how to post a bike without packing it in a box?

so, i won an auction on ebay for a city bike. Trouble is its miles from where i live. I can probably get someone i know to collect it but i am wondering if i can arrange for a courier comp[any like Evri to collect it from the seller and deliver it to me. Only thing is i dont think that the seller is willing to package it up in a box. Does anyone have experience of a courier company collecting and delivering a bike that isn’t boxed? Will they even accept it?  Any experience from the STW community

I know paisley freight will send a box and packaging and then collect the bike if the seller is willing to take it apart and package?

Otherwise Shiply.com used to list the job for independent couriers to quote for, I used them in the past for moving large, unpackageable items like car seats.

so, i won an auction on ebay for a city bike. Trouble is its miles from where i live. I can probably get someone i know to collect it

Oh, I bet the seller is loving this! I’d be refunding you and re-listing ASAP.

The problem with city bikes is that the mudguards, rack and any other complication make it double difficult to dismantle and pack, hell the bloke may not even know how to remove wheels or pedals. It’s why a lot of bikes are listed as collection only.

Where is the bike? If anywhere near Essex I’d be happy to collect and box up / ship if that would be of any use?

thanks Downslow….very kind of you. Its in Cambridgeshire…..but i have a mate who lives not that far away who can collect it at some point….but is currently away from home.

looks like most of the couriers will only take boxed bikes.

Motorcycle courier.  A friend had his 2nd hand ebike delivered that way.

They will deliver it standing up and tied down by the handlebars

Shiply +1 , obviously the courier is a bit of an unknown apart form the feedback but I’ve had stuff collected a few times with no issues.

The only problem is you’re trying to coordinate a courier and a seller to be in the same place a the same time.  And the seller might not want to take a day off work top wait in for your courier (I’d be pissed off and re-listing, the whole point of listing “collection only” is to avoid the faff and hassle of either waiting in for couriers, or having to drop it off somewhere).