The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

S

stratguy23

New member
case.jpg

...was no box at all.

Seller just stuck a Les Paul in a hardshell case, and put that in the mail.

I didn't know you could even do that.

Somehow the case/guitar made it from Montreal to New York City to here in SoCal with no damage whatsoever.

The case was secured only by a little padlock. (?!)

I am extremely impressed by the stock Gibson hardshell case (and extremely unimpressed by the seller).

When I ship guitars - *especially* Gibsons - I follow Dan Erlewine's advice: protect the headstock, pad inside the case, pad outside the case to ensure no movement in the box.

Just throwing a guitar in a case and shipping it internationally blows my mind. I really dodged a bullet here. I was expecting the headstock to be in pieces when I opened the case.
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

Yeah like a box is going to be better than a hardshell case. That seems safer than any box to me at least it has some ability to resist being squashed. Some padding in rthe hardcase would be ideal.
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

"QUOTE"protect the headstock, pad inside the case, pad outside the case to ensure no movement in the box.

Just throwing a guitar in a case and shipping it internationally blows my mind. I really dodged a bullet here"UNQUOTE"

That about sums it up.
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

I had a guy send me a bass in a thin gigbag

It didn't go well..
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

Lucky, I'd say the handlers must of got a little somethin somethin the night before and showed up for work with a smile on their faces.
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

I much prefer to receive items in logo-free boxes so it's not so obvious as to what is inside, especially if it's an LP! lol
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

What was the purchase method?

As in, can you make sure he'll regret it and never do it again?
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

He better not have been charging packaging fees......
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

KeeperOS said:
What was the purchase method?

As in, can you make sure he'll regret it and never do it again?
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It was a Reverb purchase. Seller also bollixed up other parts of the transaction, but since the LP got here in perfect condition, I didn't suffer anything other than anxiety. I could ding the seller in a rating, but since everything turned out OK, I'd feel bad doing so.

This was truly an unexpected situation. I've sold and bought dozens of mail order guitars, and every shipment involved a box. It's an assumption I'd never thought to question until now.
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

kramersteen said:
Hang on a minute was the hard case free?
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It was part of the purchase. I would never buy a Les Paul without an accompanying hardshell case. Usually, though, the hardshell case is then packaged appropriately in a shipping box!

I wouldn't want the case to suffer unnecessary external damage, so I would expect an outer box (and inner padding) to protect the case.
 
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Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

I bought a rectoverb from a guy in Mtl about 6-7 years ago. It was shipped in nothing but a garbage bag... Maybe it's he same guy but this time he decided to save on packing materials??
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

I had the same thing once.. dude put labels on case and sent it. mine didnt even have a padlock.. I was MORTIFIED>... luckily, it was fine also..

When I ship, Im anal to the max. guitar in case.. padding or styrofoam all around guitar so wont shift in case. guitar in bubblewrap. case wrapped in bubble wrap and then in box packed with peanuts or styrofoam or bubbles so case wont shift.. Then box bullet proof taped..
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

Worst experience for me was an '80s Charvel I bought off of eBay. The guy taped pieces of cardboard directly to the guitar and shipped it with NO case, bubble wrap or padding. Needless to say, it didn't end well. I actually packaged the busted guitar up better when I sent it back. Shame, too, I really wanted that thing...

Glad the LP made it safe. Definitely could have been worse, but the case did what it's supposed to.
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

at least make him refund you enough money to buy some goo gone to remove the damn sticky off the case!!
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

masta' c said:
Worst experience for me was an '80s Charvel I bought off of eBay. The guy taped pieces of cardboard directly to the guitar and shipped it with NO case, bubble wrap or padding. Needless to say, it didn't end well. I actually packaged the busted guitar up better when I sent it back. Shame, too, I really wanted that thing...

Glad the LP made it safe. Definitely could have been worse, but the case did what it's supposed to.
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this and the garbage bag are just mental... either they were short bus veterans or trying to really scrimp on packing costs.. I had one seller go on in his listing that he is charging extra for packing materials and how it would be pro packed and blah blah.. it was in a tattered box stuffed with newspaper.. At least more than these examples , but surely not how he bragged up and what he charged for packing materials..

Stratguy, if the feedback area gives you a place to comment, Id mention that he shipped only in a case. If you dont feel comfy dinging the ratings, it would be a good buyer beware for future buyers
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

It's stories like these that make me pick up guitars in person if they are anywhere within 100 miles.
 
Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

stratguy23 said:
View attachment 84098



The case was secured only by a little padlock. (?!)
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I have a question about the lock: what did he do? Send you the code via email when he shipped the guitar?

It's kinda funny (to me) to imagine you receiving an email something like: "Guitar is shipped, tracking number is #xxxxx and the lock combination is 12345"... :D

12345thats-amazing-i-have-the-same-combination-on-my-luggage.jpg
 
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Re: The strangest guitar shipping box I've seen

Yikes. When I sold my Roland Cube 60 I packaged it real tight. Box, bubble wrap, the whole deal.
Cubes are so tough I could have sent it as it is and it would have destroyed the truck.

I couldn't imagine just sending a guitar like that.

And...

Chistopher said:
It's stories like these that make me pick up guitars in person if they are anywhere within 100 miles.
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Yup. Never ever had a guitar sent to me. I always pick them up.
 
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