Shipping a tennnis racquet
- Thread starter EdMcMush
- Start date
Seth
Legend
Here's the safest and cheapest way to do it:
Postage will probably cost you around $13 to go all the way to Oregon from NJ.
Get two USPS Priority Mail boxes from the post office. This requires you to ship via USPS Priority Mail, but you get tracking and $50 insurance included. DON'T pick up the Flat Rate boxes - USPS will charge you double (they charge for each flat rate box used). You're looking for what's called a "Mailing Box" and it measures 12.125 x 2.75 x 13.375. With new USPS guidelines, I'm pretty sure you HAVE to ship Priority if you go through them. I've found that USPS is almost always less expensive than UPS/FedEx/etc.
Connect the boxes end-to-end and slide them together as close as possible. Make sure the total length is less than 30" or you'll jump up in price quickly. Tape the middle where the boxes meet and tape the ends for good measure.
I found this image on Google:
Also, this video is a little dated with regard to USPS guidelines and box cosmetics, but he still makes good points:
A note on packaging: Take your time and make sure it's secure. Nothing worse than receiving some beat-up janky box in the mail. Also, save the plastic shopping bags from Target/grocery store/wherever to use as a cheap padding material. Very lightweight and effective.
Postage will probably cost you around $13 to go all the way to Oregon from NJ.
Get two USPS Priority Mail boxes from the post office. This requires you to ship via USPS Priority Mail, but you get tracking and $50 insurance included. DON'T pick up the Flat Rate boxes - USPS will charge you double (they charge for each flat rate box used). You're looking for what's called a "Mailing Box" and it measures 12.125 x 2.75 x 13.375. With new USPS guidelines, I'm pretty sure you HAVE to ship Priority if you go through them. I've found that USPS is almost always less expensive than UPS/FedEx/etc.
Connect the boxes end-to-end and slide them together as close as possible. Make sure the total length is less than 30" or you'll jump up in price quickly. Tape the middle where the boxes meet and tape the ends for good measure.
I found this image on Google:
Also, this video is a little dated with regard to USPS guidelines and box cosmetics, but he still makes good points:
A note on packaging: Take your time and make sure it's secure. Nothing worse than receiving some beat-up janky box in the mail. Also, save the plastic shopping bags from Target/grocery store/wherever to use as a cheap padding material. Very lightweight and effective.
Last edited:
Seth
Legend
Assuming no additional insurance, you're looking at just under $13 if you keep the box weight under 2 lbs (which is easy) and the box length less than 30".
For a standard length frame, you can put the frame in the box at an angle and have the box measure 27" x 13" x 3".
Seth
Legend
Glad to help.
Mareqnyc
Hall of Fame
I ship from NYC to NJ for $5.95 per racquet Priority USPS method described above it goes up to $14 depending on distance. Can't be a flat rate box. This is the cheapest and quickest method. I've also cut up some cartboard to create my own boxes and used Priority Mail for the same prices when I didnt have their boxes on hand. One racquet with relatively thin box should be less than 2lbs.
skydog
Professional
I would recommend some tape lengthwise as well. I once received half of this arrangement with no racket. Turned into a contested issue on the bay and I ended up up having to do all the leg work to get my money back from USPS. Just taping around the middle will not secure the racquet in the box.Here's the safest and cheapest way to do it:
Postage will probably cost you around $13 to go all the way to Oregon from NJ.
Get two USPS Priority Mail boxes from the post office. This requires you to ship via USPS Priority Mail, but you get tracking and $50 insurance included. DON'T pick up the Flat Rate boxes - USPS will charge you double (they charge for each flat rate box used). You're looking for what's called a "Mailing Box" and it measures 12.125 x 2.75 x 13.375. With new USPS guidelines, I'm pretty sure you HAVE to ship Priority if you go through them. I've found that USPS is almost always less expensive than UPS/FedEx/etc.
Connect the boxes end-to-end and slide them together as close as possible. Make sure the total length is less than 30" or you'll jump up in price quickly. Tape the middle where the boxes meet and tape the ends for good measure.
I found this image on Google:
Also, this video is a little dated with regard to USPS guidelines and box cosmetics, but he still makes good points:
A note on packaging: Take your time and make sure it's secure. Nothing worse than receiving some beat-up janky box in the mail. Also, save the plastic shopping bags from Target/grocery store/wherever to use as a cheap padding material. Very lightweight and effective.
mikeler
Moderator
I also save my tennis boxes for later use now.
DUROC
Professional
USPS Priorty EXPRESS........one day service. Depending in distance rates for a tennis frame can run between $24 - $34+++
USPS has a calculator on its website, using two priority EXPRESS boxes put end to end as explained above, the dims should be 28x4x13 and weight between 1.8lbs to just under 2lbs.
Put in the ship from and ship to zip codes and you will get a pretty close quote.
The_Racketeer
Professional
Getting the right box is easy. Buy a new racquet from TW and then just reuse the box your brand new stick came in.
