We used to import Super Champion rims from France (sometimes badged Milremo).
They came about 20 rims to a bundle wrapped together with thick, wide paper tape so that the bundles were hollow. They were shipped well packed in ocean going containers along with bikes and other goods.
On several shipments it appeared that some of the bundles had been dropped on their round sides. All of the rims in those bundles were uniformly out of round. They were a bear to build and get them round!
They were mostly Super Champion Model 58 rims so it must have taken quite a bit of force to deform the whole bundle like maybe they fell off off a storage rack!
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA
accobra wrote:
> Shipping rims is a big pain because of the care it takes to properly
> pack them. I learned a slick method of wrapping them from a overseas
> seller - buy a 6 foot length of 2 inch round hollow foam pipe covering.
> The foam will wrap almost all the way around the rims. Secure it with
> tape (loop the tape around the foam, not letting the tape touch the
> rims). This protects the rims from rubbing during shipment. Then I sit
> them in a 30" x 30" x 6" heavy duty cardboard box and use a half roll of
> tape to seal the box. Put a good sized "FRAGILE" sticker on the box.
> Send via insured USPS parcel post & pray. I just shipped several sets
> that way last week and I haven't heard of any problems yet.
>
> By the way, shipping for an oversized box like that, with insurance,
> costs about $21.00 via USPS (FedEx is even higher). Add $5 for the
> wholesale price of the box, and $2.25 for the foam tubing, and $1.00 for
> tape. I charge the buyer $29.95 but still loose money on each sale
> because PayPal takes their 3% cut. Plus, the labor is free. I hope I
> don't have too many more rims that I need to sell...
>
> Needless to say, I would NEVER ship fragile lightweight aluminum rims
> without their being boxed.
>
> Mark Winkelman
> Dallas, Texas USA