Here's My Shipping Story - A Surprise

[rwmol]

This involved the 1980 X-175 Manhattan that was listed in the FS thread. I've only shipped one other guitar and being a geezer, I couldn't remember what the charges were. I checked EBay and other sites and found everything from $60 to $250. I could have packaged it up, taken it to FedEx and had it weighed but, decided to take a chance at $75. Couldn't get a free box so purchased a "guitar" box at the local UPS Store ($14). Went to a packaging store and bought some bubble wrap ($18). She told me they have shipped many guitars and the weight is about 18 pounds. I had plenty of "Peanuts". I go on FedEx's rate sight, insert the size, weight (18 pounds), the destination and give it the maximum value ($1000). Bingo. Up pops a price of about $75. Well, it looks like I lost about $32 on this shipment. Oh well, That's just the way it is. So I package it up, loosen the strings, tape the bridge in place, support the neck. You know, all the good things for a well prepared shipment. Make it a FedEx Super Saver. I drop it off at our local Fedex receiving/shipping location and figure they will weigh it and charge me accordingly. It will be more again. Oh goody.
I checked my American Express card today and the charge was $46 Go Figure.......

 

[dreadnut]

That was just for handling, you'll probably get a separate invoice for actual shipping :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[chazmo]

I imagine fedex is similar, but for UPS you can set up an account on their web site and do all the packing yourself and create your own label. You bring it to a depot or UPS store and they ship it from there. If you're declaring more than $1500 value, then a UPS driver has to sign for it (the guys at the UPS store are not authorized for that).

I recently shipped coast to coast, 6-day ground track, for a bit over $100. I already had the packing material. I think this would've been cheaper witha smaller box, but there you are. I always assume $100 for shipping these days. Probably if your employer has a relationship wtih fedex or ups you can get this cheaper, but I am not comfortable shipping personal goods from work.