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koalathekyle
Joined: 05 Feb 2009
Location: Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, SK
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 Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 5:31 pm Post subject: Shipping a Bicycle to US |
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I apologize if this subject has been mentioned before, but I can't seem to find it with the search function.
Has anyone shipped a bicycle home from Korea? I am thinking I might ship a pretty decent MTB I've bought here.
Ideas on cost, companies or post to go with or the time that it may take.
Thanks everyone. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know about shipping one home, but I brought one with me on the plane. For the record, if they tell you that packaging it in the original manufacturers box is okay, it is not. They mangled my brand new Specialized. Then the airlines wouldn't even admit that they did it. I just called Visa and told them not to pay the charge. HA!
I looked into shipping it here from the US, and if it's the same thing shipping it back, it's not worth it. The prices were ridiculous, on the order of 400-700 dollars. Of course, this was from their online calculator, maybe in person they'd be more helpful, but I doubt it. Just my experience. |
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koalathekyle
Joined: 05 Feb 2009
Location: Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, SK
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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Oh gosh, yeah a mangled up box is a nightmare.
I had my original road cycle packaged and shipped by the LBS I bought it from when I moved from Jeju. Turned out, not only did the bike shop pack it horribly (this is the most professional bike shop on the island) the shipping company damaged the box and what not (think they put it at the bottom of the truck, evening delivery). Ended up having a dented my frame and I had to deal with translations and compensations for months.
Ended up getting them to buy me a new one, but took several months.
Was your bike damaged by the airlines? Visa take your side? I was thinking about getting a suitcase for it, but yeah, unless I go airlines, sounds like it could be an expensive cost.
Thanks for the story man, hope your bike turned out alright... |
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The Great Toad
Joined: 12 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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You can mail stuff by sea takes 1-2 months reallly cheap... at ur local Korean post office... but the catch is you can only mail large stuff like bikes by AIR and that will cost you like the last guy siad around 600-800 at least...
you can ship a bike by sea but only if you pay for a huge giant shipping box which will cost you mmmm thousands and thousands of dollars... but I checked this out before and only way to mail a light but bulky item like a bike is
Air
and you aint't got the cash for it
So yeah ship on the plane it is actually still chepaer to take a 100-200 dollar hit for an extra check in bag than to try to ship it by air
so like do 3 checkins and oone is your bike... two are you clothes and stuffed baby monkey and hello kitty collection and the other is ur bike - you get hit for around 100-200 for extra bag and anthoer 120 for a bike fee charge too... please check your airline company for details pertaining to extra bag charge / bike oversize charge and baby stuffed monkey fees |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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| The Great Toad wrote: |
You can mail stuff by sea takes 1-2 months reallly cheap... at ur local Korean post office... but the catch is you can only mail large stuff like bikes by AIR and that will cost you like the last guy siad around 600-800 at least...
you can ship a bike by sea but only if you pay for a huge giant shipping box which will cost you mmmm thousands and thousands of dollars... but I checked this out before and only way to mail a light but bulky item like a bike is
Air
and you aint't got the cash for it
So yeah ship on the plane it is actually still chepaer to take a 100-200 dollar hit for an extra check in bag than to try to ship it by air
so like do 3 checkins and oone is your bike... two are you clothes and stuffed baby monkey and hello kitty collection and the other is ur bike - you get hit for around 100-200 for extra bag and anthoer 120 for a bike fee charge too... please check your airline company for details pertaining to extra bag charge / bike oversize charge and baby stuffed monkey fees |
This isn't necessarily true. I paid 75 dollars for my luggage when I left the US. 50 dollars for an overweight bag, and 25 for the bike.
Korean Air's website says that a bicycle, if under certain dimensions, will be accepted as a piece of luggage, NO CHARGE. But, those dimensions are tiny, and you won't meet them. It does say, however, that if your bike is larger than those sizes, but smaller than another set, then it will be accepted for travel, at a rate of "half the overweight baggage fee." The overweight bag fee is 50 dollars, so a bike can travel with you for 25 dollars, provided it is one of your two pieces of luggage.
Now, that's how I read their site, and when I got to my airport, I had to fly American Airlines. I told them that I was only paying the 25 dollars for the bike and that was it, and they gave in.
Koala, yeah, my bike is okay. The paint on the rear dropouts was all scraped away and the wheels AND skewers were bent, but I live 5 subway stops from the ONLY Specialized dealer in Korea. 70k won later and the wheels were straight and skewers replaced. Visa stuck with me; i told them that the airlines destroyed my bike and I didn't want to pay them. I started with this Visa card as a student with an $800 limit and have a limit that is about half my annual income now... We have a very good relationship!  |
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DeMayonnaise
Joined: 02 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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I brought a bike here to Korea and it was perfectly fine in the box...flew Korean air, they charged me a bit for being oversized and overweight (around $120 I think). The box looked like it had flown across the Pacific, but the bike itself was fine.
So are you going home with the bike, or shipping it home by itself? If you are also going home, I'd bring it on the plane and ship your other, less important stuff. |
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DeMayonnaise
Joined: 02 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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I brought a bike here to Korea and it was perfectly fine in the box...flew Korean air, they charged me a bit for being oversized and overweight (around $120 I think). The box looked like it had flown across the Pacific, but the bike itself was fine.
So are you going home with the bike, or shipping it home by itself? If you are also going home, I'd bring it on the plane and ship your other, less important stuff. |
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koalathekyle
Joined: 05 Feb 2009
Location: Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, SK
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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| The Great Toad wrote: |
You can mail stuff by sea takes 1-2 months reallly cheap... at ur local Korean post office... but the catch is you can only mail large stuff like bikes by AIR and that will cost you like the last guy siad around 600-800 at least...
you can ship a bike by sea but only if you pay for a huge giant shipping box which will cost you mmmm thousands and thousands of dollars... but I checked this out before and only way to mail a light but bulky item like a bike is
Air
and you aint't got the cash for it
So yeah ship on the plane it is actually still chepaer to take a 100-200 dollar hit for an extra check in bag than to try to ship it by air
so like do 3 checkins and oone is your bike... two are you clothes and stuffed baby monkey and hello kitty collection and the other is ur bike - you get hit for around 100-200 for extra bag and anthoer 120 for a bike fee charge too... please check your airline company for details pertaining to extra bag charge / bike oversize charge and baby stuffed monkey fees |
Thanks for the info folks.
Yeah, I kinda went crazy and bought 3 bikes in my 2 years in Korea. Kinda of a weird obsession. I plan on selling my Giant TCR, giving my Dahon foldable to my girlfriend and possibly shipping my MTB with me as I return to the US. Just have to think about the options and what the airlines policy is for bikes. I know how it does vary, yet this seems like the most valuable option, so keeping one of my bikes is reasonable.
Again, I'm wary on the packaging (as damaged shipments has haunted my past) and keeping something so fragile on an world wide journey over the Pacific.
Good to know you guys (gals?) have had successful trips (relatively) albeit having damage on your cycle. I'm not super concerned about paint chipping on my MTB, dents or structural damage would.... Bubble wrap to the extreme?
I know that bikes are always shipped to LBS from Asia everyday and surely airlines handle these things daily....
Best to decide if it is worth keeping my Scott Genius MC-40 or not...
Thanks for the info everyone. |
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Eglayzer
Joined: 22 Feb 2009
Location: Gimhae-si, near Busan
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| Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Its best to fly with the bike and pay the over size luggage charge. Look on youtube for videos about packing your bike for shipping. Ask your local bike shop for the plastic inserts to protect your bikes drop outs and derailers. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 11:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Eglayzer wrote: |
| Its best to fly with the bike and pay the over size luggage charge. Look on youtube for videos about packing your bike for shipping. Ask your local bike shop for the plastic inserts to protect your bikes drop outs and derailers. |
I made my own inserts, cut to the right dimensions, bolted in place on the fork and dropouts - they were dislodged by the time it got here. Got the OEM box from the bike shop, packed it just like it came from the factory, put in wood bracing in the corners and edges, wrapped the ends with poly plastic and duct tape to reinforce it - I did the whole nine yards, and it still came damaged.
If you're planning on traveling any amount with your bike, I'd recommend getting a hardside bicycle case. It will pay for itself in saved hassle and grief down the road. |
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chotaerang
Joined: 23 Mar 2004
Location: In the gym
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 3:30 am Post subject: |
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| Since English teachers usually travel light on the way back to North America for vacations, why don't you get a friend (from a nearby state) to bring it as luggage when he/she next goes across? |
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koalathekyle
Joined: 05 Feb 2009
Location: Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, SK
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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| chotaerang wrote: |
| Since English teachers usually travel light on the way back to North America for vacations, why don't you get a friend (from a nearby state) to bring it as luggage when he/she next goes across? |
I can't imagine the burden this would be for someone, I couldn't do that to anyone. Most likely, what it seems is best is to ship clothes and lighter things home via the post, heavier things via the luggage I can check as well as a bike (in a hard suitcase it seems) with me even if there is an extra baggage fee.
If anyone else comes upon this post, here seems to be a list (possibly outdated, not sure) of the various carriers' cost to adding an extra bike. Some do in fact require you have it in a hard case suitcase surely to avoid the mis handling of a box. |
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koalathekyle
Joined: 05 Feb 2009
Location: Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, SK
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I-am-me
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Location: Hermit Kingdom
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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Amazes me the crap people want to take back from mice to bicycles. All that stuff you can buy in the US. Why make your life complicated?  |
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koalathekyle
Joined: 05 Feb 2009
Location: Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, SK
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| I-am-me wrote: |
| Amazes me the crap people want to take back from mice to bicycles. All that stuff you can buy in the US. Why make your life complicated? |
The bike in question is not a Lespo, emart standard MTB. It is a full suspension, costing about 4 million new. I bought it used for considerably less and it makes sense to pay 100~200 dollars for a shipping fee if I were to suppose that I would use it back in the states also, which I do. |
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