Shipping guitars

straightface · March 11th, 2008, 08:27 AM

OK, I went to Fedex this morning to ship a guitar and they told me that will only insure up to $500. I need more. Who do you guys use, DHL, UPS? Any recommendations?

Telelicious · March 11th, 2008, 10:12 AM

USPS.
I just shipped one last week.
You've gotta make the box come in under 108" length to girth though.
I used a real Taylor guitar box and came in 5" under.
$34 using 2 day priority from here to San Fran w/$2000 insurance.

I havent had a problem with USPS yet.

magicguitar · March 11th, 2008, 10:24 AM

I used UPS a few years and they let me insure the guitar for $1000. They shipment was S-l-O-W, but the package did arrive in perfect condition. Last year I used USPS to ship two guitars. Insured each for $1000 and shipment was speedy and both arrived in perfect condition. Using the Post Office was much easier--- no paperwork to fill out.

skydawg · March 11th, 2008, 11:12 AM

I've had perfect service from both UPS and USPS. DHL took 5 days to ship a guitar from Jersey to Chicago b/c the regular driver was on vacation. Right. I've had a lot of problems with FedEx. Damaged & late shipments, and poor customer support. YMMV

serialsteve · March 11th, 2008, 01:30 PM

DO NOT USE FEDEX! Check their insurance policy exclusions and you'll find that even if you purchase insurance for reasonable/replacement value, they won't cover certain musical instruments, including guitars.

With the track record that I've had with shippers using FedEx to me-two completely smashed guitars and EVERY shipment either late, never delivered (despite saying something was "left on doorstep") or damaged, I refuse to accept anything shipped via that carrier.

THE WORST.

I've shipped over 100 guitars with UPS and only had one damaged. They paid the claim without too much hassle.

straightface · March 11th, 2008, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone. I went with DHL, they just picked it up. Now I wait and hope that it arrives in one piece.

Unseen · March 11th, 2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serialsteve

DO NOT USE FEDEX! Check their insurance policy exclusions and you'll find that even if you purchase insurance for reasonable/replacement value, they won't cover certain musical instruments, including guitars.

With the track record that I've had with shippers using FedEx to me-two completely smashed guitars and EVERY shipment either late, never delivered (despite saying something was "left on doorstep") or damaged, I refuse to accept anything shipped via that carrier.

THE WORST.

I've shipped over 100 guitars with UPS and only had one damaged. They paid the claim without too much hassle.

My brother wants to buy my strat clone. About how much did it cost to ship via UPS?

rhomco · March 11th, 2008, 03:09 PM

I build 12 string Telecaster Conversions and ship them worldwide. USPS Priority Mail is the least cost and has the best record for both delivery and insurance protection. You do have to ship from a Post Office if you want to insure over $500.00.

Joe M · March 11th, 2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unseen

My brother wants to buy my strat clone. About how much did it cost to ship via UPS?

Go to UPS site, you can get a pretty good guesstimate of the cost to ship just about anything.....

serialsteve · March 12th, 2008, 08:18 AM

For UPS, I go straight to the Customer Desk at the Depot. You avoid all of the markups that come with MailBoxesEtc or those ripoff UPS outlets. Average for a $1000 insured guitar anywhere in the US has been b/w $22-35.

Shipping more expensive ones adds $$ for insurance.

Andy Summers · March 12th, 2008, 09:45 AM

I hate Fed Ex. The Muddy Waters I bought from EBay is being shipped Fed Ex. I cringe whenever I see that companies name.

They are already pi$$ing me off. At first the tracking info said it would arrive on the 17th. I wasn't too happy with that, then it changed to the 14th, which I was definitely cool with...Now it says the 17th again.

Last time I dealt with them, I ended up having to go pick it up myself. I never had any problems with UPS (knock on wood).

Andy Summers · March 12th, 2008, 09:51 AM

Just to add to above.....It absoulutely KILLS KILLS KILLS me to think that the guitar will just be sitting in a cold a$$ truck or warehouse for the weekend!!!!

Andy Summers · March 14th, 2008, 10:18 AM

Fed Ex blows..THey havent update the tracking info in almost 48 hours...

Sorry...This is just really frustrating.

March 11th, 2008, 08:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
straightface Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: MA Posts: 798	Shipping guitars OK, I went to Fedex this morning to ship a guitar and they told me that will only insure up to $500. I need more. Who do you guys use, DHL, UPS? Any recommendations? __________________ At the end of time, all that will remain is Keith Richards, a Fender Telecaster, a bunch of cockroaches, and roots rock music. With nobody left to categorize it for, I bet Keef’ll just call it rock and roll… -Brian Henneman of The Bottle Rockets

March 11th, 2008, 02:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
straightface Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: MA Posts: 798	Thanks for the replies everyone. I went with DHL, they just picked it up. Now I wait and hope that it arrives in one piece. __________________ At the end of time, all that will remain is Keith Richards, a Fender Telecaster, a bunch of cockroaches, and roots rock music. With nobody left to categorize it for, I bet Keef’ll just call it rock and roll… -Brian Henneman of The Bottle Rockets

March 11th, 2008, 03:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
rhomco Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Crowley, Texas Posts: 680	I ship worldwide I build 12 string Telecaster Conversions and ship them worldwide. USPS Priority Mail is the least cost and has the best record for both delivery and insurance protection. You do have to ship from a Post Office if you want to insure over $500.00. __________________ If I won the Lotto.... I'd just build guitars and sell them till the money ran out

March 11th, 2008, 10:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
Telelicious Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Seattle Age: 44 Posts: 403	USPS. I just shipped one last week. You've gotta make the box come in under 108" length to girth though. I used a real Taylor guitar box and came in 5" under. $34 using 2 day priority from here to San Fran w/$2000 insurance. I havent had a problem with USPS yet.

March 11th, 2008, 10:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
magicguitar Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fallon, Nevada Age: 60 Posts: 506	I used UPS a few years and they let me insure the guitar for $1000. They shipment was S-l-O-W, but the package did arrive in perfect condition. Last year I used USPS to ship two guitars. Insured each for $1000 and shipment was speedy and both arrived in perfect condition. Using the Post Office was much easier--- no paperwork to fill out.

March 11th, 2008, 11:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
skydawg Removed Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Location: GREATER CHICAGOLAND AREA, USA Age: 55 Posts: 1,158	I've had perfect service from both UPS and USPS. DHL took 5 days to ship a guitar from Jersey to Chicago b/c the regular driver was on vacation. Right. I've had a lot of problems with FedEx. Damaged & late shipments, and poor customer support. YMMV

March 11th, 2008, 01:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
serialsteve Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 544	DO NOT USE FEDEX! Check their insurance policy exclusions and you'll find that even if you purchase insurance for reasonable/replacement value, they won't cover certain musical instruments, including guitars. With the track record that I've had with shippers using FedEx to me-two completely smashed guitars and EVERY shipment either late, never delivered (despite saying something was "left on doorstep") or damaged, I refuse to accept anything shipped via that carrier. THE WORST. I've shipped over 100 guitars with UPS and only had one damaged. They paid the claim without too much hassle.

March 12th, 2008, 08:18 AM	#10 (permalink)
serialsteve Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 544	For UPS, I go straight to the Customer Desk at the Depot. You avoid all of the markups that come with MailBoxesEtc or those ripoff UPS outlets. Average for a $1000 insured guitar anywhere in the US has been b/w $22-35. Shipping more expensive ones adds $$ for insurance.

March 12th, 2008, 09:45 AM	#11 (permalink)
Andy Summers Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT Age: 36 Posts: 462	I hate Fed Ex. The Muddy Waters I bought from EBay is being shipped Fed Ex. I cringe whenever I see that companies name. They are already pi$$ing me off. At first the tracking info said it would arrive on the 17th. I wasn't too happy with that, then it changed to the 14th, which I was definitely cool with...Now it says the 17th again. Last time I dealt with them, I ended up having to go pick it up myself. I never had any problems with UPS (knock on wood).

March 12th, 2008, 09:51 AM	#12 (permalink)
Andy Summers Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT Age: 36 Posts: 462	Just to add to above.....It absoulutely KILLS KILLS KILLS me to think that the guitar will just be sitting in a cold a$$ truck or warehouse for the weekend!!!!

March 14th, 2008, 10:18 AM	#13 (permalink)
Andy Summers Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT Age: 36 Posts: 462	Fed Ex blows..THey havent update the tracking info in almost 48 hours... Sorry...This is just really frustrating.