Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

G

Gdntoneguitars

New member
I just sold a guitar on ebay, and it needs to be shipped to the UK from Maryland (US).

It's a Peavey Wolfgang, in the hardshell case. With the typical guitar sized box dimensions of about 24"x10"x45", it costs approx. $450 via Fedex (economy), $400 UPS, and $350 USPS. I ballparked the weight at about 35 lbs.


As it turns out, I'll also have to get a 'custom' box made by one of these shipping companies so it's accepted by custom's into the UK.

Is it really that expensive to ship a guitar or is there something else I don't know?
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

I think your weight estimate is way too high for starters
and your box measurements are also on the generouse side.
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

wow man, what a bummer.

I can't help, but I wanted to commiserate.
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

I just feel bad. I even put the weight in as 20 lbs, and that doesn't change it. By taking a couple inches off the box, it'll bring it down about $80. I did make the box measurements large because I put the supports above and below the guitar so it's suspended in the guitar, like Taylor does when they ship their acoustics.

I'd like to use that box, but I don't think it'll work for getting it overseas, so it's gonna have to be something smaller.

Just crazy.
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

Man, I say call a guitar manufacturer, maybe a smaller maker, and ask them how they ship.
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

That's not a bad idea. The guy said he's fine paying whatever to ship, but I just feel bad.

I'll see if I can get somebody at PRS since they're in the same state as I am, and see what someone over might have to say.

Thanks.
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

Interesting thread as I was thinking strongly of picking up a second hand guitar from the US...but it´s not quite so appealing now. (I´m in Spain)
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

Gdntoneguitars said:
I just sold a guitar on ebay, and it needs to be shipped to the UK from Maryland (US).

It's a Peavey Wolfgang, in the hardshell case. With the typical guitar sized box dimensions of about 24"x10"x45", it costs approx. $450 via Fedex (economy), $400 UPS, and $350 USPS. I ballparked the weight at about 35 lbs.


As it turns out, I'll also have to get a 'custom' box made by one of these shipping companies so it's accepted by custom's into the UK.

Is it really that expensive to ship a guitar or is there something else I don't know?
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It shouldnt be that expensive but, it has been a while since I shipped internationally. Take it down to the local post office and just have em give you a quote.


Are you sure you didnt choose express shipping to get those quotes. Even for that size and teh weight, it shouldn't be that bad using priority. Express, yeah, it going to cost around that price.
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

Is that quote factoring in insurance for the guitar? If so, that may have something to do with it, depending on the value of the guitar? :dunno:

Also, if it is factoring in insurance, be careful. I remember seeing some thread (on HC maybe?) where a guy had a claim and got hosed. Some shipping companies have weird little clauses in their insurance contracts (dealing with music gear specifically) that give you squat if it is ruined. Please, look at that agreement carefully.
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

It's simple: a guitar case in a box is right above the length restrictions for the "cheap" packages.

You can stay under most of these limits (they change, so no hard number right now) by packing it tightly without the case, but that obviously can have consequences for the headstock when they bang the thing around.

In general you can only do this by deattaching the neck on bolt-ons.
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

3'scompany said:
Is that quote factoring in insurance for the guitar? If so, that may have something to do with it, depending on the value of the guitar? :dunno:

Also, if it is factoring in insurance, be careful. I remember seeing some thread (on HC maybe?) where a guy had a claim and got hosed. Some shipping companies have weird little clauses in their insurance contracts (dealing with music gear specifically) that give you squat if it is ruined. Please, look at that agreement carefully.
Click to expand...

Insurance is Cheap! It wont add much to the price. Yes, read the fine print. Better yet, pack it correctly the first time (which most dont or dont know how to do.)
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

i tried to ship a box like that, 60x20x5, to even ship domestically it was a $120 surcharge...
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

Is that quote factoring in insurance for the guitar?
Click to expand...

That is. I didn't look into the fine print or anything, but just insured it for the purchase price. I gotta think that would bring the price up a little bit, but either way, it's high. The buyer himself said he planned on it being that much. That would seriously put a damper on it for me.

I'll box it as tightly as I can, and parade it around the different shipping places the next two days. Lowest bidder on the shipping charges will win.

The Express options, were over $900 via Fedex, over $600 via USPS, and still only
$400 via UPS. There's a $450 difference in Fedex, $250 difference in USPS and only about a $100 difference in expediting shipping through UPS.
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

Hm, that's odd... I have had two guitars and one bass being sent to me from USA and Canada, and none of them went over 140$..
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

I like this from the les paul post:

Insure it for about a million dollars and ship it!
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I would need to insure it to also include his shipping costs too, right? No point in being out the $300 to ship if it doesn't get there properly.

Those are good links, and I've received some guitars that could have used some of that packing TLC, but as long as the basics are covered, neck, headstock, etc. and all is secure, shipping a guitar should be fairly simple for most.
 
Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

uOpt said:
It's simple: a guitar case in a box is right above the length restrictions for the "cheap" packages.

You can stay under most of these limits (they change, so no hard number right now) by packing it tightly without the case, but that obviously can have consequences for the headstock when they bang the thing around.

In general you can only do this by deattaching the neck on bolt-ons.
Click to expand...

You're right on the money!

I've shipped a Strat and a Tele, Chicago to just north of Sydney. Too big for USPS international shipping (if packed correctly), so I popped the necks off. The price was about 118USD, w/insurance (mostly for losing the package). It is difficult to break a well packed gtr w/its neck off. The cost should be less to the UK.


UPS will ship a properly packed neck-on gtr. Price for that Chgo-Syd route: About 550USD.

DHL was twice the price of UPS. I don't know about Fed Ex.

As far as putting the necks back on, I had to tweak the truss in the Tele a bit, but that was no problem for me.

BTW, Theodie is correct re insurance prices. The USPS insurance, FWIW, was only about 3 dollars.
 
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Re: Shipping a guitar to UK, really this expensive?

Tor said:
Hm, that's odd... I have had two guitars and one bass being sent to me from USA and Canada, and none of them went over 140$..
Click to expand...

That is what I am saying.
 
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