Shipping cost question

[leec]

Does anyone have any experience of posting a guitar in a HSC from California to the UK? Would be grateful if you could help out.
I'm interested in buying a guitar, but the seller was given what looks like a very high estimate for shipping (over $250). In most cases, $100 or so seems to cover postage from the US to the UK, so it seems a massive increase.

Using the UPS and DHL UK portals is pretty useless. It's impossible to get a decent quote without so many details, and all we want is a ballpark figure.

Apologies if this is in the wrong section, but I couldn't see where else to put it.
Actually, a sticky thread with some rough figures for exporting from the US to some common destinations might be useful if other people have found it difficult to get a rough idea of cost. But then maybe me and this guy are the only saps finding it hard.

Cheers.

[Lefty Robb]

only UPS is like $200+. I just shipped a guitar to italy and it only cost I think $94 USPS airmail parcel post.

[elcid]

That seems really high, I've shipped a few guitars to Sweden and the most was $115 insured.

I'm with Robb, go USPS.

[Lefty Robb]

that $94 was also insured for $500...

[leec]

Thanks guys. That's the sort of figure I was expecting.
Il and MA are quite far apart, yet you're both quoting similar prices. Is there any reason CA would add on so much more? I think the guy was just given a ridiculous quote by UPS or someone, and probably for some gold-plated service, eh?

[elcid]

UPS is usually rediculous compared to the post office.
I try to never use UPS unless I absolutely have too.

[Ayrton]

UPS is the worst.

I use FedEx ground for local and USPS for international.

[elcid]

How is FEDEX?
I always use USPS I can usually ship a guitar insured for about $25 and it gets there in 2-3 days.

[Lefty Robb]

all you gotta do is use this:

http://ircalc.usps.gov/