others but she was far more knowledgeable and competent with regard to the ins and outs of transporting boards. I recommend her highly.
I use all three mentioned as well as Fed Ex over many years.
Dolly: fantastic for International shipping with all the complexities & charges it can involve. Currently working on an order to the U.K. she is handling. Fantastic person, great to work with. Use her domestically when her quote is competitive.
Amtrak: Nice people & great prices. I send from Santa Barbara. The shipments are handled as “Baggage” versus “Freight”. You can put boards in shipping boxes, but I offer my customers the option of a good quality 5mm board bag after wrapping the board in bubble wrap 1st in a special method I’ve developed over tthe years. I SHIP AMTRAK A LOT, sometime 2x or 3x per week. Just shipped two to Whitefish Montana for some Canadian customers to drive down from Calgary for P/U. Cost $90 per board.
Look at these prices from SB: (Note: Insurance runs $1/$100 up to $2K) I have had very few get a minor ding.
$65 SOUTH: L.A Union Station, Anaheim, Oceanside, San Diego NORTH: SLO, San Jose, Oakland
$85 Portland OR Seattle WA San Antonio TX
$105 ALL EAST COAST stations participating. Furthest north is Boston. South Miami Total Max Length 120"
Fed Ex: I used them a lot dating back ten years. In the last two years I have seen them jack their prices where even my “VOLUME DISCOUNT” has made them super expensive. But the frosting on the cake was LOSING a surfboard in a mixed up shipment to two customers. One in NH and the other to Philly. The board to New Hampshire was LOST FOR 28 DAYS as it bounced all over the country. It finally arrived “looking like it had gone thru WW3” but my packing job held up and the board was unscathed. Fed EX DID NOT OFFER COMPENSATION for their screw up. THE FINAL STRAW was when they LOST, or more correctly had a custom order heading to Texas STOLEN while in their system. They basically didn’t have a clue what happened nor when it happened. Get tracking system eh?
Last year I began using DAYLIGHT TRANSPORT for shipping multiple boards to East Coast customers and shop accounts. This is a $500 Mil. company that specialis in shipping fragile High Tech Electronic equipment to the East Coast. For whateve reason, they decided to offer surfboard manufacturers their services at a better price than most conventional trucking companies. Their delivery regularly runs 2 to 5 days picking up from our factory in Goleta, CA then to the East Coast destinations. I sent an 8’6" & 10’0" New Machine customs to Virginia and it ended up totalling $70 per board. This went to a hub where the customers p/u, and the boards we in perfect condition as all other shipments have been since I started using them.
I’ve used LEON FITCHAT of Action Sports Express over many years. NEVER ANY DINGS, good guy that knows what he’s doing. If his schedule fits, he gets the job done. Props to both LEON & DOLLY for what they do.
Here’s the full lowdown on Leon if a cut n paste works:
PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL ONLY IF YOU NEED MY SERVICE . I REALLY NEED TO STREAMLINE EFFORTS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR ALL INVOLVED.
STARTING THIS WEEK I AM OFFERING PRIVATE DELIVERY TO BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WITHIN SD, OC,LA ,VENTURA AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES. Please call me for more information and pricing.
NORCAL:
NEXT NORCAL RUN IS THE WEEK OF THE 17TH OF FEBRUARY.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP WHAT YOU HAVE.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
SOCAL RUN AND PICKUP WILL BE THE WEEK OF THE 11TH OF FEBRUARY. WEDNESDAY IS FOR SAN DIEGO AND THURSDAY IS OC AND LA. I pick up boards bound for Norcal then too.
Note: CUTOFF FOR NORCAL PICKUP REQUEST IS 5PM THE FRIDAY PRIOR TO DEPARTURE WEEK . THANK YOU.
Pick up and delivery schedule on the attached calendar works like this
EVERY OTHER WEEK (SO CAL TO NOR CAL):
Monday – San Diego – NOR CAL pick up only
Tuesday - OC- Santa Barbara
Wednesday – Pismo to Santa Cruz
Thursday – Santa Cruz to San Francisco
Friday – Marin to Pismo
Saturday – Pismo to San Diego
Deadline to schedule NOR CAL pickup is 5:00pm FRIDAY prior to delivery .
Schedule is subject to change due to National Holidays, traffic, weather, or other factors. Please contact me to verify schedule.
Price per board per delivery destination:
1-2boards 3-5boards 5 +
Up to 7 ft. $50 $30 $25
Up to 10 ft. $60 $40 $35
Up to 12 ft. $70 $50 $45
Over 12 ft. $100 $80 $75
All SUP’s $100 $80 $75
Please Note: This price list is for Surfshops only. For areas other than SD, OC, LA ,Ventura and Santa Barbara counties please note: I Will No Longer Do Private Delivery To Residences Or Other Non Surf Businesses For Surfboards Unless It Can Be Delivered To A Surf Shop That Has Been Called By You And Has Approved Taking Receipt Of The Product.
There Will Be An Additional Charge Depending On The Type Of Board And Service Involved. These Private Boards Are Paid Up Front. Sorry For The Inconvenience.
Very Important!!!
1 All Boards Need To Be Labeled, Foam Or Bubble Wrapped, (Before I Get To You!!!)
2 Fins Need To Be Separate From Boards, Taped And Clearly Marked For Which shop/ customer name/ board.
3 Please Also Have Packing Slips.
Please Notify What You Have Or Need For Nor Cal. This Service Is For All Shops And Shapers From San Diego,Orange County, LA, Santa Barbara Up Hwy 101 Thru Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo ( Morro Bay Minimum 3-5 Board) Then Up To Monterey ( Minimum 3-5 Boards) And Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay And Up To San Raphael(North Of The Golden Gate Bridge In Sf) Boards Could Also Be Dropped Of At My House In Vista.
Thank You For Your Business.
Leon Fitchat 1130 Sunset Drive Vista , Ca , 92081 760 521 8837
Very good info Bruce. The last time I picked up boards on a trip I told the guy I was gonna quit telling people when I was going.
Bruce, thank you big time for this summary. I need to ship a couple to friends in San Diego and like you was through with FedEx and UPS. I’ll likely go Amtrak.
all the best