| Why I won't ship antennas |
I think I understand: The antenna of your dreams is for sale, cheap, on some web site, the image of it glinting mightily in the sky above is in your minds eye. Only it's a bit far away; surely he can send it to me? People ship stuff all the time, right?
Fine, only there is a distinct failure to think things through.
It takes *hours* to break even a modest HF antenna down to shippable size, i.e shorter than 72", with no sticky-out bits and pieces, and all the twiddly bits kept safe.
It takes a run to a specialist store to get enough and adequate materials to contain and protect the bits various for shipping. It takes time to figure out how to and then actually pack the thing. Or pay handsomely to have a crate made.
It takes at least one run to the shipping place to be told (a) the packing is insufficient, and/or (b) the linear dimensions are excessive, and to repack the whole thing. Then another to get the shipping quote: the boxes are lugged onto the scales and after swallowing all this time, money and dicking around an actual shipping cost is established. Each of these operations involves heaving the things into the back of the car, heaving them out into the shop, heaving them back out, heaving them into the car, then heaving them out at home again. And of course the trips to the store.
The customer then squeals in anguish at how much it's going to cost to get the antenna from here to there, accuses me of price-gougeing and un-ham-spiritedness by having the nerve to ask for the actual shipping costs (not anything for any of the time and messing around, mind you) and is never heard from again.
I am just a guy, with a family, and a business to run. I don't have the time, energy, money or patience for any more of this foolishness - it is very simply not worth it to me. You want the antenna, you come and get it.
The antennas are presently dismantled to the point that they will readily ride on a roof-rack, and I'll gladly lend you the tools to break them down further if necessary. And supply you with coffee in the meantime.