Shipping Policy

1. Shipping Service

Bikeflights.com ships thousands of bikes each month. Our value-added services make shipping your bike and bike gear convenient, reliable and affordable. We partner with top carriers to deliver your bike and gear to its destination.

Throughout your Bikeflights.com shipping experience - from order, through delivery, and to claims - our friendly Customer Support staff, all fellow cyclists, take care of you and your shipment.

USE OF OUR SERVICES IS ONLY FOR SHIPPING OF BIKES AND BIKE GEAR AND ANY USE OR ATTEMPTED USE OF OUR SERVICES FOR NON-BIKE RELATED ITEMS (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION COMPUTERS, AUTO PARTS, PERSONAL OR BUSINESS PACKAGES, VALUABLES, ETC.) (collectively, “PROHIBITED ITEMS”) IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED. FAILURE TO ABIDE BY OUR SHIPPING POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS MAY RESULT IN OUR IMPOSITION OF ADDITIONAL FEES, FINES, SURCHARGES OR OTHER ASSESSMENTS, SUSPENSION OF YOUR ACCOUNT AND/OR OTHER CONSEQUENCES AS DETERMINED BY BIKEFLIGHTS.COM IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION. We are not liable for refusal of, delay of, loss of or damage to a shipment of any Prohibited Item and you agree to indemnify Bikeflights.com for any and all costs, fees and expenses Bikeflights.com incurs as a result of any violation of any local, state, federal, national or international laws or regulations, violation of any terms and conditions of our partner carriers or from tendering any Prohibited Item for shipment.

When you ship with Bikeflights.com, you agree to our Terms of Service and those of our partner carriers (including delivery guarantee exceptions). See UPS Service Guide and FedEx Service Guide

2. Ordinary Shipping Conditions

Experienced bicycle shippers understand ordinary shipping conditions and choose their packaging to safely protect their contents.

It is normal for your bike to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles over changing road surfaces in the back of a truck or in a plane’s cargo hold. This means that your bike is subject to vibrations of varying frequencies and amplitudes when driven over uneven roads or flown through turbulence. Therefore, you should always secure into place all contents within your package including the protective padding and foam.

It is also normal for carriers to place packages on their largest and most stable side so that the packages are less likely to tip over and be damaged while falling over or to damage other packages on which they could fall. Bike boxes, generally being tall and narrow, are often laid on the side with the largest surface area - much in the way that most of us would set a bike box in the back of a car while transporting it to the local carrier drop-off.

When you ship with Bikeflights.com, you acknowledge that under ordinary shipping conditions your bike will be subject to vibration, changes in orientation, contact with other packages and possible drops from waist height.

3. Proper Packing is Required

Bicycles, wheels and gear are unique commodities, with unusual shapes, light weights and many externally facing attachments. Thus, they require specialized packaging to withstand ordinary shipping conditions. Bike manufacturers and retailers employ packaging engineers to design packaging to safely protect bikes during shipping to their customers. By and large, they follow standard packing procedures, including using protective foam, specialized plastic bits and strapping techniques.

To properly pack your own bike or gear, consult our packing guidelines and contact Bikeflights.com with any questions prior to your shipment.

If you do not want to pack your own bike, consult Bikeflights.com’s Bike Shop Finder to find a list of shops which you can hire to professionally and properly pack your bike or gear.

When you ship with Bikeflights.com, you acknowledge that your bike, wheels and gear are packed according to the Bikeflights.com practices detailed above (including the packing guidelines) to properly protect it.

4. Accurate Dimensions and Weight are Required

Entering accurate dimensions and weight is important to ensure that your shipment is not stopped, delayed or returned to sender.

You are required to enter correct dimensions and weight for packages shipped via Bikeflights.com. Use a tape measure to determine length, width and height and a scale to measure package weight.

Always round up any Length, Width or Height measurement to the next unit. For example, a measurement of 12.25 inches must be entered as 13 inches, and a measurement of 13.7 cm must be entered as 14 cm.

Always round weight up to the next whole pound or kilogram. For example, 57.2 lb must be entered as 58 lb, and 33.3 kg must be entered as 34 kg.

Bikeflights.com’s carriers audit every shipment’s measurements and weights. Shippers who enter fraudulent dimensions and/or weights are subject to paying the difference in shipping costs plus a penalty of US$27. Repeat offenders will have their Bikeflights.com accounts suspended.

Furthermore, someone who tenders a package to a carrier via Bikeflights.com with a length greater than 108 inches (274 cm), size over 165 inches (419 cm), or weight more than 150 lb (68 kg) will be charged a penalty of US$1450.

Learn more about dimensions and rates.

5. Delivery Guarantee

If your bike does not arrive on time, please contact our Support Team, and we’ll work with you to try to make it right. All delivery guarantee requests must be submitted within seven (7) days of delivery.

EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS

The Delivery Guarantee does not apply if

  • The shipment occurs during a period when the carrier has suspended their delivery guarantee (such as certain holiday periods); See UPS Service Guide and FedEx Service Guide.
  • Previous shipping labels, barcodes and HAZMAT or other warning stickers were not removed from the outside of the bike box or case.
  • Bike is not picked up as scheduled.
  • Bike is not dropped off as scheduled at a UPS Store or UPS Customer Care Center for shipments with UPS labels or at a FedEx Office Print & Ship Center location for shipments with FedEx labels.
  • Bike is rerouted or requires a delivery address correction after shipping.
  • Bike box or case dimensions or weight must be corrected en route.
  • Delivery attempt is unsuccessful or refused.
  • The carrier experiences service interruptions due to weather, natural or man-made disasters, or delays due to customs.
  • The customer used insufficient packaging, shipped prohibited items, or improperly attached labels.
  • The customer does not identify the contents of an e-bike shipment as an e-bike during booking and prior to shipping.
  • The customer selects UPS SurePost® as the service.

6. Bikeflights.com Premium Protection Plan

Bikeflights.com cannot and does not guarantee that your properly packed bicycle or gear will not be accidentally damaged or lost during transit. Our Premium Protection Plan offers limited protection for the properly packed bicycle contents of your box or case, but not for the case itself. Premium Protection Plan coverage up to $20,000 is available for additional purchase when placing an order for a shipment. Exposure to and risk of any loss in excess of the applicable covered value for the Premium Protection Plan is assumed by the customer. You may transfer this risk to an insurance carrier of your choice through the purchase of an insurance policy. Contact an insurance agent or broker if you desire such insurance coverage.

Our Premium Protection Plan is not insurance. Bikeflights.com is not an insurer. This is an optional service we provide in conjunction with our bicycle shipping services.

Our Premium Protection Plan covers packages shipped with Bikeflights.com only while in the possession of the carrier. IT DOES NOT COVER PACKAGES THAT HAVE GONE MISSING OR ARE STOLEN AFTER DELIVERY. When you select a value of $500 or more when creating your shipment on Bikeflights.com, your package will be delivered with a signature required.

Our Premium Protection Plan covers the lesser of: (i) the devaluation; (ii) repair; or (iii) replacement - up to the specified selected value (if and only if the specified selected value is less than or equal to the actual market value of the goods) - if such damage or loss occurs due to external forces beyond ordinary shipping conditions while in transit and in care, custody, or control of carriers.

THE SPECIFIED SELECTED VALUE YOU SELECT IN THE PREMIUM PROTECTION PLAN IS THE MAXIMUM VALUE AVAILABLE FOR COVERAGE OF THE SHIPMENT CLAIM AND CANNOT EXCEED THE ACTUAL MARKET VALUE OF THE GOODS BEING COVERED. THE ACTUAL MARKET VALUE OF THE SHIPMENT CONTENTS ARE SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT BY BIKEFLIGHTS.COM AND/OR ITS ADJUSTER’S DETERMINATION. IF THE ACTUAL MARKET VALUE IS LESS THAN THE SPECIFIED SELECTED VALUE, BIKEFLIGHTS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PROVIDE COVERAGE AT THE ACTUAL MARKET VALUE ESTIMATE AS DETERMINED BY BIKEFLIGHTS.COM AND ITS ADJUSTER(S). PREMIUM PROTECTION PLAN PAYMENTS FROM BIKEFLIGHTS.COM ARE PROVIDED BY ELECTRONIC PAYMENT OR CHECK AND SUCH PAYMENTS MUST BE CLAIMED OR CASHED BY YOU WITHIN 90 DAYS.

When you ship with Bikeflights.com, you acknowledge that the Premium Protection Plan is optional, and if you choose the Premium Protection Plan, it only covers packages while in the possession of the carrier. The Premium Protection Plan is not a substitute for poor packing and the plan WILL NOT cover damage to bicycles that were not packed according to Bikeflights.com standard practices. Your Premium Protection Plan claim will be denied due to insufficient packaging if you cannot document that your bicycle was properly packed (see our recommendations for documenting your packaging in Section 9 “Claims” below). IN ADDITION, BIKEFLIGHTS.COM RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE USE OF THE PREMIUM PROTECTION PLAN OR APPLY ADDITIONAL SCRUTINY TO PROTECTION PLAN CLAIMS IN BIKEFLIGHTS.COM’S DISCRETION. PROTECTION PLAN COVERAGE MAY BE REFUSED FOR REASONS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO VIOLATIONS OF BIKEFIGHTS.COM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, ABUSE OF THE PREMIUM PROTECTION PLAN, FAILURE TO FOLLOW PACKING REQUIREMENTS, FAILURE TO REMEDY ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY BIKEFLIGHTS.COM, AND/OR REPEATED OR SUSPICIOUS CLAIMS.

7. Know the Gaps - What Voids the Premium Protection Plan

Below is a list of the most commonly reported damage and the situations when the Premium Protection Plan is void because minimum Bikeflights.com standards were not met.

Claims of frame damage - such as but not limited to scratches, dings and dents sustained during shipping - are void if

  • You did not wrap the entire frame in dense foam padding; and
  • You did not secure your frame in place to keep it from contacting the other contents of your box or the sides of the box or case itself.

Claims of rear derailleur or rear derailleur hanger damage are void if

  • You did not remove your rear derailleur from its hanger and wrap it in foam before securing it to the inside of your frame.

Claims of damage to the wheels or by the wheels are void if

  • You did not place your wheels in a padded wheel bag; or
  • You did not remove axles or skewers and install manufacturer’s plastic end caps to protect wheel axles, then wrap the entire wheels in padding equivalent in function to a wheel bag; and secure to frame or interior plate.
  • You did not ship your disc wheels separately from your bike. Note: Loose items within a box can easily damage the soft foam structures of disc wheels.

Claims of damage to your frame and/or fork dropouts are void if

  • You did not install axle spacers between the frame rear dropouts or fork blades; or
  • You did not install spare hubs or axles between the frame rear dropouts or fork blades

Claims of damage to your chainrings are void if

  • You did not install a foam block between your chainring(s) and the box or case; or
  • You did not install a foam block under your bottom bracket to prevent any direct contact with the rings.

Claims of damage to your brake/shift levers are void if

  • You did not wrap your brake/shift levers and any nearby bike components - such as your top tube in dense foam padding; and
  • You did not orient your bars so that the brake/shift levers pointed toward the center of the box. Levers should not face toward any of the sides of the box so as not to come in contact with them.

Claims of damage to your case are void because

  • Our Premium Protection Plan applies only to contents, not containers.

Claims of damage or loss are void if

  • You did not ship in a high quality bike box in like new condition; or
  • You did not ship in one of the cases listed in the drop down menu on our website.

When you ship with Bikeflights.com, you acknowledge that if you do not follow Bikeflights.com standard practices, you may forfeit any recovery under the Premium Protection Plan due to insufficient packing.

8. Selected Value

Customers may specify a shipment’s “Selected Value” when creating their shipment on Bikeflights.com. Bikeflights.com's maximum liability for accidental damage or loss (subject to all the requirements set forth herein) is the LESSER OF: (A) Selected Value you select and (B) the actual market value of the shipment (as determined via the processes set forth above). Bikeflights.com cannot and does not reimburse under the Premium Protection Plan for “sentimental value,” which value cannot be determined or “claimed loss,” which value cannot be guaranteed or for any value in excess of the actual market value of the shipment.

When you ship with Bikeflights.com, you acknowledge that the LESSER OF: (A) the Selected Value or (B) the actual market value of the shipment represents Bikeflights.com's maximum liability and therefore your maximum Premium Protection Plan coverage in the event of damage or loss. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT YOUR CLAIM WILL QUALIFY FOR THE MAXIMUM PREMIUM PROTECTION PLAN COVERAGE; THE AMOUNT OF THE CLAIM WILL VARY AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 10 BELOW.

9. Reroute and return shipping costs

All reroute and return shipping costs are the responsibility of the Bikeflights.com verified purchaser of the shipment. Bikeflights.com will automatically process the following reroute and return shipping costs monthly to the form of payment for the original shipment.

  • Minor address corrections or changes to locations within the same City, State and Country: $27 reroute fee
  • Major address corrections or changes to locations with a different City, State and Country: $27 reroute fee + any additional transportation costs

When you ship with Bikeflights.com, you agree to be subject to Reroute and Return Shipping Costs. When buying or selling a bike, we strongly recommend you work out your return shipping policies with your buyer beforehand to protect yourself.

10. Claims

Bikeflights.com’s Premium Protection Plan provides coverage across all our authorized carrier partners to streamline processing of your claim. Should your bicycle or gear be accidentally damaged or lost by the carrier, contact Bikeflights.com (not the carrier) to begin processing your claim.

Per its claims process under the Premium Protection Plan, Bikeflights.com determines on a case-by-case basis whether a bicycle and/or any other shipment contents were properly packed and if so, whether claimed damage or loss is repairable or requires replacement or is eligible for a devaluation payment for the claimed damage. Excluding only exceptional circumstances (as determined by Bikeflights.com), Bikeflights.com will NOT replace any items which are older than 3 years.

Bikeflights.com's Premium Protection Plan covers the actual cost of repairing damaged property or replacing it with other property of comparable manufacturer, model and year, or providing a devaluation payment for the claimed damage, with maximum coverage up to the LESSER of (A) the specified Selected Value or (B) the actual market value of the damaged property. Replacement costs are subject to depreciation and devaluation payments are determined by Bikeflights.com on a case-by-case basis. For example, a covered damaged property claim for several significant scratches and dents could be resolved, at Bikeflights.com’s option via repair, replacement or a devaluation payment of, in this example case, between 5% and 15% of the actual market value of the damaged property. Amount of devaluation payment may vary significantly based on the actual market value of the damaged property, severity of the damage, overall cosmetic condition and other factors.

Bikeflights.com's Premium Protection Plan covers electric bike (e-bike) shipments only if the customer identified the contents of the shipment as an e-bike during booking and prior to shipping.

Claims must be submitted to Bikeflights.com within seven (7) days of delivery. The customer must provide all requested documentation supporting the claim within thirty (30) business days of Bikeflights.com receiving notice of the claim. Written documentation supporting your claim may include, but is not limited to, a description and images of damage, description of goods, and proof of value such as original bike purchase invoice/receipt or estimates/invoices for repair. These documents must be verifiable to Bikeflights.com’s satisfaction.

All claims must be in writing and submitted within the time limits set forth above. Failure to provide complete, accurate and verifiable requested information within the time limits set forth above will result in denial of your claim and Bikeflights.com will have no liability or obligation to pay your claim in whole or in part.

Bikeflights.com and its delivery partners reserve the right to inspect a damaged bicycle on the recipient’s premises as well as the right to retrieve the damaged bicycle for inspection and the right to condition any replacement payment upon transfer of title and possession of the damaged bicycle to Bikeflights.com. Unless otherwise determined by Bikeflights.com, if Bikeflights.com is providing a replacement payment for a specified bicycle, frameset or other item, you must provide the damaged bicycle, frameset or other item to Bikeflights.com in its entirety before Bikeflights.com will provide your replacement payment. The terms and conditions applicable to the original delivery (including any Selected Value / actual market value) will govern the disposition of all claims in connection with the delivery, including any claim relative to the retrieval, inspection or return of the bicycle. When a bicycle is picked up for inspection, a receipt for the damaged bicycle will be provided if requested by the recipient. All of the original delivery cartons, labels, packing and contents must be made available for our inspection and retained until the claim is concluded.

Except in the case of concealed damage, receipt of the bicycle delivery by the recipient without written notice of damage on the air bill is prima facie evidence that the bicycle was delivered in good condition.

Only one claim can submitted in connection with a shipment. Acceptance of payment of a claim (including but not limited to any devaluation payment) extinguishes any further right to file additional claims on that shipment and as noted above any replacement payment may be conditioned upon transfer of title and possession of the damaged bicycle (i.e. the bicycle for which the replacement payment is being made) to Bikeflights.com. The maximum Selected Value per package for any Bikeflights.com bicycle shipment is US $20,000. FURTHERMORE, PREMIUM PROTECTION PLAN PAYMENTS FROM BIKEFLIGHTS.COM ARE PROVIDED BY ELECTRONIC PAYMENT OR CHECK AND SUCH PAYMENTS MUST BE CLAIMED OR CASHED BY YOU WITHIN 90 DAYS. FAILURE TO CLAIM YOUR ELECTRONIC PAYMENT OR CASH YOUR CHECK WITHIN 90 DAYS ALSO EXTINGUISHES ANY RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THAT CLAIM AND ANY RIGHTS TO FILE ADDITIONAL CLAIMS ON THAT SHIPMENT.

The customer is responsible for accurately completing the Selected Value of a shipment with Bikeflights.com. We cannot honor requests to change the Selected Value after the shipment has been shipped.

Bikeflights.com is not liable for the loss or damage to the following goods shipped using our services and are not covered by our Premium Protection Plan:

  • Alcohol-containing products such as wine, beer, hard cider, hard seltzer, liquor and other spirits.
  • Aerosols.
  • Ammunition.
  • Antiques, including, but not limited to, furniture, tableware and glassware.
  • Artwork, including, but is not limited to, paintings, drawings, vases, tapestries, limited-edition prints, fine art, and statuary.
  • Auto parts.
  • Bear spray.
  • Fuels such as propane, butane, isobutane and white gas, such as are used during camping.
  • Compressed air, such as CO2 cartridges.
  • Electronic equipment, including, but not limited to, televisions, computer monitors, and computer processors.
  • Firearms.
  • Fragrances, such as perfumes and colognes.
  • Glassware, including, but not limited to, signs, mirrors, ceramics, porcelains, china, crystal, glass, and framed glass.
  • Guitars or other musical instruments.
  • Indoor exercise bikes or stationary bikes.
  • Jewelry.
  • Live animals.
  • Lighters.
  • Marijuana, hemp or hemp products.
  • Personal keepsakes or collector's items including, but not limited to coins, stamps, sports cards and souvenirs.
  • Stocks, bonds, cash letters or cash equivalents, including, but not limited to, food stamps, postage stamps (not collectible), traveler’s checks, lottery tickets, money orders, gift cards and gift certificates, prepaid calling cards, bond coupons, and bearer bonds.
  • Unique or one-of-a-kind items of unusual value, including, but not limited to, precious metals or currency.
  • Tobacco-containing products such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes, snuff and cigars.

The above items should not be shipped through Bikeflights.com, Bikeflights.com will have no liability or obligation for any of the foregoing and any violations of the foregoing are expressly at your own risk.

When you ship with Bikeflights.com, you agree to be subject to this claims process. We strongly recommend that you take a complete set of detailed photos documenting the contents of your shipment and its internal and external packing before you send your shipment and after you receive it. In the event of loss or damage and subsequent claim filing and processing, such photos will help you remember what you had packed, serve as proof of proper packing and document damage details.

11. SHIPPING INFORMATION SHARING

We will not provide any shipping information, including tracking numbers and addresses to anyone other than the verified purchaser of the shipment in adherence with our Privacy Policy.