I have been shipping in 3" PVC. **** it is expensive. It cost twice as much as the actual shipping charges. Is there anyway I can get shipping tubes or boxes that are 7' long or is this really my only option witht hte exception to hand delivering them myself. Even a cheeper type of pipe to use. I tried to do a search but didnt really see anything that addresses this. What do you guys use?
Thanks in advance,
John-Michael

what type of pvc are you using? sch20, 40, 80? I've seen some THICK cardboard tubes used in contruction for pouring round footings for light poles, some down to 3". But I have no idea of the cost of them.

Jason

Foam core PVC is about half the weight of standard PVC. Just as rigid, though. You can often recognize it as it will be labeled as "Not for use under pressure." It's used for drain and output pipes - not input where water is under pressure. ABS pipe is usually foam core and fairly light as well.

Part of the problem is that you're not only being charged for weight, but for the length which with regard to fishing rods, is almost always going to work against you unless you're shipping very short travel rods.

...........

I had a problem with the post office here when I went to ship a rod out once. They were trying to charge me extra because of the size. It cost's me on the average 15-20 bucks to ship a rod out to the lower 48 from Alaska. They were going to charge me close to 50 bucks to send one once. I told them they could show me the justification for that extra charge and I would leave them alone. Turns out they measured/ciphered wrong and they were able to send it out for the regular amount. Funny how quick they get it right when you mention Fed X

Does anyone know where to get those cardboard tubes? For a one way trip those seem like the best option. I know Bass Pro Shops ships rods in them, and at the tackle shop I worked at for a few years we sent all of our rods-for-repair out in cardboard tubes, and reused them numerous times after they were shipped back. I know they exist. It seems like they wouldn't be impossible to find. Any ideas?

Also, was that $15- $20 in PVC tubes?

John, I just shipped a rod yesterday in a seven foot cardboard tube and it cost me $23.35 (UPS) . I don't think the weight matters until it reaches 30lbs.. My reciept said 0-30lbs. The big charge is for what they consider "oversize".

I saw the cardboard tubes in Staples last week,didn`t price them though.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

Does anybody know where to get the cardboard tubes online or anywhere besides staples? I checked out staples but they dont have any tubes long enough. Longest they had was 5 foot.

Go to a place that sells rolls of carpet and get the cardboard tubes that they come on.

You can get them for free and you can cut them down to any length (the tubes are usually over 10' long).

I use 4" square telescoping cardboard box that extends up to 9'. Buy them from ULINE 1-800-295-5510.They cost 1.85 each with a minimum order of 25. This company also has the rolls of plastic tubing to make rod bags out of. Jesse

Thanks for the replies. My main issue is not the weight. Talked to fedex and they do it by dimension at like 30 lbs. My main concern is spending $15 in PVC alone to ship one rod. Fedex said it would only be about $7 same day for in state shipments. I checked u-line and viking and I didn't se anything over 48" though. I have been gettin schedule 40 because that was all Home Depot had. Shipping cost is not a biggy but the shipping material is killing me. I will call uline and see if it is just something they don't have available on line or I could be blind
Thanks

I went to Uline, they had some tubes up to 5'. I saw the telescoping cardboard boxes but not ones that went to 9', are you sure?

I found those boxes on Uline, sorry! Those look like the best deal. granted not quite as crush proof as the tubes, but much cheaper. I sent an e-mail to Uline for a quote on some 74"-86" tubes. Based on the price of their 60" tubes I would say they will be over $6.00 each. Better off with the boxes.