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Question: International Shipping Costs
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Author:  Mark Tripp [ Thu Sep 20, 2012 8:44 am ]
Post subject:  Question: International Shipping Costs
I'm researching cost for my first international shipment of a guitar, and am a little aghast at what I am seeing! The guitar will ship to Singapore from Olympia, WA. Basic delivery service with insurance, both FedEx and UPS, is in the $600 - $700 range! And of course, this doesn't include all the associated fees... The client and I were observing, that for a few hundred dollars more, he could come pick the guitar up!

Am I missing something? For folks that are shipping to "overseas" clients, what carrier are you using? Any tricks or tips to getting the costs down?

Thanks!

-Mark
Author:  Jim Watts [ Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
Mark, check the USPS. Last time I did it they were considerably cheaper and it worked out just fine.
Author:  bluescreek [ Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
USPS for me and you may need to get a rider for insurance from your Ins company. Using USPS may not cover the ins and they are a pain if you file a claim
Author:  klooker [ Thu Sep 20, 2012 10:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
I've never shipped a guitar but I do a lot of shipping at my day job.

UPS & FedEx have to put it on a plane. Guitars are like big boxes of air that eat up a lot of space on the plane so they charge you accordingly. Even though it may weigh 15 lbs, they'll charge you as if it was 90 lbs.

Kevin Looker
Author:  SteveSmith [ Thu Sep 20, 2012 12:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
I just shipped a Fender Strat to Russia last month with USPS and the cost was just under $130 with insurance. FedEx and UPS where a lot higher.
Author:  Mark Tripp [ Thu Sep 20, 2012 12:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
Thanks guys!

I'll go check with USPS today.
Author:  Michael.N. [ Thu Sep 20, 2012 1:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
$130 seems incredibly cheap for that type of shipment. Just make sure that the insurance covers both loss and damage. Actually, make sure it covers Musical instruments. They are quite often on the exclusion list.
Author:  SteveSmith [ Thu Sep 20, 2012 3:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
Michael.N. wrote:
$130 seems incredibly cheap for that type of shipment. Just make sure that the insurance covers both loss and damage. Actually, make sure it covers Musical instruments. They are quite often on the exclusion list.


I didn't read the fine print on the insurance but the gal at the post office knew it was a guitar so hopefully sold me the correct insurance. Insurance was under $10 if I remember correctly but was only for about $900 value. Package weighed 32lb, was way over packed, and neck was removed to meet the package size restrictions (length + width + height or something like that). Either way it arrived ok.
Author:  JasonMoe [ Fri Sep 21, 2012 1:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
I work at the USPS for my full-time job. I work in a mail processing facility in LaCrosse WI. We handle guitars all the time. We do take care of them and handle them properly. Over the last 10 years, we have shipped alot of guitars to Iraq/Afghanistan and back home again also. It is cheaper to use USPS. Thanks everyone who uses USPS for their shipping needs. It's my paycheck to support my family. It also funds my guitar building experience.
Author:  John Arnold [ Fri Sep 21, 2012 4:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
Quote:
UPS & FedEx have to put it on a plane.

So does USPS. They stopped doing overseas surface shipments several years ago. Priority Mail International is the cheapest.
Author:  Don Williams [ Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
JasonMoe wrote:
I work at the USPS for my full-time job. I work in a mail processing facility in LaCrosse WI. We handle guitars all the time. We do take care of them and handle them properly. Over the last 10 years, we have shipped alot of guitars to Iraq/Afghanistan and back home again also. It is cheaper to use USPS. Thanks everyone who uses USPS for their shipping needs. It's my paycheck to support my family. It also funds my guitar building experience.


All the more reason to support the USPS folks!
Author:  John Killin [ Fri Sep 21, 2012 8:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
JasonMoe wrote:
I work in a mail processing facility in LaCrosse WI. We handle guitars all the time.


Ahhh Dave's Guitar Shop

I love that place.
Author:  Mark Tripp [ Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
Looks like USPS it is!

I talked to the folks at our local office yesterday, and they were just outstanding to work with, and mitigated the trepidation I had about shipping internationally with them. My client is pretty happy about the significantly reduced cost too! I think I will take John's suggestion and get a insurance rider.

Now to navigate all the export paperwork... [xx(]

Thanks everyone!

-Mark
Author:  JasonMoe [ Mon Sep 24, 2012 3:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
The USPS does have international flat-rate boxes also. 2 sizes. Great if you mailing books or something heavy.
Author:  Tai Fu [ Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question: International Shipping Costs
I always avoid UPS or Fedex unless its a smaller package, but for some reason when I buy from LMI or others, at a certain point (around 5 pounds) the UPS/Fedex/DHL rate actually becomes lower than USPS priority mail for some reason, and the shipping rate increases only slowly whereas USPS rate increases much faster at higher weight class. I don't know if its the fact that suppliers have special rates for shipping with them regularly...

Yea the guy can come pick the guitar up, and probably should if the guitar costs more than 5000 dollars, but the issue isn't just shipping cost. If the customer is coming to the US getting a US visa is really difficult (and they really don't care what is the reason for the visit, you have to meet requirement that is subject to one person's interpretation. The visa can be denied for any reason, and it takes months to get one. It's actually easier to get parole after serving a life sentence than to get a US tourist visa!)

I never really had to deal with this... never gotten an overseas commission anyways.
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