Hey all, does anyone here ship rods via FedEx? If so, have you noticed a significant price increase recently? I've always used them via my fedex account and shipping rods generally cost $20-30, but two recent rods hit my account for $65 and $70. Since I print a label at work and just drop the shipping tube off at my local office, I don't know what the bill will be until the invoice hits, but it's never been an issue until now. Unfortunately FedEx customer service was no help at all, so it looks like I need to find a new shipping service. 

I was just talking to a buddy yesterday who was telling me that shipping rates on fishing rods have skyrocketed with all shipping services except for Speedee.  I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this too.

27 minutes ago, Shockwave said:

I was just talking to a buddy yesterday who was telling me that shipping rates on fishing rods have skyrocketed with all shipping services except for Speedee.  I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this too.

The weirdest part is that if I go to the FedEx shipping calculator, the estimated total is in line with what I paid previously.  Very odd

I've been going with UPS the last couple years and every rod I've shipped has cost me $30 - $38.

I just shipped some rods with usps on Friday and it was $48. I was paying $20-$30 

I just found this on a musky forum:

 

Immediate shipping notice for Vexan and Tackle Industries Rods: 


If you live in the Midwest SpeeDees shipping territory (IA, NE, SD, ND, MN, WI, IL) this will not affect you for any rod shipments. If you DO NOT live in this area, all rods OVER 8' shipping length (not affected are telescopic 9' and 9'6" rods) all major shipping companies like FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc have changed their definition of "Oversized" shipments from 9' down to 8' (96"). Any oversized shipment in these extended FedEx, UPS, DHL areas will now cost an additional $120/shipment. Don't forget, if you do live in the affected areas you can still enjoy the Tackle Industries 9'6" and 9' telescopic rods with ZERO shipping issues no matter where you live... We are making all of our new Vexan Big Game 9' rods in 2pc rods going forward too so everyone will still be able to get the new Vexan spinning rods in 9' lengths--Coming soon! 

See below for our official information on 
http://www.vexan.com 
and 
http://www.tackleindustries.com 

NOTE: Important Shipping Notice for rods over 8’ Effective Immediately 

If you are located outside of the following states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, oversized shipping rates changed to anything over 8 feet in actual shipping length. This adds approximately $120 on to our shipping expense. As a result, we are no longer able to offer flat rate shipping on rods that are longer than 8 feet in actual shipping length. 

* Does not affect 9' and 9’6? telescoping rods as they reduce to 8’ and below for shipping so they are not affected and will still ship for the flat rate in all areas of the United States and Canada. 

* Two-piece rods are not affected and will still ship for flat rate in all areas of the United States and Canada. 

Should you be outside of the flat rate shipping zone (WI, IL, IA, MN, NE, SD, ND) and would still like to purchase a longer rod at these higher shipping rates, we will contact when we receive your order to confirm that you are willing to pay the additional $120. 

Canada rates are affected in the same way that the above shipping update effects shipments within the United States. However, the additional cost to Canada on the longer rods will be $160. 
 

Seriously?  I shipped 5 rods recently and the most I paid was $16.15 with USPS.  That rod that was $16.15 happened to be 7'6" in a tube.

Prices recently went up with tubes exceeding a certain length. I’ve used the main 3 shippers and have only been under $30 one time. It happened to be a rod going about 2hrs from where I live and it was $20. I always insure rods for retail value though.