Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

[presa_tito]

I have a guitar coming from Tampa to Vancouver Island and it was shipped on August 16th. It is insured, but he never got the tracking option for online tracking. I am getting a little frustrated and a bit worried, don't know how long USPS usually takes. This is going very slow though.

 

[KoreanGuitarMan]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

Isn't Canada's mail system really messed up or something? USPS is usually reliable, but they do fumble sometimes. This is unusual.

 

[59paul]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

I shipped a Gibson SG from the US to England last winter. I sent it USPS, and it took 4 weeks. It was only supposed to take 10 days ( or less ). All in all, the Guitar made it safely.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

I'm in the same position right now... I'm waiting for a guitar that shipped on the 27th and I'm still waiting for it.. Not as long as you but still over the time frame they gave me.... Probably just a border thing tho... sometimes it takes longer, a guitar is a big parcel and that might make some people suspicious...

And no, Canada's post system isn't all messed up... it's as reliable as yours...

 

[Al.C]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

I have shipped parcels USPS from Tucson to Ontario and the delivery time is all over the place. Sometimes only 1 week sometimes 4. Sounds like you have no option other than waiting. Good luck.

 

[presa_tito]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

It seems like I shouldn't be in a mad panic quite yet, but I am a little concerned. I want to play my washburn N4.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

Insurance should always be used IMHO. I sold my Gibson Les Paul without paying for that option and I was worried sick for a few weeks until it arrived safely to the buyer (I'm glad he was honest and told me he got it, otherwise I'd be up sh*t's creek).

For the extra couple of bucks, it's always worth being able to sleep at night knowing you'll be covered.

If it makes you feel any better, I suffered from the 4 week wait and now I refuse to use USPS for anything.

 

[Neolumi]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

hey not as relevant but my friend sent me a package from upland CA to kent england and it took 2 months, and the box was the size of a small vcr!! Thank you USPS! now on i go courier, especially with things as expensive as guitars.

Ordered a guitar, got sent by city link and got it within 5 days, yay couriers!

 

[Norman_T]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

3 weeks (or nearly) is not that bad - but could it also be held up for any duty or whatever you may have to pay for importing stuff into Canada. Hopefully it won't be long in arriving. I have had guitars sent to me from the US which have taken anything from 7 days to nearly 2 months. Usually it is because of the hold up in customs and then notifying the postal service in the UK - that is what takes the time.

Of course if you use a reliable carrier like Fedex - and provided they got all the documentation correct (and you pay the taxes on receipt) then they can arrive a lot quicker. I had a friend who had bought a guitar from the US on Thursday and it was sent over by Fedex and arrived first thing on Monday morning. That's service but you do have to pay extra for it.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

USPS is the ONLY company I trust with guitars for up to 4 months at a time (international surface) without qualms or funny feelings. I´ve never, ever, heard of them losing something, nor has it ever happened to me

In fact, USPS airmail is my preferred carrier for USA -> Germany shipping, anything else is just too expensive for the service you get IMO (10 days or less, but I´ve had it literally in 2 as well)

YMMV

 

[EL WHOPPO]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

I sent a package (USPS) to Toronto from New Mexico, and it was about 5-6 weeks. And I mailed a guitar case to up state New York that same day, and it too was about a month before it got there. So just to reempasize what everyone else has said, USPS is slow.

 

[darkshadow54321]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

UPS is the worst for international shipping. Took two months for my amp to arrive, and it was predicted 4 weeks.

USPS is the one I prefer, since it seems to be faster and much more reliable.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

I ship only USPS...but I have had orders take up to 4 months too.

Two or three weeks is more usual tho to anywhere in the world.

The hardest most frustrating part about shipping overseas or to Canada is dealing with angry customers who want it NOW...and assume the worst when it doesn't get there by the time they fantasize about it getting there.

Reminds me of the joke someone told about thier Dad sitting infront of the computor screen waiting for it to load up: "Come on d*mnit...I haven't got all minute!!!"

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

I recently traded a guitar to a guy in Virginia.....took 2 days to ship...

I bought a guitar from Butnut in Hawaii & my payment got to him in 3 days/guitar got to me in like 4-5 days...

Sold some effects pedals to Y2Stevo in Ireland & he got them in maybe 10days(?)...

I bought a set of pick-ups from Thames in Montreal, shipped the payment Priority mail & it took FOREVER !!!

I'm thinking it might have something to do with Canadian Customs! :sleeping:

I guess it's refreshing to know that atleast SOMETHING about Canada sucks!!!! :22: :laugh2:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

Are you saying the shipper has NO tracking number, and you have no recourse to track it? If I were you, I'd find out which customs office that deliver goes through to get to you, and ask them if it's held up for some reason, giving them all the info you have. By now, it seems like it's taking too long. FL to Vancouver BC? seems like it wouldn't take over 3 weeks. Are you still in contact with the seller?

 

[KoreanGuitarMan]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

I'm still waiting for my first Ebay purchase to arrive from S. Korea. It's only been about 11 days, but still. The wait (and not knowing where it is) is driving me nuts.

 

[kramer]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

If I were you, I'd find out which customs office that deliver goes through to get to you, and ask them if it's held up for some reason, giving them all the info you have.

That would be my course of action, chances are that's where your guitar is...I've had similar problems with customs.
Matt

 

[DWVINKY]

Re: Longest USPS shipping experience on a guitar?

Always insist on UPS. I bought a guitar last Wednesday(sept 1st) from a dealer in Clearwater, FL. I know you're all aware of the hurricane situation, but the guitar still got to me on Wednesday(sept 8th) even with the Labor Day holiday and the hurricane. Now thats what i call commitment to customer service.