ilovefuzz.com

Everyone does stuff different but here's what I've done in the 30 or more instruments I've shipped. I calculate UPS shipping and packaging into the cost and offer free shipping. People like free shipping even if you really are making them pay but it says free.

Then I'll go to UPS and make them box it up. Why? It's because they insure it and it's on their ass if they fuck up. If I box it, they'll insure it but if I don't have it packaged perfectly to their specs, they won't cover it. I know from experience here.

Fed Ex can eat a dick. They are terrible at insuring things.

For a bass, it usually costs around 120-150 for shipping. If I'm selling something that's 2k, that's worth it to me. It gets there safely and I've never had a problem doing it that way.

If you ship with your own box. I highly suggest packing peanuts as a filler. Don't use bubble wrap unless it's around the instrument. You need protection inside the actual shipping box. I've had so many people ship things all fucked up. I've been super lucky with that so far but I've gotten messed up shit too or things that you know if they would have been handled a little rougher, they wouldn't have made it.

lost in music wrote:2.) Could the bass-sized box be contributing significantly to the price?

How big is the box? As I recall from a former life as a shipping coordinator, once you hit "dimensional weight" all the dimensions count, not just the long one...

https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-center/p ... eight.page

Yeah, people gobble up that free shipping shit, it's true. That's what I usually do with pedals.

It's a much cheaper guitar though. I'm expecting to sell it for $200 or less, so $100+ for shipping (and having to build that into my cost if I were to offer free shipping) feels like it could create a problem for me.

That dimensional weight thing is good info. Thanks.

That is a large price. Just shipped a guitar for $22 in a guitar box via usps. Had to call to verify because it felt like too little.

^ im with jwar re: FedEx

Shipped a fender tonemaster head and cab in a custom road case- thing was bulletproof, but unfortunately not FedEx-proof. They must have dropped it Looney Tunes style. the pictures the buyer sent were horrific- head split wide open. And unfortunately their shipping abilities were top-freakin-notch compared to the insurance/claims process. Ended up way short on that whole deal. Should have just kept the amp. Live and learn and c. This was early Aughts, and haven't been back. sounds like things haven't improved.

I've been able to ship 7 and 8 string guitars in cases for around $50 via UPS with labels purchased through Reverb. Boxes that conformed with the shape of the guitar cases were a bit cheaper, and the oversized Reverb guitar boxes weren't too much more to ship.

Smaller, cube-shaped USPS priority boxes are good for bracing guitar cases in oversized shipping containers. I usually recycle USPS flat rate padded priority envelopes for padding both inside the guitar case and shipping container.

I just shipped a neck for $18 with USPS and signature confirmation, 2 day shipping, only to Ohio. Packaged well in bubble wrap and the box it came in, probably 5" x 5" x 36" or so. Probably not super helpful but something to think about.

Have you tried Craigslist instead of Reverb? Pretty helpful to avoid extra selling fees and shipping.

Last time I shipped a guitar I think it cost like $80. I had a box from a local music store, an ex-friend worked there and gave it to me, they will sell them for like $15 but they also throw them away all the time. Buyer was super specific about relaxing the strings and packing the guitar in the case, as well as outside the case.

Another option is to let someone like a UPS store or a local mom-and-pop store to pack it up. I took a drum machine and an RE501 tape echo to them to box up, suggested double boxing the tape echo. Cost was ok, but worth the peace of mind to have them pack it super great and cover insurance. Both buyers were very happy. I was scared to ship the tape echo because it was working flawlessly before shipping, and the transaction price was high.