Complete trust in the movers or make sure to take out max insurance? I have no other cost effective way of getting bikes across states since I am selling my car, am I a fool for thinking that I can just have them move the bike set up as-is-ready-to-ride?
Thanks in advance…
Most movers will just put your bike “as is” into the back of the truck. They may wrap it in a blanket but that is about it. I would pack it as if you were shipping it to a race or putting it on a plane and then if you must, allow the movers to take it. And also get max insurance–your bike should be a high value item, ie more than $100 per pound (or else you would lose your ST membership;))
I am moving in about a week and was told to pack the bikes into bike boxes and I also took out the supplemental insurance (over the $0.60 per pound they offer). It cost about $250 for an additional $50,000 worth of insurance with a deductable (i think). You should also fill out a high-value item description - I think they say for anythign worth over $100 per pound you need to fill out the high-value item form.
You don’t have to put the bikes into boxes, but I susupect they will be hesitant to take a $2000+ bike out of a box. We are leaving our cruisers out so the movers will probably just throw them on the truck.
Another option would be to ship them to yourself / place of work using UPS - but I don’t think they are any more careful then professional movers.
I’m in the military, and have moved many, many times. If you have nice bikes that you value, then I would ship them myself to your destination, rather than let the movers take them. I have zippo faith in any movers to treat stuff with respect. I always, always move my bikes myself.
Spot