Tell me about shipping

[Southern Daddy]

Hi All-

I'm considering selling my F47CE, and was wondering if anyone can give me an idea of who, if I need them, is the best shipper to use, what is the best method (ground? air?) and what would be the average cost, say coast to coast?

All feedback is welcome.

Thanks !

SD

 

[Graham]

Hey SD, I prefer USPS and specify them for my inbound stuff. Being from Canada I use Canada Post outbound which usually hands off to USPS once things clear immigration.

Prices are relatively favourable and there aren't the pesky brokerage fees that UPS and FedEx tack on.

So far no real problems.

 

[capnjuan]

Hi SD: Graham's right - USPS; tracking, insurance, coast-to-coast; under $100. CJ

 

[Soupy1957]

I prefer FedEx for the following reason:

I have received a number of guitars via UPS, and they tend to go through my state to a neighboring state BEFORE coming BACK again to bring it to me.
The "Hubs" are illogically placed, (IMHO) and make for a waste of time and effort. Drags out the acquisition process.

Recently I had a TERRIFIC experience with FedEx who not only came DIRECTLY to my state and to my hub in my home town, but also met me "on the road" when I missed my first pick up (he showe up earlier than I expected, and was not home). He actually waited for me at one of his stops, to come get it.

Just my two cents......

-Soupy1957

 

[Graham]

As always, your mileage may vary and the shipping company is only as good as your most recent success story, still I like United States Postal Service and Canada Post. :mrgreen:

 

[West R Lee]

Welp, all I'll say is A25 from Texas to New Zealand via UPS or Fedex?............$600 plus. :shock: USPS to same..........$127!!!!

West

 

[john_kidder]

USPS for me as well - I drive down from Canada to use USPS for my international shipments - good service, best prices, go through the receiving country's domestic post office without the absurd brokerage charges of the couriers, and often (on the way in to Canada at least) without duties or taxes. My favourite.

 

[coastie99]

Welp, all I'll say is A25 from Texas to New Zealand via UPS or Fedex?............$600 plus. :shock: USPS to same..........$127!!!!

West

And here's what UPS managed to do to my Thunder 1 RVT................

This joker would have thoroughly approved !! .............

 

[capnjuan]

:evil: We need smiley for nausea ...

 

[bdeclee]

And here's what UPS did to my F-412:

 

[sitka_spruce]

My Sigurdson was shipped by UPS, but then I didn't have much saying in which carrier to use. It survived, though.

Weber I know send all their speakers with FedEx and they refuse using any other carrier, they kindly ask their customers not to ask for shipping with other carriers. Goes without saying they've had problems with damaged goods and the relations to other carriers ough not to be too good.

I think my WP was shipped with FedEx too. It also survived the jump over the pond called the Atlantic ocean.

I wouldn't trust the Swedish Royal Mail further than I can through it though. They have dinged one or two stereo loudspeakers in the past and FedEx shipments are transfered to the Royal Mail once the parcel hits Swedish ground (well, sometimes litterarily as mentioned).

 

[Mingus]

careful in cold weather. i had my DV52 shipped and it arrived finish checked like crazy! I was very careful to regulate the temp for HOURS and HOURS before opening it, but it was still checked. I'm still convinced it was because the UPS driver had his heat CRANKED in the truck.

-J

 

[Southern Daddy]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone !!

One other thing....from USPS I can ship Parcel Post, or Express mail for about $45.00 more ($27.00 vs. $72.00).

Is the Express Mail air vs. Parcel Post ground worth the extra busks, as far as safety of the instrument?

 

[GardMan]

And here's what UPS did to my F-412:

Hey folks...
Some friendly shipping advice:
Whenever possible PULL THE ENDPIN OUT before shipping! An acoustic endpin is a nicely tapered little wedge, and a drop on the tail can split the tail and endblock inside, or worse (as with Barabara's). I know you can't do that with an endpin jack... but on an acoustic, it's usually pretty easy to do. Seeing pics like Barbara's 412 make me want to cry... It's possible that, had its endpin been pulled and placed in the case pocket, Barbara's 412 might have survived it drop completely unscathed.

Sometimes they can be in there pretty tight... if it doesn't just come out with your fingers, try wearing rubber gloves for a better grip, or wrap the endpin's neck/waist with an elastic band until it is even with the widest part of the pin... then try again. The elastic (rubber) band will give you a better grip. As a last resort, I have twice used a heavily padded claw hammer to pull pins.

Surprisingly, of the 5 guitars I have bought and had shipped to me, NONE had the pin pulled for shipping... even those shipped by dealers or individuals experienced with shipping guitars.

One more: ff there are items (endpin, extra bridge pins or strings, allen wrenches, etc) in the case pocket, TAPE THE POCKET CLOSED! before shipping. I know of at least three examples (two of mine) where pocket items escaped during shipping (to me, or in a past life), and damaged the guitar.
Dave

 

[kitniyatran]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone !!

One other thing....from USPS I can ship Parcel Post, or Express mail for about $45.00 more ($27.00 vs. $72.00).

Is the Express Mail air vs. Parcel Post ground worth the extra busks, as far as safety of the instrument?

I don't know about Parcel Post or Express mail, but I once sent a money order to Connecticut to buy a mandolin, & paid extra for Priority Mail, so it should arrive in 2-3 days, and it took a full week, which is about what regular mail would have taken, for well over $6 less! :evil:

 

[fungusyoung]

GREAT thread!

Another vote here for USPS. Best price, service options and reliability. Man, when I really think about it, the Post Office has come a very long ways. One of my first jobs was as a janitor at a couple different Postal Service stations back in the early 80's... I wouldn't have trusted those folks at all back then, but they've really done a great job in recent years especially given how much volume they handle compared to the other guys.

My rankings for US origin/destinations:

1- USPS
2- FedEx (much pricier & not as reliable in my experiences)
3- UPS (got burned badly once by them... they smashed up Les Paul Jr. headstock from obvious rough handling)
4- DHL (just announced 9500 more jobs are being cut in the US & they will subcontract any intra US work to UPS!)