# Most economical way to ship a child's pediatric wheelchair across the country? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 15, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-economical-way-to-ship-a-childs-pediatric-wheelchair-across-the-country/615837 "2012-03-15T06:03:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-economical-way-to-ship-a-childs-pediatric-wheelchair-across-the-country/615837/1 "2012-03-15T06:03:33Z")
I have a very high end pediatric wheelchair [for sale on ebay](http://www.ebay.com/itm/110839124692?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649). I originally had a flat rate price to ship anywhere in the US for 100. When I actually checked the hypothetical cost to ship this from MD to WA as a test case I discovered USPS will not take anything that big and UPS wants 260 to ship it, so I changed my shipping specs to local pickup only. I’m guessing the chair will needs a shipping box that is 36 high x 30 wide x 30 wide. It weighs around 60 lbs. Are there any more economical ways to ship this? ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-economical-way-to-ship-a-childs-pediatric-wheelchair-across-the-country/615837/2 "2012-03-15T06:08:31Z")
Due to my circumstances I ship a lot of stuff by barge and it is pretty cheap. I’m just guessing, but if you have a rail yard near you it might be cheaper to ship direct by rail. Call the local rail shipping company, it might be cheaper than you assume. ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-economical-way-to-ship-a-childs-pediatric-wheelchair-across-the-country/615837/3 "2012-03-15T06:37:23Z")
Yeah, I was going to suggest finding a trucking/freight company and inquiring about maybe piggy-backing the wheelchair on an existing shipment. That would require some coordination between you and the buyer to set up, but you might be able to get a ballpark figure if you call and ask. Maybe make a note that you can ship it UPS, but that you’re willing to explore cheaper options with the buyer? I know next to nothing about wheelchairs, but it looks like a pretty freaking sweet one, and $400 seems like an extremely fair price to me. Maybe someone wouldn’t mind paying a couple hundred for shipping anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-economical-way-to-ship-a-childs-pediatric-wheelchair-across-the-country/615837/4 "2012-03-15T13:03:42Z")
This should be a good question to [ask Mitt Romney](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seamus_%28dog%29). ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-economical-way-to-ship-a-childs-pediatric-wheelchair-across-the-country/615837/5 "2012-03-15T15:28:05Z")
I’ve shipped large boxes by bus before and it was very economical. Consider [Greyhound](http://www.shipgreyhound.com/)if they serve the pick-up and delivery cities you need. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-economical-way-to-ship-a-childs-pediatric-wheelchair-across-the-country/615837/6 "2012-03-15T16:39:27Z")
[Amtrak Express Shipping.](http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241267371736) Assuming there’s an Amtrak station within a few miles of both ends.