Guitar shipping - costly

[Ron Hogan]

I just got a quote from UPS to ship a D10 plus boxing.

$350 ballpark

Plus rates will increase 7% on the 22nd December

SAD

[Jerry Overstreet]

Yep, it's insane. I just sent a dobro to Austin from Louisville. I used FedEx ground. I already had a box, I packed it myself and hand carried it to the actual depot.

With my account, it still cost me over $150 2-3 day ground...cheapest way. Unfortunately for me, I had previously agreed to foot the freight charge. Lesson learned.

I have another electric 6 string on the way. The charge from USPS with insurance was nearly the same. Lighter weight and no case, still they use dimensional weight which charges you by size of the package.

I can only imagine the cost to have a shipper pack and ship.

Be prepared for obscene freight chargers. Get quotes through the online calculators then verify. Hand deliver or pickup with the buyer/seller whenever possible even if you have to drive a couple hunnerd miles.

Add that to the ridiculous prices even our member brothers are charging for pedal steels and that puts owning one just about out of reach for many of us less solvent buyers.

[Michael Lester]

I recently purchased a Mullen RP D10. That part of the purchase went perfectly. The Seller could not have been more helpful and prompt to answer the phone or text messages.

The real let down came from shipping.

It was sent from Central Florida to NW Illinois. I was provided with a FedEx Tracking number.
Everyday the Tracking site displayed progress with cute little phrases like "We have your package" and "Package Out For Delivery".
"Watch your phone for delivery time to be available for signature".

For seven days, the Site produced a phone message "Your package will be delivered December xx, between 10:30 am and 2:30pm".
Even got that message stating Sunday delivery. We were reluctant to leave any time between 10am and 7pm because the messages indicated that a personal ID and signature would be required.

The next morning there'd be a message "Your package has been delayed".

On the fourth day of delay I finally figured out how to by-pass the Ai phone robot by saying "I want to speak to a Representative".
That got me to a human -from India or Pakistan who PROMISED me that they would expedite shipping and relabel the package as "high Value" and it would be delivered late that very afternoon. I received that promise from two different 'english was a second language people' on two different days. NOTHING. They flat out lied.

Finally, ten days later after purchase, the guitar arrived. The sullen FedEx driver pointed out that he tried to deliver the package the night before, but he was afraid he wouldn't make it up the grade in our farm lane - the same lane that we, the Post Office and UPS traverses every day.

For this level of service we pay $350?

Whew. I feel better now.

[Don R Brown]

For sure! Some years back I was talking to a friend in southern Arizona who had a steel I would have liked. Between the distance, and concern about damage in transit, I never even followed up. If the day ever comes we get out there on vacation, I'll ask if he still has it.

[Ron Hogan]

Yep, it's insane. I just sent a dobro to Austin from Louisville. I used FedEx ground. I already had a box, I packed it myself and hand carried it to the actual depot.

With my account, it still cost me over $150 2-3 day ground...cheapest way. Unfortunately for me, I had previously agreed to foot the freight charge. Lesson learned.

I have another electric 6 string on the way. The charge from USPS with insurance was nearly the same. Lighter weight and no case, still they use dimensional weight which charges you by size of the package.

I can only imagine the cost to have a shipper pack and ship.

Be prepared for obscene freight chargers. Get quotes through the online calculators then verify. Hand deliver or pickup with the buyer/seller whenever possible even if you have to drive a couple hunnerd miles.

Add that to the ridiculous prices even our member brothers are charging for pedal steels and that puts owning one just about out of reach for many of us less solvent buyers.

I agree Jerry. The pricing on used steels have went through the roof. It’s hard to be a steel player.

[Lee Rider]

Pirateship.com has discounted UPS and USPS rates....

[Bobby D. Jones]

I have packed And shipped 2 steels in the last 3 months, Helping a friends widow sell his guitars.
The thing UPS or Fed-X or US Mail, Don't tell you up front. When something is over 34 inches in length. There is a surcharge on the package, Because of the length.

When we took a GFI S10 into the Fed-X pickup station, The guy sat it on the scales, Next he pulled out a ruler and measured it, Before he would say anything about the cost.
The case with foam packing was over length, Measured about 36 1/2", So the surcharge was added.

Some delivery companies have a surcharge on light bulky items too. When I worked in a machine shop, Some light aluminum duct work was required for a job. The charges were calculated, By each cubic foot = 8lb of weight. The shop owner was not happy, He had the shipping cost too low on his estimate.

[Sam Inglis]

This may be the only thing in the world that is cheaper in the UK, I guess because it doesn't involve air freight. I bought a steel recently in an auction and had it shipped next day for something ridiculous like £12!

[D Schubert]

.....so if you want to send off your steel to an expert mechanic for some additional knee levers or other maintenance, you should budget a cost of $1000 or more, to include a round trip ticket? Not counting the additional non-financial headaches? Wow!

[Bob Carlucci]

More and more people have stopped shipping any musical instruments that are large, such as guitars with cases, pedal steels of course, amps etc.. Several reasons.. Cost, possible damage claims that are a NIGHTMARE to collect on, annoyance.. I have a bunch of cheap guitars that play and sound great, that can never be sold online because the price of shipping them would cost as much or more than what they are worth.. Many people these days opting for local sales, or consignment in music stores... I have sold some stuff in recent years that I got killed on because I underestimated shipping, and it was over double what I charged.. Getting to be a real headache, and lots of guys won't deal with it...

[mtulbert]

Recently picked up an MSA Guitar in Murfreesboro. I am in the DFW area and it cost me less to drive there, pickup the guitar, spend the night, and return home the next day.

Round trip was 100 less than having it shipped.

Insanity

Mark

[Taylor Kropp]

Hey guys, try using shippers.com to ship and see what the price is. it’s allowed me to ship amps and guitars for much cheaper. Sold and shipped a les paul for something like $70 bucks recently

[Jon Jaffe]

I totally agree with Lee Rider. I only ship with Pirateship.com. They have discounted rates for UPS and USPS. I recently shipped a Steel Guitar from Austin to Ann Arbor, Michigan. I shipped it via UPS overnight air and early delivery. I packed it myself in a cardboard box, and the steel was in its case, tightly packed with the handle out. I did not consider the $350 cost for a $4000 or $5000 Guitar exorbitant. I dropped it off at 11 a.m., and it was there by 8 a.m. in pristine condition. Both the buyer and I were pleased and did not fret over the shipping. Ross Shafer ships his guitars the same way, and it's costly but generates peace of mind. After all the nightmares I saw on the forum with shipping, mine, on the other hand, was a pleasure. You get what you pay for.

[Bob Hoffnar]

I also use Pirateship.com.

I have an insurance account for my musical equipment that just about pays for itself because of the money I save on shipping insurance.

[Lee Rider]

I shipped 2 of our StringBender guitars to Sweden (both to the same person, 2 different times) with pirateship.com. All forms, etc, for international shipping were done automatically with zero hassle.

[Ken Metcalf]

https://www.pirateship.com/

[Tim Wells]

I recently purchased a Mullen RP D10. That part of the purchase went perfectly. The Seller could not have been more helpful and prompt to answer the phone or text messages.

The real let down came from shipping.

It was sent from Central Florida to NW Illinois. I was provided with a FedEx Tracking number.
Everyday the Tracking site displayed progress with cute little phrases like "We have your package" and "Package Out For Delivery".
"Watch your phone for delivery time to be available for signature".

For seven days, the Site produced a phone message "Your package will be delivered December xx, between 10:30 am and 2:30pm".
Even got that message stating Sunday delivery. We were reluctant to leave any time between 10am and 7pm because the messages indicated that a personal ID and signature would be required.

The next morning there'd be a message "Your package has been delayed".

On the fourth day of delay I finally figured out how to by-pass the Ai phone robot by saying "I want to speak to a Representative".
That got me to a human -from India or Pakistan who PROMISED me that they would expedite shipping and relabel the package as "high Value" and it would be delivered late that very afternoon. I received that promise from two different 'english was a second language people' on two different days. NOTHING. They flat out lied.

Finally, ten days later after purchase, the guitar arrived. The sullen FedEx driver pointed out that he tried to deliver the package the night before, but he was afraid he wouldn't make it up the grade in our farm lane - the same lane that we, the Post Office and UPS traverses every day.

For this level of service we pay $350?


Whew. I feel better now.

I am about to go through the same thing, from the same place. It is what it T I is, I reckon. I was looking at plane tickets at that rate just in case it was anywhere close to the shipping price. It ain't no better going USPS, it was $12.00 just to send the check! And that 3 day service will take a week at best.

[Jerry Overstreet]

I've come to the conclusion that it's a crap shoot no matter how you go. I still prefer FedEx to the others still, the last UPS shipment was fast and trouble free so...

So another experience here with USPS. I'm miffed probably as nice as I can say it. I ordered an item from one of our guys on 12/16 from the PNW or maybe Mountain West. The seller sent it right away. It was delivered to the dist. center in Indy, just 150 miles or so from me, in 2 days. From there it went to Cincy? where it took another 3 days to get it to Chicago? which is further away, where is sat for 2 days, then idled in the Louisville dist. center less than 10 miles from me where it took 3 more days to get to me one day after Christmas.

It was on me, because I chose USPS kind of because I'm partial to the company and they need help. I coulda, shoulda chose FedEx and sent a label to the shipper from my account which would have taken 3 days at most and been a lot cheaper.

Realizing it's December and the holidays rush, some understanding is in order but 10 days is excessive, particularly when it was entered into the system and went out from the origin office almost immediately.

I've also notice at my local p.o. a lack of agents at the windows. Usually only one of two windows open and the line out the door. Not just for the holiday rush but a couple months back.

In another happy story, I bought an item from a seller in Florida on the 22nd. who shipped it right out UPS ground and it arrived on my front porch Christmas eve, so kudos to UPS and the seller for expediting the shipment.

I dunno, I think you take your chances no matter the freight co.
I haven't used Pirate Ship, but aren't they just an agent for USPS and UPS?

[Dennis Montgomery]

I learned to use USPS only as a last resort if UPS or FedEx are unavailable

Bought a synthesizer from a shop called Detroit Modular a few months ago. Paid for 2 day USPS because it was cheaper than 2 day UPS or 2 day FedEx. Watching the tracking it went to a Michigan hub...then for some crazy reason it was routed to a hub in Puerto Rico (hey guys, I'm in WA state, you're heading the wrong way!) Sat there for a couple weekdays with no change in tracking before it was finally flown into SeaTac and delivered in 4 or 5 days. Also, I've rarely had anything shipped USPS where the tracking was accurate or updated in a timely manner like UPS/FedEx.

I know everyone has horror stories about every shipper, but I've found USPS to be the absolute worst at providing accurate tracking