Shipping Bike Fed Ex or take it on the plan

[Triskeliongirl]

Be very careful with FedEx GROUND. While FedEx ground is certainly cheaper than UPS or FedEx AIR, we learned the hard way that regardless of the declared value, and how much 'insurance' you purchased, they are only liable for $100 if your bike is lost/stolen (with UPS or Fedex AIR it is really insured for the declared value). We also learned the workers are not employed by the company but by various local depots, and are not as well compensated as UPS or FedEx AIR, so there is more corruption. My husband shipped his Bike to boston to ride to vermont for a scientific meeting. It never arrived. Tracking showed it arrive at one location but not leave. All they told us is that it was lost and we are entitled to $100 even though we paid a surcharge to cover the $2000 it was worth. Turned out a good friend of ours knows someone high up at FedexGround management (their kinds are friends), and sent him all the info. including a pic of my husband riding the bike. Turned out a worker at the depot it went missing from was spotted riding the bike to work by the supervisor that got the pics of the bike. He was arrested, and the case and accesories were all recovered from his apartment. He even had the nerve to wear my husbands helmets and shoes to work! But we were lucky. Never again will I use Fedex ground. Regular Fedex is OK, as is UPS. I have an S/S coupled bike and just take it in the S/S case. So far no problems, but I should probably get one of those TSA nets.

[shootingstar]

Wow, triskelion. Good advice.

Just curious: when one ships by FedEx, do you actually have to state that a bike is inside that box/container?

No, I haven't purchased any travel insurance when travelling by plane or air for lost baggage. I fly at least 2-3 times per yr. All these shipping problems, remind me how worthwhile it is for me to keep a bike locally with another family member, in other cities, where I visit family in Canada annually. We have taken bike trips out from those cities when I visit.

But then, when I've flown with my bike, my bike is worth ....ie. under $1,200. Ok by me! I'd rather not obsess over a lot more expensive bike. It's worth it for me to fly with a bike for certain situations if the bike touring vacation is long enough, since renting a bike that fits me with the proper gearing and weight is very difficult for my size. This has been true for even bike friendly cities where there are bike shops, more cycling culture. In Europe it's a drag for me to find a bike that fits. It amuses/amazed me in Copenhagen, I kept on seeing bikes that were way too big for me in bike shops there.

What would be interesting here for TE members, if they are comfortable to leave their bike in a bike train car if ie. they were travelling several hundred km. by train anywhere in Europe. And those train cars aren't necessarily looked after by an train employee during the train ride. People just go and get their bikes, get off the train. Sometimes you can lock up your bike and other times it's not that simple/possible. If you're bike has panniers locked on, of course, it's less of an incentive for anyone to steal an expensive touring bike when it's loaded already with panniers.

[Triskeliongirl]

Fedex does not require you to identify the contents as a bike. I usually ship in a trico iron case, so it would be obvious to a knowledgable person what was inside. ALso, whoever worked for fedex ground knew it had a declared value of $2000, so worth stealing/opening. We were so lucky to get the bike back, and it was fine.