Shipping Internationally

[coastie99]

And do you recall the difference in shipping cost Gary?

West

I don't recall the specific numbers although you have the USPS price correct but, the Fedex / UPS prices were bloody outrageous !!

 

[West R Lee]

And do you recall the difference in shipping cost Gary?

West

I don't recall the specific numbers although you have the USPS price correct but, the Fedex / UPS prices were bloody outrageous !!

They were $600!!! And USPS shipped Ian's guitar for around $147 a few months ago.....I didn't bother to check with anyone else on the price.

West

 

[taabru45]

[quote="West R Lee":36cpham9]
And do you recall the difference in shipping cost Gary?

West

I don't recall the specific numbers although you have the USPS price correct but, the Fedex / UPS prices were bloody outrageous !!

They were $600!!! And USPS shipped Ian's guitar for around $147 a few months ago.....I didn't bother to check with anyone else on the price.

West[/quote:36cpham9]

Last year, I could have flown to NZ for $800....and taken the guitar with me... :roll: :lol: Steffan

 

[Ian]

And I would have loved to have met you Steffan. Plus 2 on the USPS for me, also I never bothered with the insurance and thankfully due to the wonderful care that my fellow Ltgers took with the packing, never needed to.

I think from memory FEDEX can be competitive but you need to have an account.

Cheers, Ian

And good luck.

 

[Jeff]

I think from memory FEDEX can be competitive but you need to have an account.

Cheers, Ian

.......

While I can't comment on international shipping experience I can say having a FEDEX account qualifies for a substantial saving. 30% I think, adds up, last time I used them was to ship an amp from Seattle to Illinios, having an account saved enough to pay for several beers & a good pub sandwich.

 

[chazmo]

Whew! Cap is off to Europe. I cross my fingers for a safe journey across the Atlantic.

Thanks folks... Your consultation helped me through this!

For the record:

1. Cap's box was at the maximum (girth + length) 108" dimensions. And, yes, the bump in the middle of the box probably would've pushed the length measurement over the 47" maximum (and total 108" overall), but the postman was kind to me. They are rigid about this, and so be it, but I did get away with something here. Plus, I'm not entirely happy with the hacked-up packaging now, but it is what it is. I would not have shipped this any other carrier in the condition the box is now in.

2. Priority Mail International. 6 -10 days.

3. Maximum insurance was $650.

4. $110.45US !!!!!!! I've offered to the buyer to cover this since it took me so long to get this going.

 

[geoguy]

That seems like a reasonable cost for international shipping.

I just measured a guitar box that, um . . . hypothetically speaking . . . a D-55 might have been shipped in by Guild. And it came in as 106 inches (length + girth), just under that 108-inch limit.

 

[chazmo]

The old Hoboken case for "Cap" is pretty long and has a couple of inches of space between the crown of the guitar and the outer edge. I have no idea if there was any spec for these, as it has an arched back and is so oddly unique. Probably they shared cases with the F-412SPEC, which may have used more of the space in the top of the case.

In any case, I imagine any current TKL or other case would be significantly shorter (and snugger) to fit in a normal box.

 

[SFIV1967]

I got a question. I have a $1500 guitar incoming from USA to Germany. USPS told the seller in USA that they would only insure up to 500 Dollars, so how did you get around that when you shipped using USPS (assuming that the value of the guitar was more than 500 Euro).

USPS asked for $108 from new York to Germany whereas to ship the guitar via UPS insured for $1500 is $307.00.
$200 Euro difference is quite a lot.
Did you just ship with USPS and took the risk that no damage or loss would happen?
Any input appreciated.
Thanks,
Ralf

 

[chazmo]

I got a question. I have a $1500 guitar incoming from USA to Germany. USPS told the seller in USA that they would only insure up to 500 Dollars, so how did you get around that when you shipped using USPS (assuming that the value of the guitar was more than 500 Euro).

USPS asked for $108 from new York to Germany whereas to ship the guitar via UPS insured for $1500 is $307.00.
$200 Euro difference is quite a lot.
Did you just ship with USPS and took the risk that no damage or loss would happen?
Any input appreciated.
Thanks,
Ralf

Ralf,

As you mentioned, the cost of "the other guys" versus USPS is pretty ridiculous. Also, I couldn't make my way through the forms that the UPS website was throwing at me (perhaps that's my fault). Anyway, yes, I shipped "Cap" and took the risk that no damage would occur. Cap is not replaceable anyway so I really don't know what I would've insured it for.

Of all the carriers that I've watched over the years, the good old post office has had the best record shipping guitars domestically, and I recall receiving a guitar from Germany that was shipped via DHL that was delivered to me by my postman. So, frankly, I trust USPS more than the others. That said, I had to cut the box down (less protection) in order to ship it via USPS. That has me worried.

I'm fairly certain I won't do this again any time soon.

 

[SFIV1967]

Thanks! Last year a shop in USA shipped one with FedEx to me in Germany and charged me $150 (which I don't know if that was the true shipping cost or just a flat rate used by the shop for international shipment). I also don't know if the shop insured it or not, almost sounds too low to cover insurance. At least it went very smooth and fast and no damage. But it seems like both UPS and FedEx increased pricing significantly in 2011.
So I will see how USPS works this time. So far the seller did not say anything about the box size (length). At least he said he is using the original cardboard shipping box that was used when he bought it new from a shop in Florida. I had sent him additional the instructions how to package it. I will see when it arrived.
Thanks,
Ralf

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Ralf; I don't know the reasons why but USPS will not offer coverage for overseas shipping that exceeds the amount that the in-country Postal Service will accept. As of two years ago, Italy would not allow more than US$600 in coverage regardless of declared value.

It isn't clear whether this is to mitigate fraud, protect domestic makers and resellers of products, or both. If I lived outside the US and my in-bound goods were subject to duties, tariffs, VAT ... whatever ... and I paid those taxes on an amount higher than the insured amount, I'd consider that a bad deal. :evil:

 

[Bing k]

If you buy a product from a dealer the stated value may be more that the insured amount because the dealer will probably only insure for his replacement cost, plus some shipping, maybe.

New product comes under closer scrutiny because of NAFTA and the like. If you can ship it as used then the country of origin restrictions may relax a little.

 

[Brad Little]

I got a question. I have a $1500 guitar incoming from USA to Germany. USPS told the seller in USA that they would only insure up to 500 Dollars, so how did you get around that when you shipped using USPS (assuming that the value of the guitar was more than 500 Euro).

As I said near the beginning of this thread, it is probably possible to buy separate instrument insurance on a one time basis, through Clarion or Heritage, not sure of the cost.
Brad

 

[Bing k]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe if you actually go to the post office and buy the insurance you may be able to purchase up the $2500 limit to some countries. That may only be an option for global express?

 

[West R Lee]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe if you actually go to the post office and buy the insurance you may be able to purchase up the $2500 limit to some countries. That may only be an option for global express?

I shipped Gary's guitar with $1000 coverage to New Zealand Bing, and it was available on Ian's guitar for more than that. Who knows....maybe they offer higher coverage to some countries and lower to others :? . Maybe some local post offices offer a bunch of coverage and some don't? I can only speak to what I've experienced.

West

 

[Bing k]

I think you're right West

And I think the shipping options you choose also make a difference on the insurance you can buy. I think Global Express to Australia you can get the $2500 coverage if you physically go to the post office and purchase it.

 

[SFIV1967]

Thanks a lot, well, it is a used guitar and the private seller had no experience with shipping internationally. So he told me it is on the way with USPS now but only with the $500 insurance coverage. I just hope it will arrive save. I have not seen the exact shipping cost but understood it is about $110 with USPS to Germany. I will see the papers when it arrived.

Thanks,
Ralf

 

[capnjuan]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe if you actually go to the post office and buy the insurance you may be able to purchase up the $2500 limit to some countries. That may only be an option for global express?

Hi Bing; the USPS can sell you no more coverage than the receiving postal system will allow. That system - not the USPS - sets the ceiling on policy limitations.

Three years ago, I mailed Andy Hiwatt a Bluesbird that I'd bought for him. The guitar cost about $1,000 but the USPS, acting as the 'agent' of the Italian postal system, would not write coverage for more than $600. When 'mailing' guitars around the US, the USPS will write coverage for whatever reasonable amount the shipper chooses.

 

[Frosty]

the USPS can sell you no more coverage than the receiving postal system will allow. That system - not the USPS - sets the ceiling on policy limitations.

That explains a lot, capn'!