Re: Does this sound reasonable for shipping a semi-acoustic??...

PorkyPrimeCut · Post by **PorkyPrimeCut** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:31 am

I just got this message from the guy who sold me the ES-125.......

I can drop the guitar by the local UPS store tomorrow, and they can box it and get it ready for shipping. As promised, and per our prior agreement, I will only charge you for the actual packaging/shipping costs, and will prorate the extra $127.01 that you had to pay for the guitar towards those costs. However, it's looking like both UPS and FedEx want to charge just a bit under $300 to do the job, and that's without boxing it up. I am not sure if that includes insurance or not. On the other hand, it does include tracking, which is a very valuable thing to have. What I don't know is if UPS or FedEx works better for you--for me, UPS is much easier, because the store is just down the road from me. If you want me to ship some other way, such as USPS, just let me know. USPS is cheaper (about $170), but it doesn't include a tracking number. That's your call: you can save about $130, but you will take a bigger risk on getting it.
On another front, I'm not sure why the photo of the f-hole "label" (really, an ink stamp) didn't come through--I am sure that I attached it. Anyway, it should be attached to this message.
As agreed, once I get the guitar boxed and know how you want it shipped I will e-mail you the exact price. You PayPal (or credit card) me that amount, and the guitar hops onto a plane bound for London. It looks like they are estimating about 4-7 days for it to get there.

I'm gonna ask him to box it up....in lightweight re-inforced steel!!!

But seriously, does that sound reasonable - around $300

djetz · Post by **djetz** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:13 pm

My just bought semi is on its way right now, sent by EMS - http://www.ems.coop/site/Main.php?Oid=206&Lid=1

I've had a guitar sent from the US before (using UPS) and one from Japan (using EMS) and I've had other hardware sent through those services and FedEx as well...

$300 US is way too expensive. The guitar I'm about to get, shipping is $115 US. That's about right for Eastern US to Australia, which is about as far as you can travel in any direction on planet earth. So $300 US is inexplicable. The guitars I've received before have been well packed and undamaged, both of them in cardboard, one in a gig bag and one naked.

I would be questioning the fuck out of $300 US - that's just nuts. $100 - $120 USD is what it costs US to Aust, and less for US to Europe.

EDIT: EMS is a co-op run by the international mail carriers, so what he's calling "USPS" is EMS, and EMS do offer tracking on everything. I'm watching an EMS tracking number right now, according to which my guitar is on a plane as I type. Should be arriving in Australia within hours. Your guy sounds to me like he's either an idiot or he's spinning you a line.

Surfoverb · Post by **Surfoverb** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:37 pm

Yeah thats bullshit dude...Tracking is free and not very valuable. It cost me $50 to have my Jag shipped in its case with all the Jags heavyness, and I think $60 to have my dual showman head shipped.

It should be less than $100...Go to UPS website and estimate the size and weight and see what the numbers really are.

PorkyPrimeCut · Post by **PorkyPrimeCut** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:42 pm

Right. Thanks for that.

I told him that I wanted it well packaged as it only has a bog-standard old cardboard, faux-alligator skin case. I also emphasised that I needed a tracking number.

He's replied.....

I ran out of time, and have to drive down to San Francisco (400 miles) soon over some snowed-in passes, so rather than trying to do a rush job on the guitar I decided to try to get back early enough on Saturday (weather and snow permitting) to take care of getting it boxed up then. My plan is to get UPS to build a box in which to put the guitar, case and all--we'll see what they can do. I may end up shipping FedEx, because they have less restrictions re: box dimensions. Once I get it boxed I'll have a price, and will e-mail that to you. I am going to be off of e-mail for a couple of days, here, but I'll check back in on Saturday at some point.

He'd warned me that he had to leave town. This is actually cool cos I'm still waiting for cash to come in!!

Maybe I'm wrong but I think the guy means well, he just hasn't done this kind of thing before. This explains the crappy amount of feedback - one!?

So I have a day or two to come up with instructions. He's said that UPS (or FedEx, can't remember) is down the road so its convenient but he is willing to go further afield.

What shall I tell him???

How much should good packaging, tracking & insurance cost?? I'm pretty new to this myself!!

PorkyPrimeCut · Post by **PorkyPrimeCut** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:44 pm

Surfoverb wrote: It should be less than $100...Go to UPS website and estimate the size and weight and see what the numbers really are.

Thats what I originally did. It worked out at around $100.

I checked this guy out. I had his email name & he gave me his work address. He's a guy with a PhD working in a medical centre (hardly strapped for cash).

Surfoverb · Post by **Surfoverb** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:47 pm

I just plugged in some numbers for a 30lbs package (50"X16"X6") from Virginia to Cali and I got from $37 for 3 day ground all the way up to $200 for next day air.

The box and some peanuts might cost $20.

Surfoverb · Post by **Surfoverb** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:48 pm

PorkyPrimeCut wrote: He's a guy with a PhD working in a medical centre (hardly strapped for cash).

Yeah right...a rich research doctor?

PorkyPrimeCut · Post by **PorkyPrimeCut** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 1:14 pm

Just went on the UPS site.

It needs a postcode for his address - I don't have this.

He's based in Medford, Oregon.

Anyone know of a postal code I can use???!!??

Post by **Orang Goreng** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 1:42 pm

PorkyPrimeCut wrote: Anyone know of a postal code I can use???!!??

http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/zip_codes_Oregon2.htm

Scroll down for the alphabetical list.

PorkyPrimeCut · Post by **PorkyPrimeCut** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:10 pm

Thanks.

I filled in all the boxes & ended up with a cost of $381.

Unfortunately I don't know the weight of the guitar. I aimed high rather than low.....15lb?!?

Its value was put at $1400.
Its dimensions were 40" x 12" x 18"
Large Express Box

Shit!!

mjet · Post by **mjet** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:39 pm

Surfoverb wrote: Yeah thats bullshit dude...Tracking is free and not very valuable. It cost me $50 to have my Jag shipped in its case with all the Jags heavyness, and I think $60 to have my dual showman head shipped.

It should be less than $100...Go to UPS website and estimate the size and weight and see what the numbers really are.

You're aware that we're talking about a shipment from the US to the UK, right?

djetz · Post by **djetz** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:55 pm

mjet wrote: You're aware that we're talking about a shipment from the US to the UK, right?

But he's right, it should be less than $100 US. If it's $115-ish US to Australia - which it is - then US to UK should be less, since there are more flights and the distance is much less. The Pacific Ocean is double the Atlantic, easily.

PorkyPrimeCut · Post by **PorkyPrimeCut** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:57 pm

Here's what I worked out from each company.....

OK. UPS - Going on the sellers dimensions of 45" x 19" x 6" I get $298.38.
Tracking included.....

FedEx, going by weight come in at $170.02......

...and finally USPS ask for no more than $182.07.

Tracking is available to all major destinations (hopefully London is one!?) for every category Flat Rate Box & up!!

....Incidentally, 6 inches seems a little thin but still, it won't alter the figures that much if I add a couple more.

djetz · Post by **djetz** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:02 pm

EMS (USPS) express mail international is the one I'm waiting for at the moment. As you see, it'd cost $77-ish, which is what I would expect. Under $100 US. Really, anything more than that is overkill. There doesn't seem to be much difference between express and the deluxe services except price. Maybe an extra day or two, nothing unbearable.

I guarantee your guitar is way under 10 lb. Ten lb is what the heaviest Les Pauls weigh, that guitar is probably closer to 6 or 7.

PorkyPrimeCut · Post by **PorkyPrimeCut** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:16 pm

djetz wrote: .....I guarantee your guitar is way under 10 lb. Ten lb is what the heaviest Les Pauls weigh, that guitar is probably closer to 6 or 7.

I know. I played one the other day & was shocked at how light it was. The case is cardboard too so that'll hardly up the weight.

I'm not a great judge of weight, I was just making sure I didn't under-estimate the added weight once it was packed & packaged.

I've a feeling he wants to use UPS cos its at the end of the road from work. I'll try & persuade him to go with USPS. I don't know why UPS is so much more expensive!