Like many eco-conscious, thrifty consumers, Fair Makeig of Belfast, Maine, furnishes her home entirely secondhand. “I can't imagine buying new furniture,” says the wife and mother of two.
But until recently, she was more of a furniture scavenger, not one to look for furniture in her immediate area—that all changed when her 100-year-old grandfather passed away and she inherited some family heirlooms.
“My grandfather was a very elegant man with great taste,” she says. “It meant a lot to me that my children would grow up surrounded by furniture that reminded them of him.” The problem was how to transport all of that furniture from his house in Georgetown, Texas, to her own home.
The answer came from a family member who told McKig about uShip, an online platform that connects people who need their packages delivered with a network of drivers who have space in their trucks. uShip founder Matt Chasen first saw the need for such a business in 2001, when he moved from Seattle to Austin, Texas, to attend MBA school and was driving a large rental truck with a lot of empty space.
The wasted space sparked an idea that grew into his MBA project, an international business and the inspiration for A&E's long-running reality TV show, Shipping Wars, in which independent truckers competed to see who could most efficiently deliver challenging loads like a six-tiered wedding cake and a life-size animatronic T-Rex.
Now, back to Makig's story, her harvest wasn't that exciting, but it was still important to her: She posted photos and descriptions of the furniture she wanted delivered (a solid wood dresser, two bookcases, and an antique birthing chair) and found a driver to drive across the country to deliver it in just a few days for $850.
Wait. What?
You read that right. McKeig sent me a photo of an antique wooden birthing chair that her aunt believes is from 19th century France, with an uncomfortable-looking perch complete with grip handles that supposedly “helped” women during labor. And there you have it: Thanks to uShip, this much-talked-about piece now hangs in McKeig's living room.
Jamie Caruso, a spokesperson for uShip, said the desire for cheap, unique and environmentally friendly furniture is driving the popularity of second-hand marketplace platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and AptDeco, but shipping is often a hurdle to transactions.
In a recent survey, nearly a third of buyers of used furniture said transporting their items was complicated, while more than half of sellers said coordinating pickup was their biggest challenge.
“We're closing the gap,” Caruso said.
Caruso offered these tips for sending important items long distance:
◼️ Who should send it? Shipping costs aren't cheap, but if expensive items sell for less, services like uShip could make the used furniture market a big seller for buyers. Meanwhile, sellers of used furniture who want to attract faraway buyers can incorporate uShip's pricing into the checkout process, allowing potential buyers to get shipping quotes, which are free, she said.
◼️ What do you ship? Caruso said the most common items being shipped include household furniture, cars, light trucks, heavy equipment such as tractors and the occasional rescued pet.
◼️ How to use. Customers list what they want to deliver, including the size, weight and destination of the package. The system calculates a price range, say $200 to $400. The customer can pay the driver something within that range, say $250, or simply ask for competitive bids. The list is then sent to a network of hand-picked drivers, many of whom are small independent business owners, who can bid. Depending on the attractiveness of the job, requests usually reach drivers within 24 to 72 hours. There is less interest in rural deliveries or for very heavy or fragile items.
◼️ Let's take good photos. Carriers love photos, so when you post your listing, be sure to include good photos taken from different angles. Take photos in good light to capture any imperfections.
◼️ Just Fill In Your Details. Let the driver know if they need to carry luggage up or down stairs or park on a steep hill.
◼️ ask a question. Ask the carrier if they have blankets, straps, dollies, and other equipment needed to load, protect, transport, and unload your shipment. Ask what their delivery policy is – curbside only or “designated room.” Ask if you need help unloading your shipment and if that's all included in the shipping price or if there are extra charges. Ask what kind of vehicle they use, what insurance they offer, and how they cover you if your delivery is lost or damaged.
◼️ Get protected. While 99% of the time, customers have a great experience, Caruso encourages shippers to read carrier reviews. Book carriers with many reviews and high ratings. Don't hire carriers that ask you to work with them offline. Transactions on the uShip platform come with several protections, including secure payments, tracking, customer support, dispute resolution, and optional insurance.
Marni Jameson is the author of seven books, including Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow. She can be reached at marni@marnijameson.com.
