PSA - Shipping guitars

Wattage

Wattage

High Voltologist
Just trying to add to the collective knowledge base here, things I have learned, sometimes the hard way.

When you ship a guitar unless it is in an ATA flightcase it must be boxed. The buyer may ask that you box it as well even if it has a rated case but that is generally considered negotiable if it is used. I would recommend it from experience.

If the guitar is in a hard case you can box it, pad it appropriately and ship it.

If it is in a gigbag (or chipboard case) it should be double boxed. UPS and FedEx will not cover damage incurred if it is not fwiw.

If there is neither a case or a bag the guitar should be wrapped in something protective and then double boxed.

Always insure the package regardless.


I have never had an issue with a guitar (or amp, etc) I have shipped other than the shipper losing the actual package which has happened with USPS. FedEx has been troublesome and has lost pkgs for a period of time but they have always been recovered. UPS has been the most effective so far. I have no association with any of the companies involved just practical experience.

I share this because the last 2 guitars I have purchased and had shipped to me from private sellers have both been poorly or incorrectly packed and as so have been damaged. I literally just received a bass that was shipped in a gigbag and nothing else. HOW THE F!!!! DO YOU SHIP A GUITAR IN A GIGBAG!?! AND USPS ACCEPTED IT NO LESS! I wouldn't ship a gigbag in a gigbag.......rant over and please raise the bar guys. Friends don't let friends ship like idiots.
 
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Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

I'll back you up on this. Pack your stuff so it could go around the world and come back in tune. This goes for small stuff, too. I ordered a rear trem cover from a buyer on eBay once and he sent it in a plain paper envelope. I received it in a plastic bag, with the torn envelope and the part cracked into two pieces. I contacted the seller for a refund, and he claimed bull**** until I sent pix of the bag, torn envelope, and two part cover. Don't cheap out on packing - there are monsters in the mailing and shipping business.
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

Here's a photo of the last two guitars I bought. I received them the same day. Needless to say I wasn't very happy with the one on the left. Both are Les Pauls and both somehow survived the trip....but still. The seller wasn't concerned......

20160908_144547.jpg
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

Lets try and raise the bar since I'll take a guess that the bulk of us have bought or sold at least one piece of gear online. Try and create a best practices list.
 
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Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

If they're going to be on an airplane you should probably tune them down a few notches as well.
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

I do a lot of guitar selling and buying and trading, most of it happens over long distances because there isn't much good stuff in my area. I shipped about 20 guitars with these methods now, never had a single issue. always used DHL, works good for me. usually takes 2 days to get there with no damage at all.


Best practice in my opionion for a gigbag guitar: (it's messy but the best method, sealed air works too, but its not as good)

- wrap some air bubble stuff around the headstock
- guitar in the gigbag
- fill a big and sturdy box of cardboard with those little foam peanuts up to approx. half (a lot works for boxes, the best ones are the boxes from thomann, they ship guitars in that. TV boxes work too. I was desperate 2 times already and just used two moving boxes from the store and merged them together, they were the perfect size)
- put the guitar in the middle, leaving space to top,bottom and sides of the guitar to fully submerge it in atleast 1 inch of foam peanuts all around it
- fill it up to the top with little styromfoam bits
- use enough tape to close everything and ship it insured. (we're lucky here in germany, I ship guitars for ~8 bucks, up to 35kg and very big sizes, insured up to 500€ with the option to go higher ofc)
- using a marker I mark the orientation of the package (headstock top) and write "musical instrument, please handle with care -thank you"

for shipping guitars with a hardcase (only done it nationally) I do the following:

- put the guitar in the case
- wrap air bubbles around the headstock and anywhere the guitar isnt 100% snug
- wrap a layer of cardboard around the case
- tape it up real good
- ship insured
- using a marker I mark the orientation of the package (headstock top) and write "musical instrument, please handle with care -thank you"
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

Just a thought if the guitar is nitro be careful what packing materials you put up against it
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

I like to put paper between the strings and the fretboard.
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

I have shipped bolt on guitars without the neck bolted on and I have shipped gibsons inside the case.

I have always tried to use the boxes that the manufacturers use to ship my used guitars for sale and always fill them either with the shipping peanuts or with newspaper balled up.

TLDR; It's better to over pad and over fill the box with shipping materials than too little padding.
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

I'll add that it's easier to overpack than it is to fight a carrier over a damage claim.
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

I've never heard of anyone complaining that an item was packed too securely.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

I've got a friend at a local music store. He brings home guitar boxes from their deliveries all the time. I wonder if other local music stores will give out/sell their guitar boxes.
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

Taz Rules said:
I've got a friend at a local music store. He brings home guitar boxes from their deliveries all the time. I wonder if other local music stores will give out/sell their guitar boxes.
Click to expand...

most of them do, at least here
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

I've gotten several complaints about my packing jobs. They were unhappy that it took an hour with a box cutter to get through all the tape, bubble wrap, foam, corner blocks, and double boxes! :D
 
Re: PSA - Shipping guitars

Gearjoneser said:
I've gotten several complaints about my packing jobs. They were unhappy that it took an hour with a box cutter to get through all the tape, bubble wrap, foam, corner blocks, and double boxes! :D
Click to expand...
Dumbasses.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
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