Sending a folding electric bike by post?

[iangoggin]

I am looking to post a Tern Vektron within the UK mainland, but am a bit baffled by the best approach.

Most of the courier services have guidance on what to do with a full-size bike, but not folding or electric bikes. Does anyone have any experience of couriers that will take electric bikes?

I'm particularly unsure of:

• What couriers take electric bikes
• What packaging is required for a folder vs a full-size
• Whether to send it folded or unfolded
• What to do with the battery to keep it safe

Any advice appreciated.

 

[kangooroo]

Tuffnells will take folding bikes and I sent one last month. Just pack it into a box, folded (cheaper for a smaller package) with as much padding as possible eg bubble wrap and pack the battery separately within the box. I would also take a photo of the bike inside the box and then the addressed box itself for insurance purposes and include your own address somewhere within the package - and definitely insure it incase it gets lost

 

[sjpt]

and definitely insure it incase it gets lost

With many carriers that offer insurance the insurance cost is ridiculous. It would be justified if they know they break or lose a significant proportion of what they carry; but probably they are just ripping you off on insurance.

 

[kangooroo]

I would insure a bike because it's valuable if it gets lost. Claiming, however, can be another matter.

I am currently in a dispute with Parcel2go.com/MyHermes for a package which they have lost in transit. All evidence has been supplied in addition to their own tracking screenshots but getting them to pay up is becoming impossible and it's looking as though I'm going to have to take the County Court route.