Shipping a guitar

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Shipping a guitar

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mfarouk8

Posts: 3
Joined: Sep. 12 2005

Shipping a guitar

Dear flamencos !

I have bought a guitar and currently looking at how to bring it from where it's to my country. I have no experience with that so I have some queries:

1- Is there a preference to one company over the other ( UPS, DHL, Aramex) regarding cost, reliability, logistics ..etc ?
2- Is it enough to let the sender give the guitar to the company in its hard case or some extra packaging is required ?
3- any other things to consider ?

mohamed

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2010 6:46:41

flybynight

Posts: 121
Joined: Aug. 14 2009

RE: Shipping a guitar (in reply to mfarouk8)

Honestly, never done this. But maybe avoid ..

United Airlines got a pasting from a PR perspective for this. As soon as this went viral, they panicked and coughed up. Too late.. damage already done.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2010 9:34:17

Chiste de Gales

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 13 2009

RE: Shipping a guitar (in reply to mfarouk8)

I used to work at a Guitar Center- so I'll tell you how they would do it.
Request that the strings be loosened and the headstock wrapped in
something that fills the space on that end of the case.

Im assuming they will put the case in a large box and fill the space
with packing material.

It costs more, but you can designate it as a fragile package with the
shipper and it will be hand carried anytime it needs to move from one
vehicle to another or into a building.

Insure for the full replacement amount.

There's not more more you can do than this.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2010 10:01:16

mfarouk8

Posts: 3
Joined: Sep. 12 2005

RE: Shipping a guitar (in reply to mfarouk8)

thanks a lot Christe :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 6 2010 0:14:25

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: Shipping a guitar (in reply to mfarouk8)

quote:

I have bought a guitar and currently looking at how to bring it from where it's to my country.

Mohamed:

I had a satisfactory experience using Fedex and DHL for international shipping of a variety of items. A few issues you may need to consider are:

Customs Duties, based on the port of entry’s tariffs (where the instrument is sent), you should consult the shipping company of your choice and ask them to asses such duties along with any other fees which may apply at customs (broker’s or handling fees). These should typically be a percentage (%) of the amount declared on the sales invoice –which, in turn, should match the insurance policy you should acquire from the shipping company.
[incidentally, you should not pay sales-tax (vat) on your purchase, or if paid you should inquire on how to have it refunded to you or disounted from duties]

Packaging, ask that the case be enveloped tightly in a double cellophane or plastic bag. At times, packages may be exposed to rain and suffer water damage (of course you will have insurance, but claims take a long time to process, are never too easy a matter to solve and I suppose you really are eager to receive your guitar.

Make sure, you have the shipping tracking number so that you can follow the itinerary of your package, and see if it gets “stuck” at customs.

Finally, if you have an American Express, you should purchase the instrument with it. This card offers an insurance policy covering damage, loss and theft which is –in my experience- quite effective and expeditious, in addition to a the card services which you can always rely upon.

I am sure you knew most of this information, but “repetita juvant”

_____________________________

gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 6 2010 6:37:42