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Shipping a Targa Top

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Old Jun 30, 2012 | 11:04 PM
  #1  
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Default Shipping a Targa Top

Eventually I would like to buy a solid targa top for my car and am concerned about having one shipped. So with that said, looking for some advice on the following:

- What's the best way to package the top to ensure that no damage is done? Is it best to have it packaged by a place like the UPS store or is this something that can be effectively done by a seller (just want to ensure it makes the transit without being damaged)?
- What would be the most economical way to have it shipped - FedEx, UPS, someone else? Is this item considered over weight/size for shipping purposes?
- Anyone have a guesstimate of what it costs to ship the solid top - I know it will depend on how far it will be shipped, but just trying to get a ballpark idea on the cost?

Feel free to share any special concerns of any other info about having a targa top shipped.
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Old Jun 30, 2012 | 11:17 PM
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If I were shipping a top I would get a bicycle box, A ton of heavy duty bubble wrap and ship it Grayhound. I would wrap that top as many times as it can to fit snug in the box and of course I would have it insured....
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Old Jul 1, 2012 | 03:59 AM
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The rear corners and the leading edge are really fragile in drop-type impacts. I'd do everything I could to ensure there's no way the rear corners could strike the ground shifting in the box or cutting through inadequate padding.

I had to have a C4 top I bought, repaired by a fiberglass shop because despite what the shipper thought was adequate padding, UPS still found a way to drop it onto a corner, which broke.
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Old Jul 1, 2012 | 09:20 AM
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I bought a solid black top last year, and I believe it was $100 bucks to ship it. It did come with slight damage to the fiberglass on a corner, and was packed pretty well, but I was going to have it repainted anyway, so had them fix the fiberglass also. I paid $350 for the top/ $100 shipping, and $275 for the fix and repaint.

In retrospect, I think packing all four corners with styrofoam would've alleviated the damage. The box was stuffed with paper cushioning etc, and he had masked the top with layers of masking tape.

Since I've had the painted top, I've never put the glass one back on.
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Old Jul 1, 2012 | 08:03 PM
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Any other words of advice on shipping precautions for a targa top - I know others had to have bought a replacement top and had it shipped to them. Would really like to hear about those experiences and how the top was packed, what carrier it was shipped with, and in what condition it arrived. Thanks.
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Old Jul 1, 2012 | 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
Any other words of advice on shipping precautions for a targa top - I know others had to have bought a replacement top and had it shipped to them. Would really like to hear about those experiences and how the top was packed, what carrier it was shipped with, and in what condition it arrived. Thanks.
Jack, We all have read about the horror stories about shipping Vette tops and the C3 glass tops are the worse no matter how well you package them most always they get broken or damaged. If i ever ship another glass top I will take to the UPS Store and let them package it then when they break it during transit they are held responsible.
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Old Jul 1, 2012 | 09:45 PM
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What I would do is make a wooden box for it....a crate. A frame made of 2x2s and 1/4 inch plywood for the surfaces. You have all the packing advice above, especially the corners needing heavy duty protection. Use FEDEX now...they are good at this type of package.
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Old Jul 1, 2012 | 09:49 PM
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Thanks everyone. I appreciate the advice. I'm not looking to ship a top myself, but I do want to eventually get a painted top for my car and want to ensure that if I need it shipped to me that the seller will have some knowledge of what to do to protect the top.
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