What shipping charges for a canoe paddle have you paid recently (and what carrier)?

[Glenn MacGrady]

For those of you who have bought a canoe paddle recently and paid separate shipping costs, could you report what you paid and what carrier was used. You don't have to identify the paddle or the seller. For example, one member told me privately today that he paid $40 shipping for a wood paddle sent by USPS Priority Mail, which included $100 insurance. He was also offered $25 for USPS Ground Advantage but that option included no insurance.

Other experiences, please.

 

[lowangle al]

Shaw and Tenney charged me 50 bucks for a 57 inch paddle a few years ago. I don't remember the other details.

 

[Gamma1214]

I shipped 3 beavertails last Fall via USPS and I think it was around $30. Of course, I didn't put insurance on them as I leave many things to fate and the recipient was unaware of the shipment any way. If they disappeared in transit, there was nothing really lost.

 

[recped]

I did an order with NRS in June, it included a Werner single blade and some other smallish items (straps + map case). The order value was $300 so I got "free shipping" but there was a $25 surcharge for the paddle.

This order was shipped to Maine via UPS instead of to Canada because the shipping would have been much more expensive for cross border (plus I'll avoid any Canadian tax/duty, still have to pay ME Sales Tax). I may get the paddle this Fall or I may have to wait until next Spring for it to make it's way north.

The surcharge for oversize items from all carriers has gotten very steep in the last few years. I did just get a notification that both FedEx and UPS will be making adjustments to their oversized / non-standard calculations that eliminate some surcharges, I think the changes go into effect in September, I have no idea if paddles will qualify for the reduced rates.

FYI - Ground Advantage has the same $100 included insurance as Priority, in my business (ecommerce) most US sellers switched from Priority to Ground Advantage, there is very little different in the delivery times.


USPS Over size fees

 

[Rusty Ole' Bucket]

I've been sort of low key looking at Sawyer single blades, I really like the looks of the Voyager. I decided against it until I experimented with a couple of cheap paddles of different lengths.

This is what they want for shipping to Louisiana. There's no online option for USPS.

 

[ABT]

I ordered a Werner bandito in June as part of Outdoor Play’s going out of business sale and shipping was free, FedEx. Last July I ordered a Sanborn Minnesota from their website and shipping was $33 with UPS ground, but the paddle was on sale so it was still a little bit of a deal. No insurance.

 

[Mason]

I shipped a 52" carbon bent shaft from Bozeman to SLC last year, and it cost me $50 via UPS, as it was oversize. I've seen a $50 shipping charge on several commercial websites.

 

[recped]

Bents will cost more to ship not because of the length but because of the Dimensional Weight.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Bents will cost more to ship not because of the length but because of the Dimensional Weight.

Bents are usually much shorter than straights. What is meant by Dimensional Weight?

 

[Boatman53]

Two years ago I sent a straight wooden (sassafras) paddle to Idaho and it was around $70 through UPS. I just thought UPS would be better than USPS but maybe that was a mistake now looking at these prices upthread.
Jim

 

[recped]

Dimensional Weight is now used by virtually all carriers. Here are the details and formula for USPS Dimensional weight calculations, UPS, FedEx use the same type of formula but the dimensions used may be slightly different.

 

[Boatman53]

I just remembered a friend of mine uses a service called ‘PirateShip’ to get a discount on shipping no matter which carrier you use. I did not know about it at the time I shipped the paddle , but I might be trying the service in the near future.
Jim

 

[recped]

Two years ago I sent a straight wooden (sassafras) paddle to Idaho and it was around $70 through UPS. I just thought UPS would be better than USPS but maybe that was a mistake now looking at these prices upthread.
Jim

USPS is usually the best option when using retail rates. Keep in mind that even a pretty small business can get 30+ percent off retail rates with UPS or FedEx.

The discounts from retail for UPS and FedEx go as high as 60 - 70% off what you would pay walking into a UPS Store. USPS also offers commercial rates but the discounts are nowhere near as good for their services, more like 10 - 20% on most services.

 

[recped]

I just remembered a friend of mine uses a service called ‘PirateShip’ to get a discount on shipping no matter which carrier you use. I did not know about it at the time I shipped the paddle , but I might be trying the service in the near future.
Jim

Pirate Ship is a very good option for those that only ship infrequently, it's free to use. They don't have much to offer in the way of alternative carriers that have mushroomed over the past 5+ years, the big three are no longer the only services out there that can delivery to almost all lower 48 locations.

 

[Alan Gage]

Shipping for my new zav, which hasn't arrived yet, with the longest shaft available (57") was $25.

The website specified shaft length so I assume that does not include the blade, which would make it a 70+" paddle.

Reasoning for ordering so long was so I could have a nice length of carbon tubing after cutting it to length. There was no extra charge for getting the max length.

Alan

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Shipping for my new zav, which hasn't arrived yet, with the longest shaft available (57") was $25.

The website specified shaft length so I assume that does not include the blade, which would make it a 70+" paddle.

Reasoning for ordering so long was so I could have a nice length of carbon tubing after cutting it to length. There was no extra charge for getting the max length.

Alan

What carrier?

 

[Alan Gage]

What carrier?

The invoice says "ground advantage" and Google tells me that's done by USPS.

Alan

 

[Whit30]

Angler Navigator Versa-Lok™ Fulfilled July 30, 2025	PV ANG NAV 250-265	$394.95
Subtotal
Shipping (FedEx Home Delivery®)		$31.90

Ordered direct from BB website.