Not sure where this belongs…
I need to freight a bike from the Netherlands to Australia.
The initial quotes I have are bonkers.
Ideas?
Ship a Bike from Europe to Australia
socheap on 07/11/2022 - 21:42
Comments
Complete bicycle not currently in as box
Motor bike or push bike?
push bike
@socheap: Not sure if you have any family or contacts in Netherlands, but what I'd do is have the bike taken to a bike store and broken down and boxed up.
I've sold a few (push) bikes this way and sent interstate, but I'm familiar with bikes so have dismantled myself. What bike are we talking about though? E-bike (?) - relevant as the battery may raise a few flags, mountain or road?
Buying direct from the manufactuer or from a seller? If the first, quite a few will ship boxed internationally.
If you know anyone travelling from Netherlands, they could take the boxed bike with them on the plan. I used to travel quite a bit with my mountain bike and the 'sport equipment' excess fee was something like $60 one-way.
I think that's a big part of the issue. Get it broken down and boxed as Porker suggested. Boxes go by either weight or cubic weight (formula based upon volume converted to equivalent weight) whichever is greater. A bicycle set up ready to ride occupies a lot more space than one broken down and boxed for shipping hence weighs less for calculations and is cheaper. If it's an ebike that'll also be part of the issue as batteries are classed as dangerous goods which pushes the price up. Last bike I bought from Europe, admittedly 11 years ago now, cost me EUR12.50 shipping by air, cheaper than AustPost would take it to the next suburb.
If you say it's in a box does it get cheaper? Boxes are easier to move and freight.
If you put the wheels in one box and the frame in another it may get even cheaper as then the boxes could fit in with other air freight allot easier.
Are they air freighting it or sending it via sea? Sea freight is allot cheaper, but will take a few months.
Sea freight looks about half the price but 3-4mths
Buy a suitable bike bag and bring it with you in oversized plane luggage next visit.
That is an option but a long way to travel to pickup a bike
Make a trip out of it then?
Is it a brand new bike from a specialist builder? You might want to give it a test ride etc before it gets shipped, otherwise any issues after the fact will be even more of a pain to resolve.
Drone?
What's your definition of 'bonkers' to freight a fragile bike shaped object half way around the world?
1000 Euro +
😲 That's bonkers…
Unless your bike is particularly special, just get a new one?
It is particularly special to me. You are probably correct just get a new one.
Why can’t you buy the same bike here? What’s so special about it that you need to buy it from Netherland?
Is it an ebike? Because there are rules about importing ebikes into Australia and certain restrictions when it comes to shipping if it has a lithium battery…
I've bought a couple of bikes from the UK, from the same bike company. They were boxed and sent via two different couriers. The latest came via DHL and was the easiest. They even arranged the customs and GST paperwork.
Quote from DHL €2700
Wow! Shipping and handling on my latest was $AU 426.66 (DHL shipping for Ribble, July this year)
Previous order, was $AU413.08 (Parcel Force shipping for Ribble, August last year.)
Latest order was MTB around 13kg. First order was a roadie around 9kg.
Why not sell the bike and buy a new one here?
Push bike? Motor bike?
Complete bike? Bike kit/boxed?