Here's the whole thing, Porkers, on SHIPPING BIKES TO AND
FROM RAGBRAI/PBV. This update is kind of long, but the
process is even simpler than we initially thought, so read and
let us know your plans. If you already told me you'll be
shipping to and from, no need to write again. If you've
changed your mind and decided to ship or not to ship, or if
you haven't given me this info yet, do write soon to
tammypav@aol.com . Some of this info
is a duplication of what we published in the June Letter, but
we're aiming to be complete.
FedEx, To and
From The Des Moines Register has decided to use
FedEx for shipping, as Pork Belly Ventures did last
year. In fact, FedEx is now listed among RAGBRAI's
sponsors. So we are throwing our support their way and
participating in their bike-shipping plan, with special
arrangements for the members of PBV. If you are shipping
to PBV prior to RAGBRAI or from PBV at the end of RAGBRAI,
FedEx is your shipper. Choose either Ground or Express
to Iowa, but Ground will be your only option from the PBV
FedEx shipping station in Le Claire. (Please see "Two
FedEx Shipping Stations in Le Claire"
below.)
Dates and Address for Shipping To
Iowa Although all other RAGBRAIers will ship to
an address in Grimes, Iowa, Porkers will ship to a separate
FedEx location in our hometown, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Your shipped bikes will be stored in a secure commercial
building rather than a residence--safer, we believe. FedEx
will accept the bikes between Monday, July 14th, and Friday,
July 18th, but we strongly suggest that you allow at least a
one-day buffer and plan for your bike to arrive no later than
Thursday, July 17th. PBV will pick up bikes ONCE. Don't
miss Friday.
We used to accept bikes as early as
July 1, but FedEx will only be able to store bikes during that
week before the ride. Please ship so that your bike
arrives within that Monday-to-Friday window.
Each
individual will be able to track his/her bike and know when it
has arrived. Pork Belly Ventures will pick up all PBV
bikes in the late afternoon on Friday, the 18th, and transport
them for you to our Missouri Valley campsite, where they will
be waiting for you.
NEW Address for Shipping to PBV in
Council Bluffs:
Pork Belly
Ventures/RAGBRAI
[
Rider's Name]
<------Put your name on this line
4406
South 19th Street
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
It's not
necessary to put any note on the box about assembly, as your
bikes will be taken to Missouri Valley in their shipping
boxes.
Shipping Other Stuff Some of
you are in the habit of shipping duffels and boxes prior to
RAGBRAI. You can still do this. Same address above, and
same dates.
Two FedEx Shipping Stations in Le
Claire The main shipping station is near the
tire-dipping site at the river. This is the place where
computers, credit card scanners, and scales will be set up for
people who are doing something other than the flat-rates we
describe below. The other shipping station is near PBV
at the Iowa Welcome Center, perched above the river near
long-term parking. At our site, the FedEx guys will
eyeball boxes that have been labeled with pre-paid flat-rate
stickers and will load them on their trailer. Below is a
list of reasons why you may have to make a trip down to the
other station, which you'll definitely want to avoid because
we will be tied up with our last-day chores and cannot give
you a lift. So that there will be no misunderstanding on
July 26th, please note these reasons why you could have
to get yourself and your bike to the main retail
shipping station at the river:
--to ship on your own
FedEx account
--to use a prepaid label purchased at
home
--to ship two-day, overnight, or international,
anything other than ground
--to ship oversized
packages* (keep reading)
--to pay declared value at
the normal rate of $.60 per $100
--to do anything other
than the pre-paid flat-rate labels and declared value
described below
--if you FORGOT to purchase your pre-paid
flat-rate label during the week
NOTE: Oversized
tandems may have to go retail--all the way down to the
river. But if you need to ship a tandem or trike or
anything definitely oversized, please write to
tammypav@aol.com . Our FedEx rep has
said no promises, but he may be able to work out an easy
shipping process from our campsite. We'll be in touch.
FedEx Ground Flat-Rate Shipping from Le
Claire To avoid having bike-shippers in Le
Claire stand in long lines as they have in the past, FedEx
Ground flat-rate labels will be available for $40 at the Expo
and all week at the FedEx booth in each host town. You
may purchase FedEx Ground flat-rate labels with cash or credit
card. We will be arranging with our FedEx representative
a time when he can come to visit us at PBV (possibly Sunday
late afternoon in Harlan) to answer any questions you have
about the flat-rate label or other concerns. At week's
end, it's simply a matter of preparing your package for
shipping and affixing the pre-paid label.
What's Oversized?Given this nice
shipping price, we've been getting questions about the
allowable size of bike boxes and cases. Our
understanding is that the process for sizing up any bikes
shipped from Le Claire on July 26th will be to eyeball bike
boxes and cases, and whatever is not noticeably oversized will
go for the $40 flat rate. Bear in mind that you'll pay
full retail to ship your bike TO Iowa, but the majority of you
will get a nice bargain on the return, due to FedEx's effort
to keep it simple. In many cases, borderline oversized
boxes and hard-shell cases will be accepted, but a tandem will
have to be treated differently. We're hoping for a
special arrangement, but they may have to go retail and
handled at the other FedEx location. (See "Two FedEx
Shipping Stations in Le Claire," above.)
What
about Hawaii?
Hawaii is not international, but
there might be a little surcharge when you purchase your
flat-rate label. Bikes shipped to Hawaii can still be
handled at our shipping site.
Declared
Value
FedEx has investigated third-party
insurance, but has decided to go with declared value after
all. They will sell this at $6 per $1000 declared
value. Usually you would have the option of paying $.60
per $100, but in an effort to avoid the long lines, they are
simplifying the process for declared value and selling only on
a per-$1000 basis. You'll fill out a form for declared
value and get a receipt.
Tracking
Numbers
When you pay for your pre-paid flat-rate
label, you'll get a receipt with your tracking number on it.
Put it in a safe place.
No Signature
Required Normally, packages over a certain
declared value require a signature upon receipt. When
you ship to Iowa, your bike/package will be held at the FedEx
facility until our crew comes to pick up all PBV bikes on
Friday afternoon, July 19th. We'll sign for them, as
they will be addressed to us. (See proper way to address
all shipping labels above.)
Regardless of the value you
have declared, if you ship the bike home on a flat-rate label,
there is no signature required for receipt of the bike. If
nobody's home at your house during the day, perhaps you should
give some thought to a relative, friend, or neighbor who could
receive your bike for you. Make sure you bring the
appropriate address to Iowa with you. Once FedEx has
recorded a delivery to the address on the package, they are no
longer responsible for the package.
Assistance/Questions
Our FedEx
representative will be available to talk with us, probably in
Harlan, possibly in Ames, and answer your questions. Our
bike mechanics will be available in Missouri Valley for
unboxing and in Le Claire for boxing bikes to ship. Our
front desk crew will know the drill on FedEx and we'll help
you any way we can. In every host town, particularly at
the bike expo on Saturday where PBV is very close to the FedEx
location, you'll be able to visit FedEx, ask questions, and
purchase your labels and declared
value.
Packing Your Bike for Its Trip to
Iowa Whether you're flying the bike on a plane
or shipping it in advance, careful packing can save your
bike. Keep bike parts from poking through the box by
giving special attention to these areas--pad or reinforce the
bottom of the box where forks can puncture it, and the sides
where your hubs could punch through. Pad other vulnerable
areas (brake levers sometimes poke through), and if there are
no slots for handling the box, cut some so the FedEx handlers
can grab your box. Often, we receive boxes torn open for
lack of a place to grab. (Follow these directions if
you're flying the bike with you.)
Flying My
Bike FedEx has done your homework for you.
Click on
airline shipping
rates to see what your airline will charge for flying the
bike.
More at
RAGBRAI.org
You may find it helpful to go to
RAGBRAI.org
and hit "Event Logistics" for the whole story on bike shipping
to and from RAGBRAI. But don't get mixed up.
Remember that we've made special arrangements for
Porkers. Follow the directions you see here and ship to
our special Council Bluffs address. Otherwise, we won't
have your bike in Mo Valley, and you'll have to claim it from
FedEx yourself.
Claims Last
year, those very few people who had claims for damage had to
file through us. This year, should you need to file a
claim, you will have greater control over your claim
process. Any claims are between you and the FedEx claims
department.
FedEx is constantly evaluating their plan,
and they may make slight changes even now. But this is
basically the process for their first time as the official
RAGBRAI bike shipper. From our perspective, they're
doing a fine job and laying the groundwork for easy and
reasonable bike shipping in the years to come.
Once
again, if you've changed your mind and decided to ship or not
to ship, or if you haven't given me this info yet, do write
soon to
tammypav@aol.com .
Thanks
again for your patience, Porkers, and stand by for more Pork
News as it happens.
Cheers,
Tammy and
Pete
Tammy (Phillips) Pavich
Pete
Phillips
712/328-0161
712/328-6836
tammypav@aol.com petephillips@cox.net 