TOPIC:

I’ve heard  of course FASTENAL will ship larger items store to store?
Never checked or spoke to anyone, I have one 5 minutes from me.
i’m looking at a 78” wheelbase chromoly drag chassis in Kansas.
might be the deal maker?? If they would ship?
Years Ago Greyhound bus would also transfer items?
just throwing this out for any opinions or anyone tried this.

Marty in Buffalo

Made use of bus service to move several large woodworking equipment items.  But as you say in the past have not attempted to research shipping in some time.

Pretty sure Greyhound isn't shipping items anymore. Fastenal seems interesting.
 

I'll be surprised if Fastenal will ship personal items like that.  They closed their stores, or at least many of them, to retail traffic last year.  They make most of their money with corporate customers, not guys like us.

Im checking with them on shipping a frame. It would make sense if they are trying to fill their trucks

Fastenal's website has info on shipping items.  You need to get the item to their store location and then it must be picked up from their destination store.  Something like a frame would have to be palletized for shipping, they only load / unload with fork trucks.  You are at the mercy of their schedule, but they have trucks moving stock regularly.  A friend of mine uses their service  regularly and pricing is lower than the more commonly used services (UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc).

Thanks for that info. Im heading down to Phoenix so I can put it on a pallet and then get a quote which is what their answer was to me. I betting it will be cheaper than the $385 or so UPS or Fed x wants.

I have shipped 3 different engines, 2 frames, and 1 long springer front end through Fastenal.
They will slap your item on a pallet, or they let you wrap it to pallet.    
 I use small car tires on each side of engines, then shipping blanket, then ratchet strap together, then shrink wrap to pallet.
they have always been less than half cost to ship any other way. Im in S.E. Michigan and have shipped to and from
California, Texas, Ri, with good results, but I have not used their service for a couple years.
 

Great, to hear. I was thinking of a 54x20 pallet for a frame and strapping it upright. Did you lay your frame down. Might be a little more complicated as they have closed some or most of the showrooms. Cant just walk in anymore.

Frame    layed down       contact rails get wrapped in pipe insulation. again shipping blanket and ratchet strap before shrink wrap.
Be Well
 

If someone does this in the present times, please let us all know.  

My friend is heading over there tomorrow in Phoenix after talking with the guy. He says he has pallets so we will pick one up that works with the frame. I told him if he gets a pallet have the Fastenal guy band it on and weigh it, if he will. Then we still have to submit a form on line with the weight and dimensions. I talked to our location in Idaho and he told me basically the same, to go on line and fill out the form. The first time I did this I showed just a picture of the frame with approximate weight. They came back and said it needed to be on a pallet with actual weight. Both locations said they take parts all the time. So hopefully it will be less than Fed X or UPS which I calculate to be close to $400. I asked the guy in Idaho if he thinks having it upright Vs laying it down would be better. He said they are pretty careful and it should not matter. I am a bit worried about have them load something on top and bending a member. I will brace those points just in case and go with laying it down.

I will let you guys know