Shipping guitars

**jamforchrist123** · 12-07-2010, 12:44 PM

I just went to UPS to ship out my Xaviere and they wanted to charge me around $90 for shipping+boxing. Is this usual? That seems rather extreme... But maybe I just haven't sent anything this big lately. BUT I sent out a hot rod deluxe this summer and it was only around $30. That doesn't really make sense to me.

**thesteve** · 12-07-2010, 12:59 PM

The dimensions for a guitar might qualify as oversize for UPS, while the HRDlx may have not. That being said, I shipped a guitar to the UK using USPS for less than $90. I would look at a different carrier to go cheaper.

**tenwatt** · 12-07-2010, 01:05 PM

The most I've ever paid is $50 to ship my PRS back to the factory, fully insured. Try Fedex.

1/2-Fast Player · 12-07-2010, 01:11 PM

For less than that, you could probably insure it, send it counter-to-counter on United, and collect the insurance at the far end and just buy a new guitar.

YouTube - United Breaks Guitars

hehehehehehehehehe

roscoestring · 12-07-2010, 01:46 PM

I average around $35 - 45 when shipping guitars. I sent one from Georgia to Arizona a couple of weeks ago for @ $35. That was insured, tracked, and signed for (all extra) with the USPS Priority Mail.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 12-07-2010, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamforchrist123

I just went to UPS to ship out my Xaviere and they wanted to charge me around $90 for shipping+boxing. Is this usual? That seems rather extreme... But maybe I just haven't sent anything this big lately. BUT I sent out a hot rod deluxe this summer and it was only around $30. That doesn't really make sense to me.

go to u-haul and get a wardrobe box and cut it down if you can't find anything else. Shipping guitars should be 30-45 pending insurance and add ons.

My guess is, having UPS pack it is your problem.

Almost Enough · 12-07-2010, 02:05 PM

I've actually found FedEx to be better with guitars...but that could just be me.

Go to a local guitar shop and ask for an old guitar shipping box. Most are glad to get rid of that stuff.

**tenwatt** · 12-07-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Almost Enough

I've actually found FedEx to be better with guitars...but that could just be me.

Go to a local guitar shop and ask for an old guitar shipping box. Most are glad to get rid of that stuff.

+1 on all points.

**thesteve** · 12-07-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenwatt

+1 on all points.

Yep. I missed the part about the boxing. When I shipped that guitar to the UK, I went to a local shop and asked for a box. They said they could sell me a new box for $6 or so or they could just give me one of the ones out of the back. I took one of the ones out of the back. It was a fairly new box that Fender used to ship from factory to the store. I figure if the box is good enough for that, then it's good enough for me.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 12-07-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

Yep. I missed the part about the boxing. When I shipped that guitar to the UK, I went to a local shop and asked for a box. They said they could sell me a new box for $6 or so or they could just give me one of the ones out of the back. I took one of the ones out of the back. It was a fairly new box that Fender used to ship from factory to the store. I figure if the box is good enough for that, then it's good enough for me.

In the OC, unless you know somebody in the store you will not get a box, period. If for whatever reason your stores locally stink like that, the U-haul store sells the wardrobe boxes and best buy has been nice enough to give me flat screen tv boxes occasionally. Those are my favorite actually. Sometimes triple layers of corrugated goodness.

**thesteve** · 12-07-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

In the OC, unless you know somebody in the store you will not get a box, period. If for whatever reason your stores locally stink like that, the U-haul store sells the wardrobe boxes and best buy has been nice enough to give me flat screen tv boxes occasionally. Those are my favorite actually. Sometimes triple layers of corrugated goodness.

Wow...do you know why that is? I've been told in the past that if the store won't give you one, your next best bet is to dumpster dive at Guitar Center after hours.

**jamforchrist123** · 12-07-2010, 02:30 PM

Solution! My parents are coming to my school for a show on Saturday, so I'm just going to have them bring the original box with all of the original packing and stuff and just take that to fedex. Seems like the best plan. Thanks you guys.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 12-07-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

Wow...do you know why that is? I've been told in the past that if the store won't give you one, your next best bet is to dumpster dive at Guitar Center after hours.

Ours local ones have compactors.

I have NO idea.

Most of these stores have refused to let me play the nice guitars. One of them I had 2k in my wallet in cash for... ...I flashed the cash to the manager who had refused me on my way out the door. I just wanted to play the 1500 LP because I was considering buying it. Thats just the basic feel at most of the shops I have been to around here..

I suspect major snoodiness. I also suspect someone is selling them. I am kind of a short guy who always looks a bit scruffy.

roscoestring · 12-07-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

I am kind of a short guy who always looks a bit scruffy.

Hey, I think I've seen you then.

RipVanWinkle · 12-07-2010, 07:59 PM

Also, I went to one of those packing stores that deals with UPS/DHL/Fedex/USPS, and they had 2 different guitar boxes.... One was MASSIVE...like big enough to put an acoustic in a case with lots of packing around it and it was an EXPENSIVE box, and shipping was A LOT.

BUT, they had a "Small Guitar" box that was perfect for an electric guitar. The regular UPS store didn't have this smaller box, but the packing/shipping store did.