I think mostly they're just stuck into a big carton and sent. UPS does not accept used mowers because of possible gasoline and oil, but for some reason I guess they're taking them. If I were to send one, I'd pack it pretty well so it couldn'r move in the box, but being large, heavy boxes, they tend to get dropped, which usually affects the wheel mounting brackets more than anything else, and is easily fixed.

I've only shipped one mower UPS, which was actually less the engine. I wanted to sell locally but a guy in Texas really wanted it and was prepared to pay the costs.

I had to use an "EH" carton, which is double walled and measures 36" x 22" x 22". UPS treats this as 70 lbs or actual weight if greater. They also include and "Oversize 2" surcharge. I recall it was about $45.00 to ship Jersey to Texas. Actual weight was about 40 lbs.

If you need to go even larger, you bump up to OS-3 pricing which has a 90 lbs minimum and even steeper surcharge. That would push shiping to about $85.00 for same weight and route.

As for gas and oil issue, they asked me if there was eny, and I told them it had been drained and power washed, and that I'd open the carton if they needed to look, but they said OK and took the package. Since that appears to be somewhat discretionary, the nexy UPS counter person may be more of a stickler.

I know use Fed Ex Ground because there rates are better than UPS and are more convenient. Haven't shipped anything this big Fed Ex, but their website rates are in same ball park as UPS, and take a big jump if you go above the "EH" carton size.

I paid about 90.00 for both of my mowers shipping. One was shipped overnight via Greyhound Bus from Iowa to Oklahoma. It would have been 65.00 via space avaliable.
The other was UPS ground from the Portland Oregon area to Oklahoma. It was bounced around and made most of the trip upside down. So it had about 100.00 in damages upon arrival. Forget about trying to collect from UPS for damages unless you are prepared to wait up to 4 months for the check, IF THEY DECIDE TO HONOR THE INSURANCE. Meanwhile they take your goods and all packaging and hold it for inspection, so there is loss of use during that part of thier game.
I opted to repair it at my expense via some help from the kind member THS Hawkeye whom was very generous. After purchasing in addition a whole new set of wheels and a rear bagger kit, its almost perfect now. But my total investment went close to the cost of a new 10550 all said and done. Maybe saved 75.00.

The 10424 was a better deal overall but not as nice a mower.

Long distance buying and selling is a gamble for sure.

FordTech--

No offense, but what don't you like about your 10424? As far as I can tell, the only major differences between it and a 10525/10550 are self propel and the overall length of the deck. To me, for those of us whose yards aren't big enough for self propel, a 10424 is every bit as nice as a 10525/10550.

Just curious.

Tarheelman, first the comparison is with my personal machines, and the 10424 is older and has seen a lot more wear and tear usage and doesnt run as well as the 10525 I have despite a new coil and rejetting. I just like the feel of the 10525, as a whole. The 10424 is very compact and light, but has shorter handle bars and doesnt feel as balanced. And of course at my age and a bad back the self propel is most welcome when I dont feel like pushing in the SW Oklahoma heat. Just personal preference and convenience though both mowers are nice.

I ship mowers all the time using DHL for ebay purchases. As long as I drain all the fluids and pack it in a sturdy enough box, they take it. I even had one damaged during shipping, and they gave me $100. That is the max they will give you for a damaged shipment if you do not add insurance.

Ggoyeneche:

What was the brand and model of the mower that was so special that a buyer in Texas was willing to pay for shipping from New Jersey?

How much did he pay you for the mower itself?

Bountyhunter

It was a Sear Craftsman (AYP) 22" front drive, rear bagger. Apparently he had same mower which was run over by a car damaging deck and transmission. Everything else was OK. I bought mower at Parker's auction and kept the B&S 5hp Quantum.

Didn't sell on Ebay because I said local PU only, "no-shipping". Charged him $9.99 start price plus $9.50 for the EH carton plus shipping (approx $35.00) plus $10.00 for my trouble.

He was happy and I came out $20.00 ahead. He told me later that parts costs from Sears were more than $200.00

What is an "EH" carton?

See the third post in this thread.

I had a used mower shipped to me Fed-Ex Ground. They used an MTD mower box and retaped it. Rate was abour $25 half way across the country. No problems.

What is an "EH" carton... is it something you buy...is it an acronym for something. I have been trying to find a box big enough to ship a mower..but no luck.

You can generally figure close to a dollar a pound on large shipments.

"EH" carton is an industry (packaging industry) standard which is 36" x 22" x 22" and has double wall construction. If you go to corrugated distributor they will know what it is. List prices are about $9 or $10, and typical discounting brings them down to about $5 in quantity.

I understand this is the largest size UPS will ship before you cross the "OS3" threshold with the punishing $30 surcharge.

Anyone wanting to ship a mower and not having a box need only stop by a dealer or retail store (sears, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) and ask if they have a lawnmower box that they don't need. Most of the time they will have one or in a few days they will. The boxes are just the right size and the price is right! Give it a try!

"whose yards aren't big enough for self propel"
It isn't about size. If it's big enough to need a lawn mower rather than a string trimmer, it's big enough for a SP mower.

I need to get a Honda riding mower model H3011 from Long Island NY to Richmond VA within the next month; what is the best source for shipping residence to residence

Right on Saxman. I'm happy I learned early in life that a lawnmower shouldn't have to be pushed. Course when I was 10 or 12 it didn't really matter cuz there weren't SP mowers.
Take a day when it's 90+ degs. out and that sun is burning your backside, can't say I was sorry I bought the SP model.
Comprendo? Then again if you're in to real pain,you could ditch the motorized lawnmower and get a reel type so you can hear your heart exploding!!