Cross-country shipping for a pinball cabinet

[Darkstalker]

I purchased a 80s era pinball table via ebay, and I need to get it shipped from PA to CA.  The seller recommended North American Van Lines (which I'm hopefully receiving a quote from soon), and I contacted a company called Ship Smart which wants just under $600 for the door to driveway task.

NAVL quote still to come, $600 seems like it is a little high.  This is a residential to residential move, no stairs (To my knowledge), and packing/crating woud be required at the pickup site.  I was expecting something around $500, I see new tables from distributors shipping for $350, and I figured about $150 for shipping prep.  Can anyone offer some insight?  Should I bother shopping around more?  I know it's not going to be cheap, but hey, $100 is $100

It was here or Everything Else, so I went with here first to ask the question.  Thanks in advance for any info!

[TheOtherBob]

Google rec.games.pinball and do a search for navl and michelle (or michele).

Good luck!

[19rjs99]

When new tables and games are shipped from distributors they are already packed/crated and they are shipped from a warehoue/dock. This make loading and unloading easier. There is no need for a lift gate on the distributors end. This sounds pretty fair as I work for an International Relocation Company and that is approx. the going rate.

Where in PA is this loading as I might be able to recommend a local agent that might give you a better rate?

Bob

[PetitMorte]

from watching many different auctions on ebay, your navl quote should come in around $250-$350.

[ChadTower]

And that quote is usually good for TWO games, not just one.

[Darkstalker]

"When new tables and games are shipped from distributors they are already packed/crated and they are shipped from a warehoue/dock. This make loading and unloading easier. There is no need for a lift gate on the distributors end. This sounds pretty fair as I work for an International Relocation Company and that is approx. the going rate.

Where in PA is this loading as I might be able to recommend a local agent that might give you a better rate?"

It's leaving from White Oak, PA 15131, heading here to Fairfield, CA 94533. 

"from watching many different auctions on ebay, your navl quote should come in around $250-$350."
"And that quote is usually good for TWO games, not just one."

And that's more what I was expecting based on other Ebay auctions, plus some sort of crating charge...

I did get a call from an AJShip (Or something similar) on behalf of NAVL, but they had the request from Bakersfield, CA to White Oak, PA..Wrong direction and wrong city here in CA.  Makes me a little nervous about signing a contract...

I might try to do some digging on that Google groups link and see what I come up with too.  Thanks for the info all!

[19rjs99]

PM sent with info...

[GGKoul]

Forward air is other option too!

[Xphile]

I was under the impression that anything shipped with NAVL generally didn't **need** to be crated/palleted...just remove the legs and fold the header over, and they wrap it up with blankets and stick it against the wall in the back of the trailer..


**I'd assume several sheets of cardboard or foam between the header and playfield glass would be a super-great idea tho..:-)

definately goto rec.games.pinball and ask for recomendations..they would be the experts... :-)

[ClubNinja]

NAVL.

Well priced, well respected, and very careful. 

[Darkstalker]

OK, should have went with Misc for the post, sorry Mods 

NAVL.

Well priced, well respected, and very careful. 

And this is the choice I took.  They are double blanket wrapping it with corner braces, grand total was about $435. 

definately goto rec.games.pinball and ask for recomendations..they would be the experts... :-)

Yep, it was all of their amazing reviews from multiple sources to go with Beltman Group (NAVL) for the move.  The pin is getting picked up today, so now comes the oh-so-frustrating wait for delivery part...

Thanks for the post and pm info everyone, I'll post back in this thread with some pics and results when my table arrives.

[RayB]

I believe, from what I have read before, that to get the best rate from NAVL, you have to talk to a particular person who knows about these things (Michelle?) and/or also have the exact correct item category code. Otherwise you get charged more.

[Darkstalker]

I believe, from what I have read before, that to get the best rate from NAVL, you have to talk to a particular person who knows about these things (Michelle?) and/or also have the exact correct item category code. Otherwise you get charged more.

Unfortunately Michelle is out on vacation until the 4th, or I would have called her directly.  It's a little more than what others have paid, but it will quickly be forgotten once I give it the once-over and turn it on