Kit shipping

When you receive word that your kit is shipping, do you have any say as to what day it is delivered? Is that different for the different shippers, like with Partain? I'll be out of town a few times in July, and want to make sure there's not a problem.

Thanks

Yes, at least to some degree (at least with ABF). However, there might be a storage fee after a certain time has elasped from the time it arrives at the terminal closest to where you want it delivered and it's actually delivered. Best to call the shipping company and see what they're willing to do.

Glad this came up

Also, can you request just shipping to the terminal for pickup instead of home delivery? I assume there is a lower charge for that.

Yep (again, at least with ABF). A number of folks have done that and it is a cheaper option assuming you have the right vehicle.

ABF Home Delivery

ABF waives the home delivery fee for Vans customers. Barbara set up my most recent delivery with ABF and they did not charge the home delivery fee. As such, it was the same price whether it was picked up at the dock or delivered to the house. The wing kit arrived damage free and everyone at ABF was very pleasant and professional.

DaAV8R said:

ABF waives the home delivery fee for Vans customers. Barbara set up my most recent delivery with ABF and they did not charge the home delivery fee. As such, it was the same price whether it was picked up at the dock or delivered to the house. The wing kit arrived damage free and everyone at ABF was very pleasant and professional.

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That must be something new. I was quoted about $60 for home delivery of my wing kit. Since my finish kit ships in a couple weeks, I'll have to ask Barbara understand the new ABF fees.

Partain

Suggest that you call Partain and give him a shot at your business. I did and I am completely satisfied. Benefits to me were;
Delivery to my door by a professional driver who only handles 'airplane parts, etc.' - therefore, he knows the value of the packages that he has inside of his truck/trailer. My kit went from Van's door to mine - no handling by anyone - door to door.
Delivery on time by a driver who called me one day 'out' and told me when he would be here. He even gave me his cell phone number and told me to call anytime.
Cheaper price.
No loading dock or fork lift tragedies.
I am a very happy customer who will use Tony Partain's service for anything larger than a bread box. Just seems smart and saves $$$ .

And I am pretty sure that he is a sponsor here on the VAF.

Pete, I wanted to make sure I was here too. I?m sure they will let it stay for a little while at their place without additional charges. You should have a fairly good date already in mind by what ?crating date? says on the papers. Do you remember?

?Ready to go to crating? date was March 29 for my RV-4 crates. I received my kits on the 3rd of May. I think they may have waited on mine so that the cashiers check cleared. If you pay by credit card, or get your final payment in well ahead of crating date, I have a feeling you?ll get it quicker.

I had told Van?s to call me too, before shipping. I received 4 different crates, for all of the airframe, minus finishing kit. Just so you know, you should be able to man handle all of the crates with the help of the truck driver. One or two was a little heavy, but still not bad for two guys with healthy backs.

I don't know about them waiving the home delivery charge. Maybe it's like another said, that Van's has it worked out to where their customers don't get charged extra for that. Barbara also told me that Van?s and ABF have something like a 60% discount rate worked out.

One other thing to consider is whether you want it shipped to your home address or if you or a buddy have some business address you can ship it too. I honestly can?t remember if Barbara or ABF was the one that told me I was saving about $25.00 by having it shipped to my business address.

I had asked ABF specifically if it was cheaper if I just picked it up there, and at least with me, they said that it wouldn?t be.

I don't know which kit you are waiting on, but the ABF terminal isn't far from oyu. For my fuselage kit I just picked it up with my pickup truck at the terminal. Saved some $$ in the process.

Wow, lots of information. I actually haven't ordered yet. I'm probably dreaming that I'd get the wings in July, with the delays I've read about. The last $1000 is the hardest. I know I should order with a deposit to start the clock; I just wanted to have all the cash in hand.

Just another datapoint for those reading this thread with interest; the freight companies will generally also redirect your shipment on request. The finishing kit for my -6A and all the kits for the -10 have been delivered directly to my hangar. Check the cost; ABF has been recomputing my delivery charge because it's not residential, but the difference is negligible and saves me having to get a U-haul or similar to move the kit from home to hangar. When they contact me for the impending shipment, I tell them I want to redirect it and need at least 30 minutes notice so I can escort them onto the airport. At delivery, the driver calls and we set a time; I've never had a driver do a 'right now' call - they usually call in the morning and we set a time later in the day.

The fuselage and finish kits for the -10 were the biggest I've received; the driver used a pallet jack to move them around in the truck and onto the lift gate. Fortunately, I had a friend with a fork-lift to take them off the gate and place them. All the other kits I've received I have been able to drag or move with a couple of people, no special equipment required.