Shipping guitars & big things in UK

[hexa-db]

For people who have sold guitars in the UK - How do you ship them?
Do Royal Mail offer any suitable services or is it better to use a courier? How much is it likely to cost?
Also - The guitar has a hard case, what else should I use to package it? I no longer have the huge cardboard box that it came in.

I'm also planning on selling a Line 6 Pod and Behringer FCB1010 floor pedal - that will be quite big parcel (and fairly heavy) so I'm thinking about using a courier service to offer shipping on those too.

[the.godfather]

The Cardboard Box is an easy one. Just pop down to your local Guitar Shop, and ask them nicely for a box. Usually they get you one for free, cos they would only throw them away anyway. But sometimes they want a couple of quid for one.

As for Royal Mail, they are pretty damn useless to be honest. Most of the time they are fine, and they are better for the cheaper option. You could probably send a guitar in a hardcase with Royal Mail for about £15. But if you go with a courier, they are more like £20 - £30 depending on the service and company you go with.

Parcel Force are pretty good, and of course they have the usual "overnight 24hr" service or the 2 day service.

The basic theme is......the quicker it is.......the more it costs.

[Jem7RB MK]

Parcel force are pretty quick, Most guitars (kind of an obvious shape) are done by the same guys and they all take pretty good care, I've done at least 50 guitars through PF in the last 2 years and not one problem, Some even just bubble wrapped and cardboard around it

Citylink - Ok(ish) had damage problems
Interlink - Lost 2 guitars
TNT - Costa fortune and took 3 weeks to go 50 miles

PF in my opinion are ok, there are better, I just have'nt found them yet

Good luck Nathan, and don't worry, Thousands of items go around the globe, Your unfortunate if something goes wrong

Rob

[hexa-db]

Cheers, I recently got an offer from a friend who's thinking of buying all the stuff I'm selling as a job lot, and coming to collect it!
If it happens it'll be great, I just have to wait to see if he has any cash left after going to Whitby Gothic Weekend...

[fettouhi]

Originally Posted by Jem7RB MK

Interlink - Lost 2 guitars

LOST?????? How does the story end?

Regards

André

[old_metal_head]

I don't live in the UK but I have to say I guy just shipped me a guitar across the US via USPS in nothing but the case with some tape over the latches.

I was amazed to see that the thing arrived completely undamaged.

It might be the fact that he insured the hell out of it.

I usually over pack the damn guitar when I ship. I:
* Losen the strings.
* Support the headstock.
* Wrap the guitar in foam.
* Secure it in a case.
* Wrap the case in foam.
* Wrap that with shrink-wrap. (If its acoustic I wrap it to a piece of cardboard to prevent if from moving around)
* Put that all in a triple-layer cardboard box.

So, I think the case is the most important thing.

Cheers!

[markg5150]

I recently sold a guitar on that auction site. It didn't have a hard case and I packed it in a guitar box I got from my local shop.
I sent it Royal Mail standard parcels, it took 3 days to arrive (still in the UK) and cost about £8

[hexa-db]

Originally Posted by markg5150

I recently sold a guitar on that auction site. It didn't have a hard case and I packed it in a guitar box I got from my local shop.
I sent it Royal Mail standard parcels, it took 3 days to arrive (still in the UK) and cost about £8

Heh that wasn't the Epiphone LP Special I recieved on Saturday was it?

[markg5150]

No, fraid not it was an RG370DX