After hearing some shipping horror stories and seeing what people are being charged for shipping a pin, I'm contemplating starting a pin ship co. I have the capability to ship from 1-30 pins by the way of SUV, covered trailer, and box truck with lift gate. It would be weekend only with white glove service, so you wouldn't have to worry about missing any work. I would be able to cover IL, IN, WI, MI, MN, IA, MO, KY, OH, and TN, for around $250 +/- depending on amount and location. I would donate to pinside for every pin shipped. I'm also looking for ideas from people on what they'd like to see from a pin shipping co. If there's enough interest I'd be willing to buy an escalera to really provide top notch service. All suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Jaybird

I'd be able to cover a little further than just those states, especially if I had a few pins to deliver/pick up in that general direction. I'd post what area I'd be heading on what dates

I've been tossing around some ideas on fabricating something to prevent any damage at all.

Yeah I would definitely set up to take CC, and there would be a discount on multiple pins shipped.

I'd pretty much be willing to do anything that can be done in a weekend.

Communication will not be an issue, as everyone I deal with will have my cell number and I'd be keeping an update schedule of where I'd be each weekend

Wow! Thanks for all the great input.

I'll try and address all the questions and concerns.

The main vehicle I'd be using is a lower mileage 2011 Freightliner box truck with lift gate. 90% of what I do for a living is delivering/installing across the Midwest. It is my father-in-laws company, so insurance and maintenance would be a shared expense. I would add liability insurance for the homes I'd be entering.

As whysnow stated it would only work if there was a 4 pin minimum in the direction I was going with the understanding that if I picked up a pin in say Lexington and delivered to western Iowa/ Kansas the following weekend.
I'd be able to stage pins/vids in my climate controlled 3 1/2 car garage so the machines wouldn't be bouncing around in back of a truck for a week. Obviously if a pin was being dropped off in the Chicagoland area I'd be able to deliver on most week nights.

I like vidgames idea of a price structure and of course I'd do video games as well, I said $250 as kind of the avg, it probably would be a little more if it was on the further edge of my coverage area.

I would ideally have a 1-2 week schedule ahead of time to give people the opportunity to look for pins in that area. With the ability and room to do a last second pick up in the area I'm in. Communication will be critical to making this viable.

Thanks again for all the input
Jaybird

Exactly, I think it can be a success if there's enough Midwestern interest.

Excellent idea

I'm not looking to get rich, just looking to defer some of the costs of this expensive addiction. And meet some fellow pinheads.

Ok, I've decide to go ahead and give this a go. I'm pretty excited about it, and I'm in the process of just getting all the insurances in order which turns out isn't very much as I'm already covered for the pins in transit. I'm tentatively going to be starting the weekend of the 23rd. I will be in the Lexington area that weekend, so any pins in that area I would be able to grab and deliver. The weekend of the 30th I'd be out in the Wichita area. Let me know if you could use my services. I'd appreciate any thoughts on ways of spreading the word. Hopefully this is a worthwhile endeavor, that is beneficial to this hobby I love. Please post here or PM with any questions. I look forward to providing great service to you all.

Thank you
Jaybird

Thanks LTG! It seems there is a need for it and there isn't much risk on my end because I pretty much have everything I need already. And if for some reason it doesn't work out, so be it, I'd rather try and fail then not try at all.

I'll be in your area on the 23rd

Unfortunately at this time Mesa is a bit out of my coverage range, I'm trying to stay within a 10 hour radius of Chicago. Thanks for the consideration

I will be doing Kansas as well, I'm tentatively going to in Wichita on the weekend of the 30th, I love me some BBQ

My wife is working on it I hope to have it up by middle of next week, admittedly I'm not the most tech savvy.

I'm always in full face paint, and carry a various assortment of cutlery. Dogs have no choice but to behave, as well as their owners, who always seem to pay on the spot

They'll be strapped down real tight to the roof of my mustang

It's really going to be all in the planning, with some pins being picked up and staged at my house for delivery the next weekend. With me being able to use my company vehicles it keeps my initial start up costs to an absolute minimum.

Thank you guys, for all the consideration. Your pins will be in good hands.

Minnesota seems to be a hotbed for pins, I'm scheduled to be there in a couple of weeks

Thank you everybody for your support. Unfortunately I will be unavailable for the next 3-4 weeks because of an unforeseen medical procedure. I will still be taking and setting up shipments during that time, as I will be bored and doped up :oo so if you aren't in a big hurry shoot me a pm and we can set something up.

Thanks
Jaybird

Dc is not in my range, I believe there's a guy that takes care of the east coast, pins on the move, I believe

Ft Smith is under my 10 hour range, which I'll do when I have other pickup/ drop offs in that general vicinity.

Seeing how I'm QC and logistics, I will be sure and triple check all orders, thank you for your input

Lol, I know, I was just being a smart ass.

Ok guys my procedure went well and I will be resuming the Aug 20-21. I will be in south Mi/ northern Ohio to Wisconsin. If anybody needs a pin transported let me know.

Thank you for your support

Thanks a lot Rich, I really appreciate it!

I'll be in Mi, N Oh, In, Wi if anybody would like a pin shipped by the 21st.

Thanks

Jaybird

I've only delivered double wides down there, but I'm sure I can squeeze a pin in there.

Thanks Hilton it's been a rough week, but I've got buddies like Gryszzz who keep me motivated

I could, as I've never been and always wanted to check it out. I love to travel is one of the main reasons I do this. Send me a pm and we'll see if we can work something out.

Thanks