How do I send sports equipment by courier?

As the winter season draws to a close, skis, snowboards and skates linger in the nooks and crannies of flats and basements. At the end of the warm months, bicycles or roller skates are hidden away. Some people who do not have enough space in their flat to store their sports equipment decide to send it to a place where it will wait until the next season. Shipping sports equipment is quite a difficult task that can cause more or less problems. Much depends on the weight and size of the equipment. How do I send sports equipment by courier?

How to pack sports equipment well for shipping by courier?

In order to send sports equipment by courier safely and smoothly, care should be taken to ensure that it is properly packed and protected. A cardboard box made of strong and durable corrugated cardboard (preferably 5-layer or 7-layer) will be necessary. The dimensions, shape and size of the cardboard box should be matched to the sports equipment – so that the skis or bike do not protrude beyond its edge, corner.

A consignment ofsports equipment must be measured and weighed – so that it can be reclassified in the appropriate price range with the carrier. It is likely that it will be classified as a non-standard shipment. This is a more expensive option, but guarantees that sorting staff and couriers will treat the package with extreme care.

How do I secure a box of sports equipment?

The next step is to secure the valuable contents properly. This term includes cushioning – there must be a few centimetres of free space between the walls of the cardboard box and the sports equipment, filled with so-called parcel fillers. These will include bubble wrap, flopak, sprinkler, air cushions, old and used newspapers and polyethylene foam.

Filling the inside of a carton with sports equipment is a very important stage. The consignment must not be movable inside – there is a high probability that some parts could fall off or move during shipping of the sports equipment, damaging the equipment and the box. The packed and filled carton should also be additionally wrapped in stretch foil, which will protect the contents from dampness, dust, dirt and mechanical damage (check the use and types of stretch foil). Do not forget about warning labels (e.g. “Up/Down”), which provide information for the courier that valuable and valuable items or equipment are inside.

How do I pack my skis, snowboard or bike?

Regardless of the type, all sports equipment should be cleaned and protected before packing. In the case of skis or a snowboard, the brakes should be secured so that they adhere and do not stand out from the main part. The tips and corners of these winter gears must be wrapped in plastic – this ensures the protection of fragile and sensitive parts that could easily be damaged during transport.

Wondering how to secure your bike for shipping? The situation is similar for winter sports equipment. Before packing it, it should be carefully dismantled – the lights, luggage rack, bell, brake, bottle holder, among others, should be removed. Each component should be wrapped in bubble wrap or paper and then attached to the bike frame. Don’t forget the smaller parts (screws, nuts). Group them up and store them in separate bags and later attach them to the frame as well.

How do you dismantle the bike step by step?

When dismantling your bike, pay attention to components such as pedals, handlebars, wheels, tyres, saddle, mudguards, brake handles. All of these should – eventually – be attached to the bicycle frame.

Start with the handlebars – unscrew or loosen them and then place them along the axle frame. Removing the saddle is very simple – loosen it, lower it as much as possible, remove it, attach it to the frame. As for the tyres, it is best to deflate them (halfway). This will protect the inner tubes from unnecessary damage.

It willtake the most work to remove the brake – it’s not enough to just disassemble this part. A wedge of some kind (e.g. a piece of cardboard) should be pressed between the brake pads on the bike. This step is very important. If the courier inadvertently presses on the brake during transport, the pads would tighten irreversibly. The wedge prevents this from happening.

Shipping bulky sports equipment

Sports equipment also includes equipment used in the gym, e.g. bicycle, treadmill, orbiter. Before packing them in a cardboard box, you should prepare accordingly. First, the equipment is dismantled. Then wrap each disassembled item with some strong protection, such as bubble wrap. Also switch off all measuring devices (e.g. the counter). You pack the whole thing into a large, sturdy, strong cardboard box in the shape of a cuboid. You can stick the disassembled, wrapped components to the equipment via adhesive tape – this ensures that they do not get lost during transport.

What to do with heavy sports equipment? How do I send it?

Heavy exercise equipment and accessories (e.g. dumbbells, a set of barbell plates, a barbell) can be sent by courier. It is only important that the whole thing fits into the maximum parcel weight stated by the carrier. If the package with the sports equipment in question is heavier, it may be classified as a non-standard shipment. However, that is not all. Some courier companies stipulate that in the case of a very heavy parcel, the courier may need the addressee’s assistance in bringing it into the flat or house. With the DPD carrier, such a situation occurs when the weight of the parcel exceeds 31.5 kg, while the FedEx courier company emphasises that it must be over 50 kg.

How to send sports equipment by courier? Shipping parameters

Choosing the optimal courier company depends on the size, weight of the parcel. It does not have to be in the form of a standard parcel (rectangular, cardboard boxes) – due to the different weights, courier equipment is often treated as a non-standard courier shipment.

Each carrier has different parameters – sometimes their couriers will not accept a parcel that exceeds certain dimensions, weight.

In the case of the DPD courier, the maximum weight of a parcel is 50 kg and the maximum length is 175 cm. Poczta Polska, which offers Ekspres 24 and Kurier 24 services, specifies the maximum weight of a parcel as 30 kg and the length as 150 cm. FedEx Express is able to accept heavier (maximum weight – 70 kg) and longer (maximum length – 200 cm) parcels. UPS courier has similar parameters (maximum parcel weight as 70 kg and length as 270 cm). According to InPost courier rules, the maximum weight of a parcel is 50 kg and the length is 200 cm.

Conductor shipment – an alternative to typical carriers

The question “how to send sports equipment by courier” does not determine courier companies as the only possible carriers. There is another option – conductor shipping. Its shipping used to be a popular solution. Nowadays, it is somewhat falling into disuse. This does not mean, however, that the Polish railway has abandoned the idea of conductor shipments. The collection and delivery of such parcels takes place at railway stations, while the train is stationary. Conductor shipments are offered by the most popular Polish railway companies – IEC, TLK, Intercity.

The maximum dimensions and weight of a consignment are clearly specified. The weight of the package cannot exceed 10 kg, the largest possible size is 20x40x50 cm, and the value of the package cannot exceed PLN 1,200. Not every piece of sports equipment can be transported as part of a conductor’s parcel. Carriage on passenger trains will only apply to small, lightweight dumbbells or pilates equipment.

Are you hungry for more details? Read how to send a conductor parcel.

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