Ship ALL or Ship in STAGES

[Esstover]

I'm sure I could call and ask DF this question but it is probably useful to have it on here. Actually it probably is already on here I just haven't found it.

I live and WV and plan on having my kit shipped to me. To minimize the large one time impact I would prefer to do it in Stages but I have to assume that would impact the shipping cost. Does anyone have any information on this? If it's going to cost an arm and a leg on each shipment then I just need to save up and order my entire wishlist.

Any advice of experience with this?

 

[Ark :D]

If you buy the entire kit at once, it'll all come by freight, packed inside the frame, and will take up no additional space on the truck. You'd probably pay more due to weight, but if you buy stages 2 and 3 later like I did, you'll have to pay an entire separate freight shipping fee. It's most efficient to do it all up front if you have the means.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

If the budget allows, buy it all at once - cheapest way and makes things easier during the build to not wait on parts.

 

[Sluggonaut]

If the budget allows, buy it all at once - cheapest way and makes things easier during the build to not wait on parts.

^ this.

 

[Lndshrk Steve]

What "Sqwatch" said. It is a bigger nut but the total shipping is MUCH cheaper.

 

[escapepilot]

There are pros and cons for each.
Pros of all at once:
Cheaper shipping
All parts on hand when ready
If you powder coat, can all be coated at same time - no delays waiting on coater multiple times

Cons of all at once:
Upfront cost
Storage of large parts like hood

Pros of stages:
Cost can be spread out
Upgrades you didn’t think you wanted but now do can be substitand the cost easier to absorb
Don’t have to store parts you may not need for a while if you build slow

Cons of stages:
Extra shipping costs
Possible interruption to build rhythm waiting on parts

Third option - combine stages 1 and 2 will save some shipping and get you a drivable naked Goblin.

 

[Robinjo]

I did all at once and the two downsides are space and cost. Since I have a two car garage, space wasn’t a huge issue.

 

[Esstover]

I have the room. Just harder to convince the wife to drop 15-18K at once instead. Especially with Christmas coming.

 

[Joebob]

I had the same debate when I was looking at the kit initially. I live in Texas so I was going to pick up the kit, so shipping was not the issue per se. What made me decide to get the whole kit after I put a deposit for in stages was value and not cost. I was concerned, like you, that the family time or the wife would not support the completed car price so I wanted to take baby financial steps to limit my exposure. What I realized is that the whole kit has more value than in stages. If something in life changed and I couldn't have the kit, it would be much harder to recoup the cost of a partial kit than a complete kit. I was originally thinking of losing all the money but in reality you only will or could lose the money between the cost of the kit and what someone will pay for it.

Short answer is get the complete kit. You will have a few months to pull all the money together which will be after Christmas, you will only pay shipping once, and there is almost nothing better than laying out all the shiny new parts that you get to play with as you build the car. The best is driving and taking the wife for a ride.

Joe