So, I had often looked at used machinery posted for sale on line but the logistics / expense and the unknown costs always threw me off.
I had looked for a small Tool and Cutter Grinder for quite awhile. I needed small because I'm in a small workshop. I missed a couple, I was just simply too late. Prices in the East always looked very attractive but how to get it home ? Often wondered about a LTL shipment (less than trailer load). So, a few weeks ago a small cutter grinder with several accessories popped up for what I thought was a very reasonable price (by Calgary standards). So, I asked for a forum volunteer local to the machine to look at it for me (special thanks to Luc Simoneau) - mostly to just confirm that the machine actually existed (not just a picture of a machine). Machine actually existed, ran fine, sounded OK etc. and the seller seemed reasonable but Google said 43.5 hours drive (one way) (almost New Brunswick). Contacted Day and Ross for a quote (no affiliation), they quoted as follows:
1 X 48" x 40" (standard pallet) x 40" high
Total weight: 750 lbs
Private residence pickup surcharge $75
tailgate pickup (no forklift available) $83.68
fuel surcharge, GST etc.
Total to my door $684.82
I paid the seller $250 extra to knock it down (take the upper off the base)(he did have an engine hoist), get it on a pallet and build a crate for it (2x4's and 1/2" plywood all sides and top).
Did an E-Transfer to the seller. Seller had it crated up in a couple days.
D&R required pre-payment (no surprise).
It took D&R 5 days (over a weekend) to pick up the crate (no surprise because it was in a small town, kind of off the beaten path).
7 days later, there's a Day and Ross truck behind my garage - liftgate drop off, battery powered pallet jack, very pleasant driver wheeled it straight into my garage.
So for others that might have wondered about LTL shipping machinery, there's one experience that was positive. The $ worked for me just because I'm in Calgary and there was a big enough difference in Eastern market and Calgary market that I felt I could absorb the freight charges but too far for a "road trip". Good people on the far end made a big difference too Luc was great and the seller was a great guy too.
This worked well for a one pallet shipment, for larger like a lathe or mill, I have no idea. But a positive experience nonetheless and I thought there would be others that had wondered / been tempted like me and would be interested in what it cost. But you've got to do your due diligence to make sure the seller is legitimate.
I had looked for a small Tool and Cutter Grinder for quite awhile. I needed small because I'm in a small workshop. I missed a couple, I was just simply too late. Prices in the East always looked very attractive but how to get it home ? Often wondered about a LTL shipment (less than trailer load). So, a few weeks ago a small cutter grinder with several accessories popped up for what I thought was a very reasonable price (by Calgary standards). So, I asked for a forum volunteer local to the machine to look at it for me (special thanks to Luc Simoneau) - mostly to just confirm that the machine actually existed (not just a picture of a machine). Machine actually existed, ran fine, sounded OK etc. and the seller seemed reasonable but Google said 43.5 hours drive (one way) (almost New Brunswick). Contacted Day and Ross for a quote (no affiliation), they quoted as follows:
1 X 48" x 40" (standard pallet) x 40" high
Total weight: 750 lbs
Private residence pickup surcharge $75
tailgate pickup (no forklift available) $83.68
fuel surcharge, GST etc.
Total to my door $684.82
I paid the seller $250 extra to knock it down (take the upper off the base)(he did have an engine hoist), get it on a pallet and build a crate for it (2x4's and 1/2" plywood all sides and top).
Did an E-Transfer to the seller. Seller had it crated up in a couple days.
D&R required pre-payment (no surprise).
It took D&R 5 days (over a weekend) to pick up the crate (no surprise because it was in a small town, kind of off the beaten path).
7 days later, there's a Day and Ross truck behind my garage - liftgate drop off, battery powered pallet jack, very pleasant driver wheeled it straight into my garage.
So for others that might have wondered about LTL shipping machinery, there's one experience that was positive. The $ worked for me just because I'm in Calgary and there was a big enough difference in Eastern market and Calgary market that I felt I could absorb the freight charges but too far for a "road trip". Good people on the far end made a big difference too Luc was great and the seller was a great guy too.
This worked well for a one pallet shipment, for larger like a lathe or mill, I have no idea. But a positive experience nonetheless and I thought there would be others that had wondered / been tempted like me and would be interested in what it cost. But you've got to do your due diligence to make sure the seller is legitimate.
